Alyssa Gruber isn’t one of those “crazy” runners that hits the pavement no matter the temperature or weather. A few miles a week does it for the North Sider.

“For me, it’s more about being active in whatever way is fun,” she says. 

The North Allegheny High School grad, who’s also into hiking, dance and yoga, doesn’t quite understand the love some runners have for a celebratory post-race beer.

“It’s so funny how they’re so enthralled with drinking alcohol after a run,” she says with a laugh. 

What Gruber does get, however, is that both runners and breweries can be very generous when they come together to support local nonprofits through running events.

Which is why she and life partner, Gabriel Rodriguez, started the Pennsylvania chapter of the national Brewery Running Series in 2022.

Established in 2012 in honor of Global Running Day on June 6, the series features 5K “fun runs” that start and end at local breweries, cideries, wineries or tasting rooms and raise money for local charities through bib sales.

Since the inaugural run at Fulton Brewery in Minneapolis, the series has drawn everyone from seasoned runners to walkers and occasional joggers of all ages. All are welcome, along with dogs and strollers, on the 3.1-mile course. It’s grown so popular that there are now more than 300 live events in nearly 30 states and Puerto Rico throughout the year. 

All told, participants have raised more than $50,000 for local nonprofits while running more than 47,000 collective miles across the U.S. —  after which they have celebrated with 15,000 craft beers.

Be active, have fun

Gruber first learned of the brewery series in 2018, while living in Hollywood, Fla., where she still works half the year in the cruise entertainment industry. She also teaches yoga on the side to burn off the stress of her corporate day job. 

To promote her practice, she offered to lead one of the local group’s pre-run warmup and stretches. She had a ball, comparing the experience to what she was doing in her yoga classes. But she didn’t get the idea to start a Pennsylvania chapter with Rodriguez until she returned to Pittsburgh during the COVID-19 pandemic to spend time with her parents.

“There are so many great breweries here, and everyone was looking to do stuff outside,” she recalls. “So I did a little tester run at Sly Fox Taphouse at the Point” with different running groups, including The Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Club and South Park Trail Runners.

The series turned out to be an easy sell to local breweries because the runs, which start at 11 a.m., bring a large group of people to the brewery at a time when most aren’t very busy. The runs also are a great marketing tool because they can give people a reason to explore a site and sample a product they might not have otherwise. 

“Our goal is to fill the taproom and raise awareness,” she says. 

The same goes for the nonprofit the individual races choose to support, which get a portion of proceeds along with some free publicity.

The PA Brewery Running Series’ main beneficiary is 412 Food Rescue, which works to reduce waste by turning still quality food that would otherwise be disposed of into dinners for those in need. Since its founding in 2015, the East Liberty-based nonprofit has rescued more than 35 million pounds of surplus food, providing over 29 million meals.

Depending on the brewery’s size and fire and occupancy codes, the races draw between 70 and 200 people. Most events sell out, but there almost always are no-shows on race day, “so we can usually squeeze people in,” Gruber says. 

The Pennsylvania series, which started with five events in 2022, features eight fun runs this year in and around Pittsburgh, including two a bit further north in Erie (supporting a local animal shelter) and Clarion (with proceeds going to the volunteer fire department). All races are 5Ks (3.1 miles) and start at 11 a.m.

All include a craft beverage at the finish line, choice of a collector’s pint glass or other swag to commemorate the event, a chance to win door prizes and access to post-race entertainment. Entry costs $32 plus a $6.68 registration fee, or $52 with a T-shirt, with a $7.68 registration fee.

There’s also a $100 “big bonus” option if you’re feeling generous and want to give more to the nonprofit, says Gruber.

While this year’s races are held in the western part of the state, Gruber says she and Rodriguez — who both hold full-time jobs — are hoping to eventually grow it to include a team for Philadelphia beer lovers and runners. Until then, “we’re limited by how much we can manage, and drive in a weekend.”

2025 PA Brewery Running Series schedule

April 26: Aslin Beer Co., 1801 Smallman St., Strip District

June 7: Sly Fox Brewing at The Highline, 46 S. 4th St., South Side

June 21: Erie Brewing Co. Knowledge Park, 6008 Knowledge Parkway, Erie

Aug. 2: Mechanistic Brewing, 538 Liberty St., Clarion

Aug. 23: Strange Roots Experimental Ales, 501 E. Ohio St., Millvale

Sept. 6: Fermata Brewing Co., 918 Merchant St., Ambridge

Sept. 20: Hazelwood Brew House, 5007 Lytle St., Hazelwood

Oct. 11: Inner Groove Brewing, 751 E. Railroad Ave., Verona

First Published: April 16, 2025, 8:00 a.m.
Updated: April 17, 2025, 4:49 p.m.