Philly Beer Week is so close I can taste it. By now most people who are interested in all the beer related activities have been to the website multiple times. There is something for everyone over the ten day beer lovers dream week. However I noticed a fair amount of the events require a fee. There is nothing wrong with paying for an event, in fact I have my tickets for the Philly Craft Beer Festival on the 1st, but there are a lot activities that are free or simply pay as you go. So if the idea of going to several events with $40, $50, and $60 plus prices was scaring you off fear not there are plenty of Beer Week activities that wont burn a hole in your wallet. Take a look at the first weekend's events.
Friday March 7th
Meet the Brewer: Flying Fish, Casey Hughs
Good Dog
http://www.gooddogbar.com/
7 pm
Meet The Brewer: Sly Fox, Brian O' Reilly
The Standard Tap
http://www.standardtap.com/
5-7 pm
The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous...Again (Sort of)
Grey Lodge Pub
http://www.greylodge.com/
Milwaukee's Sprecher Brewing
Yards Brewing Beef and Beer
The P.O.P.E. (Pub on Passyunk East)
1501 E. Passyunk Ave.
7 pm
Saturday March 8th
Drink Your Wheaties! Wheat Beer Brunch
Grey lodge Pub
http://www.greylodge.com/
11 am-2 pm
a la carte
Join beer writers Lew Byson, Don Russel and Duane Swierczynski for a bunch of wheat beers and pancakes.
In the Pursuit of Hopiness 5 Mile Run
Dock Street Brewery
http://www.dockstreetbeer.com/
11 am
Join Bryan of The Brew Lounge and Suzanne of "In Pursuit of Ale" for a 5 mile city run then beer and food at Dock Street Brewery.
Weyerbacher Tasting
Kunda Beverage
http://www.kundabev.com/
2-5 pm
Free
Meet the Brewer: Yards Brewing
Good Dog
http://www.gooddogbar.com/
7 pm
A firkin of ESA and drinking games. What more do ya need?
Sunday March 9th
Brew You?
Home Sweet Homebrew
http://www.homesweethomebrew.com/
11 am
George Hummel shows you how to become a home brewer. Introductory workshop
R.S.V.P.
Free
Lancaster Brews All Afternoon
Johnny Brenda's
http://www.johnnybrendas.com/
1-4 pm
Specials on Lancaster Brewing's beers
Blue Point Brewing Presents Movie Night
The P.O.P.E.
1501 E. Passyunk Ave.
A double feature, "The Big Lebowski" and "Barfly".
9 pm
Free
Meet the Brewer: Iron Hill, Paul Rutherford
Good Dog
http://www.gooddogbar.com/
A firkin of Iron Hill's best.
Weekday event to follow.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
So Many Festivals So Little Time
Philadelphia's biggest beer celebration is almost upon us. Philly Beer Week is just over a week away and anyone who enjoys great craft and import beer has already been searching websites to figure out what activities to attend during the ten day event. Several blogs and websites have already listed the events in calender form to make it easier for everyone to pick and plan so I am not going to rehash that information here. Instead I want to concentrate on one aspect of Beer Week, THE BEER FESTIVAL. You can call it a festival, a tasting or a sampling event. Hold it in a museum, arena, convention center, zoo, brew pub or local bar but it's all the same. Whether it's 300 plus beers being poured or under 20 it's an event dedicated to the diversity of beer and the people who enjoy it.
Over the past 15 years I have attended multiple festivals in several states. Now I am a little more selective about the ones I attend but when go I never fail to have a great time. Philly Beer Week kicks off an amazing list of festivals that continue through March and into April. The following list shows the events during and after Philly Beer Week. Some of the festivals are local while the others are just a quick road trip away.
Pre Beer Week
March 1, 2008
2nd Annual Philly Craft Beer Festival
Phila Naval Shipyard
Philly Beer Week Events
March 7, 2008
Joe Sixpack's Philly Favorites
The Marketplace at East Falls
7pm-10pm $60
Joe Sixpack (Don Russel) kicks off beer week with samplings from 22 local breweries and brewpubs. Gourmet food is provided by the vendors at the Marketplace.
