PITTSBURGH — A new brewery is set to launch in a Cold War-era missile command center near Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Grist House Craft Brewery has set its sights on a structure known as “the bunker building” at the former Nike missile base.
It was one of several U.S. Army-operated bases using anti-aircraft guns and Nike and Hercules missiles to defend Pittsburgh from potential Soviet attack in the 1950s and 1960s.
Co-owners Brian Eaton and Kyle Mientkiewicz say they envision bringing a destination brewery to western Pennsylvania, the Post-Gazette reported.
The building will become the brewery’s main production hub. The vast location, including a 55,000-square-foot building, also will have room for an extensive basement barrel-aging program, a taproom and a retail space.
It sits atop one of the highest points in Allegheny County, in Collier Township, and a nearby landmark is a Federal Aviation Administration radar tower.
The owners say in their blog they recently closed on the building but so far they are keeping the opening date top secret.
They said they plan to announce more details on social media.
