East End Creating “LOAF” Beer From Unused Bread To Benefit 412 Food Rescue

So what’s the deal with this bread beer? 

First, let’s talk about FOOD WASTE and FOOD INSECURITY here in Allegheny County. In the US, somewhere between 30% and 40% of the food supply is wasted. That’s over 20lbs of food per person per month. That’s just crazy!

Here in Allegheny County, 14% of our population are "Food Insecure". That’s over 170,000 people! There’s got to be a way to put these two problems together and solve some portion of both, right? Well, that’s exactly what 412 Food Rescue is working to do, right here in Pittsburgh, by taking unused food from local stores and restaurants and “rescues” it by getting it to people in need.

We were contacted by 412 Food Rescue’s Leah Lizarondo earlier this year about the possibility of making a beer from unused bread, in order to raise funds to benefit the great work they’re doing. For those of you that have had or heard of our Kvass and Sourdough brews in years past, you know that we are no strangers to turning bread into beer. And as food waste goes, stale bread, is a major problem in that no one could use it… so of course we said YES!

Last week, using a myriad of leftover stale loaves from the good folks at Five Points Artisan Bakeshop, we pulled together a bunch of 412 Food Rescue volunteers to "break bread" with us, chopping up about 200 loaves so it could go into the mash tun… with some more traditional brewers grains.

The brewing goal is a little different this time. Instead of trying to make something that tastes like a liquid version of a loaf of bread, our aim is to make a delicious beer with bready notes and a more traditional beer flavor profile. In this case, something like a pale ale. I had a slice of the not-quite-beer earlier this week, and I can say it delivers! Bready nose, crisp finish. I can’t wait to pour some for you!

Now to the important stuff: How can you get the beer?

Right now, the only way to take home some Growlers of LOAF is to buy into the 412 Food Rescue CSA…or rather, CSB (Community Supported Beer). This is a fund raiser for them after all! You can buy your full share now, which comes out to four growlers, for $100 or a half share of two for $50. That includes the beer AND brand-new shiny growlers, and of course you’re helping support a great cause.

Once the shares are all spoken for, we’ll have a limited amount of Loaf on draft, but it’ll only be available in tasters or pints; no Crowlers or Growlers. The only way to get enough to share is to BUY A SHARE! So yeah… do that.

Once you buy a share, you can pick them up at our release party on Friday, November 18 here at the Brewery. Did I mention we’re having a RELEASE PARTY??? Music, food, fresh bread, and bread beer!

You can read more about Loaf here.

Or watch a video from the Glassblock here! They’re documenting this whole project!