March 8 and 9, 2008
3rd Annual Atlantic City Beer Festival
The Atlantic City Convention Center
March 9, 2008
The 4th Annual Brewer's Plate
Independence Visitors Center
March 15, 2008
Micheal Jackson: The Man and His Legacy
19th Annual Tutored Tasting At Penn
Chinese Rotunda and Upper Egyptian Gallery
Experts lead a tutored tasting followed by a two hour open sampling session.
March 16, 2008
Real Ale Festival
Triumph Brewing in Old City
Triumph and Yards unite to present 20 different firkins from 20 different breweries. Only room for 300 at this event.
1-4pm, $50
After Beer Week
March 22, 2008
Split Thy Skull 08 Barleywine Fest
Sugar Moms Philly
Pay as you go
Road Trip
March 8-9, 2008
Split Thy Brooklyn Skull
Mugs Ale House, Brooklyn
Pay as you go
March 28-30, 2008
1st Manhattan Cask Ale Festival
Chelsea Brewing Co.
Pay as you go
April 10, 2008
ASN's Ultimate Belgian Tasting 3
Heartland Brewery, Empire State Building
April 26-27, 2008
TAP New York Craft Beer and Fine Food Festival 2008
Hunter Mountain
A BIG trip
April 26, 2008
3rd Annual World Beer Festival
Raleigh, NC
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Head to the Country
While pouring through box after box of my possessions and trying to find a place for everything in the new house I came across a beer newspaper that reminded me of a trip I took last year. On one of my trips back to Pittsburgh Kelleigh and I took an afternoon and drove north on Route 79 to Slippery Rock PA to sample a little beer and food at North Country Brewing Company. I first read about North Country in Lew Bryson's, Pennsylvania Breweries and again when he proclaimed it "Best New Brewpub in Pennsylvania in 2005.".
North Country is located in downtown Slippery Rock not far from Slippery Rock University. The first thing you notice is this place really stands out. The front of the building could have come from a movie set. The bright gold paint along with the Hobbit woodwork meets spaghetti western architecture smacks you in the face in a good way. Don't worry you will never have to circle the block trying to find this place. The whimsical style is continued inside with the split level bar and dinning area. Just looking around the pla
ce you can tell a lot of work went into the detail. Interesting carvings are everywhere in the bar. Unfortunately our trip was slightly rushed because of a family function later that afternoon so I didn't get a real chance to relax and take in everything at a leisurely pace. To get a taste for what was on tap I ordered the large sampler (9 beers). Had I been smart or thought that I would some day start a blog I would of written down tasting notes. With no such insight I have to go from memory and two beers really stood out. The Stinky Hippie, American red and Liquid Love Stout, an American imperial stout made an impression in both taste and name. What's remarkable is this place has t
en plus brews to choose from. Plus there is a cask ale and fruit beer available. Whether you're a beer fanatic or new to craft beer you should have no problem finding something to enjoy. For beer on the go choose from three styles of growlers. It all depends on how fancy you want your beer vessel. My only regrets were I didn't spend enough time at the brewpub and for whatever reason I left without a growler to go.
ce you can tell a lot of work went into the detail. Interesting carvings are everywhere in the bar. Unfortunately our trip was slightly rushed because of a family function later that afternoon so I didn't get a real chance to relax and take in everything at a leisurely pace. To get a taste for what was on tap I ordered the large sampler (9 beers). Had I been smart or thought that I would some day start a blog I would of written down tasting notes. With no such insight I have to go from memory and two beers really stood out. The Stinky Hippie, American red and Liquid Love Stout, an American imperial stout made an impression in both taste and name. What's remarkable is this place has t
en plus brews to choose from. Plus there is a cask ale and fruit beer available. Whether you're a beer fanatic or new to craft beer you should have no problem finding something to enjoy. For beer on the go choose from three styles of growlers. It all depends on how fancy you want your beer vessel. My only regrets were I didn't spend enough time at the brewpub and for whatever reason I left without a growler to go.The north western corner of PA on route 79 is becoming a real beer trail. Hereford and Hops in Cranberry, North Country Brewing, Voodoo Brewing in Meadville along with Brewerie at Union Station and Erie Brewing Co, both in Erie, make for a solid weekend road trip. If time permits on my next trip to the other side of the state I will make it a point to further explore the breweries and beer pubs to the north.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Quest for the BIG case
One look at "What's in my beer fridge", and you can tell that I am enjoying a fair amount of Weyerbacher. The obvious case I just purchased is Big Beers. I have to admit that it is the first case I have purchased in a long time. Most of the time I stock up on bombers or go to a good pick your own six pack place and go wild. Typically this gets a bit costly especially if all of my purchases are done in PA. What sparked me to grab an entire case was an opportunity to get several beer styles and save a little cash.
