Crafty (beer) day in Pittsburgh!
posted January 1, 2012 7:30 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Fri February 3 at 8:30 PM, Hough's
563 Greenfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (Map & Directions)
Let's start 2012 right.
Happy New Year, MeFites!!
I decided upon some great goals for 2012. I signed up to run Pittsburgh's Half Marathon despite having to ask strangers for nitroglycerin after running to catch the bus. I'm finally going to say goodbye to my boxes full of gems like diagrams of amoebas from the fifth grade and partially used AA batteries so my friends stop calling the producers of Hoarders. And this is really, truly going to be the year where there's not someone I have to stay 500 feet away from at all times.
So I was on Facebook the other night, getting in some last minute procrastination (One of my other goals is something about realizing that I can't solve life problems by looking at pictures of cats on the Internet. Whatever.) and somebody posted this little quiz called the Beer Drinkers Challenge. It's a list of 100 beers and you mark off how many you've had. Well, I took the quiz and scored a dismal 35. 35!
Hold the fucking phone.
I put those 65 beers right on the goal list. And as this is now the new year, it's time to start making dreams happen!
So I'm proposing a meet-up at Hough's in Greenfield. It's a fine drinking establishment with a nice list of microbrews. Good looking place that generally doesn't get intolerably crowded. And it's near my house so I can get sloshed.
I decided upon some great goals for 2012. I signed up to run Pittsburgh's Half Marathon despite having to ask strangers for nitroglycerin after running to catch the bus. I'm finally going to say goodbye to my boxes full of gems like diagrams of amoebas from the fifth grade and partially used AA batteries so my friends stop calling the producers of Hoarders. And this is really, truly going to be the year where there's not someone I have to stay 500 feet away from at all times.
So I was on Facebook the other night, getting in some last minute procrastination (One of my other goals is something about realizing that I can't solve life problems by looking at pictures of cats on the Internet. Whatever.) and somebody posted this little quiz called the Beer Drinkers Challenge. It's a list of 100 beers and you mark off how many you've had. Well, I took the quiz and scored a dismal 35. 35!
Hold the fucking phone.
I put those 65 beers right on the goal list. And as this is now the new year, it's time to start making dreams happen!
So I'm proposing a meet-up at Hough's in Greenfield. It's a fine drinking establishment with a nice list of microbrews. Good looking place that generally doesn't get intolerably crowded. And it's near my house so I can get sloshed.
I live really close to Hough's. Depending on the date and my work schedule, I'd be down. I would make sure it's not during a Penguins game though, because then yes it does get pretty crowded. Wednesdays are their Wing Night... not too many flavors, and I haven't had them all, but they are tasty! I'll be sure to keep checking in.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 3:56 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by XhaustedProphet at 3:56 AM on January 2, 2012
Yes. They have Peach Lambic on tap and I relish any occasion that I have an opportunity to drink that.
posted by Alison at 5:35 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by Alison at 5:35 AM on January 2, 2012
Oh my god yes to Hough's. Yes to beer. Yes I will be there.
posted by amicamentis at 5:55 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by amicamentis at 5:55 AM on January 2, 2012
I haven't been back to Hough's since the 10th year Mefi anniversary celebration. I (and maybe we) should be able to show up depending on schedule.
posted by octothorpe at 6:12 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by octothorpe at 6:12 AM on January 2, 2012
Oh and unannihilated, Hal Higdon's 1/2 marathon training program works well. I finished the half both of the last two years after (mostly) following his plan and you're probably not as old and fat as I am.
posted by octothorpe at 6:16 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by octothorpe at 6:16 AM on January 2, 2012
I've never been to Hough's. I should expand my taste palette to include more beers. Count me as interested!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:38 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:38 AM on January 2, 2012
I'm not a serious beer drinker, but I read somewhere (Esquire?) recently that 2012 is supposed to be the year of sour beers, and since the only beers I can tolerate are the Lambics or sour beers, this might be my year! And like Octothorpe, we haven't been back to Hough's since the 10th anniversary celebration. The mister is a beer guy, so this has definite interest.
