Independent Brewing Company
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Come for the beer. Stay for the food. I enjoyed my visit very much. The food was honestly so good! My friend and I shared the arancini, burrata, and huli huli wings. Every bite was tasty. I especially loved the sweet and savory combination in the burrata which had strawberries and basil. The arancini also had a great combination of savory and sweet flavors and had some honey and cherry added to the mix along with butternut squash. If you love creative, deliciously prepared dishes, definitely come here.
Some friends and I organized a Squirrel Hill bar crawl over the weekend, and I almost wish we could have stayed at Independent the entire time. IBC does not take reservations, which usually makes me a little wary of a bar or restaurant, but they were maybe one of the most accommodating places I've ever been in Pittsburgh when it came to our group. Three of us sat at the bar upon arrival, and the bartender asked if there would be more people in the party joining us. We said yes, and we eventually moved to a table outside, with another table beside ours left empty for us so incoming friends could still be near us. I thought this was so thoughtful. We were also informed from the start that parties of six or larger must be on the same check and that gratuity would be included. I took this opportunity to cash out, as I was leaving shortly. My check was brought out promptly and I was not held up at all, which I appreciated. I ordered the bramble cocktail, which was delicious. It was very citrus forward and bright without being overly sweet. The bartenders at IBC know what they're doing. And now, for my favorite part. I consider myself to be somewhat of a potato snob. I take fries very seriously. Independent Brewing Company might just have my favorite fries in all of Pittsburgh. They are hand-cut, perfectly crispy, and well-seasoned. And the aioli accompanying them is out of this world. Is the perfect blend of herbs with a hint of citrus. I am still thinking about them 24 hours later and thinking about when I'll be able to get them again. Overall, I am so pleased with our visit to IBC. The staff are absolutely wonderful, and the food and drinks are all well-done. We will absolutely be back.
Cozy vibes. Not a huge selection of beers and only one cider, but also some cocktails and wine. The staff is awesome and the service was quick.
Stopped by while walking in Squirrel Hill to grab a drink outside. Drinks were good and the service was prompt, only about 4-5 tables outside. Helped a lot with questions we had out the drinks. Got the Pecorino wine and premium lager. Wine was not widely available and tried for the first time, would get again! The lager was pretty basic but for $4 it's a decent deal.
Cool brewery/bar in the squirrel hill area. Located right next to hidden harbor and I think they shared a kitchen so you can get similar food. They have a wide variety of drinks from many different breweries and the vibe of the place is pretty great.
I planned to spend Gratitude Day 2025 at IBC but decided to go to the mothership after discovering that IBC was pouring East End Brewing Company's Gratitude Barleywine in 10oz glasses for $8 (EEBC was pouring them in 13oz glasses for $9). We did have one round and the Brussels sprouts at IBC, both of which were tasty. The sprouts were a bit soggy and too sweet from an abundance of sauce for my taste, but my plus one loved them. The avocado crème was a nice touch.
This was hands down the best dining experience we had in Pittsburgh. The margarita was delicious (and beautiful!) and the burrata salad and carne asada tacos were phenomenal. They have a somewhat limited menu but what they do they do so well. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly. I love all the alternate history art on the walls, it's a fun place to look around. I especially loved that they were playing records. Independent Brewing Company has a great vibe and aesthetic. Highly recommend!!
Great beer and wine selections and wonderful food. The staff is hardworking and friendly. If you go on Wednesday nights, Rick Sebak is spinning vinyl records, how cool is that? The outdoor seating is very attractive. This place is a winner.
