Jeannette microbrewery seeking volunteers for cleanup day

A lot of junk inside an old building in Jeannette needs to be cleared out before craft beer can be served there.

Sobel’s Obscure Brewery is hoping for some volunteer help this weekend.

The craft beer community “likes being involved in the start-up in breweries,” said owner Jackie Sobel.

But the cleanup at the former Gillespie Building isn’t limited to beer lovers — any willing hands are needed to clear out garbage and other items to make way for a future tap room, she said.

The microbrewery purchased the Clay Avenue building from the Westmoreland County Land Bank in December for $40,000 with plans to open a retail location that could include the tap room, on-site brewing, live entertainment and weekend food trucks.

The family-owned brewery, founded in 2012, is clearing the building and doing renovations before opening, possibly this time next year, Sobel said. Any volunteers who help this weekend will make that process go much more quickly, she said.

There is broken furniture and garbage that needs to be carried out of the building’s basement and other items the owners don’t want. Sobel recommended work clothing and gloves. They will provide masks and refreshments.

If all the work is completed on Saturday, a Sunday work session will be canceled, she said. Anyone interested in volunteering should RSVP at the Sobel’s Tap Room Clean Up Facebook event.