We're fairly flexible on dates, but I would ask that we go at a time that's less crowded? It's early enough in the year that I haven't started my "oh god I have cabin fever must plot our every free second" thing. :)
posted by librarianamy at 9:27 AM on January 2, 2012
We're fairly flexible on dates, but I would ask that we go at a time that's less crowded? It's early enough in the year that I haven't started my "oh god I have cabin fever must plot our every free second" thing. :)
posted by librarianamy at 9:27 AM on January 2, 2012
Also, this might go without saying - but I rise very early for work, so a weekend would mean we'd be much more likely to attend than a "school night."
posted by librarianamy at 10:16 AM on January 2, 2012
posted by librarianamy at 10:16 AM on January 2, 2012
Thinking it might be a good beginning (or ending) to a few days at 7Springs. Count my as curious.
posted by neversummer at 1:23 AM on January 3, 2012
posted by neversummer at 1:23 AM on January 3, 2012
I am moving to Pittsburgh on February 1, and would absolutely be down for this if it happens after I get there.
posted by tryniti at 6:52 AM on January 3, 2012
posted by tryniti at 6:52 AM on January 3, 2012
I would love to come. My time is mostly not my own so I wouldn't suggest any particular date. Also haven't been back to Hough's since the glorious 10 anniversary meetup. And it looks like they've maybe been sprucing up the place. Is there some "copper kettle brewing co." or some such place, opening next door?
posted by chinston at 1:49 PM on January 4, 2012
posted by chinston at 1:49 PM on January 4, 2012
The kettles are where they brew their own beer, and I think you can actually brew your own there too.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 6:06 PM on January 4, 2012
posted by XhaustedProphet at 6:06 PM on January 4, 2012
There's an article in the P-G today about the Copper Kettle/Brew Your Own.
Article
posted by librarianamy at 5:03 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Article
posted by librarianamy at 5:03 AM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Depending on the date I might be able to swing over
posted by Blasdelb at 10:00 AM on January 5, 2012
posted by Blasdelb at 10:00 AM on January 5, 2012
Okay, guys, I'm going to call it. Friday, February 3rd at 8:30pm.
posted by unannihilated at 10:03 PM on January 6, 2012
posted by unannihilated at 10:03 PM on January 6, 2012
Just stopped in a Hough's last night with some friends. It's expanded a bit since the last meetup there and was very crowded but it was Saturday night and there was a Pen's game on. Amazing beer selection.
We'd just had a wonder dinner at Jozsa Corner down in Hazelwood which was such a great Pittsburgh experience. It's this tiny Hungarian sort-of restaurant run by one guy, Alex, who serves you a multi-course traditional Hungarian while you sit at long table wedged into a tiny back room in this little building that sits all by itself in the empty urban prairie of Hazelwood. You don't get a choice of meals and you're not really sure how long the meal will take since Alex just keep bringing out more dishes as he completes them. Here's a write up of Jozsa from Road Food.
posted by octothorpe at 8:15 AM on January 8, 2012 [3 favorites]
We'd just had a wonder dinner at Jozsa Corner down in Hazelwood which was such a great Pittsburgh experience. It's this tiny Hungarian sort-of restaurant run by one guy, Alex, who serves you a multi-course traditional Hungarian while you sit at long table wedged into a tiny back room in this little building that sits all by itself in the empty urban prairie of Hazelwood. You don't get a choice of meals and you're not really sure how long the meal will take since Alex just keep bringing out more dishes as he completes them. Here's a write up of Jozsa from Road Food.
posted by octothorpe at 8:15 AM on January 8, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yes, I specifically picked a date that there was not a Pens game to reduce crowds.
Unfortunately, you can't have it both ways -- go out on a weekend night AND have it not crowded -- unless you are going somewhere that sucks or going at a ridiculously early hour.
posted by unannihilated at 11:39 AM on January 8, 2012
Unfortunately, you can't have it both ways -- go out on a weekend night AND have it not crowded -- unless you are going somewhere that sucks or going at a ridiculously early hour.
posted by unannihilated at 11:39 AM on January 8, 2012
I've been dying to get to Jozsa Corner - now there's an idea for a meetup...
posted by chinston at 8:33 PM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by chinston at 8:33 PM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
I am 90% sure I'll make this. I am rolling into town on the 2nd, so assuming my movers show up with my stuff on time and I have unpacked enough to have clothing to wear, I'll be there. Looking forward to meeting some people in my new city!
posted by tryniti at 12:06 PM on January 9, 2012
posted by tryniti at 12:06 PM on January 9, 2012
Jozsa Corner is one of those places that I've been meaning to get to as well. I'd be totally down for a future meet-up there. Anyone else? We'd need a higher level of commitment since it's by appointment.
posted by unannihilated at 5:17 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by unannihilated at 5:17 PM on January 10, 2012
Give me some time to recover from the carb overload but I'd love to go back to Jozsa.
posted by octothorpe at 4:33 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by octothorpe at 4:33 AM on January 11, 2012
So, now that the date & time have been settled, I think we need a link to this 'Beer Drinkers Challenge', so the rest of us can make our own goal lists...
posted by FlyingMonkey at 7:07 AM on January 13, 2012
posted by FlyingMonkey at 7:07 AM on January 13, 2012
By request, FlyingMonkey!
