Dancing Gnome Brewery, nestled in the Pittsburgh area, has garnered significant attention in the craft beer scene, and for good reason. This brewery has become synonymous with quality and a diverse range of beers, appealing to both seasoned beer aficionados and casual drinkers. For those familiar with Dancing Gnome, it often feels like their journey mirrors the evolution of many modern craft beer enthusiasts – a passage from the initial craze for hazy IPAs to a deeper appreciation for the nuances of various beer styles, drinkability, and traditional brewing methods.
Like many who have explored the vast world of craft beer, Dancing Gnome’s founder, Andrew Witchey, has seen his palate evolve. When Dancing Gnome first opened its doors in Sharpsburg in 2016, its beer selection heavily featured hazy IPAs, reflecting Witchey’s personal preferences at the time. However, his growing appreciation for beer diversity led to an expansion in Dancing Gnome’s offerings, embracing a wider spectrum of styles.
Andrew Witchey, founder of Dancing Gnome brewery, showcasing the brewery's commitment to quality and passion in craft beer production.
Today, Dancing Gnome embodies the ideal of a contemporary craft brewery. While they still masterfully produce IPAs, including West Coast-style variations, their portfolio has expanded significantly. Their flagship pale ale, Lustra, is celebrated as an exemplary everyday beer, perfectly balanced and highly drinkable. Furthermore, Dancing Gnome has gained recognition for its rotating series of German-inspired classic beers, demonstrating their brewing versatility and commitment to traditional styles. The brewery’s choice of packaging, the iconic 12-ounce stubby bottles, further adds to its distinctive charm.
Adding to the excitement for the upcoming 2024 Rochester Real Beer Expo, scheduled for Saturday, June 8th at Innovative Field in Rochester, Dancing Gnome will be among the esteemed breweries participating. This festival will feature over 75 breweries, alongside non-alcoholic options, cideries, and even local coffee roasters. Dancing Gnome will join two other breweries from Pittsburgh, following in the footsteps of Old Thunder and Cinderlands from the previous year, highlighting the vibrant beer scene of Pittsburgh.
The Genesis of Dancing Gnome: A Brewer’s Journey
To understand the spirit behind Dancing Gnome, it’s insightful to delve into the origins of the brewery and the path of its founder, Andrew Witchey. In a recent conversation, Andrew shared his journey into the world of craft beer. His initial foray into beer was sparked by a general love for culinary arts. Although his family background was rooted in food rather than beverages, Andrew’s personal exploration led him to the rich and diverse landscape of craft beer. He was immediately drawn to the culinary aspects of beer, viewing it as more than just a drink, but as a crafted experience.
This interest evolved into a passion, driving him to explore a wide array of beers, initially focusing on American craft styles before expanding to appreciate historical and traditional beers from Germany, the UK, and Belgium. His career involved travel, which provided him with opportunities to visit breweries and engage with brewers and beer enthusiasts, further solidifying his desire to be part of the craft beer industry.
To turn this passion into a profession, Witchey attended the American Brewers Guild in Vermont, completing their Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering program. This formal education laid the groundwork for his hands-on brewing experience. Interestingly, Witchey’s initial brewing was more aligned with small-batch commercial brewing practices rather than traditional homebrewing.
Upon completing his brewing education, Witchey recognized a gap in the Pittsburgh beer market. At the time, the Pittsburgh brewery scene was relatively nascent, with mostly smaller, traditional breweries. Seeing an opportunity, he decided to forge his own path. Instead of seeking employment at an existing brewery, he chose to establish his own, driven by a desire to create something unique and cater to an evolving beer landscape.
The business plan for Dancing Gnome was conceived in 2014. It took about a year to secure financing and find a suitable location. The build-out phase lasted approximately 8 to 10 months, culminating in the grand opening in October 2016 in Sharpsburg. Following the initial success, Dancing Gnome expanded, opening a second location near the original site in October 2021, despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, both locations exist, but only one is open to the public, streamlining their operations while maintaining their brewing capacity.
Sharpsburg’s Charm: The Ideal Location for Dancing Gnome
The choice of Sharpsburg as the home for Dancing Gnome Brewery was a blend of serendipity and strategic considerations. Initially, Witchey aimed for a location in the heart of Pittsburgh, envisioning Dancing Gnome at the city’s core. However, finding the right space in the city center proved challenging. Many potential locations were either unsuitable for a brewery setup or prohibitively expensive to renovate, while others had excessively high rents.
