Eleventh Hour Brewery - 11 on tap and a food truck if you’re hungry! 🚚

11th Hour Q&A

What are our hours?

Wed 5-11pm

Thurs 5-11pm

Fri 5-11pm

Sat 12-11pm

Sun 11am-7pm

We are often asked why we close so early, laws are different state-to-state we follow PA law for the type of licensing we have. Just be glad you aren’t in Maryland…they have to close at 9:30!

Why aren't you open everyday?

We need to set aside days to make the beer, it's kind of important :-)

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Purchased Dream Cannon: No 5 Summer Punch, 4.4% ABV

Date of Trial June 1, 2019

The Ratings

Overall - B+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 3

• Boldness - 3

• Sweetness - 3

Sour yet fruity and refreshing yet flavorful - perfect outdoor brew for the summer!

A pretty hefty pour!

Location Eleventh Hour Brewing Company, 3711 Charlotte St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Established August 31, 2017

Background on 11th Hour

Mr. McMahon, co-owner of 11th hour along with Mrs. McMahon, recounts that even before Mrs. McMahon bought him a home-brewing kit to try, he had 11 as his lucky number, going back to the fact that he was born on 11/11/1979. Running his own brewery is “something I wanted to do before the 11th hour of my life.”

A little bit about Mrs. McMahon: She is keeping her job as a stay-at-home mom, even if she often stays at the taproom, where she’ll have several roles, as will her 20-year-old daughter Sabrina from her first marriage to late Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Justin Strzelczyk. Ms. McMahon, an activist against football head injuries who was depicted in and got a “special thanks” credit for the 2015 movie “Concussion,” says she misses the charity work she used to do as a Steelers wife. “I would like to integrate more charitable, community things.”

Yes, I enjoyed this tangy “Summer Punch”!

Just in time for Summer, we bring to you the newest Dream Cannon. This variant has piles of fresh blackberries and supporting cast of key lime. A soft creamy mouthfeel brings to mind a fresh summer punch, a pleasantly fruit forward and crisply tart creation that is a perfect pairing all in one glass. Light and refreshing at 4.4% this is a great way to drink away the sunlight

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Round Corner Cantina’s vibrant colors and music fill their bar, restaurant and festive outdoor deck! 💃🏻

Location Round Corner Cantina, 3720 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Date of Trial June 1, 2019

Last Saturday turned out to be a hot and sunny day celebrating my friend Taylor’s 27th birthday! I met her since she is a married to my childhood friend. Quickly, my friends and I learned what a fantastic personality she has. Taylor also is one cool fashion blogger.

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Purchased Non-Alcoholic Lavender-Ade

The Ratings

Overall - A

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 4

• Sweetness - 5

• Price - $4.00

Tangy, sweet and refreshing treat on a warm day in the ‘Burgh! Also, a nice refreshment post a couple brews at Eleventh Hour Brewing. A review from there will be posted shortly!

I rarely ask for straws anymore at restaurants but a paper straw will do ☺️

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Novio’s, US Senator, Clark House - all in Bangor, ME!

A Little Bit about Where I’m at in Life…

So, life change for me! I now am consulting in Bangor, ME. To be transparent, I was a bit afraid of coming here for a long-term engagement. I thought about how small it is and how there aren’t nearly as many activities as there were in Seattle, where my last engagement was.

But…

To my pleasant surprise, Bangor, ME has its incredible charm and it’s filled with the nicest people.

My project manager here who is fantastic, approachable and a hard worker decided to take me out to dinner in Bangor. He took me to Novio’s and the historic charm of the place made me uber-excited!

Location Novio’s, 130 Hammond St, Bangor, ME 04401

Date of Trial May 29, 2019

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Purchased Quiet on Set

The Ratings

Overall - A+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 3

• Sweetness - 3

• Price - $10.00

Passionfruit galore! I loved every sip.

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

DeFer never disappoints - this matcha cinnamon creation was a treat! 🍵

Date of Trial May 16, 2019

Location DeFer Coffee & Tea, 2002 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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NEW

Fun Fact about Me

I never had any pets growing up unless a beta fish counts. I had my first pet (shared pet) when my roommate in D.C. purchased a Russian Blue cat named Moony. Since then I have adored cats and even adopted one for myself earlier this year named Earl. Well, my twin sister also slowly got into the pet lovin’ vibes and adopted a cat named Lori a couple years ago and recently as of last year adopted a Shiba Inu named…

MATCHA!

