Nestled along the trail on Union Avenue in Oakdale , Helicon Brewing is a 15-barrel production brewing facility and 40-seat taproom that recently celebrated its first anniversary . If you blink you might miss it , because the former Joy Dog Food Factory building has no sign . But that ’ s OK with the owner , Chris Brunetti .
“ Signs are kind of expensive to do professionally , and if we put up a sign and more people came in , we wouldn ’ t be able to keep up with production ,” says Brunetti , a former computer programmer who left a successful job to open the brewery . “ So we will save up and buy more tanks and make more beer and worry about a sign in the next year or two .”
After parking your bike on the available bike rack and walking into Helicon , your first impression is that the beer is the star of the show . Sitting anywhere in the taproom , the enormous shiny tanks are in full view in the clean , industrial space complemented by high ceilings , metal accents and garage doors that open in the warmer months .
Brunetti ’ s passion for his craft is obvious — all of the beer is brewed with high-quality ingredients and the purest water that is filtered from what he describes as “ a giant Brita pitcher .” Selections of beer run the gamut , from Old Ale , American Pale Ale , American IPA , Helles , and English IPA to Oatmeal Stout and Raspberry Wheat .
“ One of the biggest questions I get is , ‘ What are your flagship beers going to be ?’” notes Brunetti , who started home brewing in 2010 and attended Beer School in 2013 . “ A lot of breweries say they make a really good pale ale or a really good stout , so those become their flagship beers and their decision is made . We opened up specifically not wanting to have a flagship beer . Basically what people buy and enjoy — we will just brew more of that . Buying a beer at my place is like casting a vote in an election , and the beers that get elected are the ones that we make . The community decides what our flagship beers are going to be .”
Brunetti was inspired to name the brewery “ Helicon ” after reading about the history of Oakdale . Nearly all of the town was once part of a 400-acre plot purchased in April 1778 by Judge Hugh Henry Brackenridge . He called the tract “ Mt . Helicon ,” from the Greek mythological name for the sacred home of the Muses .
“ We are very happy with Oakdale ,” he says . “ Oakdale Borough has been tremendously helpful and supportive . They make it very clear that they are easy to work with and are happy to have us .”
Oakdale ’ s mayor , Paul Hennemuth , says , “ Chris Brunetti and his entire staff have done a wonderful job of bringing a unique and refreshing addition to the business and social scene in Oakdale . Oakdale Borough is a very small community with very little property available for new development . When the owner of the property , Tom Robinson , first approached the borough about developing the site , our desire was to introduce a business , or businesses , that would complement our existing business community and bring something new and different for our residents and the surrounding communities . Helicon has done both .”
He adds that Helicon is a good fit for Oakdale : “ Oakdale has a large number of people who ‘ pass through ’ our community both on the roads and the Panhandle Trail . The goal of myself and our borough council is to get people to stop and give our businesses and our town a good look . Helicon ’ s location has become a good stopping point for our neighbors and visitors who are driving or cycling through , and has given our town and the other businesses some additional exposure .”
Chris Brunetti , owner of Helicon .
With no kitchen facilities at Helicon ,
Brunetti encourages his patrons to order in food from the local restaurants and keeps menus available for his customers . He has also demonstrated his commitment to the community by supporting borough-sponsored events such as the Oakdale VFD Annual Street Fair and the recent “ Oaktoberfest .”
Some of those who “ pass through ,” from the trail into the brewery , are particularly memorable . “ I have met locally famous musicians , one of my old high school principals ... a lot of neat people ,” notes Brunetti . “ It has been absolutely fantastic . There is one lady who brings her horse by every once in a while , so I ’ ve actually considered getting a hitching post . One guy rides his bike 19 miles starting on the Montour Trail in Peters and then rides on the Panhandle Trail to the brewery , has one beer and then rides back . He loves the beer .”
Although it ’ s been stressful at times starting a new business , Brunetti wouldn ’ t change a thing .
“ One of the things I love about beer in general is that it ’ s great to sit down and have a beer and talk to people ,” he says . “ Getting to meet hundreds of people who come into the brewery and talk with them has been amazing .”
For more information , visit heliconbrewing . com . ■
WEST ALLEGHENY ❘ SPRING 2018 13