Voodoo Brewery brings beer, ice cream sandwiches and good vibes to the North Facet | drink | Pittsburgh

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CP Photo: Owen Gabbey

Voodoo Brewery’s 2 Live Gran Cru Greatest Hits – Volume 6, a blend of stouts and barley wines aged 24-48 months

Ask people who aren’t from Pittsburgh what comes to mind about the local beer scene, and chances are, Voodoo Brewery will be one of the first names to come up. The longtime staple has been so successful that it’s expanded its horizons from its original taproom in Meadville to locations across the state. Now turn your attention to the north side.

Grandly opening this past weekend, Voodoo’s newest taproom has taken up residence just off North Shore Drive, a hop and skip from PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium. The new location is a welcome addition for centrally located Pittsburghers who previously had to head to Homestead to find their next voodoo fix. As the company says of its flagship beer, they “bring the good vibes to the North Shore.”

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CP Photo: Owen Gabbey

Voodoo Brewery’s Macademia and Almond Ice Cream Sandwich

As I surveyed the space, I witnessed a mix of everything that has made Voodoo the great brand, as well as their new ventures branching out and finding new avenues. Their Homestead location is a quirky spot right in the heart of the community, but their newest brewery definitely offers some perks. First, there’s a huge, dog-friendly outdoor decking area that wraps around the back of the building, giving guests a direct view of the water.

The other big change can be seen in the menu. Voodoo may be a brewery first, but they’ve also long had a reputation for having an above-average menu at all of their locations. The new spot immediately expands and improves on everything they’ve done on this side of the operation. Culinary Director Sean Kirzyc says Voodo expects about 55% of revenue to come from dining at their North Side location, which is a drastic shift from their other taprooms.

And the results show. Kirzyc has teamed up with Executive Chef Dave Gordon to create a menu that deserves a place on any list of the region’s most creative and enduring restaurants, let alone a taproom. Almost immediately, I was greeted by a Voodoo Love Child Ice Cream Sammy, an absurdly large ice cream sandwich featuring Millie’s Bitter Almond Cake Vanilla Ice Cream smashed between two white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.

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CP Photo: Owen Gabbey

Smoked Cuban Duck from the Voodoo Brewery

After getting my dessert out of the way, I moved on to my main course, Voodoo’s spin on a Cuban smoked duck sandwich swapped for pulled pork. It was both delicious and imaginative, and the entire menu is decorated with items like this, from a tortilla burger to a pork belly banh mi sandwich to a chimichurri with truffle fries.

Oh, and the beer isn’t bad either. While Voodoo is known for their classic Good Vibes West Coast IPA or their Belgian tripel Belgian Love Child, I think their lighter, classic beers are where the brewing really shines. I tried Oh Mama, their traditional American lager, named after the Styx song “Renegade” (which is regularly played at Steelers games), and Poznan Pivo, a traditional Polish lager. Both were perfect beers for a boiling hot Saturday.

You can sometimes find something special on tap too, as I had the opportunity to have one of their vaunted Barrel Room Collection stouts on tap, a feature the brewery says will happen occasionally. A kind of secret menu.

Expect an added focus on the brewery, which will take advantage of the unique things the North Side has to offer, like watch parties for Steelers and Pirates games, and community-connected events like block parties. But even if you go on a random Wednesday, you’ll find a new gem along the Allegheny: an intriguing mix of great food, unique beer, and of course, that good vibe.

Voodoo Brewery. 375 N. Shore Drive, north side. voodoobrauerei.com