Tap Handle #807: Sharp Edge Bistro (Brouwerij Van Steenberge)

August 27, 2023

Tap Handle #807: Sharp Edge Bistro (Brouwerij Van Steenberge) - Over the Edge

Tap size: 10.5"

Rarity: less than 10 seen, brewery closed*, hand-made

Mounting: 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

Here is another entry into the "Bill Gibson" section of the Museum. This tap was commissioned by Sharp Edge Bistro for their house beer, "Over the Edge", brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge. Most of the tap is fairly generic, but about halfway up, a monk is pulling on a lever. At the top of a tap is barrel bearing the bistro's name. From the barrel flows a golden stream of ale into the monk's beer mug, presumably as a result of the monk pulling the lever. The name of the beer appears next to the monk (and below the barrel) in sculpted, raised lettering. There are some neat little details you can almost miss at first glance, such as the key hanging from the monk's belt, the sandals on his feet, and the "crow's nest" bald spot on top of his head. Very faint on the back of the tap are the letters SC for Sculpture Concepts, and though very hard to tell, I believe I can make out a '07 as well, which would date the tap to 2007. Very few of these have ever appeared on the secondary market; in fact, mine is only the third I've ever seen. The price has ranged between $50-$100 when it does happen to appear.

Sharp Edge Bistro was founded in 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Jeff Walewski. At the time of opening, only one other establishment in the area that was serving anything but domestic macro beers. Sharp Edge, located in the east neighborhood of Friendship, focused on Belgian imports and won people over with high quality ales. Business was successful enough that three additional locations were added: downtown Pittsburgh, Sewickley, and Crafton. Over the years, however, Sharp Edge stubbornly held on to its Belgian imports and did not adapt to take advantage of high quality American ales being produced. Complaints about the food quality and cost of Belgian beers led to the closure of the original location in Friendship in 2018. Then Covid, and subsequent lockdowns, decimated business. In 2020, with the lease due on the downtown location, Walewski chose not to renew it, and the site closed. Then in 2021 Walewski sold the two remaining locations to the ownership of Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse, and Sharp Edge Bistro came to an end.

*Brouwerij Van Steenberge is still in operation. For more about Brouwerij Van Steenberge, see this post.

Hops abound in Over the Edge, a triple Belgian ale, brewed with three times the normal amount of pilsner-malt to build on plenty of raw rich material, and an 'over the edge' amount of Hallertau and Aurora hops. Just to make it perfect with a great hoppy nose, a full round complex mouth-feel and a lingering beautiful hoppy aftertaste, in perfect balance with the glow of the 9.5 % alcohol by volume. Refermented in the keg (keg conditioned) to infuse the softness and easy drinkability of the natural carbonation. Recommended food pairings are sweet and sour chicken, brie, and angel food cake.