PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Dough Daddy Brewery is owned and operated by the mother of a local pizza chain.

Angie Bogacz, wife of Caliente Pizza & Draft House Founder and President Nick Bogacz, took her love of hops and hospitality to the next level by purchasing the former Strange Roots Experimental Ales tasting room and beer garden in the Gibsonia neighborhood of West Deer. The revamped space debuted on May 24 with a dozen house-made brews and a seltzer on tap, canned wine, Sicilian-style pies and other elevated pub fare such as truffle fries, a one-pound German pretzel, paninis, salads and desserts.

“This is my dream,” Angie says. “We’ve been wanting to do beer forever.”

PIZZA AT DOUGH DADDY BREWERY | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

In 2012, during a celebration that coincided with Little Italy Days and Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, the couple launched Caliente in Bloomfield to sell gourmet pizzas and a large selection of craft brews. There are now seven restaurants throughout Pittsburgh and stands at PNC Park, PPG Paints Arena and Acrisure Stadium. A new spot on Babcock Boulevard in the North Hills is expected to open this summer. Caliente also has brought back several top awards over the last decade competing in the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

Dough Daddy was founded last year as a contract brew collaboration with Strange Roots, whose head brewer, George Kepler, is making both the new brand of beers and Strange Roots offerings at the Gibsonia production facility. Strange Roots still runs taprooms (that both serve excellent grub!) in Millvale and New Kensington. Dough Daddy plans to can its beers in the near future. An on-site store selling products from local, woman-owned businesses is already up and running.

Related: Pittsburgh Pizza Debate: The Aiello’s Vs. Mineo’s Rivalry Expands to the Suburbs

On Memorial Day, I stopped for lunch at the large, colorful Dough Daddy beer garden, which has covered picnic tables and a mobile bar converted from a vintage hunting trailer.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

My hungry family and I ordered The Bakerstown Hotel with crushed plum tomato sauce, sliced meatballs, pepperoni (the cupped kind that cradles the grease!), mozzarella, provolone, parmesan and ricotta cheeses, fresh basil, olive oil and red pepper flakes. We also got a plain cheese and a Purple and White Trail Loop, a pie featuring burrata cheese and Caliente hot honey that’s named after a hiking trail in nearby Deer Lakes Park.

It was a lot of food, even though we ordered half pans (four cuts) of each pizza. A full pan is eight cuts and there are gluten-free crusts available.

One slice, which is approximately the size, shape, thickness of a car-washing sponge, is enough to satisfy any appetite, so, of course, I had two. It helped soak up the Hoppin Daddy Pale Ales I consumed.

Dough Daddy at 4399 Gibsonia Road, West Deer, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Roundabout Brewery Pop-Up Beer Garden

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST END BREWING CO.

East End Brewing Co., a Larimer institution that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is taking over Roundabout Brewery’s popular Pop-Up Beer Garden at 1836 Oxline Blvd. in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood.

Located in a light industrial area overlooking the Ohio River, the outdoor space opened in July 2018 and became a respite for suds lovers, especially during the pandemic. The dog- and kid-friendly spot reopens May 30.

East End founder Scott Smith has known Roundabout owners Dyana and Steve Sloan for years and is a big fan of their beers.

At the pop-up, there will be five brews on tap, non-alcoholic options from Barmy Soda Co. and Roundabout’s popular Ginga Wheat. Smith says offering the beer will help fans deal with the beloved brewery’s closing. The Lawrenceville-based business shut down in January 2022. COVEN Brewing now occupies the space at 4901 Butler St.

Although there is no food truck scheduled for Thursday’s grand opening, Smith says he has the rest of the weekend booked.

The East End crew hasn’t made any drastic changes to the spot.

“We tried to make a place that we’d like to go to,” Smith says.

East End Brewing’s outdoor space at its new Chateau pop-up location will operate from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through September. Keep an eye on East End’s social media pages for weather and event updates.

Allegheny City Brewing

Allegheny City Brewing’s long-awaited, new 2,400-square-foot taproom is now open on East Ohio Street in Deutschtown.

The two-story structure is located behind the original brewery space at 507 Foreland St. The taproom has seating for 94 patrons inside the main bar area and second-floor mezzanine. The building is set back from the street, leaving room for an L-shaped patio with picnic tables and fire pits. A wraparound deck on the second story offers views of Downtown and the dog-friendly beer garden.

Since its inception in 2016, the brewery has invited patrons to hang photos of their pets on a wall of the Foreland Street building. On April 14, they held a Dog Wall Migration event so folks could move the pictures to the new site.

Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Chimera Brewing

Chimera (pronounced KI-MEER-AH) is a mythical creature that represents the coexistence of opposites such as strength and vulnerability, courage and fear, life and death. It’s also a soon-to-open brewery in Castle Shannon.

Galley Group, the company behind North Shore restaurant incubator Federal Galley and Arthur’s Korner Pub in Mt. Lebanon, plans to debut the rebranded Mindful Brewing Co. space at 3759 Library Road by late summer.

“Being patrons of Mindful, when we saw that it was on the market, we jumped at the opportunity,” says Taylor Blocksom, Galley Group’s director of marketing. “With outdoor seating, plenty of space for parties and events and a full bar, we felt like it was right in our wheelhouse. Mindful was a cornerstone of three different communities and we want to bring that option back for the South Hills.”

Taking inspiration from Mindful staples the local beer community has come to know and love, Chimera will have 40 taps featuring a wide range of beer styles and craft cocktails. The company will also offer an apprentice program in partnership with Point Park University’s Brewing Science Academy Certificate Program.

As for the food, Mindful favorites such as cauliflower bites, fried chicken sandwiches and pizza will stay on the menu. Galley Group, which launched its first restaurant incubator in 2015 in the Strip District, is in talks with some alumni chefs to gauge their interest in running the Chimera kitchen.

“Our small team has made great strides since taking over Galley Group operations in 2020, and, like many industry members, we’ve learned a lot and are excited to put that knowledge and energy into a space that will continue to give back to the community,” CEO Chad Ellingboe says.

Leaning Cask Brewing Company

This summer, Leaning Cask Brewing Company plans to launch a new food concept to celebrate seven years in business. The Underground Burger Company will set up shop in the brewery’s courtyard.

Located at 850 Pittsburgh St. in Springdale Borough, the 2,000-square-foot, four-tiered outdoor space will serve smash burgers made with locally sourced ingredients. Since the kitchen will be located below street level, the name is a nod to London, England’s iconic subway system.

Even though I consumed a lot of burgers this year, I can’t wait to try The Underground’s offerings. To quote Austin Powers, “Danger’s my middle name.”