My First Bullfrog: Houblonium P-38

My first "head up my ass" moment this week was not paying closer attention to Brauhaus Schmitz and my second is waiting so long to try beer from Bullfrog Brewery. I'm a little embarrassed since Bullfrog has been brewing since 1996. Yikes, that's 13 years of beer cluelessness! All that changed with a glass of Houblonium P-38 (Houblon is French for hop) last night at Capone's.

Houblonium as you may gather from the name is a Belgian-style/inspired IPA. A meshing of American IPA and Belgian Ale. I've slowly jumped into the whole Belgian IPA hybrid thing and for the most part like it. Belgian and American brewers have both caught the hybrid bug and put out their versions. Urthel Hop-It, Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel and Green Flash Le Freak are the ones I've recently had. Houblonium is one of the best American versions.

Houblonium successfuly combines sweet Belgian candi sugar with a hop bite. The beer is moderately sweet with an interesting apple and mango flavor that blends nicely with the citrus effect from the hops (Horizon, Amarillo, Saaz and Crystal). All is not candi sugar and fruit. A clove and pepper spiciness also comes out. There's a lot happening here. The flow from sweet to bitter to sweet is hypnotic. The finish continues the flavor ride and brings in some boozy warmth. This is far better than its' west coast counterpart Le Freak. I need to get back to Capone's soon before this one kicks.

Houblonium's mystical spell and some good words about the brewery from Matt Capone has got me planing a quick weekend getaway to the land of "North Central Nowhere PA". My term for the vast area north of Harrisburg. Including Bullfrog, there's a small cluster of "I'll get there someday" breweries that's so far off my beaten path that I don't dare start the journey without my trusty GPS. I've pushed this off for far too long. How PA beer wise am I if I don't make the trek to Bullfrog, Abbey Wright, Bavarian Barbarian, Old Forge and Selins Grove? Not very wise at all.

Penguins Vs Red Wings Take Duex

Here we go again. Time for Pittsburgh and Detroit to figure out who is king of the rink. As always I am on my own little island here in Philly cheering for the Penguins at the top of my lungs. I take solace in knowing that my Pittsburgh brethren will be glued to their televisions starting on Saturday at 8pm for the Stanley Cup Finals. Lets just hope the results are different from last year. Dooby, dooby do Pens in 7.

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule
Game 1
Penguins @ Red Wings
Sat. May 30, 8 p.m., NBC
Game 2
Penguins @ Red Wings
Sun. May 31, TBD, NBC
Game 3
Red Wings @ Penguins
Tue. June 2, 8 p.m., Versus
Game 4
Red Wings @ Penguins
Wed June 4, 8 p.m., Versus
Game 5*
Penguins @ Red Wings
Fri June 6, 8 p.m., NBC
Game 6*
Red Wings @ Penguins
Tues June 9, 8 p.m., NBC
Game 7*
Penguins @ Red Wings
Fri June 12, 8 p.m., NBC



* - if necessary

LETS GO PENS!!!

Who Needs Hofbrauhaus When You Have Brauhaus Schmitz?

I first heard about Brauhaus Schmitz from Suzanne Woods here back in September of last year. Since then I haven't paid much attention to the activites over at 718 South Street. Looks like it's time I pull my head out of my ass and focus on what's happening. Their website is already letting us know what to expect in the way of food and beer. All those who hung their heads low with the closing of Ludwig's prepare to hoist a liter very, very soon!

A Sweep with Railbender Ale

While watching the the Penguins and Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals last night I thought it was only appropriate to have a beer that showed my support for Pittsburgh. Maybe something from East End Brewing, Church Brew Works or Penn Brewery? No such luck. Unfortunately even though I spent the last few days in the 'Burgh I returned to Philly without picking up a single hometown bottle. The best I could do was pop the cap on a beer made 128 miles to the north. Railbender Ale from Erie Brewing Company.

