Pittsburgh breweries are delivering beer to your home
Bartenders at East End Brewing Co. are still working.
“Only now, they are serving our customers in another way,” said owner Scott Smith. “Some of our bartenders have become delivery drivers.”
Bringing the beer to you is not a new concept, but it’s become more active in the coronavirus pandemic. Smith expects even more business through this method because of alcohol restrictions that started this week in Allegheny County in reaction to rising infections. On Monday, all venues were prohibited from serving alcohol on-site; and starting Friday, all bars and restaurants were closed except for takeout and delivery.
“We had some irresponsible establishments who fed into the pool and now we have to drain it,” Smith said. “We are where we are so we have to do what we can.”
East End in Larimer had done Saturday beer delivery for eight weeks but stopped in the past few, once bars and restaurants were allowed indoor dining and drinking when Allegheny County entered the green phase on June 5. He had to adjust again with the recent restriction.
Saturday Home Delivery is live once again! Covering all your beer, soda pop, and cider needs to the Zip Codes listed here. Orders open until 11:59 PM Friday night for delivery on July 4th, 12-5pm.
Open at 3pm today for curbside pick up too. Caution Slippy in stock! pic.twitter.com/X5LMAD9G5d— East End Brewing (@EastEndBrewing) June 30, 2020
Smith said they’ve been finding ways to keep staff employed and keep customers supplied. This Saturday might be a little busier because it’s the Fourth of July. East End delivers to 44 ZIP codes. They will bring beer in cans or bottles and even the proper glassware, he said, but no kegs. You have to stop in for those.
“Saturday is a big day for pub bartenders,” Smith said. “So as I see it, our bartenders are bartending on people’s front porches. Our customers have been incredibly generous.”
Jennifer Walzer, who co-owns Inner Groove Brewing in Verona, is director of communications and outreach for the 34-member Pittsburgh Brewers Guild, where she is also a board member.
She said she’s been trying to keep updated information about what each brewery is doing from takeout to curbside pickup to delivery.
Currently, East End, Eleventh Hour Brewing Co., Grist House, Hop Farm Brewing Co., Insurrection AleWorks, Lincoln Avenue Brewery, The Leaning Cask Brewing Co. and Cinderlands are all offering delivery.
Cinderlands in the Strip District offers same-day and suburban pre-order service, said co-owner and marketing director Joanna Warden.
“We’ve been doing this since that day in March” when indoor businesses were shut down, she said of the business, which celebrated a year in May. “We sat down and figured it out. We were able to keep staff. Their jobs might have changed but they were all willing to help. They can deliver beer in cans as well as food to go with it, or you can pick it up.”
The guild has expanded a page on its site to keep track of all the changes. She said that keeps everything in one location so customers can find it easily.
“It’s in a constant state of change,” she said. “Everyone has been amazing and they’ve quickly adapted and are safely getting their products out.”
In addition to breweries, Brentwood Distributing in West Mifflin offers delivery from more than 2,000 brands. Michelle Dangelo Arnoni, its third-generation owner, said she was ahead of the pandemic when a year ago, she saw that people wanted convenience. So she started delivering and shipping for what she calls “Beverages2U.”
She was one of the first in Pennsylvania. She can supply not only beer but also soft drinks, mixers, water and even juice boxes.
“Covid-19 hit and gave it legs,” she said. “I like to think of us a one-stop shop.”
She can deliver cans and bottles and even kegs if one of her company’s trucks is making the delivery. They also use couriers for some deliveries.
Someone age 21 must sign.
“I like to think of us as delivering a little happiness in dark times,” Dangelo Arnoni said.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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