Dancing Gnome Brewery - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Justyna M.

Bartenders Kevin and Savesh were AMAZING, and chatting it up with us. They had a lot of knowledge about each beer, and gave us recommendations based upon what we told them what we liked. We even traveled in from Cleveland for an event, and they were so kind to us. The owner also made sure we were taken care of, which we definitely do not see at every place. On top of that, the beer was smooth and easily drinkable. Very impressed, and will be back next time we are in town!

Kristina P.

Went to Dancing Gnome with a group of friends in the afternoon before a Pens game. We had such an awesome time! We loved all of the beers (especially their darker brews), and we appreciated that they had a food truck for us to order food from and eat there. Almost as important as important, the atmosphere was perfect for us—laidback and great music. The staff were all incredibly friendly and really went out of their way to answer questions and take care of us. If you want a welcoming place with great beer and a relaxed vibe, I couldn't recommend them more. Can't wait to drop by again the next time I'm in town!

Rick B.

Every beer I tried was very well done. I do wish they had a little more variety on tap though. The service was excellent! I like the openness and size of the inside. I like the logo and brick exterior of the original building better though.

Laura T.

Very impressed! Loved every single beer (clean, refreshing IPAs, the märzen and festbier we're on point too), cool atmosphere, gorgeous brewery, and the Blue Sparrow food truck ...flavor town!
Husband enjoyed the dumplings and I had the monster grilled kim cheese, (very filling) ridiculously amazing.

Dana V.

Even if you don't like beer, go for the experience. A great sized parking lot, plenty of seating indoors and out.
The are plenty of beers to choose from and Tap Masters definitely can share what you might or might not like.
They even hooked me up with a seltzer.
As for food, there was a food truck outside, that was very busy, especially considering we were there close to closing time.
Definitely would go back. Clean, large space, with plenty of options.

Bru T.

This place was fantastic! Their brewery is super clean which tells how well they care for their product. I came here for the release of their Dunkel and tried as many beers as I could. The Dunkel was decent, but the Altbier and Kolsch were great! So many delightful beers they have to offer and a nice merch section too. I love the breweries in the Pitt area I just can’t find places like these in Michigan. Many beer styles to choose from and are all done very well (true to style). The brewery vibe is great and the food truck that was there at the time was great too. I really enjoyed my experience and can’t wait to come back. This is a must stop if you’re in the Pittsburgh area, you won’t regret your brewery experience.

Scott M.

Located in sharpsburg, they opened a new location a few years ago, it spacious, modern, clean. I drink their ipas, everything they brew is good

Chuy

Dancing Gnome makes highly-rated beer, especially in Pennsylvania according to my beer craft senses. So, I needed to get my hands on some. We were headed back home to Grand Rapids, when we decided to make a pit stop in Pittsburgh to the brewery. It was my 1st time in Pittsburgh. They have a wide variety of hop-forward beers, and the taproom has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The whole vibe is that of an industrial touch like the breweries in Brooklyn.
The brewery is accessible to wheelchairs, but parking can be tight. There is a small lot behind the brewery, but it fills up quickly. There are also a few metered spots on the street, but these can be difficult to find. If you are coming in a wheelchair, I recommend arriving early to secure a parking spot close to the brewery. We were there around 4 on a Thursday so we were the only ones to be able to get a handicapped parking which is near the building.

Once you're inside, you'll find a spacious taproom with a large bar and plenty of seating. There is also a small outdoor patio, which is a great place to enjoy a beer on a nice day.
The staff seemed aloof, a 1st from a brewery, was it the wheelchair in the Steel City?

I enjoyed the Double Lustra. It is a DIPA brewed with Citra and Amarillo hops and has an ABV of 8.5%. The flavor is dank & citrusy, with notes of tangerine, grapefruit, & pine. The beer has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish. Double Lustra is a limited release beer. It was no surprise this is a well made beer which tastes like other delicious DIPAs, hoppy & juicy, a great one beer spot.

Overall, Dancing Gnome is a great place to enjoy a craft beer in Pittsburgh. However, the parking can be a challenge, so I recommend arriving early if you are coming in a wheelchair. I did not encounter any challenges that led to the entrance from where we were at.

Mallory H.

This review is long overdue.

The atmosphere is super inviting. Clean, plenty of space. Nice outdoor space too. The keep everything well maintained and the space is very thoughtful. Great merch. They make it easily to bring food or utilize their food trucks. Love that they have a little propagation station. I do wish the acoustics were slightly better as it does very quickly get a bit too loud especially when the doors are down. I also wish there was slightly more seating and also a few extra tables that are a bit more accessibility/mobility friendly.

I disagree with some of the other reviews on here and recommend giving it a shot vs going based on the reviews.

I value my dog the most over everything and would it be nice to pop in quickly after a long walk, sure, but I’d never fault them for not being dog friendly. I’ve been at breweries where people bring unfriendly dogs, where dogs have knocked things over etc. Dancing Gnome is also right by a busy street - not the most ideal place to bring a dog. Their policy has always been clear - posted on their website and on signage out front.

I’ve gone to Dancing Gnome many times with babies or toddlers. I’ve never had a bad experience. They have a family bathroom with a changing table and staff has always been engaging with the kids. We have always respected that while they allow kids it is still a brewery and the focus is on adults so we make sure to bring something to entertain the kids and make sure they aren’t too loud to bother others. They make their policy about kids clear on their website as well.

I’ve always had really good experiences with staff. They are open to explaining, giving recommendations, etc. have always been greeted, quickly, and with a smile.

I’ve never had a bad beer there though some might not be for me/my favorite. They are very IPA inspired.

Dancing Gnome is always very thoughtful with their charitable donations. They do A LOT in the community, often a lot that most people don’t know about as they aren’t over the top with communicating about it. Just really strong community partners. Andrew is kind, not pretentious and cares about putting out great products.

Jennifer R.

One of my favorite spots! There’s always a beer on tap that I love and you can’t go wrong with any of the Blue Sparrow pizzas. Love it here!!

Evan H.

Unfortunately my family just had a terrible experience. We were told our 1 year old twins were being too loud. I do not recommend this place if you have children. Our 1 year old twins were strapped into their stroller, not even crying, but communicating they wanted food by yelling. Other children were in the vicinity and also making noise, and I suspect were told after us the leave. It was close to 90 degrees outside which is why we were inside with babies. I love the beer and food, but while we were not straight out told to leave, it was implied. I don’t think any parent wants to feel ashamed for having children. It was not a great experience, even though the food at blue sparrow and their beer was excellent. It was also 3-4pm on a Saturday. I think as a parent of a 4 year old girl, and 1 year old twin boys, we deserve to be able to go out in public even if 1 year old babies may make a little noise. If they were bawling, or excessively noisy, as a decent human being, I’m happy to take them out and walk around away from the public. You can’t control when a baby makes some noise; I hope to never feel ashamed for having children again like I was at dancing gnome for existing

Carrie S.

One of the absolute BEST breweries in Pittsburgh. The beer and taproom are of course great but the amazing staff make the experience that much better. The taproom always feels inclusive and welcoming. As if that wasn’t enough, the Blue Sparrow bus provides some of the best food you’ll find in the city by an equally as friendly staff. It’s evident that the entire team at DG puts in an immense amount of time and effort to make every experience a positive one.

Anna H.

I’ve loved this place for some time, but today was an extra great experience. Our baby knocked over my husband’s beer and the staff replaced it at no charge. Unexpected, especially from a craft brewery, but Dancing Gnome really sets the standard for service and product!