Poured into a pint glass Railbender is dark copper in color with a finger thick white head that quickly thinned. The aroma is subtle malt and cereal with some background hops. It took a few strong whiffs and a swirl of the glass to really pick up the smell. The biscuity malt comes out first in the taste along with sweet caramel notes. This is light liquid bread. The hops that do come out remain mild. There is some fruit sweetness in the finish, nothing sticky, and the hop bitterness becomes a bit more evident. Not a wow me beer just a good comfortable Scottish Ale. Although at 6.8% abv it's above true session level, it's easy to drink and makes my personal session list.

SWEEP!

Pens win 4-1.
Nuff said until the the Stanley Cup Finals.

Guinness the Good and Bad

I am not a huge fan of Guinness. Blasphemer, blasphemer on St. James's Gate. Yes I said it. This beer lover most often passes on Dublin's beloved drink. However, that wasn't always the case. When I first started to appreciate imported beer Guinness along with Beck's, Bass, St. Pauli Girl and Double Diamond were our go to beers. In those early days time spent in smoky Pittsburgh bars downing imports, pints of Guinness Draught and Black and Tans was the norm. Just mentioning Harp and Fiddle, Jack's and Hemingway's brings back fond memories. As time moved on and the desire for other imports faded my love of the Guinness mystique stayed.

Guinness always seemed cool. Dark, bitter, the history, the special pour, a hypnotic cascade, a real man's beer. I figured you weren't a true beer drinker if you didn't enjoy Guinness. No wimpy, fizzy, thin, weak yellow beer in my pint glass. "Guinness for strength!!!" Over time I studied (drank) more styles of stouts and soon my old Irish friend wasn't as interesting. Imperial Stouts, Milk Stouts, Coffee Stouts, Chocolate Stouts, Oatmeal Stouts and so forth all offered more of what I wanted. Most had a bigger taste profile and pumped up abv. Along with the great variety of stouts other craft beer styles were blowing up and pushing the Irish Stout out of my beer picture. Guinness didn't change, my beer taste had.

Although I had long ago turned my back on Guinness the limited beer selection on a recent cruise to the Caribbean allowed me to reconnect with two versions of an old friend. Guinness was a savior (along with Boston Lager) in a sea of tasteless macros. This time I wasn't drinking it for image or under the spell of marketing. It was all about the taste.

Guinness Draught (can) step by step: pop the top, widget engaged, pour and watch the cascade. That's how it started. That thick creamy stark white head capping a glass of liquid darkness. Not much of an aroma. If anything the smallest hint of roasted grain. As great as it looked in the glass the taste was disappointing. Watery, flat, burnt bread with old roasted coffee bitterness. Not much else. It's remarkable how bland the taste really was. I know it's not a true draft pour (I remember that being better) but wow this isn't close to what I use to drink. Truly lackluster. Overall, no Irish Stout (so far) has me doing back flips. It's just one of those styles that I no longer love. When the time comes and I do get a taste for an Irish Stout make mine O'hara's.

Brewed in Nassau, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is a better canned option. No pretty nitro pour with the Foreign Extra. The other noticeable difference is the beer's ultra dark brown color and tan head instead of the jet black hue of it's Draught can cousin. The aroma is full of roasted gains, a bit of chocolate and a touch of sweet and sour. The roasted flavor and burnt chocolate continue in the taste. The malty sweetness upfront fades to a moderately bitter end. The twist is the faint fruity character. A taste that some Guinness draught drinkers may find a bit off putting. At 7.5% abv it's no session brew. Although, it still remains easy to drink with no harsh alcohol bite.

Like many Guinness products this particular finished version has never seen St. James Gate Brewery. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is different from country to country and brewed at various locations. The recipe and ingredients change slightly from the Caribbean, to Africa and Asia. In Nassau, Bahamas it's brewed under licence by Commonwealth Brewery LTD. Unfortunately if you want easy access to any versions of Foreign Extra Stout a trip is in order. They're not imported to the United States.