Just there on a crowded Friday night. We eked out 2 spaces at the bar. We chose 2 Belgian ales from the bottle menu (sad, they didn't have any on draft!) - and though they didn't have them chilled, the staff went over and above getting them from storage & getting them chilled quickly. We decided to order some apps for dinner to try more things, and boy was that the right choice. We had: roasted cauliflower (the Ras el Hanout w/ feta, apple, & mint) was SO flavorful; fish tacos packed w/ zesty slaw, crema & cilantro were a fave (I don't usually like fried fish in tacos but this was light & excellent); and calamari & rock shrimp (tasty & a zing of spice, tho a bit over-cooked). The bar is popular & pretty loud, but my husband and I were still able to talk fairly easily. Ambiance is nice - dark walls, funky/80s/fun selection of music. We'll be back.
First time visiting this venue, but enjoyed a drink, dinner and great conversation with a friend last night. Plus, Rick Sebak plays music on vinyl records Wednesdays...could barely hear the music and him talking on the microphone though. I had the Mexican Street Cauliflower (a little too heavy on the spices) and Fish Tacos (highly recommend these...yummy). My friend ordered the Banh Mi...his review is as follows: pork belly was over-cooked and not much in the sandwich...lots of bread. The french fries appeared to be over-cooked in my opinion, but my friend actually enjoys them on the darker side. We sat at the bar and the service was exceptional.
A venerable establishment in Pgh. Thoughtful in every way. Beers (highly recommend their own Golden Age beers), wine, food and cocktails are all fabulous. Menu changes thoughtfully with seasonal variations. Tips are included in your bill. The tunes are great and their vinyl collection is extensive. Prost!
Love the food and service. Ambiance is a bit on the louder side and it's definitely popping in terms of people so it took a while to get our orders in and food after it was ordered. It wasn't a problem since we came with friends and we mostly caught up while waiting. I can see the wait being a problem if we were here as a couple. That said food was amazing! Wings were great especially with like an unique avocado sauce. The calamari was fresh, the perfect softness with a smidge of texture to them with like a great coating and even better sauce. Overall would highly recommend those starters. Fish tacos were good. Nothing to rave home about but think I may not had fun experience without the sauce. Overall great place. Would come back again. Location is right at the corner of a busy street. Beer menu pretty good but their mixed drinks are even better. They have a sister/another seated area right next door so there's usually a good amount of room
TONS of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options. The food was, admittedly, served in very small portions for the price points, and some of the dishes tasted very odd (we are all tofu lovers, but the satay was a strange combination of very burnt and raw, soft tofu). The fries, however, were delicious and came in a HUGE portion (they could easily function as an appetizer for 4). The servers were kind and the atmosphere was cool, but casual. We will be back to order fries for the table and enjoy great beer with friends!
We stopped by for a quick drink after dinner. All the tables outside were full but we were able to get a table inside immediately. Rick Seback was there and playing records which added a nice touch to the ambiance. Our drinks were tasty, came out quickly, and were reasonably priced. Would come back! read more
Vibes are good here! It's a little dark inside for me but I'm glad they have seating outside as well. They have a good selection of beer of course but I like that they have other things like Arsenal cider and cocktails as well since I don't drink beer. Love that they have a ton of space for groups and that they have a food truck outside always. Staff was nice and service is quick. Definitely worth checking out in Lawrenceville. read more
Great ambiance. I liked how open the inside was. Our server was very kind and took great care of us. We got the crispy potatoes and I think they were overdone, and could have used more sauce. Overall a good time. Drinks were great. read more
1 year ago
Come for the beer. Stay for the food. I enjoyed my visit very much. The food was honestly so good! My friend and I shared the arancini, burrata, and huli huli wings. Every bite was tasty. I especially loved the sweet and savory combination in the burrata which had strawberries and basil. The arancini also had a great combination of savory and sweet flavors and had some honey and cherry added to the mix along with butternut squash. If you love creative, deliciously prepared dishes, definitely come here. read more
