It turns out I didn't need my 1 year of German to enjoy my evening here. While I've never been to Germany (does a layover in Munich count) or a beer garden, I'm always looking for new places to try out when I'm in Pittsburgh. My friend promised me that there would be lots of beer and boys, and that was all I needed to go.
We arrived on a Friday evening sometime after 9 and it was jam packed with people of all ages toting mugs of beer that were in some cases larger than their heads. The only food we snacked on was the pretzels and beer cheese dip, which was really good. Beer, not sure if it was locally brewed or imported, well it was fine but nothing to write home. The band seemed to take a lot of breaks, but they were entertaining when they were performing.
Smart space. I'm glad that restaurants are finally wising up and taking advantage of the terrific river front and opening up spaces for outdoor seating, which can be enjoyed a fair portion of the year. I hope for the massive size of the place that the owners will find ways to prolong the novelty and that it stays open for a long time. I agree with other reviews that it's best enjoyed with a large group of friends.
Probably not likely that I would return on a future trip. I'm not sure if its the women scantily clad in Forever 21 dancing on the long wooden benches or the triple and quad shots of Jaeger served from a ski, but the experience didn't feel very authentic and it's not really my thing.