Keepin' it Local

Local 44 is a must this weekend if you like your beer fresh and want to support the local guy. It's Locals Only Beer Weekend. The draft list is enough to make a Philly beer fan cry for joy. I'll shed a tear because I'm going to miss all the fun.

This weekend brings on road trip part deux. Pittsburgh here I come.

More later.....

March of the Penguins

As I type this I'm listening to a little debate between Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow on WIP Sports Radio. Part of the conversation is whether Philly hockey fans should root for the Penguins or the Hurricanes in the NHL playoffs. In my experience many Flyers fans loose interest in hockey once their team is done. Philly's hatred of Sidney Crosby should tell you how the hockey fans who are still interested are voting. I've grown use to it. There really is no good reason for a Flyers fan to cheer for the Penguins. Likewise I don't find many reasons to pump my fist for the orange and black. Mutual dislike, in this case, is expected. I know I am on my own little island here in Philadelphia celebrating the attributes of #87 and following the Pens quest for the cup. All those around me might hate Sid for his whining ways but those in the know realize that he more than makes up for it with his dominance on the ice. Now it's time to relax, grab a beer and watch the Penguins march through the Carolina Hurricanes. Pittsburgh in 6.

Playoff Schedule

Monday, May 18 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS
Thursday, May 21 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS

Saturday, May 23 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS
Tuesday, May 26 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS
* Friday, May 29 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS
* Sunday, May 31 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS
* Tuesday, June 2 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., VERSUS

*If needed

LETS GO PENS!!!

Crusin' with Disney

To call my latest journey a road trip isn't quite correct. A road trip brings up visions of long stretches of highway, quaint sleepy towns, grand cities and the unique people you meet while in route. My experience over the past weekend was more of a canned escaped. Kelleigh, her niece, nephew, mother and I all hit the high seas for a four day Disney Caribbean cruise.

I can already hear the ughhhhs and snickering. When I was approached with the opportunity to take the trip I wasn't exactly jumping for joy. Tons of kids in a confined space is not my idea of a great time. All I could think of was being trapped in an over marketed, surgery sweet, oh too cute, floating kids paradise. However after doing some research and understanding that for family you bite the bullet, I packed my bags and headed for a weekend with the world's most famous rodent.

After doing some detailed research I expected very few surprises on the cruise. I figured the Disney masterminds majored in efficiency and quality. I knew the cruise would lean toward the higher end in terms of food, entertainment and services. Obviously, the kids would think it was heaven on earth.

If you have kids between the ages of 3 and 15 this cruise is designed for you. No surprise! I'll cover just a few of the magical details. Everyone assumes Disney is structured to wow the kids. The true surprise is how they take care of adults. I should have known. After all who is paying for all this fun? Certainly not little Johnny. Mommy and daddy are the ones floating the big bucks and it's in Mickey's best interest to please the hand that feeds. Parents are provided with plenty of time without kids under foot. The efficient staff runs more than enough kiddie activities from morning to night. If your kids get very involved and spend hours doing activities you may actually forget you have kids. The little angels can play, learn, explore, experiment and take in tons of entertainment for hours on end. All this is done under the watchful eye of the meticulous care givers. As a parent you are given a pager in case of emergency or if it's time for the fun to end. This sets up the perfect opportunity to do all the loving family activities, then drop off the kids for adventure time with their peers. That allows mom and dad to have their fun time. Perfect! The adult fun: bars, nightclubs, spas, restaurants and alcohol were all hugely promoted. Even though I don't have children I can fully appreciate why people who do need a drink and some alone time. Since Kelleigh and I were there as added support for her mom with the kids we had some great opportunities to enjoy those adult amenities. I knew Disney could create a mega party. My real concern. What's on the beer list?

