USA, PA: Spring Hill Brewing closing down after four-plus years in business
Spring Hill Brewing, a tiny brewery in a former German American social club atop the North Side with a view of the building tops of Downtown Pittsburgh and beyond, has announced that, after four-plus years, it’s closing, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on September 21.
Friday, September 23 is the last day for the brewery, located way “off the beaten track” at 1958 Varley St., which gave both mapping apps and cars some fits.
The news was announced late last week via a social post, with thanks given, “for joining me at this beautiful, little weird hilltop brewery.”
Greg Kamerdze and his business partner Mike Seamans opened in July 2018 in the former abandoned Workingmen’s Beneficial Union building on Spring Hill, surrounded by residences and green space in a spot you had to want to go to.
Spring Hill used a small (2 barrel) system to brew mostly low-alcohol, Belgian-style brews — such as saisons and other “farmhouse ales” — and served them on the weekends in the more-than-a-century-old club. Regulars loved the hideaway, hidden-gem feel.
Reached on September 20, Kamerdze explained in an email, “Like most stories like this, it’s of course a lot of things, but what it simply comes down to is that my lease is up and everything costs more. Beyond the actual costs of running a business that all seem to perpetually creep upwards, I’ve been working at this practically every day all day for the last six years. The last two have been especially nonstop, brewing all the beer, serving all the beer, and everything in between.
“So I’m pretty burnt out and I’m looking forward to 40-hour work weeks outside the brewing industry,” he said, noting, “I will most likely brew again after a break, just for fun.”
The WBU Event Venue itself still is busily booked with weddings, he said, and “will continue after I’m gone. The space is beautiful and no doubt someone will be back in there soon, but at the moment I’m not sure if there’s a new tenant lined up.”
As he said publicly on Facebook and Instagram on September 15, “It’s been a pleasure serving all of you except that one guy. Thank you all for joining me at this beautiful, little weird hilltop brewery that’s practically been my home for the last five years. This is an amazing community and I’m extremely lucky to have had this surreal experience with such supportive neighbors. New friends, old friends, family, new family, even foes, and often ghosts have made this place a success.”
He thanked many of them by first name and surely will continue to do so in person on Friday, September 23, when the hours are to be 5-9 p.m.
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