On Saturday I jumped in the car and asked my GPS to find beer distributors close to home. The Nuvi (my navigating brain on the dashboard) came up with four places less than three miles from my front door. However the place I decided to venture to was a little further out. I discovered the back roads to King of Prussia and made my way to Kunda Beverage. It had been years since I had stopped in and it was great to see that Kunda still offered a nice selection of craft and import beers. After walking around for a few minutes a sign in the back grabbed my eye. On the back wall a hand written banner proclaimed, BLOWOUTS!!!. This of course triggered my money sensible side. Strolling to the rear of the store I found a case of Weyerbacher Big Beers for around ten dollars less than what I would pay in the city. What was a little strange was that the beer came in a plain case that ended up being a Weyerbacher Double Simcoe case turned inside out. The original Big Beer graphics were then glued to the top of the blank case. My only fear was that since the beer wasn't in the original packaging it was dated and less than fresh. However since I hadn't had this case since the Double Simcoe was added and the price was more than comfortable I threw caution to the wind and put down the cash.
After giving a few bottles some time in the the fridge I pulled out a Double Simcoe, poured it into a Dogfish pint glass and was happy to discover the aroma of piney hops flooding my nose. The taste followed the lead of the aroma with pine and citrus (grapefruit) grabbing at the tongue. The alcohol sting upfront mellows with warmth and leads to a slightly biscuit sweet end. Double Simcoe is a solid DIPA, not at the level of Pliny the Elder or Bell's Hop Slam but more in line with Dogfish 90 Minute or Stoudt's DIPA. The rest of the case is equally as impressive The Old Heathen is a roasty near black, Imperial Stout with an abv of 8.0%. Merry Monks' Ale weighs in at 9.3% and is a sweet, yeasty, Belgian style triple with hints of clove and coriander. The final and biggest beer in the case is the 11.1% Blithering Idiot English style barleywine. The deep amber beer gives off a spicy sweet aroma and pours with a thin dissipating head. The taste is of dark fruit with a warm alcohol smack that blends well with the malty character. As much as my hop crazy self loves the Double Simcoe, knowing the outside temperature is hovering around 36 degrees and having patches of snow dot my new driveway dictates the Idiot is the beer to enjoy on the couch in front of the fire. I have enjoyed several bottles from the discount case and no disappointments yet. Overall Weyerbacher has put together one of the best variety cases on the market.
So far my life adventure outside the city is going well. I found a few new beer distributors and revisited one that provided a great case of beer at an even better price. Tie that in with my proximity to some of the best beer bars in the area and It looks like there are more than a few good reasons to live in the land of strip malls.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Moving to the Burbs
It's been a month since I have added anything to the blog. My beer adventure time has been seriously reduced do to the fact that I am moving out of the city. For the past few weeks all that Kelleigh and I have done is fill box after box of our belonging in preparation for the move. Nothing could possibly consume more time and be less enjoyable. All of this means that as of February my greater surrounds change drastically. The city views I've enjoyed for the past 8 years are traded in for strip malls, lawns and the sound of crickets. However all is not bad. This move means I am closer to getting a dog and it places me near one of my favorite beer runs.
