The Story
Grist House Craft Brewery was founded in 2013 by four passionate brewers and beer enthusiasts: Eric Arner, Patrick Castelli, Brant Harrington, and Brian Eaton. Their philosophy was simple: community first, beer second. That meant creating spaces where people gathered to celebrate craft beer, build friendships, and invest in their neighborhoods.
The brewery operates multiple taprooms in Collier Township and Millvale, each becoming a community hub. Grist House is known for signature beers like Grumpus Imperial Stout (a robust, chocolatey beer made for winter) and Peel Hefeweizen (a crisp, traditional German-style wheat beer). The brewery has won multiple "Best Brewery in Pittsburgh" awards, a testament to both quality and community commitment.
What distinguishes Grist House is its intentional approach to building community. The taprooms host events, live music, local businesses, and charitable fundraisers. The brewery has become integral to the neighborhoods it serves, proving that success for a craft brewery means more than just good beer—it means belonging and connection.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
Grist House embodies a Pittsburgh value: the neighborhood bar, the local gathering place. These institutions have always been central to Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Grist House modernizes that tradition with craft beer and intentional community building, but the core mission—creating spaces for people to belong—remains distinctly Pittsburgh.
The brewery's growth from two passionate founders to multiple award-winning locations shows that there's no conflict between commercial success and authentic community investment. Pittsburgh has always built its strength on this balance.