How precious is Matcha?

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Cute, adorable but with a punch!

Purchased Matchatado (4 oz)

The Ratings

Overall - A+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 4

• Sweetness - 4

• Price - $4.50

This 4 oz warm deliciousness is half & half, matcha, cinnamon and vinilla. Simple yet effective!

Decadent matcha goodiness!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

A fantastic brunch spot with French Press coffee - Carmella’s in Southside! ☕️

Location Carmella’s, 1908 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Date of Trial May 18, 2019

Beautiful sunny day in the ‘Burgh!

It is dimly lit inside so we sat close to the front door to get some natural light.

Purchased French Press Coffee

The Ratings

Overall - A

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4 (I loved the unique spoons and the hourglass sand timer)

• Boldness - 3 (not too strong)

• Sweetness - 2 (we added milk/creamer to sweeten it a little)

This is the perfect cup of coffee to start the day to!

One French Press served us about 3 large cups of coffee!

You even get a hourglass sand timer to know when it is ready to press down!

And the food was filling and rockin’ with flavor!

We got a cup of berries to start since we were starving!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

It’s a girl! 🌸 Cannot wait to be an auntie! 💖

What other way to celebrate a gender reveal for your twin sister and her husband than to make pink and blue Jell-O shots?

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I am beyond thrilled to announce that my twin is having a GIRL - a little princess.

See some beautiful decorations from the gender reveal party below and my review of the Jell-O shots I created!

@picklesncake is an extroadinare!

She will always blow away your expectations!

The cake was fully PINK on the inside!

And how adorable are the little shoes?

Our family worked together…

And created this beautiful decorative wall!

Created Berry Gender Reveal Jell-O Shots

Date of Creation May 18, 2019

The Ratings

Overall - A

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4+ (the berries inside were yummy and pretty!)

• Boldness - 4 (I heard from a couple people that yes the vodka was apparent - not a bad thing!)

• Sweetness - 2 (they were surprisingly not super sweet)

• Vodka - Effen Vodka, original flavor

You put in a rasberry or berry blue Jell-O packet in a bowl. Then, put in 1 cup of boiling water. Ensure to mix it for a couple of minutes. Then, put in 1/2 cup of vodka and a 1/2 cup of cold water. Afterwards, place the solution into little plastic cups and place blueberries / raspberries inside the cup. I used 3 blueberries per cup for the blue and 2 raspberries per cup for the pink.

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Gaucho line was a tad long so we walked to DiAnoia’s Eatery and enjoyed a Shakerato!

Location DiAnoia’s Eatery

Date of Trial May 16, 2019

Purchased a Shakerato (with limoncello)

The Ratings

Overall - A+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 5 (check out the detail on the glass in the image below)

• Boldness - 4

• Sweetness - 4

• Price - Unknown :)

Served chilled and with an astounding amount of flavor from the simple syrup to the iced coffee to the limoncello. This is the perfect finale to a heavy italian dinner!

Yummmmy! We ordered this last time during my birthday dinner celebration so we had to order it again.

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Stumbled across this unique coffee shop / Vietnamese inspired cuisine café in Lower Lawrenceville!

Location 3920 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Date of Trial April 25, 2019

“Situated at the top of Lawrenceville in a motorcycle shop turned coffee shop, we’re making as much from scratch as possible and sourcing just about everything else locally.” - Ineffable Ca Phe Website

One day, I was leaving Constellation Coffee and decided to take a stroll towards Yoga Factory. I was super hungry and had about 2 hours before my hot yoga class so I decided to test out my intuition and just freely walk until I stumbled upon a place of interest. Indeed, I did! This coffee shop / Vietnamese Ca Phe has unique curb appeal so I decided to check it out.

The space on the inside was large and the barista was extremely friendly! Find my review of their bubble tea below!