1. 400 Pound Monkey
2. AleSmith Speedway Stout
3. Alhambra
4. Anchor Steam
5. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
6. Beamish
7. Beck's
8. Blue Moon
9. Boddingtons
10. Boulevard Wheat
11. Breckenridge Agave Wheat
12. Brooklyn Brown Ale
13. Budweiser
14. Chamberlain Pale Ale
15. Chimay Red Ale
16. Colt 45
17. Coors
18. Corona
19. Daisy Cutter Pale Ale
20. Deschutes Red Chair NWPA
21. Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
22. Dos Equis
23. Double Diamond
24. Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale
25. Flying Dog IPA
26. Flying Fish Exit 11
27. Foster's
28. Free State Oatmeal Stout
29. Full Nelson Pale Ale
30. Ginger Bee
31. Goose Island 312
32. Guiness
33. Hair of the Dog Matt
34. Hamms
35. Harp
36. He'Brew the Chosen Beer
37. Heineken
38. Hop Juice Double IPA
39. Ithaca Beer Company Brute
40. Kentucky Breakfast Stout
41. Keystone Light
42. Killian's Irish Red
43. Labatt Blue
44. Land Shark
45. Left Hand Porter
46. Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss
47. Lindemans Framboise
48. Lion Stout
49. London Pride
50. Mickey's
51. Miller High Life
52. Mirror Pond Pale Ale
53. Molson
54. Moon Man
55. Moose Drool Brown Ale
56. Mt. Carmel Nut Brown Ale
57. Natty Light
58. Negra Modelo
59. New Belgium Fat Tire
60. Newcastle
61. North Coast Blue Star
62. O'Dell 90 Shilling
63. Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
64. Old Style
65. PBR
66. Pliny the Elder
67. Red Stripe
68. Rogue Dead Guy Ale
69. Rogue Mocha Porter
70. Rolling Rock
71. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
72. Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
73. Sapporo
74. Sarajevsko Pivo
75. Schlitz
76. Shiner Bock
77. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
78. Sleeman Lager
79. Smithwicks
80. Smuttynose Summer Weizen
81. Snow
82. Son Of A Peach
83. Stella Artois
84. Stone Imperial Russian Stout
85. Surly Coffee Bender
86. Tecate
87. Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster
88. The Abyss
89. Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale
90. Tongue Buckler - Imperial Red Ale
91. Trout Slayer
92. Two Hearted Ale
93. Warsteiner
94. Whistler Black Tusk Ale
95. Widmer Hefeweizen
96. Wild Blue
97. Wisconsin Belgian Red
98. Wynona's Big Brown Ale
99. Young's Double Chocolate Stout
100. Yuengling
posted by unannihilated at 5:55 PM on January 13, 2012
1. 400 Pound Monkey
2. AleSmith Speedway Stout
3. Alhambra
4. Anchor Steam
5. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
6. Beamish
7. Beck's
8. Blue Moon
9. Boddingtons
10. Boulevard Wheat
11. Breckenridge Agave Wheat
12. Brooklyn Brown Ale
13. Budweiser
14. Chamberlain Pale Ale
15. Chimay Red Ale
16. Colt 45
17. Coors
18. Corona
19. Daisy Cutter Pale Ale
20. Deschutes Red Chair NWPA
21. Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
22. Dos Equis
23. Double Diamond
24. Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale
25. Flying Dog IPA
26. Flying Fish Exit 11
27. Foster's
28. Free State Oatmeal Stout
29. Full Nelson Pale Ale
30. Ginger Bee
31. Goose Island 312
32. Guiness
33. Hair of the Dog Matt
34. Hamms
35. Harp
36. He'Brew the Chosen Beer
37. Heineken
38. Hop Juice Double IPA
39. Ithaca Beer Company Brute
40. Kentucky Breakfast Stout
41. Keystone Light
42. Killian's Irish Red
43. Labatt Blue
44. Land Shark
45. Left Hand Porter
46. Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss
47. Lindemans Framboise
48. Lion Stout
49. London Pride
50. Mickey's
51. Miller High Life
52. Mirror Pond Pale Ale
53. Molson
54. Moon Man
55. Moose Drool Brown Ale
56. Mt. Carmel Nut Brown Ale
57. Natty Light
58. Negra Modelo
59. New Belgium Fat Tire
60. Newcastle
61. North Coast Blue Star
62. O'Dell 90 Shilling
63. Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
64. Old Style
65. PBR
66. Pliny the Elder
67. Red Stripe
68. Rogue Dead Guy Ale
69. Rogue Mocha Porter
70. Rolling Rock
71. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
72. Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
73. Sapporo
74. Sarajevsko Pivo
75. Schlitz
76. Shiner Bock
77. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
78. Sleeman Lager
79. Smithwicks
80. Smuttynose Summer Weizen
81. Snow
82. Son Of A Peach
83. Stella Artois
84. Stone Imperial Russian Stout
85. Surly Coffee Bender
86. Tecate
87. Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster
88. The Abyss
89. Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale
90. Tongue Buckler - Imperial Red Ale
91. Trout Slayer
92. Two Hearted Ale
93. Warsteiner
94. Whistler Black Tusk Ale
95. Widmer Hefeweizen
96. Wild Blue
97. Wisconsin Belgian Red
98. Wynona's Big Brown Ale
99. Young's Double Chocolate Stout
100. Yuengling
posted by unannihilated at 5:55 PM on January 13, 2012
Welp, looks like I won't make it after all. My apartment in Pittsburgh won't be ready until February 15th, so I'll be stuck down south until then. I am so disappointed - was really looking forward to meeting some people. Hopefully there will be another meetup soon!