The quick answer is, nothing amazing. However, they are attempting to appease beer fans. I've been on other cruises (Royal Caribbean) and the Disney cruise, while not great for beer, was my best oceanic beer experience. First I'll get the obvious out of the way. The AnheuserBuschInBev and SABMillerMolsonCoors morphing beasts rule the seas. So Bud, Bud Light, Michelob Amber Bock, Bass, Stella Artois, Beck's, Miller Light and Coors Light were front and center. Next you have Heineken International: Heineken, Heineken Light and Amstel Light. What's left you ask? Corona, Guinness (draught can) and Sam Adams Boston Lager. I may be forgetting a couple. All beers: draft, bottles and cans ran between $5 and $6.50. OK, so no surprises. For me there were a few safe choices. Boston Lager (the craft go to beer in a macro world), Guinness (old standby) and Bass (older standby). Lucky for me the wine, scotch and bourbon lists were noticeably better. I also made sure to grab a couple Guinness Foreign Extra Stouts while in Nassau. This version of the stout brewed for the Caribbean is a slightly sweeter, stronger version of Guinness Extra Stout. The Foreign Extra was a treat. The real surprise was a scheduled beer tasting listed on our second day activities sheet.

When I inquired about the beer tasting guest services only knew the cost ($12 per person). "Sorry sir no other details are available." I assumed the samples covered beers available on the ship. With that, I opted out. Later I overheard that several micro/craft beers were sampled. I never confirmed the supposed good beer sighting. I'll just have to wonder if my choice to sit out was the right one. It's still safe to say that the Disney Cruise Line is currently no craft beer paradise. They cater to Mr. and Mrs. Average American, thus the beer list is what it is. The shining ray of hope is that any type of beer tasting is done. A few years ago only wine sampling classes were offered. Who knows, continuous classes full of knowledgeable people asking for good beer may lead to more craft choices besides Sam Adams. Then the Disney cruise may truly become the happiest place on earth.

Road Trip

More later...........

Midweek High: Sidecar Bar and Grille

Sidecar Bar and Grille is going big, big, big beer tomorrow night. The new monthly event, High Gravity Wednesday, is not for the faint of heart. The special draft lineup consists of 8 powerhouse beers with the lowest abv clocking in at 9%. The biggest is 14.5%. You could call this an anti-session beer gathering. No offense Lew (I am still working on broadening my horizons for beers 4.5% and under). It will be interesting to experience the various ways great taste and high octane successfully merge. For this event choose and consume wisely. After all it's only midweek. I'm sure by the end of the evening many will sing the praises of the designated driver or public transportation. Cheers!

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout- 10%abv

Avery Samaels Oaked Aged English Strong Ale- 14.5%

Southern Tier Cuvee 2, Oaked American Strong Ale- 11%

Two Brothers Red Eye Porter, Coffee Porter- 9.2%

Bear Republiic Racer X, DIPA- 9%

Dogfish Head Black & Blue, Fruit Beer- 11%

Six Point Express, Quadrupel- 11.3%

Uinita Barleywine- 10.4%

Craft Brewers Unite

Many posted this video a few weeks ago after it was presented by Greg Koch (Stone Brewing) before his keynote speech at this year's Craft Brewers Conference in Boston. I caught it several times while checking in on The Brew Lounge, The Grain Bill and The Femme Fermental. The message is strong, worth repeating and very appropriate for American Craft Beer Week. I agree with Bryan over at The Brew Lounge. My wish is that it had a national audience. We all need this much more than another commercial on drinkability, triple hop processing or labels that tell us our beer is cold.

I Am A Craft Brewer from I Am A Craft Brewer on Vimeo.

Craft Ale House: Dogfish Yum

Sorry, I'm a bit late with this. Don't worry you have the evening to enjoy it.

The Craft Ale House is celebrating the start of American Craft Beer Week by unleashing (that was way to easy) a bit of Dogfish: 60, 90, 120 and Indian Brown. The rest of their draft list is also impressive.