Some friends and I organized a Squirrel Hill bar crawl over the weekend, and I almost wish we could have stayed at Independent the entire time. IBC does not take reservations, which usually makes me a little wary of a bar or restaurant, but they were maybe one of the most accommodating places I've ever been in Pittsburgh when it came to our group. Three of us sat at the bar upon arrival, and the bartender asked if there would be more people in the party joining us. We said yes, and we eventually moved to a table outside, with another table beside ours left empty for us so incoming friends could still be near us. I thought this was so thoughtful. We were also informed from the start that parties of six or larger must be on the same check and that gratuity would be included. I took this opportunity to cash out, as I was leaving shortly. My check was brought out promptly and I was not held up at all, which I appreciated. I ordered the bramble cocktail, which was delicious. It was very citrus forward and bright without being overly sweet. The bartenders at IBC know what they're doing. And now, for my favorite part. I consider myself to be somewhat of a potato snob. I take fries very seriously. Independent Brewing Company might just have my favorite fries in all of Pittsburgh. They are hand-cut, perfectly crispy, and well-seasoned. And the aioli accompanying them is out of this world. Is the perfect blend of herbs with a hint of citrus. I am still thinking about them 24 hours later and thinking about when I'll be able to get them again. Overall, I am so pleased with our visit to IBC. The staff are absolutely wonderful, and the food and drinks are all well-done. We will absolutely be back. read more
9 months ago
Cozy vibes. Not a huge selection of beers and only one cider, but also some cocktails and wine. The staff is awesome and the service was quick. read more
Stopped by while walking in Squirrel Hill to grab a drink outside. Drinks were good and the service was prompt, only about 4-5 tables outside. Helped a lot with questions we had out the drinks. Got the Pecorino wine and premium lager. Wine was not widely available and tried for the first time, would get again! The lager was pretty basic but for $4 it's a decent deal. read more
9 months ago
Cool brewery/bar in the squirrel hill area. Located right next to hidden harbor and I think they shared a kitchen so you can get similar food. They have a wide variety of drinks from many different breweries and the vibe of the place is pretty great. read more
I planned to spend Gratitude Day 2025 at IBC but decided to go to the mothership after discovering that IBC was pouring East End Brewing Company's Gratitude Barleywine in 10oz glasses for $8 (EEBC was pouring them in 13oz glasses for $9). We did have one round and the Brussels sprouts at IBC, both of which were tasty. The sprouts were a bit soggy and too sweet from an abundance of sauce for my taste, but my plus one loved them. The avocado crème was a nice touch. read more
7 months ago
This was hands down the best dining experience we had in Pittsburgh. The margarita was delicious (and beautiful!) and the burrata salad and carne asada tacos were phenomenal. They have a somewhat limited menu but what they do they do so well. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly. I love all the alternate history art on the walls, it's a fun place to look around. I especially loved that they were playing records. Independent Brewing Company has a great vibe and aesthetic. Highly recommend!! read more
1 year ago
Great beer and wine selections and wonderful food. The staff is hardworking and friendly. If you go on Wednesday nights, Rick Sebak is spinning vinyl records, how cool is that? The outdoor seating is very attractive. This place is a winner. read more
Just there on a crowded Friday night. We eked out 2 spaces at the bar. We chose 2 Belgian ales from the bottle menu (sad, they didn't have any on draft!) - and though they didn't have them chilled, the staff went over and above getting them from storage & getting them chilled quickly. We decided to order some apps for dinner to try more things, and boy was that the right choice. We had: roasted cauliflower (the Ras el Hanout w/ feta, apple, & mint) was SO flavorful; fish tacos packed w/ zesty slaw, crema & cilantro were a fave (I don't usually like fried fish in tacos but this was light & excellent); and calamari & rock shrimp (tasty & a zing of spice, tho a bit over-cooked). The bar is popular & pretty loud, but my husband and I were still able to talk fairly easily. Ambiance is nice - dark walls, funky/80s/fun selection of music. We'll be back. read more
2 years ago
