Construction Junction - Building Material Reuse

Brewers... the 2010 lineup

The 2010 brewers list was even bigger than 2009 with thirty-five (35) attending Big Pour Four.  Is it really possible that it just keeps getting better and better?  Yes it is!  We were happy to have the majority of brewers returning plus the addition of a few new ones we knew you would love!  It's our mission to have an incredibly impressive lineup of craft brewers at the big Pour... a "burden" of effort we gladly bear.

Please get to know these breweries.  Visit their websites (scroll down) and, of course, seek out these beers at local beer bars and distributors. 

Additionally, we'd like to give a special thanks to those 2010 Big Pour Brewers who have made a financial contribution to Construction Junciton including: Founders Brewing Company, New Holland Brewing, Terrapin Beer Company and Unibroue.

About the new brewers joining the Big Pour in 2010...

Anderson Valley Brewing Company – Located in Boonville, CA, Anderson Valley has been brewing its award-winning line of ales since 1987. The brewery has gone through numerous expansions since then, including a new state-of-the-art brewhouse featuring HUGE copper kettles rescued (go reuse!) from a defunct German brewery. Their beers have been in the area for many years now, and we are delighted to welcome them to Big Pour Four.

Full Pint Brewing – The newest brewery in Pittsburgh’s amazing craft beer renaissance is a collaboration of five local brewers with 50 years of experience. The gang is brewing on the old John Harvard’s system and is located out near North Huntingdon. Kegs started rolling out of the brewery back in May, and the bottling line was up and running in July. Check these guys out!

Furthermore Beer – Former Foundry Ale Works brewer Aran Madden brings his unique beers back to Pittsburgh. Located out of Spring Green, WI, Furthermore’s beers have been making a big splash since they started brewing back in 2006. Every beer in their line-up brings something new to the table, so they are a perfect fit for our festival.

Heavy Seas Beer – Born out of the Clipper City Brewing Company in Baltimore, the Heavy Seas line-up of beers features a wide-range of full-flavored brews grouped into three fleets: the Clipper Fleet, the Mutiny Fleet, and the Pyrate Fleet. This brewery combines the best of both worlds: innovative beer thinking blended with the best elements of traditional brewing methods. Embrace Your Inner Pyrate!

New Holland Brewing – Located in Holland, MI, this brewery has grown from a two-man start-up in 1996 to its current status as a thriving regional microbrewery. New Holland has a small stable of year-round beers, but brews a plethora of fantastic seasonals. When they say “Art in Fermented Form”, they are not kidding!

North Country Brewing – Though scheduling conflicts have prevented this Slippery Rock, PA, brewpub from attending in past years, we are extremely psyched to have North Country at the Big Pour this year. They use traditional brewing methods and the finest ingredients to produce superb, unique brews. Come try their beers at the Big Pour, and then head out to their ultra-cool Main Street pub.

Smuttynose Brewing Company – Founded in 1994, this Portsmouth, NH, brewery distributes their beers from Maine to Florida. They make a wide variety of distinctive beers, form their five full-time beers to their seasonals and famous Big Beer series. Smuttynose has a well-earned reputation as one of America’s best all around breweries.

Stoudt Brewing Company – As one of the pioneering craft breweries in America, Stoudt’s offers a variety of amazing lagers and ales. Located in Adamstown, PA, they have been a staple of great craft beer in the Pittsburgh market for many years, and we are thrilled to have them join us this year for the Big Pour.

How do we select the brewers we invite?

All members of the Committee get together months and months prior to September to plan each Big Pour.  During the early meetings we sift, sort, rate and debate to the wee hours of the night.  Eventually we arrive at consensus and winning breweries are invited to the festival.  To be nominated in the first place... we definitely emphasize quality over quantity.  We have several criteria that we consider:

• Taste - The single most important factor is taste... the brewery must produce excellent tasting craft made beers.  No compromises, no exceptions, no nonsense!!  And trust us, we spend a lot of time at meetings tasting beers.
• Local - We wholeheartedly support the Buy Local movement and try to invite brewers that are local to the Pittsburgh area which to us means within a days drive.  We work hard to support and promote locally produced beers.
• Reuse - At Construction Junction we're all about promoting reuse and recycling, so naturally we gravitate towards brewers with like minded values.  We like brewers who reuse buildings and equipment in addition to using other sustainable practices to produce their beer.  In fact, several of our brewers produce certified organic beers, which we feature in a special section at the Big Pour.

Food partners... the 2010 lineup

The Big Pour just would not be the same without our food partners.  Many members of the organizing committee have gone to beer festivals where the food is hidden in some far off corner and usually costs extra.  At the Big Pour the food is an integral part of the event... as it should be!  We are serious Foodies!  The food booths are interspersed among brewery tables for the perfect combination of food and drink.  For this year's Big Pour we've selected the best of Pittsburgh... restaurants whose food really compliments craft beer.  At the event you can try as many tastes as you like because, at the Big Pour, food is included in the cost of admission.

Most of our food partners are listed below.  More will be added as the event draws closer.  Whatever you do... don't wait until the event to try these establishments!!  Stop in over the summer and sample their menus.

Local is the new Organic

This year's Big Pour is even more focused on local food than ever before.  Many of our Food Partners consistently source local foods for use in their restaurants and the Big Pour Committe, through our partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, actively works to help connect farmers with our Big Pour Food Partners.

Click on the icon below to learn more about the Buy Fresh Buy Local movement.