posted by tryniti at 5:36 PM on January 15, 2012
posted by tryniti at 5:36 PM on January 15, 2012
Count jon1270 and deliriouscool as very interested in a meetup at Jozsa. We just moved to Pittsburgh last week.
posted by jon1270 at 4:57 AM on January 16, 2012
posted by jon1270 at 4:57 AM on January 16, 2012
Scored about a 50 on that list... but there's a lot of piss masquerading as easy points there, too. (Wasted youth, drinking shit beer, thinking I didn't really like it - what I didn't like was shit beer.)
posted by IAmBroom at 1:20 PM on January 16, 2012
posted by IAmBroom at 1:20 PM on January 16, 2012
eesh. I get about a 30, including things I only barely managed to get down. Some weird choices there, too--Dogfish Indian Brown, but none of the XX-minute IPAs?
posted by FlyingMonkey at 1:04 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by FlyingMonkey at 1:04 PM on January 19, 2012
Weird list of beers, I got 50 but there's a lot in there that I'd never want to drink again. We have a beer exchange club at work where we all buy cases, bring them in and then mix them up and bring home a two of each. I just checked the online spreadsheet that the club leader keeps and there are 188 different beers listed but very few of them matched any on this list.
posted by octothorpe at 4:51 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 4:51 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Piss beer has its place on the list...you can't truly appreciate the good stuff until you know how bad some of the rest can be.
Octothorpe, I'd be curious to see your list. Oh, and thanks for the half-marathon training program suggestion. Right now I'm on track to be able to do three miles at the end of the month, and then there's three months remaining to the race, so I think I'm going to be okay.
posted by unannihilated at 1:13 PM on January 23, 2012
Octothorpe, I'd be curious to see your list. Oh, and thanks for the half-marathon training program suggestion. Right now I'm on track to be able to do three miles at the end of the month, and then there's three months remaining to the race, so I think I'm going to be okay.
posted by unannihilated at 1:13 PM on January 23, 2012
Arg, I'm going to be entertaining a Korean business delegation that evening. I'm hoping that they'll be jet-lagged and ready to turn in before 8:30 so I can head straight to Hough's.
posted by Alison at 7:08 AM on January 29, 2012
posted by Alison at 7:08 AM on January 29, 2012
I plan on being there, although maybe not till 9:30 or so. See yinz.
posted by chinston at 8:08 AM on February 2, 2012
posted by chinston at 8:08 AM on February 2, 2012
I should probably tell you how to find me, no? I'll be the blonde woman in the black trench coat and dark rimmed glasses. (Oh yes, we're making meet ups chic and mysterious now.) If anyone wants a phone number you can private message me. I'll be there by twenty after eight, and I'll try to get a table by the back (i.e., the left side not the right). I'm not doing the sign thing cause it's dorky.
posted by unannihilated at 11:58 AM on February 3, 2012
posted by unannihilated at 11:58 AM on February 3, 2012
oh come on, since when has 'cause it's dorky' been a reason not to do something around here? (you get to pick whether 'here' means metafilter or pittsburgh...)
i'll be there. will shoot for 830, but i'm not exactly known for my on-time record...
posted by FlyingMonkey at 1:07 PM on February 3, 2012
i'll be there. will shoot for 830, but i'm not exactly known for my on-time record...
posted by FlyingMonkey at 1:07 PM on February 3, 2012
Soooooo crowded. I'm at a table in the back part by the smaller bar, if anyone is still checking this.
posted by unannihilated at 5:32 PM on February 3, 2012
posted by unannihilated at 5:32 PM on February 3, 2012
If you're standing at the stairs looking at the side room, we're directly under the left tv...
posted by FlyingMonkey at 5:51 PM on February 3, 2012
posted by FlyingMonkey at 5:51 PM on February 3, 2012
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
I suggest early in a month (not necessarily this month) so that those of us who only get paid on the first have a little more cash available. But more importantly, I suggest not a Tuesday, as I have a standing Trivia date at the Park House!
posted by FlyingMonkey at 12:10 AM on January 2, 2012