Purchased Mango Black Bubble Tea with Lychee Jelly (and Pho Ga)

The Ratings

Overall - B-

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 3 (I wish their plastic cups had a fun label)

• Boldness - 2

• Sweetness - 4

• Price - $4.00 ($4.50 for the slightly larger size)

I enjoyed the bubble tea but the ice to tea ratio was a bit off. The ice overpowered the beverage and weakened the overall intensity of the tea.

Lots of space to get to work or lounge out and enjoy your beverage and food!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Mother’s Day Outing with my favorite mom-to-be to my favorite Pittsburgh café!

Happy Mother’s Day week to every mom, mom-to-be, and wanna-be mom!

We celebrate you!

Location 2002 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Three Fun Facts about my mom-to-be twin, Janetta:

1. She is on her 6th month of pregnancy and doesn’t have any weird food cravings, besides pineapple sometimes!

2. Her and her husband and all their friends and family (including me!) are finding out the gender of the baby this Sunday, May 19th!

3. She loves being a cat and dog mom, too! She has an adorable grey cat named Lori and a Shiba Inu named Matcha.

How beautiful is the coffee shop?

Purchased Decaf Honey Rosemary Latte

The Ratings

Overall - B+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4 (adorable to-go cup!)

• Boldness - 2

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - $4.75

I enjoyed the Vanilla Rose Latte a bit more. I thought this beverage was lacking a little in the flavor department. I was anticipating a bold rosemary flavor but did not receive it.

The to-go cups are adorable! I love the bold stamp.

Perfect size!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

More from Texas - enjoying a French 75 cocktail with a live jazz trio band!

Networking is a critical part of today’s professional world. Therefore, after two full days of intense IBM training, a couple of my fellow co-workers, trainers and I decided to explore Dallas a bit more. We were pleasantly surprised by all the extraordinary talent of the live bands ranging from one man on a guitar with vocals matching John Mayer to a quintet with the infamous “best keyboardist in Dallas”, a bass, trumpet, guitar and drums and lastly a trio with a tuba, piano and drums (incredible vocals by the drummer).

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The drink, pictured below, was sipped slowly as my colleagues and I enjoyed the edgy tunes of the jazz trio.

Date of Trial May 2, 2019

Location Revelers Hall, 412 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, TX 75208 in the Bishop Arts District

Purchased French 75 with vodka

The Ratings

Overall - B+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 3

• Sweetness - 3

• Price - $10.00

Well executed cocktail with a punch!

Beautiful crystal glass holding a candle. The ambiance was relaxing and captivating at the same time.

I switched the gin to my hard liquor of choice - vodka!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

I find any excuse to celebrate but last night I celebrated something big - MBA School admittance!

Big CHEERS for MBA School Admittance at Carnegie Mellon University!

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The Back Story

I decided to study for the GMAT last year when my twin sister decided pursuing an MBA along with her PharmD would be a killer combo. I have my undergraduate degree in Economics and Statistics from Carnegie Mellon and have 5 years of consulting experience and a life coaching company called FindYou. It made sense for me, too!

Therefore, when I heard about my twin’s interest, I decided to follow alongside her on her MBA journey. After a busy work schedule flying to Seattle weekly, fitting in studying became tough so I ended up paying to re-schedule my GMAT exam to December of 2018. My sister did the same. I then went into full study mode for three months by studying every morning during breakfast when I was at the Marriott in Bellevue.

Within 1.5 weeks of the exam, I took 2 practice exams and decided I am ready to do my best. I ended up scoring above expectations (not a crazy amazing score but a good one).

Then, I decided to push myself and apply to the one MBA Program I had my eyes on: Carnegie Mellon University’s Part-Time Flex MBA Program. Meanwhile, my twin, Janetta, and her husband, Misha the Jeweler, found out they were pregnant quickly after Janetta took the GMAT exam. So, she decided to push off her MBA to focus on their new bundle of joy coming in September of 2019. See us enjoying a night out as I rub her adorable growing tummy:

Later on, I was lucky enough (okay, maybe it was due to all the hard work) to be chosen to attend an onsite interview at the new fancy Tepper Business School building. Then, silence until May 8, 2019.

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Date of Trial (& Celebration) May 8, 2019

In all honesty, I forgot about it and then yesterday morning I looked at the calendar and said to myself, “Wait a second, I should be finding out about Carnegie Mellon soon.” Then, I was a nervous wreck on the inside since I was worried I wouldn’t get in and then it was past 4 PM EST and still nothing! No email, call or anything.

