Church Brew Works A Brewpub With God on Its Side Steeped in History The Church Brew Works is an inspiring example of how beer has the power to preserve. This brewpub turned a vacant building complex into a vibrant community hub while preserving historic architecture and creating a beautiful place to drink beer and eat well. Lawrenceville, the brewpub's Pittsburgh neighborhood home, has a history steeped in grain. The town originated around the turn of the 19th century as a farm called "Good Liquor".  This is the same region of the country that ignited the Whiskey Rebellion when President Washington (a large distiller and brewer himself) tried to impose a stiff tax on liquor.

Don't Give Up the Ship
This area came to be called Lawrenceville, named for Captain James Lawrence who is famed for his quote during the Revolutionary War: "Don't give up the ship!" Eventually, the town was swallowed up by Pittsburgh, a city that was fast becoming a powerful engine of the Industrial Revolution.

Lawrencevilles first houses were superb examples of a Victorian architectural style called Second Empire Italianate. The Irish and Scotch Catholics that filled these houses needed a place to worship, so in 1878, the Diocese of Pittsburgh constructed St. John the Baptist church. Originally located at Penn Avenue and 36th Street, the church moved to Liberty Avenue and 36th Street in 1901 and has remained there ever since.

Architects Louis Beezer, Michael Beezer and John Combs were employed to design the church, rectory, school and convent. Some of the finest craftsmen of the time decorated the church with exquisite detail. The multi-colored glass of the Rose window stands as a kaleidoscopic backdrop for the turn-of-the-century pipe organ in the balcony. Hand-painted cypress beams in the vaulted ceiling and European-style stained glass windows accentuate the buildings heavenly orientation. When built, the bell tower, called a campanile, was twice as high as it is now and held a full peal of bells. Although somewhat altered to provide a modern appearance today, the buildings were originally designed in a Northern Italian Architectural style, remaining faithful to the existing architecture in the community.

Time for Beer or Beer for Time?
When the cornerstone was laid on June 1, 1902, a copper time capsule was placed inside it with a history of the church and copies of pertinent articles from local publications of the time. That time capsule remains in tact to this day. Historic minded brewers might consider adopting this tradition. Why not place a bottle or casks of fine beers inside a brewery time vault for future generations to enjoy?

During the Depression Era, St. Johns distributed food to needy members of the community. And in 1936, it sheltered the unfortunates who were ravaged by flood waters from Pittsburgh's three mighty rivers.

Beginning in the 1950's, Lawrenceville, like most industrial centers, began to decline. Mills started closing down. The young, vibrant community was maturing. Just as before, people were moving near their jobs and that meant away from Lawrenceville. The school was shut down about 20 years before the parish was disbanded. In 1993, the Diocese reorganized and St. Johns was put under an act of suppression.

Don't Give Up the Church
The building lay dormant for three years until The Church Brew Works reopened the doors of St. John the Baptist on the 1st of August, 1996.

Painstaking efforts were taken during renovation of the church and rectory in attempts to maintain original features. Many existing fixtures were reused. Original pews were refurbished and adapted for beer worship. The bar was built from oak planks salvaged from the pews. The reddish orange hue of the flooring comes from the original Douglas Fir floors, which were meticulously restored after lying hidden under plywood for 50 years. The original eight lanterns in the center bay were completely refurbished and reinstalled, and now illuminate the detailing of the ceiling.

I Confess. I Worship a False Idol: Beer
One of the confessionals remains intact behind the bar and houses The Church Brew Works merchandise. Bricks salvaged from another confessional were reused for the pillars on the outdoor sign, the facade on the outdoor ramp and the facade of the new kitchen.

The former rectory courtyard was converted into an outdoor patio called The Hop Garden. From the Hop Garden, one is able to view the Bell Tower and the stained glass windows. This garden nook is nestled in between the kitchen and restaurant and provides the pleasure of being outside but with the serenity of a private hideaway.

But by far, the most striking element is the brew house itself, situated right on the altar. The name for the large canopy behind the brew house is the Baldachinum or Ciborium. This Ciborium is a design feature of ancient building construction which provided protection against falling ceilings. The steel and copper tanks gleam in a celestial blue backdrop, inspiring a sense of reverence for the mystery of brewing.

Serving the Congregation
Head Brewer Bryan Pearson brews four house beers, two ales and two lagers. Specialty beers also appear on a rotating basis. Here are some of their heavenly beers:

Celestial Gold Pipe Organ Pale Ale Pious Monk Dunkel Bell Tower Brown Ale Absolution Ale Mad Brewer Maibock O'Bryan's Irish Stout Burly Friar Barleywine Penance Porter Heavenly Hefe Weizen 2000Trippel

With beers like these around, I feel compelled to visit a church during this time of year.