Expanding his search beyond the city center, Witchey discovered Sharpsburg. Although initially hesitant about a location outside the city core, he was drawn to the unique appeal of Sharpsburg. At first, a leasing arrangement was offered, which wasn’t his initial plan to purchase a building. However, as time passed and the challenges of finding a suitable and affordable space in the city persisted, Witchey reconsidered Sharpsburg. Financial considerations also shifted, making renovation and equipment investment more appealing than building purchase.
Returning to the Sharpsburg location, Witchey found that the space was still available. Serendipitously, another brewery deal for the location had fallen through. The Sharpsburg space, previously a plumbing showroom and warehouse, was surprisingly well-suited for a brewery. Its layout naturally divided into a front taproom area and a back brewery section, minimizing extensive modifications. Within weeks, Witchey finalized the lease, setting the stage for Dancing Gnome in Sharpsburg.
Witchey’s familiarity with the Allegheny-Kiski Valley region, where Sharpsburg is located, also played a role. While often overlooked, Sharpsburg’s location offers excellent accessibility from various directions, despite ongoing construction in the broader area. Being an independent borough, Sharpsburg simplifies bureaucratic processes, as it operates outside the direct jurisdiction of the city of Pittsburgh. Furthermore, Sharpsburg’s water source, Hampton Shaler Water, provides consistent water quality, minimizing the need for extensive water profile adjustments in brewing. Finally, Sharpsburg’s relative obscurity presented an opportunity – a location ripe for discovery, where Dancing Gnome could become a destination, drawing beer lovers to an unexpected locale.
The Enigmatic “Dancing Gnome” Name: Passion and Playfulness
The name “Dancing Gnome” itself is intriguing and unique. Witchey admits there isn’t a singular, elaborate story behind it, but rather a combination of factors. During the brewery naming process, “Dancing Gnome” consistently remained on his list of potential names, surviving multiple rounds of eliminations.
The name encapsulates the brewery’s ethos: a blend of passion and dedication in their craft with a touch of playfulness. Witchey describes it as embodying the spirit of “work hard, play hard,” albeit acknowledging the cliché. It’s about infusing passion into everything they do, recognizing that while work is necessary, caring about the work itself and striving for excellence enhances the experience. This same passion extends to leisure and enjoyment.
The gnome imagery, though not directly used in branding, represents this duality. Gnomes, often depicted as mischievous garden dwellers, are both playful pranksters and diligent caretakers, tending to the garden while engaging in antics. This reflects the brewery’s approach: serious about brewing quality beer, yet with a playful, unconventional edge.
On a personal note, Witchey acknowledges the name is “weird,” aligning with his self-description. He believed the unusual name would be memorable, for better or worse. Initially, the name sparked many questions about the absence of gnomes in their branding. However, over time, Dancing Gnome has become established, and the name’s quirkiness is now accepted and recognized as part of the brewery’s identity.
From Hazy Beginnings to Lager Mastery: Dancing Gnome’s Beer Evolution
Dancing Gnome’s beer journey reflects a significant evolution, mirroring the broader changes in craft beer preferences. Initially recognized for its hazy, hop-forward beers, the brewery has expanded its repertoire to include a remarkable range of traditional styles, particularly German lagers.
Witchey explains that Dancing Gnome brews what they are passionate about and what they enjoy drinking. While acknowledging the appeal of breweries offering a vast array of styles, Dancing Gnome focuses on depth and quality within a more curated selection. Their emphasis is on German-style beers, continental lagers (including Czech and Austrian styles), and American hop-forward beers. While Witchey also appreciates English beer styles, he finds it challenging to consistently achieve the quality he aims for in those styles, though he continues to explore them, as seen with their excellent ESB bottled release. However, he recognizes the market realities; focusing solely on English styles wouldn’t be sustainable for the business.
The brewery’s foray into hazy IPAs was a natural starting point, reflecting Witchey’s own beer preferences when Dancing Gnome was founded. He was deeply influenced by the early pioneers of New England-style IPAs like The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, Bissell Brothers, and Trillium, and by local breweries like Brew Gentlemen who were also exploring hazy beers. Dancing Gnome initially positioned itself as a brewery for existing craft beer enthusiasts, focusing on delivering unapologetically hoppy beers to a discerning audience.
However, Witchey’s palate and brewing philosophy continued to evolve through continuous learning and dedication to the craft. This led to Dancing Gnome’s significant pivot towards lagers. Investing in new tanks specifically for lager production, they committed to brewing these styles with a focus on traditional methods and accuracy. This evolution showcases Dancing Gnome’s adaptability and commitment to brewing excellence across a spectrum of beer styles, from their celebrated hazy IPAs to their increasingly acclaimed traditional lagers.
