Pennsylvania Breweries 4th Edition Release Party @ Victory

Today (10/5) Lew Bryson's extensive travels and hard work all pay off. It's the official release party at Victory Brewing for Pennsylvania Breweries 4th Edition.  Since Mr. Bryson doesn't party alone he's invited a few friends to help with the festivities. Carol Stoudt of Stoudts, Kurt Decker of Nodding Head, Chris and John Trogner of Troegs, Ron Barchet of Victory and Brian O'Reilly of Sly Fox will all be on hand for a Brewer's panel and an audience question and answer session.  Tickets are $35.00 through Victory's website and include an autographed copy of the book, 2 beers and hors d'oeuvres. A damn fine deal! The party starts rolling at 6pm.

The Powers that B (Bourbon, Beer & Bryson)

Finally back in Philly.  The DC trip although short and rushed was a great time. Bouncing around town I made stops at some amazing beer places and have the pictures to prove it.  During the journey I even managed a few non beer related destination.  Somehow it didn't feel right going to our nation's capital and only focusing on the beer scene. I'll spare all of you the overly historical and political stories and photos. Most of it I'm sure you've experienced on class field trip back in the day. Just know that I'm a proud American who in the shadow of good craft beer still managed to fulfill his patriotic duty as a tourist.

Before I lay out the good, the bad, and the ugly that is DC I need to cover a few things on the home front. Last Saturday (8/21) the slightly mysterious Kelleigh and I made our way up to Allentown Brew Works for Bourbon, Beer and Bryson. Originally when I received the opportunity to attend the event from Michael Fegley I thought I had been to ABW but soon realized that wasn't the case. I've been to Bethlehem Brewing Company multiple times so I guess my brain twisted one of those wonderful memories and moved it over to Allentown. No harm. For a first time physical trip the triple B was a winner. The night showcased the overall beauty of bourbon: as a stand alone spirit, a culinary ingredient and a compliment to beer with barrel aging.

Walking into the brewery the size of the place is impressive. The layout is over four floors: a first floor bar/dining area with an outside beer garten, a basement club/lounge, second floor bar/lounge and a third floor banquet area. Oh and I almost forgot the brewing area. Thankfully there's an elevator. The event was on the second and third floors.  Bourbon tasting, and Mr. Bryson's lectures on the 3rd floor. Beer, food and various vendors on the second. 

As much as I enjoy bourbon and know what I like that's where the knowledge ends.  Having the opportunity to listen to Lew give some history, discuss distilling and cover the who's who of Kentucky took away the mystery. Samples from Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare single barrel, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve and Blanton's single barrel provided the chance to compare styles. The perfect opportunity for anyone who wanted to know more about what goes in the glass. Tables were also set up with approximately 8 bourbons from various distillers (Woodford Reserve, Makers Mark, Jack Daniel's, Four Roses, Knob Creek and Wild Turkey). All were available for tasting.

On the second floor aged beer was the major player.  They included: Weyerbacer (Insanity), Yards (Barrel aged Thomas Jefferson ale), Stoudt's (Bourbon Aged Scarlet Lady), Brew Works (Bourbon Barrel Porter & Apple Lambic). Since all that imbibing requires nourishment southern specialties were provided. Bourbon pulled pork, brisket, collard greens and corn bread were all part of the menu. My favorites were the appetizer of fried plantains topped with smoked mozzarella and bourbon pulled pork.  The perfect blend of sweet, sticky and spicy in one tasty bite.  The other hit was vanilla ice cream topped with Apples Foster drizzled with bourbon raisins and pecan caramel. The bourbons, beers and Bryson were all top notch. I hope we get to see more events like this one soon.

Bourbon, Beer and Bryson Festival @ Allentown Brew Works

It's all about the three Bs on Saturday (Aug 21st) at Allentown Brew Works. Lew Bryson spreads his knowledge of bourbon and beer for an evening of sampling, seminars and some bourbon inspired comfort food.  If you are looking to increase your knowledge on "America's Native Spirit" this festival is a must. Three round table seminars will feature tastings of Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare Single Barrel and Blanton’s Single Barrel. Lew will cover the distilling process, bourbon variations and the mingling of bourbon and beer. 

