Lawrenceville Distilling Co. sits on Allegheny River Boulevard in Verona, just outside Pittsburgh, where founders Michael and Katie Roepke turned their home brewing hobby into a full-scale distillery operation in 2018. The couple spent years perfecting their recipes in their garage before taking the leap into commercial distilling, bringing grain-to-glass bourbon and rye production to the Pittsburgh area. Their facility focuses on small-batch production using traditional copper pot stills and locally sourced grains when possible. Michael handles the distilling operations while Katie manages the business side, creating a true family operation that reflects their commitment to quality over quantity. They source their corn from Pennsylvania farms and age their spirits in 15-gallon barrels, which allows for faster maturation and more hands-on barrel management than larger operations. The distillery produces bourbon, rye whiskey, and seasonal spirits, with each batch carefully monitored throughout the aging process. The tasting room offers visitors a chance to sample their spirits while learning about their process directly from the founders. You’ll often find Michael or Katie behind the bar, eager to share stories about their journey from homebrewers to commercial distillers. The atmosphere is relaxed and educational, with tours that take you through their grain-to-glass process and tastings that highlight the differences between their various expressions.