American Craft Beer Week

As if you need another reason to get out there and drink good beer. Today is the start of American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17). The week puts the spotlight on small independent breweries producing less than 2 million barrels a year. Beer enthusiasts and enthusiasts in training are encouraged to support those smaller brewers. So, get out there and declare your beer Independence. Take a brewery tour, order a craft beer sampler at your favorite establishment, buy some cool brewery wear, have dinner at a local brew pub or better yet pick up a case or two. It's up to all of us to spread the word of craft beer.

For all you macro heads take a chance to find out what all the fuss is about. Don't get too crazy, ease into it. A nice craft pilsner (Victory Prima Pils), a session ale (Yards Brawler) or a wheat beer (Bell's Oberon) are all good ways to introduce yourself to the craft world. Hopefully, in due time, with the help of a few pints and friends who care you will overcome the macro grip. Then you to can sing the praises of real beer. Cheers!

Here's to Mom

Really???

How do mom and beer relate? My mother is truly a lightweight. Give her a 12oz bottle and she will pour half and save the rest for later in the evening, if at all. She is a big advocate of the pony bottle. My appreciation for beer definitely came from another branch of the family tree. The best thing I can say about my mom and beer is that she is open to tasting anything I bring back home. Saison, Hefeweizen, DIPA, Imperial Stout, Gueuze, Smoked Porter, you name it she has tried it. This is an amazing feat for a woman who once though Corona was an exotic brew. So to my mom I raise a pint and say Happy Mother's Day. I'll have a bomber of Weyerbacher Insanity for you to try on my next trip to Pittsburgh.

So is this considered multitasking?

The Next Big Thing in PA...Sculpin?

People get paid big money for knowing what's going to be the next thing. As far as beer goes I am sure that bar owners, distributors and beer fanatics all have their eye on what is going to send people running for the taps and lining up at bottle shops and distributors. Several beers wield the power to put people into a frenzy. The release of Three Floyds, Dark Lord is a massive festival event and Lost Abbey, Angel's Share is nationally lusted after. In Philadelphia when Russian River, Pliny the Elder and Younger are released they sweep through the area like a whirl wind causing beer geeks to wet their panties in anticipation of a taste. Founders, Kentucky Breakfast Stout often draws people from hundreds of miles away. Troegs, Nugget Nectar and Mad Elf had people planning for the release and snatching bottles and cases off shelves as soon as they hit.

Many of these popular beers that made their way around Philly did so with varying levels of fanfare. In some cases the stir isn't what it was. Though still hugely popular Pliny the Elder's draw has ever so slightly slipped. Of course since more of it makes its way into the market than it did a few years ago and more places are selling it the mystique fades a bit. So, then in steps the rarer Pliny the Younger to take over the popularity high ground. People are fickle and as much as we love anything we tend to look for something new. So what's the next big thing?

The next highly sought after beer will share some of the qualities of those that came before it. Chances are it's a limited/special release, it's new to the market, BAers have hyped the hell out of it, it's praised for its style and the most obvious, it has to wow the taste buds. If rumblings are a sign of things to come Ballast Point Brewing Company out of San Diego might have the golden ticket. Two of their beers Sculpin IPA and Dorado DIPA are flowing into the Philly area via Bella Vista Beer Distributors. While Ballast Point Brewing already has brands distributed in the area Sculpin and Dorado are new and rare. Sculpin already has a huge following across the country and from the looks of it TJ's, Capone's, The Grey Lodge, Craft Ale House, Teresa's and other Philly beer spots are planing to add to the popularity with promotions for the draft release.

