On East Warrington Avenue in Allentown sits a shop pouring over with colorful sober drinks – from seltzers and spirits to beers and wines. The Open Road is the country’s longest-standing nonalcoholic retailer, proving that Pittsburgh is more than just a booze-drinking town.
If you’re trying out Dry January, this is where to quench your thirst.
How To Pick Your (Non) Poison
Owner Mel Babitz will guide you through the more than 400 options to find one that fits your taste. The store is broken into two halves: flavor (beers, wines, spirits, ready-to-drink options), and “functional.”
“Functional can mean anything from caffeine in coffee and tea products, to hemp products and everything in between. A lot of them are mood enhancing, whether it's uplifting and energizing for the daytime or wind-down and relaxing for the nighttime. Some of it is prebiotic, good for gut health,” Babitz says.
Browse over 400 NA options at The Open Road. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Will It Taste Like the Real Thing?
Maybe not completely, but its essence is really close. Babitz says that wines and whiskeys are the hardest to mimic because of their “body” and “mouthfeel.”
Nonalcoholic beer is the closest to the real deal because it has been developed since the 1970s. The Open Road carries classic brands like Corona, Stella, and Budweiser, alongside some local products, like an NA IPA by Two Frays Brewing. (You can actually try their newest release at The Open Road’s birthday celebration on January 15.)
“Don't be afraid to come in… We do a ton of education. We will ask things like, ‘What flavors do you like? What do you like to drink?’ and go from there. We also keep open bottles of our spirits so people can try things before they buy.”
