The Church Brew Works Revitalizes a Place of Worship

If you happen to find your self in western Pennsylvania, be sure to make your way to Pittsburgh and check out Church Brew Works, a craft brewery that renovated and retrofitted an old church with a new place of worship. In a sustainable effort to keep both the history of the building alive and to keep it as environmentally friendly as possible the brewery was sure to reuse and keep much of the splendor of the original building.

Originally opened at the beginning of the 20th century, it wouldn’t be for another 95 years before the brewery took on the building. In 1996, 3 years after the church was closed, Church Brew Works opened its doors.

Old wood from the pews were made into the bar and old bricks from the confessionals were used for the pillars of the Church Brew Works sign, as well as the facade for both the ramp and the linking hallway of the new Kitchen. Half a century old ply wood was removed to show the old reddish orange Douglas Fir floor, which was restored to its own original glory. Even many of the light fixtures were taken down, refurbished and returned to illuminate many of the details of the brewery.

Photos Courtesy of Church Brew Works