Then, after my 4 PM EST IBM work meeting, I received a call and BAM! I was near tears! I got in!

Naturally a lover of celebration, you will find pictures of my celebrations at a speakeasy in the Southside below. Thank you to my boyfriend, Emile, for taking me out to celebrate. And a huge thank you to my twin sister, Janetta, since without her push and her help throughout the MBA application process, I wouldn’t be here celebrating this exciting next chapter in my life.

Location Acacia, 2108 E Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA

Purchased Bookend Vesper-ish (see their unreal cocktail list below)

The Ratings

Overall - B-

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4 (delicately cut lemon peel)

• Boldness - 5 (BOLD is for sure a way I would describe this drink)

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - $12.00

For me, the gin overpowers the taste buds. Although I gave this drink a lower rating, I also tried the Boba Fett and I will be posting that review sometime this month!

The drink was high in alcohol content level

Gin back-flavor wasn’t my favorite but the drink is probably more appealing to gin-lovers

Yes, I was smiling pretty big

Thank you, Emile, for the picture and more importantly for surprising me with the celebratory outing

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Over 2 months of cappuccino and other awesome brew reviews and The Nancy Brew has a favorite!

I’ve been privileged to explore a plethora of coffee shops in the Pittsburgh area. Post my trials, I’ve decided on a victory shop - for the time being…

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The Nancy’s Brew’s Favorite Pittsburgh Coffee Shop

Winner: de Fer Coffee & Tea

Location 2002 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 in the Strip District

@defercoffeeandtea

Note: I also love their Instagram social media account. They post funny and informative Instagram stories and posts!

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Date of Trial May 27, 2019

Purchased Honey Rose Latte

The Ratings

Overall - A+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 5

• Boldness - 3

• Sweetness - 3

• Price - $4.75

Fabulous, beautiful rose flavor from a herbal tea. There is a delicate addition of honey that isn’t overpowering in flavor or sweetness.

The menu changes with the seasons and the prices match the quality of the food and drinks

Beautiful brick interior and neatly laid out items around the register / bar

I enjoy the various bright colors of the mugs and plates.

This honey rose latte was beyond delightful!

My go-To spot for creativity / Productivity

The cafe turns into a chic dinner spot with impressive wine selections. The friendly staff is so polite and welcoming that they don’t mind people like me continuing to work away even if there are diners.

The beautiful table flowers are always a treat

And are camera-friendly!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Everything is bigger in Texas including Jalapeño Margaritas!

IBM training took me to Dallas, Texas and boy was I happy about it! From the live music to the most tender and flavorful BBQ and to the warm, pleasant climate, Dallas did not disappoint! See the rating of the fabulously spicy margarita and a photo collection from Lockhart Smokehouse below:

Location 400 W Davis St, Dallas, TX 75208

Date of Trial May 2, 2019

Purchased Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

The Ratings

Overall - A

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 5 (the spiced salt rim and the big jar size were awesome!)

• Boldness - 4

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - $13.47 (post taxes)

If you want to feel the liquor with a secretive slow entry, this is your drink! It is entirely pleasant, even with the spice from the jalapeño.

Some beautiful jalapeño sausage and me laughing in the background!

Come with an empty stomach and ready for your protein fix!

Don’t mind the BBQ mess (epic mess) in the background!

You can order brisket, ribs, chicken, turkey, sausage all by the half pound - until supplies last daily!

Although the sign says “no sauce needed”, their BBQ sauce is straight fire!

When you enter, you walk to the back, passing this wall, and ask for your meat and pick up your sides: deviled eggs, coleslaw, mac-n-cheese and more!

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Bar of Thrones Pop Up Bar in Market Square Pittsburgh!

Chilly yet dry night in Pittsburgh!

As you enter the larger doorway covered in “brick”, you find a cozy space filled with candle-like lights and flags of various Game of Thrones houses. The bar in the back has the beautiful weirwood tree found in the godswood of Winterfell. The show’s theme music, with various remixes, blasts on a loop.

