I couldn’t help it that I was born the only girl in my family. I’d heard that so many times, I’d lost count. “I need your signature that you acknowledge that you didn’t pass.” That eased my mind a little bit-provided I could get the plumber in tomorrow to fix it. “I’ll try to get out the same day, but it really depends on how busy I am.” “When I call to schedule it, how long will I have to wait until you come out?” The opening of my brewpub-the Allegheny Brew House-was only a month away. Everything else, from the kitchen to the restrooms to the tanks we’d installed previously, had all passed weeks ago. I hadn’t planned on a new brewing tank for another year, but this one had come up at a price I couldn’t pass up. The brew kettle we’d been using had been a hand-me-down from a local brewery that had upgraded their equipment.

This should have been the final plumbing inspection.

“You’ll have to schedule another inspection after you get this taken care of.” The inspector brought me back down to earth. I was hoping to brew a batch of pale ale tomorrow, but that was now out of the question. Sure enough, there was a one-inch gash in the line running to the brand new stainless steel brew kettle, which we’d just installed a few days ago. “You’re going to have to replace this whole piece.” “What do you mean there’s a crack in the water line?” I said. If looks could kill, the plumbing inspector giving me the bad news would have been in big trouble. “Tremel knows and loves her Pittsburgh setting, making the mystery all the more real and enjoyable.” – Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author If you missed it, check out Tremel’s interview in The Big Thrill - and don’t miss her book launch and beer tasting at Mystery Lovers this Saturday, December 5th! We’re thrilled to be able to share with you the first chapter of To Brew or Not to Brew, “an all-new mystery series set in a Pittsburgh craft brew pub” by Pittsburgh’s Joyce Tremel (published here courtesy of Berkley Prime Crime).

To Brew or Not to Brew by Joyce Tremel