I was lucky to purchase a bottle of Sculpin from Capone's and Matt let me know that people have been anxiously reserving bottles. The rush for the sought after brew has kept it off the bottle shop's shelves and behind the counter to help regulate purchases from the limited supply. Since this is my first I'm curious to see if it lives up to all the acclaim. Fellow bloggers, Summer of Beer and The Full Pint along with others have already lavished praise on the beer. As much as I would love to pour a pint right now I'm holding off on my first sip. I'll wait to fight the crowds and take in all the pomp and circumstance once it's officially released on draft. Meanwhile, I'll sit back, stare at my bomber, be thankful for where I live and enjoy the cresting wave of craft beer hype as it prepares to hit Philly yet again.

Duck-Rabbit Season

'Tis the season of Duck-Rabbit. Duck-Rabbit Brewery located in Farmville, NC is launching huge in PA starting today. Duck-Rabbit's beers are already available in bottles and on daft but this week is the official state launch. Between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh approximately 14 bars and beer sellers will run special promotions to spread the word about the brewery and its beers.

Duck-Rabbit is still fairly young as breweries go. They will celebrate their 5th anniversary in August. Brewmaster and founder Paul Phillippon started out as a homebrewer and when his job as a philosophy teacher no longer seemed promising he ventured into brewing as a career. Philippon's focus is dark beers. There are no IPAs or Hefeweizens on their draft list. With the tag line, "The Dark Beer Specialist" you shouldn't expect anything on the light side. During the launch Amber, Brown Ale, Porter, Milk Stout, some specialty and seasonal beers will all be available.

Here is a quick list of Pittsburgh and Philly locations welcoming Duck-Rabbit. Check the individual sites for specific beers available.

Philadelphia

Mon May 4th
Beer Yard, Sampling 4-6pm
Teresa's Next Door, 6-8pm
Monk's Cafe, 5:30-7pm

Tues May 5th
Sidcar Bar and Grille, 6-9pm
Capone's, 5-8:30pm, tap time is 11:30am

Wed May 6th
The Foodery (N. Lioberties), 4-6pm
The Grey Lodge Pub, 5-9pm

Pittsburgh

Wed May 6th
Harris Grill, 5-7pm
Sharp Edge (302 South St. Clair Street), 7-9pm

Thurs May 7th
D's Six Pax & Dogz(Regent Sq), 5-7pm
Smokin' Joe's Saloon, 8-10pm

Fri May 8th
Fat Head's Saloon, 5pm-?

Sat May 9th
Bocktown Beer and Grill, 5-7pm
Piper's Pub, 7:30-9:30pm

Also

Harrisburg

Thur May 7th

Shady McGrady's (204 Verbeke St), 7pm-?

Bethlehem

Mon May 4th

Abe's Cold Beer, (1301 W. Broad St.), 4-6pm

Wed May 6th

Tally Ho Tavern (205 W. 4th St), 6-9pm

A duck rabbit classic

Full Sized Weekend

As the air warms beer events start springing up much like dandelions sprouting in my front lawn. There are too many to handle. This weekend is the perfect example. There are three gatherings on Saturday and a classic one on Sunday that manages to get farm animals involved. The choice is yours.

Saturday May 2

3rd Annual Barleywine Expo

Stewarts Brewing Company

Bear, DE

Barrel Aged Beer Event @ Capone's

11am-11:45pm, PAYG

Founders Backwood Bastard

Founders Kentucky BreakfastStout

Arcadia Old Dicks Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Ale

Sprecher Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout

Allagash Curieux

Also Ramstein Eisbock and several other beers to be named later will be on draft.

McCoole's Beer Festival

Quakertown, PA

40 plus beers and two sessions

12-4pm and 5-9pm

$27 in advance & $30 @ the door.

Sunday May 3

Sly Fox Bock Fest and Goat Race

Phoenixville

11am-6pm

From the Sly Fox website

The annual Sly Fox Bock Festival & Goat Race (which determines the name of the year's Maibock) draws thousands to Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery in Phoenixville's Pikeland Village Square to enjoy German food and music and what may be the most extensive lineup of Bock beers poured at any brewpub in the nation on a single day: Slacker Bock, Helles Bock, Instigator Doppelbock, two Eisbocks (Slacker and Instigator) and the To-Be-Named-Later Maibock.

