Wow Wednesday: Khyber Pass, Varga Bar, Devil's Den

Crappy Philly weather got ya down? Snap out of it!  Dodge the drops and make your way around the city for some midweek craft beer activity.

Celebrate all day at the Khyber Pass Pub Grand Opening

I'm sure most of you are already aware of the rebirth of the Khyber.  Today's celebration makes it official. The good times kick off at 11am and continue with specials until close. 

Kick Off Drafts

Ballast Point Sculpin

Allagash Curieux

Russian River Pliny The Elder

Yards Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Gen. Washington's Porter

Terrapin So Fresh & So Green Green

Founders Curmudgeon

Dogfish Head Old School

Oh So Happy Hour 4:00-6:00PM

$2.00 off all drafts and $1.00 off anything on the bottle list.

6:00-9:00PM

$2.00 Drafts all 22 taps

9:00--10:00PM

Complimentary pints of Sly Fox Dunkel Lager and Phoenix Pale Ale. Also complimentary Four Roses Bourbon cocktails.

10:00PM-2:00AM

Free Jameson Irish Whiskey shots with any draft purchase. Plus Beefeater Gin and Plymouth Gin cocktails only $2.

Avery Brewing Invades Varga Bar

It's big A night at Varga with something extra special for those still in need of a pumpkin fix.  Rumpkin a pumpkin ale aged 8 months in rum barrels is on draft along with Avery IPA, White Rascal, Salvation, The Beast, Kaiser, Reverand, DuganA and Hog Heaven. The night starts @ 8:00PM.

Get Lit at Devil's Den aka: Light Our Fire

The fireplace gets lit @ 7:00PM. Hopefully it takes you a little longer! To celebrate it's a collection of Smoke and Barrel/Wood aged drafts. Light up time 7:00PM

From the Smoke

Yard's Grodziski Smoked Wheat

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Weyerbacher 15

New Holland Charkoota Rye

From the Wood
Lost Abbey Angel's Share

Rodenbach 2008 Vintage Oak Aged

Weyerbacher Heresy
Dogfish Head Red & White

From the looks of it cab fare or a designated driver are on order for the evening.

Cheers!

Varga Wow

They (whoever they are) say that first impressions mean a lot. If that's the case the owners of Varga Bar will have no problem getting customers to slide into this corner hot spot. My introduction was during the release party for Flying Fish Exit 11.

Kelleigh and Rebecca joined me for the evening's beer and food excursion. As we walked up to the corner of tenth and Spruce Varga’s vibe was hard to ignore. Café seating and an open wall that brought the outside in allowed the excitement of the evening to flow beyond the normal four walls. That night the place was packed with a crowd singing the praises of Flying Fish's Exit 11. The release party seemed to have most in a great mood. However even without an event I’m sure the open air dining is a huge draw during the summer months. Sitting at the bar (don't miss the Varga girls overhead), having a beer, and watching life cruise by isn’t a bad way to spend and evening.


One look at the tap handles tells you the place is serious about the beer. 20 taps and two beer engines offered a good mix of craft beers (Stone, Bear Republic, Bells, Russian River, Rogue, Oskar Blues) with a solid focus on the locals (Sly Fox, Flying Fish, Yards,Victory, Dogfish Head). The selection will satisfy most beer hunters. Since the beers turn over quick jump on Twitter to keep up to date with what's currently on tap. Another beer bonus is your liquid happiness doesn't have to end when your evening does. Get a growler fill and you can easily take home your favorites. An option I wish more good beer places offered.

The food experience was as good as the beer choices. Once seated outside Kelleigh and Rebecca shared the clam bake for two and I had the roast pork with broccoli rabe. The clam bake pot was filled with prawns, roasted corn, sausage, potatoes, muscles and clams all swimming in a delicious broth. It was all flavorful and each piece of seafood was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was that I wish there were more in the pot for $36 dollars. Oops my frugal side is coming out. I scored big with the Roasted Pork Sandwich with a side of oh way too addictive fries. The moist pork was piled high and nicely seasoned with the broccoli rabe adding the perfect bitter touch. An accompanying pint of Stone 13th Anniversary Ale made an already great sandwich even better.

Varga Bar pulls together good beer and food in a cool little setting. It's a great addition to the Washington Square area. With Tria only a couple blocks away, a warm summer evening of jumping from corner bar to corner bar for great beer and food pairings is a must.

Hello Ladies !