USA, PA: Yough River Brewing Co. to open its doors in Connellsville on April 29

More local beer starts to flow at a river city brewery on April 29 when Yough River Brewing Co. opens in Connellsville, Fayette County, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Just across the Youghiogheny River from the Great Allegheny Passage — the riverside trail from Pittsburgh’s Point to Cumberland, Md. — this little (2.5-barrel brewhouse) brewery and taproom opens at 4 p.m. Friday in a former plant nursery building. Owners are Matt and Jacquelyn Humes. He’s a mason who helped make over his one-time shop with garage doors that open to a big outdoor patio that welcomes bicyclists, anglers and other outdoorsy types.

“This is a big outdoors area,” Mr. Humes told the Post-Gazette this week as he worked on finishing touches for the place, which he believes will draw bikers on a 1-mile or so side trip over to South Connellsville Athletic Field. It’s just a few street numbers up from where Yough Brewing Co. started making beer more than a century ago. (It closed in 1941.)

Brewed in a building next-door to the shiny Yough River taproom and patio, the beers for the opening include Eddy of the Flow Kolsch, Purple Explanations fruit beer, Afraid Not New England-style pale ale, Blazing Paddles witbier, Notorious Y.R.B. blonde ale, Sweet Lou brown ale and Bearded Nomad India pale ale. Most are 4% to 5% alcohol by volume. Mr. Humes, a home brewer, is brewing with Nelson DaSilva, a self-described regional “nomad brewer” whose credits include Lavery Brewing in Erie, Riverside Brewing in Cambridge Springs and Links Brewing in Pittsburgh.

They’re also pouring cocktails made with Pennsylvania spirits, local wines and soft drinks.

“We want to keep it kid friendly,” Mr. Humes said. “We want to have dogs.”

Eats will be provided by food trucks and live music will be featured, starting this weekend.

Connellsville is about 60 miles from Pittsburgh on the G.A.P., which is a big economic generator that continues to grow new businesses. In the other direction — in Rockwood, Somerset County — Trailhead Brewing Co. opened last month, and Trailside Brewing is to open soon in Confluence.

Opening on the trail for the season Sunday in West Newton, Westmoreland County, across the Yough from Bloom Brew Brewery, is the Bloom Brew Brewery Draft Wagon. It’s pouring three draft beers and more from 2-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday and, of course, bicyclists also can cross over to the main brewery when it’s open.

Mr. Humes believes Connellsville is heading in the right direction, as he’s friends with local restaurateur Anthony Ruvo, who recently opened the Churchill Cigar Lounge to complement his Ruvo’s Italian Restaurant. Mr. Humes is working out having that restaurant’s food at the taproom, too.

29 April, 2022