• (From the Brew Works site)
• Bourbons and other Spirits
• Buffalo Trace, the Eagle Rare Single Barrel, and Blanton’s Single Barrel featured in tasting seminars with Lew Bryson (see below)!
• Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack featured in “The Bourbon Barrel Lounge,” featuring the “Art of the Bourbon Cocktail” with mixologist Donna Scott giving bourbon tips and bourbon sips!
• The NEW Maker’s 46 stave-aged bourbon from Maker’s Mark and the Knob Creek 9-yr-old.
• 4 Roses Single Barrel, their 4 Roses Small Batch Bourbon, and the 4 Roses Yellow Label.
• Three selections from Wild Turkey - Wild Turkey 101, Wild Turkey Rye, and Wild Turkey American Honey.

Oh yeah the beer.  After all the festival is in a brewery and some fine examples of barrel aged brews are on the menu.  Master Brewer Beau Baden (Allentown Brew Works) created a Bourbon Barrel Porter, has a special cask bourbon-aged beer and a Cassis Lambic. Plus Bethlehem Brew Works, Stoudt's, Weyerbacher and Yards will also have specialty brews on hand. 

Remember man does not live on beer and bourbon alone. Bourbon pulled pork, corn bread, brisket and Pecan Foster are just a few of the tasty items on the menu. Finally, if you still need to kick back, slide onto the Biergarten patio to enjoy a cigar from Tobacco Village of Whitehall, PA.  Wow, sounds like the makings to a perfect day. The festivities start at 5pm. Get tickets and more info HERE. Cheers!

Cost: $45 per person

Designated Drivers: only $25

Jazz Brew & Lew: Jenkintown Jazz and Brew Fest

This year the Jenkintown Jazz and Brew Fest has the added bonus of breakfast with über author on beer (whiskey too) Lew Bryson. Don't worry getting up Sunday at the crack of dawn for nourishment isn't necessary. Both times will allow you to sleep off some of what did you in last night. Seating #1 is @ 11:00 AM and #2 is @ 12:00 pm at the West Avenue Grille. Afterwards take in the tunes and get a few more pours of the hair of the dog that bit ya. The Brew Fest starts at 1:00.

Tickets for Breakfast and Brew are $25 and will be available at the West Avenue Grille on Sunday morning. BrewFest-only admission is $30 payable at the gate. This low entry fee gets you admittance to the BrewFest, a sporty wristband, a commemorative sampling cup, and all the samples you care to enjoy during the time taps are open. Designated Driver tickets (full access but NO sampling) are only $10. Sorry, no refunds.

Onward to 150. McGillan's Olde Ale House

AHHHH!!!! I hate when life steps in the way of a good time. This was my situation yesterday when work kept me from the Party-of-a-Century-and-a-Half at McGillan's Olde Ale House. The festivities were punctuated by the tapping (courtesy of honest Abe Lincoln) of 1860 IPA (brewed for McGillian's by Stoudt's Brewing Co.). The party kicked off 150 days before the bar's 150th anniversary year. That's some serious staying power. To go along with the celebration McGillan's is also hosting authors who have written about the bar. Three of the five writers just so happen to dabble a little in beer literature. So, it's your chance to listen to a reading and have a beer with guys who do this writing thing for a living. Don "Joe Sixpack" Russell kick started the readings at last night's bash. If you missed it, like I did, don't worry you still have the chance to toast to the longevity of McGillan's and catch two more beer authors reading from their ale stained pages. Cheers!

From McGillan's website
Lew Bryson, author of 4 regional brewery guides, including PA Breweries, will be on hand to chat about breweries & brewpubs on Tuesday, August 11. In his guide, Bryson calls McGillin's
“a great place to have a beer with a buddy or your spouse, and they have some really good stuff on tap.” Bryson is managing editor of Malt Advocate magazine and a blogger.

American crime novelist Duane Swierczynski, who wrote about Frank Castle’s escapades in Philadelphia for Marvel Comic’s “The Punisher, on Tuesday, August 25. For the comic book, he created an historic tavern, called "Interesting Times Pub," modeled after McGillin's. Brave New Worlds will be on-hand with the newly-released trade paperback. Swierczynski is author of The Big Book o' Beer: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Greatest Beverage on Earth.

