ABV is our weekly series that highlights a different beer from a local Pittsburgh brewery every week. Check out our past picks here.
**ring ring**
TF: “Hello! This is Hop Farm.”
AS: “Oh, dang. Um hey there, I’ve made a mistake. I was trying to call Full Pint.”
TF: “What’s up, Aadam? This is T-Funk. We have caller ID, man.”
Fun Fact: T-Funk is a jokester. He’s also the charming black man in a kilt who greets guests at Full Pint Wild Side Pub in Lawrenceville. Tony (AKA T-Funk) is a talented musician and has a beer named after him. You can read all about it, starting right now.
ABV, volume X
T-Funk – available next week at Full Pint Brewing
Beer Name: T-Funk
Style / ABV: Berliner Weiss (Sour), 4.5% ABV
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl_Klwwlk3z/
Why we recommend it: There’s a lotta things I love about Full Pint: the (taproom) space, the staff, the vibe, the food, the artwork, the suspiciously SUPER CLEAN restrooms. I love that Full Pint stands up for social issues they believe in and I love that they are an Upper Lawrenceville institution.
I also crave the T-Funk. Regularly. Listed as a blackberry and black tea sour, I recommend this to ALL my friends who are looking for a gateway beer into sours. I’ll admit, wild ales and sours can be polarizing and intense for folks who crush crispy boys on the regular.
What is a sour beer: I found this article (from Hop Culture magazine) about the difference between sour beers and wild ales. A super helpful read for folks curious about learning more.
To my knowledge, Full Pint is one of the only breweries in the area that boasts a damn good, year-round kettle sour. The T-Funk is crisp and light, coming in at 4.5% ABV and carries itself in a lovely red hue. It is see-through, but not in a watery way. It has a recognizable aroma and is arguably the beer I drank the most of during calendar year 2018.
When is it available: T-Funk is a mainstay on the Full Pint draft list. I chatted with T-Funk (the legendary human being) on Monday, April 8 and he shared that the most recent batch of T-Funk (the beer) was being packaged up and prepared for delivery to the Wild Side Taproom (Lawrenceville). It is expected to return to their draft list within a week.
How is it served: Enjoy a fresh pour (at either Full Pint location) on draft. Get a growler fill for carry out and share it amongst friends. Also, it is confirmed that T-Funk will be released in cans later this year. Heck yeah.
Where is it available: Full Pint’s Wild Side Tap Room in (Lawrenceville) and the actual Full Pint Brewery (North Versailles).
Fun Fact: Full Pint is in full distribution so there’s a good chance you’ll find the T-Funk on draft at several craft beer bars around Pittsburgh.
Honorable Mention Beer: If sours aren’t your thing, I recommend the Living Color IPA. For folks unfamiliar, Full Pint has partnered with Redfishbowl to donate $1 from every sale of the Living Color IPA to raise money for local artists and musicians.
Total wildcard: Full Pint (Lawrenceville) has amazing food. Pair up your T-Funk with a ‘Royale w/cheese.’ That’s right, Full Pint’s flatbreads make for amazing pub food. You should treat yourself to the Royale or grab a full-on sandwich or share some snacks. Full Pint is a great place to go if you’re hungry.
Visiting the Full Pint Wildside Pub in Lawrenceville
First Time Visitor?
Parking: on-street parking is available in every direction. Butler Street, 53rd Street, 54th Street, etc.
Food?
Yes, food is available at the taproom. I eat it regularly.
Interior?
There’s a bar side and a dining side. Both are rad. The artwork, the candle lights, the clean restrooms.
Pro Tip: got a large group? Looking for a place to have a beer and a nice conversation? Maybe even bring a baby? Hit the dining room side of Wild Side Pub when there’s not a live performance or concert. Lean into the coziness. It’s a lovely space and generally lowkey before live performers take the stage in the evening.
Getting to Wild Side Pub
Bus: Take the 91.
Uber / Lyft: per usual, always a smart move after some beers. Be careful crossing Butler Street.
Visiting the Full Pint Brewery in North Versailles
Parking: there’s a huge free lot on top of the hill as you approach the brewery. Can’t miss it.
Food: yup, sure do. We recommend the hoagies.
Interior: This is literally their production facility but there is a bar and seating area on the right-hand side of the building. It’s industrial with super high ceilings and there’s plenty of space. Nice restroom too.
Getting to the Brewery
Bus: the P76 has limited service and only runs on weekdays. Better off just driving or taking a ride-share.
Uber / Lyft: per usual, always a smart move after some beers. Just a heads up, depending on demand, ride-shares will run $30+ from North Versailles back into the city.
