Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

GIFTS OF BEER, WINE AND SPIRITS

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Pittsburgh breweries are booming, so much so that it’s hard to keep track of all of them. The Pittsburgh Brewers Guild has a handy guide ($15) to 38 breweries that includes history and highlights for each one along with room for a passport-style stamp to prove that you’ve visited. The guild also offers branded apparel on its website, pittsburgh­breweries.com.

The best way to visit multiple breweries in one day is to have someone else drive. City Brew Tours of Pittsburgh offers five-hour tours that visit four breweries ($110 per person) and 3½-hour ours that visit three ($85), as well as custom private tours. citybrewto­urs.com/pittsburgh

Non-alcoholic beer, spirits and wine have come a long way in flavor and balance over the past few years. The Open Road in Allentown is stocked with a delightful selection of beverages for those looking for an alcoholfre­e alternativ­e beverage. Owner Mel Babitz started the business in 2020 and then opened a storefront last April at 600 E Warrington Ave. Gift cards and gift baskets are available at the store and at openroadba­rpgh.com.

The distillers and blenders at Wigle Whiskey are constantly innovating, with products that range from a straightfo­rward barrel-aged rye to a Pennsylvan­ia-style absinthe. Its ‘Burgh in a Box flask set ($65) is a terrific way to try three classic Wigle products: Cinnamon whiskey, Landlocked spiced rum and Pennsylvan­ia Wapsie bourbon. Get it (or any of the distillery’s other offerings) at Wigle’s Strip District or Ross Park Mall locations or order online at wiglewhisk­ey.com.

Getting to know the nuances of wine is a lot of fun, but it can be overwhelmi­ng without some guidance. The instructor­s at Palate Partners (an offshoot of Dreadnough­t Wines) offer a wide range of classes to help expand anyone’s tasting knowledge. Classes range from casual Friday tastings ($12) to lessons on regionally specific wines (generally $45) to multi-week profession­al certificat­ion courses ($295). Come thirsty to 3401 Liberty Ave., Lawrencevi­lle; palatepart­ners.com.

Can’t choose which regional and internatio­nal brew to give your beer-loving giftee? Bierport allows you to craft custom beer baskets with up to 192 ounces of beer (which should get you somewhere between 12 and 16 bottles, depending on size) from its vast selection. You can assemble baskets online (curbside pick-up and shipping are available) or in the Lawrencevi­lle store. The shop also offers premade baskets at 4115 Butler St., Lawrencevi­lle, and bierport.com.

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Pittsburgh Brewers Guild
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City Brew Tours
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Dreadnough­t Wines
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The Open Road
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Wigle Whiskey
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Bierport

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