First time visiting this venue, but enjoyed a drink, dinner and great conversation with a friend last night. Plus, Rick Sebak plays music on vinyl records Wednesdays...could barely hear the music and him talking on the microphone though. I had the Mexican Street Cauliflower (a little too heavy on the spices) and Fish Tacos (highly recommend these...yummy). My friend ordered the Banh Mi...his review is as follows: pork belly was over-cooked and not much in the sandwich...lots of bread. The french fries appeared to be over-cooked in my opinion, but my friend actually enjoys them on the darker side. We sat at the bar and the service was exceptional. read more
A venerable establishment in Pgh. Thoughtful in every way. Beers (highly recommend their own Golden Age beers), wine, food and cocktails are all fabulous. Menu changes thoughtfully with seasonal variations. Tips are included in your bill. The tunes are great and their vinyl collection is extensive. Prost! read more
Love the food and service. Ambiance is a bit on the louder side and it's definitely popping in terms of people so it took a while to get our orders in and food after it was ordered. It wasn't a problem since we came with friends and we mostly caught up while waiting. I can see the wait being a problem if we were here as a couple. That said food was amazing! Wings were great especially with like an unique avocado sauce. The calamari was fresh, the perfect softness with a smidge of texture to them with like a great coating and even better sauce. Overall would highly recommend those starters. Fish tacos were good. Nothing to rave home about but think I may not had fun experience without the sauce. Overall great place. Would come back again. Location is right at the corner of a busy street. Beer menu pretty good but their mixed drinks are even better. They have a sister/another seated area right next door so there's usually a good amount of room read more
1 year ago
TONS of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options. The food was, admittedly, served in very small portions for the price points, and some of the dishes tasted very odd (we are all tofu lovers, but the satay was a strange combination of very burnt and raw, soft tofu). The fries, however, were delicious and came in a HUGE portion (they could easily function as an appetizer for 4). The servers were kind and the atmosphere was cool, but casual. We will be back to order fries for the table and enjoy great beer with friends! read more
The IBC has become a great neighborhood watering hole. They have great beer and creative mixed drinks including a delicious Spanish G&T. The food menu is not huge (5 or 6 choices of appetizers and a similar number of mains) but everything we've had there had been delicious. Last night had the arancini, fish tacos and smash burger. Finished it off with a brownie sundae served with Dave and Andy's vanilla ice cream and home made peanut brittle. One of the best desserts I've had in a while! read more
4 years ago
Great drinks and great atmosphere. Good looking crowd. Elias was an amazing bar tender and makes amazingly great cocktails. Arancini read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
I was a little disappointed on the beers that were available. I thought at first this place was a brewery and or to offer local beers. It was beers from everywhere else besides Pittsburgh, PA. The service was excellent, the food and beer that I had from Germany was good. You have to sit outside. No inside seating. They do have heat lamps for several tables. When it gets colder outside and snowing that will no longer be an option. read more
2 years ago
Only happy thoughts after recent visit to IBC. Nice selection of cocktails, beers and wines. Shareable plates were inventive and tasty. We shared plates of arancini and tacos - I would definitely repeat these choices. Cocktails are a little pricey but well done. My only complaint is that the capacity is small, so you might not get in when things are busy. It's a perfect end after a good movie at the Manor. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
If you're looking for a place to meet up with a friend or two where each of you finds at least three custom cocktails that "speak" to you on the menu, then this is the joint for you! Between us we drank two penicillins, an aviator, and a gin martini. The friendly staff explained that the bar is for drinkers and the tables are for eaters, so we decided to try the (short) menu while we talked. Two of us opted for the large and filling chicken and pimento cheese on a biscuit sandwich, which was excellent, while the other ate her pimento cheese with potato chips. It's not a deep menu, but it all looks delicious and appropriately priced. I would definitely come back. read more
