Penn Brewery taproom on First Avenue opens

Penn Brewery’s Downtown taproom is a space so cozy that a person with a good wingspan could reach from one wall to the bar.

With the two-tops along that wall and in front and the stools along the long bar, the 750-squarefeet taproom has a capacity of 35 people, who can come in for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

The just-opened space is on the ground floor of the new 1st Ave Lofts at 432 First Ave. in the Firstside Historic District, a tuckedaway location between the Monongahela River and the Boulevard of the Allies.

At what is the only taproom of a local brewery in Downtown, customers will be able to order a dozen draft beers from the Penn Brewery mother ship on the North Side. Growlers and bottles of Penn products will be available to go. There’s also to be draft cider as well as Pennsylvania wines and spirits and a very tight food

menu — Bavarian pretzel sticks with cheese ($5.50 for two), three pretzel roll sandwiches ($10 to $11), wings ($9 for a half dozen), giardiniera ($12) and mixed nuts ($6).

Penn Brewery executive chef Jim Dillon says that menu will grow to include more “Pittsburgh ethnic” items.

It’s a second satellite location of the iconic North Side’s brewery, which this spring opened a taproom on Concourse A at Pittsburgh International Airport.

This one is only steps away from lots of office space, as well as residences, so Penn’s food and beverage director Gene Mangrum says, “We anticipate being busy for lunch and happy hour.”

Owner Todd Palcic has said that the building has 35 loft units, and that an adjacent first-floor space at 440 First Ave. still could be rented to another restaurant or even brewery taproom — “Hopefully another craft something.”

Neighbors along skinny First Avenue include handbag maker Moop.

Penn spokeswoman Linda Nyman says they’re expecting a lot of tourists from nearby hotels and bikers from the riverfront trails. The entire space can be rented for a group. “It’s an experiment for us,” she says, “so we’ll see how it goes.”

The taproom’s webpage says “sneak peek” hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday; starting Monday, it will be open at 11 a.m. for lunch.

For more information, visit pennbrew.com/firstave-taproom.