Pittsburgh's Historic 'The Church Brew Works' Wins Best Large Brewpub and Brewer of the Year Awards at the Great American Beer Festival®

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pittsburgh's historic The Church Brew Works (http://www.churchbrew.com) recently won first place honors as 'Best Large Brewpub' and Brewer Steve Sloan won 'Best Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year' at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival (http://www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com) - the largest national beer competition that recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121019/CL96535 )

In addition, The Church Brew Works won a Gold, Silver and two Bronze Medals respectively for its Ales and Lagers. Heini's Hooch won in the category of Old Ale or Strong Ale,  Pious Monk Dunkel won for European-Style Dunkel, Celestial Gold won for Dortmunder-Style and Pipe Organ Pale Ale won for International-Style Pale Ale Category. A total of 4,338 beers competed in 84 beer-style categories that were presented October 13 at the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony held in Denver, CO. 

"For American Brewers, this industry competition is the 'Olympics of Beer Festivals'. We're elated for being recognized as the 'Best Large Brewpub in America' and plan to pour it on in 2013," said The Church Brew Works owner Sean Casey. "I'm grateful Brewer Steve Sloan has been recognized as 'Best Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year' by our peers in the brewing community.  He deserves the recognition for his dedication to exceptional craft beer. The rest of the country now knows about this jewel in the city of Pittsburgh."

The Church Brew Works prides itself as being a trailblazer of 'firsts' in the brewpub/restaurant industry. Chef Jason Marrone was the first to feature 'Rattle Snake & Cactus Pierogies'.   The brewery was the first to commercially package Beer in 5 liter Mini Keg Cans.  The brewery was the first in the world to locate in a shuttered church and thusly received an Award of Merit from Pittsburgh's History & Landmarks Foundation for its adaptive reuse of a historic turn of the century structure.

2012 has been a special year for The Church Brew Works.  Its elegant elixirs had a strong showing at the 2012 Los Angeles International Beer Competition too.  The brewery won a Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal respectively for its Thunderhop IPA (India Pale Ale American-Style), Saaz Monster (Zwickelbier - unfiltered German-Style Lager) and its Pious Monk Dunkel (European-Style Dunkel) beers.

ABOUT THE CHURCH BREW WORKS - The Church Brew Works is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA and was incorporated as Lawrenceville Brewery, Inc. - the combination microbrewery and restaurant renovated the shuttered former St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (est. 1902) and opened for business in 1996. Established by founder and owner/operator Sean Casey, The Church Brew Works was an early participant in the revitalization of the historic neighborhood of Lawrenceville and received an Award of Merit from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation for its adaptive reuse of the property.

The Church Brew Works sells beer both on and off premise and produces and packages beer in traditional 12 oz. bottles, 750 ml corked champagne style bottles, standard kegs of beer and 5 liter Jumbo Cans of Beer. The brewpub has been nationally featured in Brewpub Magazine, the Cable Food Network, Conde Nast, CNN, INC. magazine, National Geographic Traveler Magazine,  Nation's Restaurant News, NBC Today Show, USA Today and the Washington Post. For more information, call 412.688.8282 or visit http://www.churchbrew.com.

SOURCE The Church Brew Works