Heart Tree found at the Bar

Sacred tree in the religion of Old Gods

Location 268 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Date of Trial April 28, 2019

Purchased Yinzerfell

How clever?

See the full menu!

Emile ordered the “wildfire” - it was bold and interestingly green!

The Ratings

Overall - B-

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 2

• Boldness - 2

• Sweetness - 3

• Price - $10.00

The mix of honey, lemon and green tea made the cocktail light and refreshing. The ice ratio was a bit heavy allowing me to finish the drink in a couple sips.

Dim and ominous decorations

Bar of Thrones, Market Square Pittsburgh

The bar opens at 4 p.m. daily through the end of May

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Constellation Coffee in Lawrenceville - a place to pull out the lap-top and get to work!

Location 4059 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

Established 2013

Minimalist decor fills the space with the high ceilings and white, fresh walls and the charming Victorian design ceiling.

Large inviting windows mark the front of Constellation Coffee!

As do the large letters spelling out “coffee”!

Date of Trial April 26, 2019

Purchased Cappuccino

The Ratings

Overall - A-

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 2

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - $4.00

Flavorful cappuccino with no bitterness at all! The only thing is I could have asked for was a bit more punch but overall a great cappuccino!

Cappuccino, lemon / poppy seed pastry and my Too Blessed to be Stressed daily prayer book at Constellation Coffee.

Cheers!

-Nancy “Brew” Geronian

EngineHouse 25 Wine Tasting and Tour - my favorite Eventbrite tickets purchased in Pittsburgh!

Location 3339 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Date of Trial December 15, 2018

Wine tasting at the end of the tour

Fabulous time shared with 3 other dates!

On this rainy day in December, my hair was beautifully curling with the humidity on a date I planned. We walked into the wine bar and were quickly welcomed with a white wine glass as an introduction to the wine tour. We then made our way to the basement where neatly stacked barrels were out and performing the wine miracles! We were able to see where they crushed the grapes, corked the bottles, and hand labeled and waxed the final result.

Super fun date night spot!

This picture was taken at the end of the tour…visible by our big smiles!

Purchased Zinfandel

The Ratings

Overall - B+

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 5 (each bottle is hand labeled and waxed)

• Boldness - 4

• Sweetness - 1

• Price - $50.00 (yes, pricey! But it is due to the handmade nature of the wine)

The wine is bursting with flavor. The oak-ness to the sip is delightful as is the dark berry essence.

EngineHouse 25 is operated out of a restored Firehouse in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. They source full-cluster grapes from premium growers around the world. They craft each step of the wine by hand!

The owner, Duane Rieder, has a collection of cool pieces throughout the basement

He started making wine with his neighbor Nino Tolomeo in 1992!

Barrels and artwork throughout are eclectic & rich with character

The wine bar is adjacent to the Roberto Clemente Museum!

Cheers!

Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Cat lover? Espresso lover? Colony Cafe is the place for you and learn more about my adorable rescue!

Date of Trial March 21, 2019

Location 1125 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

A little about the Cafe

The downstairs cafe, serving coffee, wine and food is open Wed-Sat 10:30am-9pm. Sunday hours vary to accommodate special events. No reservations necessary.

The Cat Loft is open Wed-Sat 11am-8pm, with a cat nap closure from 2-3pm. Sunday hours vary to accommodate special events. Their online booking calendar will indicate availability (click button below!). They recommend booking your visit in advance so you won't be disappointed if they are full when you arrive.

What they offer

Third Wave Coffee and espresso drinks available to-go or stay in a separate area from the cats. Free, reliable WiFi. Beer, Wine, Cocktails & Delicious Food to enjoy in a relaxed, neighborhood bistro environment. They also sell bottles of wine to-go.

Cappuccino is pleasant to the eye and to the taste!

The Ratings

Purchased Cappuccino

OVerall - A-

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 3

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - $3.25

Strong, beautiful, elegant blend of caffeine and milk. I will have to return to visit the cat loft. When I arrived, it was in the middle of a visit and then it was their nap time so I wasn’t able to enjoy the adoptable cuties!

Learn more about my rescue named earl who I adopted on March 17th of this year below…

First time I held my cat I knew he was the one for me. His name is Earl like “Earl Grey” tea.