The race itself has evolved into a multi-heat event leading to a final run matching the day's best performers Register your goat now by calling Sly Fox Phoenixville at the number below. Not only is the winning goat honored by having the Maibock named after it, the winning owner gets a $75 gift card good at both Sly Fox locations.

We'll also be featuring some fantastic Bavarian pretzels and Brats along with a full lineup of German style beers. In addition to the four Bock beers and two Eis Bocks mentioned earlier we'll also be serving up our Gold Medal Winning Pikeland Pils, Helles Golden Lager, Royal Weisse, Vienna Lager, Charles Bridge Pilsner, & Dunkel Lager.

NOTE: There will be extremely limited parking onsite for the Bock Fest. Space will be available in the adjacent STS Tire & Auto Center lot until it fills up, but that will happen early. The primary parking area will be at the Kimberton Fairgrounds roughly a mile and half south on Rt. 113. There will be a free shuttle to site. Cars parked in the shopping centers across the road from Pikeland Village Square will be subject to towing by the township; police will be on hand to enforce parking regulations.For more information regarding this event contact: Sly Fox Phoenixville 610.935.4540

Forget The Bud Ice. However, Beware of the Penguins

Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals heed the warning.

Dooby Dooby Do

GAME 1: @ Washington, Sat. 5/2, 1 p.m. ET

GAME 2: @ Washington, Mon. 5/4, 7 p.m. ET

GAME 3: @ Pittsburgh, Wed. 5/6, 7 p.m. ET

GAME 4: @ Pittsburgh, Fri. 5/8, 7 p.m. ET

*GAME 5: @ Washington, Sat. 5/9, 7 p.m. ET

*GAME 6: @ Pittsburgh, Mon. 5/11, TBD

*GAME 7: @ Washington Wed. 5/13, 7 p.m. ET

* if necessary

BEWARE OF THE PENGUINS!!!

Firewaters: Stone Night

As much as I wish I could go to every beer related event around Philadelphia, until someone gives me a check at the end of each week for spouting my thoughts I have to pick and choose wisely. My time limits had me choosing between Stone @ Firewaters and Founders @ The Drafting Room. Although The Drafting Room was scheduled to have KBS, Cerese (still haven't had it on draft) and four other Founders brews on tap, a chance to chat with Lee and sample from 10 Stone drafts at one sitting won out.

When I first heard that the event was at Firewaters in Concord I was a bit shocked. I knew they had a nice beer selection (50 taps & 101 bottles)but I had never heard of them doing a big craft promo. If this was there first they are starting off strong. Lee Marren worked his magic and brought in old favorites and some hard to find drafts.

Pale Ale
IPA
Ruination IPA
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
2007 Old Guardian Barley Wine
2007 Imperial Russian Stout
08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale
2006 Double Bastard Ale
2008 Old Guardian Barley Wine aged in red wine barrels

Just having the ability to dedicate that amount of space to one brewer and still have a huge selection was impressive. The guys at Firewaters, JJ and Jason (I'm terrible with names so I hope that's right. If I'm wrong let me know and I'll make the correction.) discussed how an encounter with Lee and his boss sparked the promotion idea and brought it to fruition. With that much space there was real motivation to put on some interesting choices. If this had been a weekend promo instead of a midweek the turnout may of been larger. Although, Pat (check below for the guy with the tattoo) had enough Stone enthusiasm to make up for any empty seats.

I hope this is a sign of things to come from Firewaters. My impression is that even though they advertise a great beer selection the proximity to Hooters and the party bar feel may deter some beer people. It shouldn't. I don't think every great beer bar has to be warm wood and low lights or have that classic corner bar feel. Mainly they need to have fresh beer, a good selection and people in charge who are passionate and know the business of beer. From the look of it they can check off all the above. More photos.