More on the authors and events leading up to 150

Thursday is Dogfish and New Holland Beer Night.

A couple posts ago I blah, blah, blahed about how much Capone's shows up on this blog. Well here I go again and for good reason. On Thursday Capone's is doing a HUGE Dogfish Head promo. Matt starts the afternoon off right and continues through the day pouring 9 Dogfish beers. I have never seen 60 (6%abv), 90 (9%abv),120 (20%abv), W.W. Stout (18%), Palo Santo (12%abv) and Theobroma (10%abv) all on at the same time. To top it all off Randall the Enamel Animal makes it's appearance on the 90 minute. As you can tell from those abv percentages this is not a session beer event (check below for that one). I suggest hiring a designated driver for the night.

Dogfish Head Drafts

60 Minute IPA

90 Minute DIPA on a Randle

120 Minute Triple IPA

Indian Brown Ale

Raison D'etre

Palo Santo Marron

2006 World Wide Stout

Theobroma

Festina Peche

also on draft

2007 Troegs Mad Elf
Stone 2007 Oak Aged Bastard
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Founders Old Curmudgeon

Wings .25 4:00 to 6:00pm
Mussels on Special 5:00 to 10pm.
Give aways for Dogfish Drinkers!!!

Not to be outdone Ortino's Northside is having a New Holland Release Party. Join Dr. Joel "Ambassador of Hand Crafted beers for the New Holland Brewing Company" and the man behind, The Grain Bill for a night of beer, fun and merriment. It all starts at 7pm.

New Holland Beers

Pilgrims Dole, Wheat Wine
Cabin Fever, American Brown Ale
Dragons Milk Oak Barrel Ale, American Strong Ale

If the high octane brews of Dogfish Head and New Holland are a bit much for your evening's consumption then head to Tria's Fermentation School for, "The Session Beer Project", with Lew Bryson. Lew spreads the knowledge of full flavor low alcohol beers. Sample some of his favorites and learn that great beer can come with an abv under 5%. Class runs 6:30-8:00pm and seats are $50.00.

Lew, Mark and a Rare Fish

On Sunday I took a drive up to The Grey Lodge Pub for the launch of Lew Bryson's and Mark Haynie's new book, New Jersey Breweries. Since it was Sunday I got my typical late start and arrived about 30 minutes before they were scheduled to leave. The good thing is I missed the crowd, had an open spot at the bar and got the chance to talk with Lew and Mark for a minute. Of course I picked up a copy of the book and had it signed. Although, I almost forgot to pay for it. After ordering a pint of Flying Fish's Bourbon Barrel Dubbel, I sat at the bar and then Kelleigh reminded me I didn't pay for the book. Oops, not too embarrassing. In the end Lew got the cash, I got to meet him and Mark and take home a great read. Thanks again guys.

The beer that made my mind slip was a rare find and on tap from the previous night when Flying Fish brewer Casey Hughes was on hand. My favorite alcoholic beverage after beer is either bourbon or scotch depending on the mood, so the abbey dubbel aged in bourbon barrels was the perfect rainy Sunday beverage. Served in a pint glass it was dark brown with almost no head. When I raised the glass I caught a whiff of sweet bourbon, fruit and malt. The bourbon dominates the taste but not in a bad way. There were hints of pear, apple, vanilla, nut with a mild oak end. The surprise was the medium-light mouth feel. My preference is for a slightly heavier dubbel but it still worked well. Maybe because I am a bourbon drinker I didn't mind the booziness or notice any real alcohol burn. Flying Fish needs to make this one less of a rare find and put it on the brewing schedule more often.

Grab a Book, a Pint and Some Brunch

Here is a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Lew Bryson and Mark Haynie will be at The Grey Lodge Pub to launch their new book, New Jersey Breweries. You can pick up a copy there, have it signed by Lew and Mark and then grab a pint of one of many NJ beers on tap. The Grey Lodge's full brunch menu will also be available. Just tell the wife or girlfriend you want to take them to a great brunch and remember to act surprised when you see Lew and Mark.