Earl is a rescue who is around 3 years old. When I got him his back right claws were bleeding and shredded. He was found in a van outside a hotel with more than a dozen dogs and cats (see the video clicking the button below to learn more). One cat died due to the devastating circumstances. They were left outside in the cold. Since then, he’s back in full health and is the perfect companion! I really adore him.

Cheers!

Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Hotel Chocolat in NYC: cute shop but unimpressed with their cappuccino!

Date of Trial March 30, 2019 (day after my birthday!)

Location 441 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017

As my boyfriend and I walked past this little sign, we decided to stop in to see what it’s all about. I can’t ever say no to chocolate!

The variety of chocolates all around the shop was unbelievable!

Everything from truffles to animal-looking treats.

We tried the cappuccino and the hot chocolate - review below!

With vegan / dark chocolate shavings on top!

The Ratings

Purchased Cappuccino

OVerall - C-

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4 (the shavings were yummy)

• Boldness - 2

• Sweetness - 3

• Price - $3.95

70% cocoa vegan dark chocolate shavings added a fun flair to the top of this mediocre cappuccino - fluffy foam, not very bold with a dash of sweetness. I ended up tossing the bottom half of the drink due to its lack of flavor.

The napkins were super cool! I had to take a quick picture of one.

Emile enjoyed his vegan hot chocolate!

More than I enjoyed my cappuccino!

Hotel chocolat

Gorgeous shop filled with goodies!

Cheers!

Nancy “Brew” Geronian

Creating my own brew magic right at home with some Honduras coffee beans!

Today I decided to create my own brew with all the fabulous products I was either gifted or purchased within the recent month! The first step, which I completed a little over a week ago, was creating my fun little coffee station with all the essentials (see picture below). I wanted to grind the coffee beans and roast the coffee all in one ritual - now I can! I am adding at-home brewery to my daily routine when I am working from home or relaxing in my cozy apartment during the weekend!

Location Downtown Pittsburgh

Brewed Aroma Cafe Honduras Coffee Beans

Date of Trial April 23, 2019

The Ratings

Overall - A

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 3 (I used a simple white mug but the taste and smell of this coffee didn’t require a fancy presentation when I’m right at home)

• Boldness - 2 (medium roast coffee beans)

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - Unsure!

An extremely pleasant and aromatic lighter roast that is a joy to drink. I added some soy milk to the brew but I could have enjoyed the yummy coffee without any additives.

My new little coffee station in my downtown Pittsburgh apartment!

Chemex beauty - easy-to-use, too!

This Capresso coffee bean grinder is the perfect size for my place and grinds beans in seconds!

Márcala Honduras coffee beans are a light to medium roast with an aroma you want to keep smelling! Thank you to my boyfriend who recently returned from a volunteer trip there.

CHEERS!

Nancy “Brew” Geronian

From Muddy Waters to Lorelei in East Liberty on a date night!

Location 124 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206

After being tested on whether I was having west coast or east coast oysters at Muddy Waters, my boyfriend and I strolled around East Liberty on a warm Thursday night to Lorelei close by. To note, I did guess correctly on whether I was trying west or east coast oysters. It’s a little skill I think I have with all my travels around the United States for work.

Date of Trial April 18, 2019

Lorelei

East Liberty, Pittsburgh

Entering the high ceiling, crowded, yet intimate two-room space, you feel welcome and relaxed.

Purchased the Citrus-y Diomedes

Includes vodka, aquavit, pomegranate shrub, lemon, caraway, peppercorn

Wednesday and Thursday: 5-11 p.m. (Kitchen until 10 p.m.)

Friday: 5-Midnight (Kitchen until 11 p.m.)

Saturday: Beer Hall 1-Midnight, Cocktail Bar 4-midnight (Kitchen 4-11 p.m.)

Ratings

Overall - A

Items below are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest)

• Presentation - 4

• Boldness - 3

• Sweetness - 2

• Price - $10.00

There is no taste of overwhelming liquor but instead a hint of lemon and kick of rosemary delights as you put your mouth to the rim of the glass.

Asked the waitress for a mint-y, vodka drink

Received this dashing artwork - delightful to the last drop!

Cheers!

Nancy “Brew” Geronian