HOT DANG! This year for National Hot Sauce Day, we are keeping it LOCAL (as per usual) by celebrating with all of the best Pittsburgh-made hot sauces! From award winners to some names you may have never heard of, we have you covered!
Maestros’ Sauce Co.
Image via Maestros’ Sauce Co. Instagram
If you’re into the local hot sauce scene, you’ve likely heard of Maestros’ Sauce Co. This no additives, no preservatives hot sauce, is manufactured in Canonsburg and has a lot of options to satisfy your need for spice. If you’re someone who can handle their spice, we suggest going with the Hot Bundle. This kit includes four of their hottest sauces, Roasted Ghosted Garlic, Hot Chocolate, The Moruga Triangle, and Maestros’ Mass-Ter Piece. If your taste buds are looking for something a little less intense, try the Mild Bundle! Looking for a gift for the hot sauce lover in your life? The Hot Sauce Sampler (8 bottles) or Super Sampler (10 bottles) are perfect! If you are looking to try your own variety, take advantage of the Build Your Own Bundle Deal and score 3 bottles of any type of sauce for $20! Maestros’ Sauces are available online through the Maestro website or by checking their location tracker tab on their website for retailers near you!
Jagoff Inc./Gourmet Sauces of Pittsburgh
Image via Jagoff Inc. Gourmet Sauces of Pittsburgh Instagram
This Pittsburgh brand is not a sauce-specific brand, but they do have three sauces they sell, one being a hot sauce. The Jagoff Sweet-N-Hot Sauce is made by Gourmet Sauces of Pittsburgh and sold by Jagoff Inc. This sauce is perfect for so many things. Pizza, buff chick dip, marinade, and more! As you could guess by the name, it’s not all spice. The taste of this sauce starts sweet and tangy and has a kick at the end. This sauce can be found at Penn Mac, Stello Foods, Grandpa Joe’s, or online!
Pittsburgh Sports Hot Sauce
This award-winning hot sauce is quite a bottle full. Aimed to be your everyday hot sauce, Pittsburgh Sports Hot Sauce is perfect to keep on hand for chicken wings, eggs, and more! Founded in 2005 by Karen Reilly, this sauce has soared to the top. Made with roasted red and habanero peppers, balsamic vinegar, a no-salt spice blend, and a little splash of rum, this recipe is sure to knock your socks off. If you want to get your hands on a bottle of Pittsburgh Sports Hot Sauce, head to Penn Mac in the Strip District and stock up! If the Strip is a bit of a drive for you, check out Stello Foods in Punxsutawney or order online from a third party.
Fathom Sauce Company
Image via Fathom Sauce Company Instagram
Officially founded in 2018, Fathom Sauce Company has quickly made its mark on the Pittsburgh hot sauce scene. This small-batch sauce company is run by a guy named Chris and a group of family and friends all dedicated to making natural and delicious hot sauce. Their classic is the Pub Sauce, made not just to be hot, but full of flavor! On their website, it states that “this sauce packs a punch of spicy flavor that isn’t overly vinegary, salty, or watered down. The flavor profile makes it perfect to add to anything, anytime.” The other two flavors they added in early 2021 are Pubpaya and Jagoff Jerk. After seeing the crazy logo on these sauces, you’ll have to give it a try! If you’re a restaurant and are interested in using Fathom, contact them about wholesale on their website. Fathom Sauce Company sauces are available for purchase to the public on their website or at select retailers!
Allegheny City Farms
Image via Allegheny City Farms Instagram
Allegheny City Farms doesn’t exactly sound like a hot sauce company does it? However, this company focuses on taking a “seed to bottle” approach to food. Their staff is not only responsible for growing the ingredients that are put into their items but at every stage along the way. They help create, test, and produce the specialty items that come out of Allegheny City Farms. Several sauces are produced by Allegheny City Farms with the majority being hot sauces! Some of their flavors are Pittsburgh Style Hot Sauce “Oak Barrel Aged Edition,” Melo-Death Hot Sauce, Habanero Spark Hot Sauce, and Kung Pao Rush Hot Sauce. You can find Allegheny City Farms sauces for purchase on their website or at local retailers including Penn Mac and T-Bones Marketplace!
Uncle Jammy’s Sauces and Seasonings
Image via Uncle Jammy’s Sauces and Seasonings Instagram
Uncle Jammy’s is a premium sauce and seasoning company so if you’re trying to bring some flavor to your food, this is your place to look! For the purpose of National Hot Sauce Day celebrations, we have to give a shout-out to the Say Yes To Sriracha BBQ sauce. This sauce is a combo of a sweet and smokey BBQ sauce with a chili-garlic flavor from the sriracha. It finishes off with a tangy finish. You can find Uncle Jammy’s in several local Whole Foods as well as on Uncle Jammy’s website!
Don’t forget when you stop by the local stores to keep an eye out for some of these AWESOME hot sauces. If you’re really on the hunt, most are also available online. Happy National Hot Sauce Day!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.