ABV is our weekly series that highlights a different beer from a local Pittsburgh brewery every week. Check out our past picks here.
Like many suburban Ohioans who grew up in the 90s, I found my youth filled with feelings of angst.
This unrestrained drive to be a rebel meant staying out entirely too late.
It was my friends and I racing our dilapidated cars down unmarked back roads. It meant getting tattoos and stressing out our parents. And the soundtrack to it all was a heaping dose of heavy metal.
These weren’t Eric Clapton-esque precision guitar sounds.
This wasn’t Slash commanding the eyes and ears of a sold-out arena.
And these certainly were not the innovative creations of Harvard-educated Tom Morello.
Nope, we’re talking about James Hetfield’s right hand. We’re Slipknot and the stage is on fire. We’re shredding through a Lamb of God breakdown.
When suburban Ohio calls into the radio station, she exclusively requests a mash guitar.
ABV, volume XIII
Mash Guitar – available now at Eleventh Hour Brewing
Beer Name: Mash Guitar
Style / ABV: NEIPA, 6.6% ABV
Why we recommend it:
If you’re a fan of (hazy) IPAs, the Mash Guitar plays YOUR jingle. This is an underrated, beautifully balanced beer.
A blend of citrus and papaya with hints of coconut and mellow stone fruits, the Mash Guitar is a perfect New England-style IPA.
Eleventh Hour cranks out their RoboJack IPA on the regular (which I love). The Mash Guitar feels like that beer has leveled up. Matt McMahon – partner and head brewer at Eleventh Hour – isn’t shy about double dry hopping his hazy beers. This one is loaded up with El Dorado and Idaho Gem hops for a refreshing spring treat.
When is it available: Mash Guitar entered the Eleventh Hour line up in mid-April. It’s on tap now.
How is it served: Enjoy a fresh pour on draft or fill your growler to take home. This beer is not available in cans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwaPd4hhyNU/
Where is it available: Eleventh Hour Brewing (lower Lawrenceville)
Honorable Mention Beer: Honestly, I’m gonna keep it real and keep things in the same vein here. Go ahead and get the RoboJack IPA. It’s a stellar mainstay at Eleventh Hour and they sell it in 4-packs to go as well. Share some cans with friends. It’s a hazy NEIPA with a little more punch (7.1% ABV) and has never let me down.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwppDcLBD6H/
Visiting Eleventh Hour Brewing
First Time Visitor?
Parking: there’s a free lot directly behind the brewery, but generally street parking or taking a ride-share is the way to go here. Since the brewery is in Lawrenceville but located OFF Butler St, you’ll be tucked right into a dense residential area. Always good etiquette to be mindful of the neighbors, so my advice: leave the car at home. Grab the 91 bus or hitch a Lyft to and from the brewery.
Food?
Eleventh Hour has a rad partnership with Blue Sparrow, which we recently profiled as part of our mini-documentary food truck series. This food truck residency means you can get Blue Sparrow on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday OR Sunday at the brewery. For Saturday visitors, check the Eleventh Hour website for an updated list of their food truck bookings.
Interior?
I love this space. It used to be a school house and you can look directly into the brewing area from the taproom. Matt and his team literally brew right behind the bar and it is a totally open floor plan layout.
Super clean restrooms, simple bench-style seating throughout the space and generally excellent service (they staff up appropriately during peak hours). Many of the staff members are Ohio University grads (just like me). Go Bobcats!
Pro Tip: Eleventh Hour is in a trendy area and – as such – it gets quite packed on Friday and Saturday nights. If crowds aren’t your thing, it’s not a bad idea to grab your beer and sit outside on the picnic tables to give yourself some breathing room.
Fun Fact: every single clock at Eleventh Hour is set to 11:11. Sure it fits the brand, but it’s also because Matt (head brewer) was born on November 11th at precisely 11:11 and – you guessed it – eleven is his lucky number.
Getting to Eleventh Hour
Bus: Take the 91 or the 64.
Uber / Lyft: yep, absolutely. Highly recommend the ride shares if you’re drinking in Lawrenceville. You can also Scoobi here and (legally) park very easily along any of the side streets or on Butler St.
