http://www.beerpgh.com

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/23/1461725/restaurant/Aspinwall-Blawnox/Beer-Nutz-Bottle-Shoppe-Grille-Pittsburgh

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beer-Nutz-Plaza/201938626493563

Bocktown may look big and refined enough to be a corporate chain, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The owner is proud of the restaurant’s independence and is a strong advocate for local restaurants and local beer. The fact that she’s working on opening up a second location may be proof that she has a winning formula, but it certainly doesn’t change her independence as owner.

I don’t try to be a beer snob; I try to be an advocate for access to good beer. I don’t fault restaurants for serving macro-produced lagers. In fact, I suggest that they do.

I agree wholeheartedly that the world is filled with more beer drinkers than beer experts, but the real question is how many people pay attention to what they’re drinking. That’s a growing population, and places like Beer Nutz certainly help to drive that trend. I appreciate their beer list, but I find that their menu runs counter to my own preference in what I like to eat — with or without a beer.

It’s also far less likely to find a place that wants to serve up quality micro/crafts/imports because of the cost. So when you do find place – that has a large selection – seek to find the better qualities instead of degrading the quality to your outrageous standards.

You name D’s and Bocktown… D’s is the first of its kind and is a dingy place that serves up hot dogs, seems if didn’t have the reputation you’d degrade them as well. Bocktown is a corporate chain has the selection but has terrible service and poor quality control.

Keep it more real and less snobby

“Situated way out in Aspinwall, they aren’t anywhere close to local for me, but if you’re out that way, it’s a solid place for a beer.”

Seven miles from Oakland and 10 -15 minutes from downtown is “way out in Aspinwall?!” for a reviewer, you need to get out more.

WPXI: “Pa. Lawmaker Tries Again To Loosen Beer-Sales Law”
http://www.wpxi.com/news/22579696/detail.html

At least someone in the PA legislature is working to eliminate any need for two separate entities. It’s still just talk, but it’s out there.

I was to hear Dave’s observation that they seem to be improving over time. I was hoping that would be the case, and that’s why I didn’t sugar coat my review. There are some real problems, and the only way to make progress toward fixing them is to bring them out in the open.

I too support what they’re trying to do, and hope/expect that an honest review is better than no review at all. One thing Beer Nutz doesn’t seem to have right now is a strong web presence, and some pictures and blogger buzz can never be a bad thing. :-)

Regarding the collocation of distributor and bottle shop, I don’t really have that much of a use case for it. If it’s useful to others, then more power to them.

I live in the city but work in RIDC Park, so Beer Nutz is convenient if I want to grab some beer on the way home from work. I don’t have to think about what amount of beer I need (six pack vs case), or worry about the selection. Like Steve, I never seem to know what I want when I walk into a beer store.

I also agree with Mike that it is a little rough around the edges, but I have been stopping in occasionally pretty much since they opened, and slowly but surely, they seem to be growing and improving. I like what they are trying to do, and I think being close to RIDC offers a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it seems that nearly every business that previously occupied this location didn’t do so well.