I haven't tried the food but I enjoyed my experience here and would definitely come back. * Drinks: They have cocktails and mixed drinks but I wanted to come here specifically for their beer. They have a list of bottled beers that you can share with friends (or drink by yourself). We all wanted a sour beer so we ordered the Rhinegeist "Tangerine Beams" 500 mL bottle. I definitely had better sours but it wasn't bad. The place overall was very cute and the pictures on Yelp do no justice to this place. * Cost vs. Worth: Our 500 mL bottle was $25 which is good for two people. I saw some priced at $20 which were 750 mL bottles. Overall, I just love the idea of sharing beer for some reason. Will I come here again? - I don't go to Squirrel Hill too often but I see myself coming back specifically for this place! read more
Wonderful service, solid drink and delicious food options. I visited Independent Brewing on a Saturday evening and we were able to snag bar seats for dinner. I had the skirt steak which was super tasty. Love the vibe of this place, the record spinning and fun pictures lining the walls. read more
7 years ago
Very hipster bar with thoughtful drink menu, music, and decor. Bigger than it looks and you can generally find a seat, even on busy nights. Also, there are tables on the sidewalk for drinking in nice weather. Of course, with the fancy beer selection and vinyl playlist, you get some high prices. Still, the atmosphere is perfect for getting together with friends - not too loud and something for everyone. read more
11 years ago
Drinks Only. First of all, I enjoy the rustic atmosphere and the friendly bartenders. Not everyday I get to enjoy a bar like this in the dc/md/va area. So great job IBC for being creative! AND being creative is definitely shown with their mixologist. The drink menu is displayed on their blackboard. It's uniquely designed based on what they have stocked. What's interesting is that even if something may not be on the board, the bartenders ask you a few questions to match your taste. During my time there, they've been on point. My favorite that I have tried besides the beer is the Roman Holiday. Seems to be a popular and interesting choice. Recommend it as a dessert drink. It's refreshing and mildly sweet. If you don't prefer that, then go for the Blood of the French Revolution (for those into history, Pittsburgh is filled with history). The cocktail kind of taste like chocolate covered cherries. I honestly can't wait to return. Visitors should give this nice little bar a try. read more
A hidden gem! I came here yesterday for a Galentine's meal with my friends and was pleasantly surprised to find that the food was DELICIOUS. It's important to note that the restaurant is sectioned into two parts: a standing bar, which you walk into at first, and a sit down table area. When my friend first walked in to snag a table, she thought had walked into the wrong place since she was the youngest one there at the bar. However she was soon escorted to the seating area. This area had walls covered in what seemed like vintage framed posters- with a twist. The table itself was nicely decorated with flowers and intimate candle lighting. We decided to order the steak $26, sweet potato ravioli $19, and fried chicken bucket $30 (recommended for two but we shared for three). We also got their pork meatballs $6 and Brussels sprouts $9. I have to say the meatballs were tender- fantastic- and the Brussels sprouts sweet but crispy. I'm not the biggest fan of Brussels sprouts but these were worth it. The ravioli tasted like a savory dessert and the chicken was very crispy. It had been dusted with seasoning and served with a side of mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The waitress was kind and came to check up on us/refill our water many times. We didn't order any drinks, but the meal itself was satisfying enough. I will say that the food is pricy. A $$$ kind of place. Also, the drink menu is definitely longer than the main menu. But overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, decor, and food of this restaurant. I would come back again! read more
7 years ago
Great draft list, featuring a rotating list of local (Pittsburgh) craft beers, as well as some national and international craft beers. You can often find specialty beers here from smaller breweries that are often not available besides directly from the brewery. Was less impressed by the food. While the chicken sandwich was impressive in size, it was too plain in flavor, and the biscuit pretty much fell apart while I was trying to eat it. Would recommend something else if ordering food there. read more
4 years ago
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More info about Independent Brewing Company
1704 Shady Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Squirrel Hill
Directions
(412) 422-5040
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http://independentpgh.com
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Ask the Community - Independent Brewing Company
Do they have beer to take out?
They absolutely do. They have a cooler with both local and international bottles and cans available to go. You can mix and match a 4 pack.