The Main Line has many good drinking spots. Three of my favorites, Teresa's Next Door (TND), TJ's Everyday and The Flying Pig, create a wonderful beer lovers trail. For whatever reason anytime I go to all three establishments on the same day I follow the same path. The first stop is always Teresa's Next Door. TND is located on Wayne Avenue just north of route 30 in Wayne PA. The bar is surrounded by small shops, restaurants and other drinking establishments. Teresa's Next Door as the name suggests is attached to Teresa's Cafe. Both establishments share a common entrance. Upon entering TND and taking a spot at the bar it's easy to see why this is a prime beer destination. Even before noticing the taps its hard not to resist staring at the wall of glassware. Every beer is served in it's proper glass. No Belgian Triple in a pint glass here. The draft list consists of 20 plus beers, 2 on cask, with an emphasis on Belgians. National and local craft breweries are also well represented. On my last visit Allagash, Founders North Coast, Bear Republic, Victory, Flying Dog, Troegs, Sly Fox and Dogfish Head were all pouring. If the draft list isn't enough Teresa's has a 100 plus bottle list. Along with the great beer list the bartenders are knowledgeable about what they are pouring which adds to the a good drinking experience. The only downside to Teresa's is at times it's hard to grab a seat at the bar and the noise can reach high levels. That's the price of popularity
The second stop on the beer trail, TJ's Everyday, is west on route 30 in Paoli. The bar has a relaxed sports bar feel. There are large screen T.Vs, a few video games, a large couch, arm chairs, and coolers filled with beer for takeout. That's where the sports bar comparison ends. This place has one serious beer list, actually a beer book. Check the tap list on the overhead black boards behind the bar or explore the bottle list that comes in book form. The book is organized by style, country and region and also list special cellered beers . A few of the most recent beers on tap were, Victory Baltic Thunder, Great Divide Old Ruffian, Left Hand Warrior IPA, and Leffe Brune. TJ's has a good balance of American craft beers, Belgians and other imports. Besides drinking your favorite libation one look at the menu shows you the interesting mix of food and beer. The chefs here know what they are doing with their, "Cuisine a la Biere". Three of my favorite dishes are the Belgian Blonde Burger (doppelbock carmelized onions and boursin), Arrogant Chipotle Chili and the Rauchbier BBQ wings (extra hot). If you are wondering what beer to enjoy with your meal the menu conveniently lists beers that would pair well with each dish. Between the beer, food and special event nights (poker and bingo with prizes) TJ's has the type of atmosphere that can suck you in for hours.
The last stop on the beer trail is The Flying Pig in Malvern. The atmosphere is no gimmicks, no frills just a basic old neighborhood bar. This is the type of place you go to have a drink and hang with a few friends. I have to admit that out of the bars mentioned The Pig is the one I have been to the least. It's probably because of all the food and drink consumed at TJ's that my evenings end there. Also even though they have food I have never ordered any and again I blame that on TJ's. With that said what I have had is the beer. The selection is a good one. The beer list seems smaller than TJ's or Teresa's N.D. but offers a good mix. Avery, Allagash, Weyerbacher, Brooklyn, South Hampton, Southern Tier, Verhaeghe, New Holland are typically offered. I think the next time I do this beer trail I'll make The Flying Pig the starting point to mix things up and get a better perspective on this beer bar.
The Main Line is defiantly not lacking when it comes to great places to enjoy a quality beer. If I had to rank the three stops along the trail TJ's Everyday would hold the top spot. The combination of unique beer choices, beer cuisine, atmosphere and weekly events wins out. Teresa's Next Door is a close second followed by The Flying Pig. Now that I have moved from the city it's comforting to have three beer stops among the strip malls, 24hr grocery stores and generic pizza shops. Welcome to the burbs.
The Main Line has many good drinking spots. Three of my favorites, Teresa's Next Door (TND), TJ's Everyday and The Flying Pig, create a wonderful beer lovers trail. For whatever reason anytime I go to all three establishments on the same day I follow the same path. The first stop is always Teresa's Next Door. TND is located on Wayne Avenue just north of route 30 in Wayne PA. The bar is surrounded by small shops, restaurants and other drinking establishments. Teresa's Next Door as the name suggests is attached to Teresa's Cafe. Both establishments share a common entrance. Upon entering TND and taking a spot at the bar it's easy to see why this is a prime beer destination. Even before noticing the taps its hard not to resist staring at the wall of glassware. Every beer is served in it's proper glass. No Belgian Triple in a pint glass here. The draft list consists of 20 plus beers, 2 on cask, with an emphasis on Belgians. National and local craft breweries are also well represented. On my last visit Allagash, Founders North Coast, Bear Republic, Victory, Flying Dog, Troegs, Sly Fox and Dogfish Head were all pouring. If the draft list isn't enough Teresa's has a 100 plus bottle list. Along with the great beer list the bartenders are knowledgeable about what they are pouring which adds to the a good drinking experience. The only downside to Teresa's is at times it's hard to grab a seat at the bar and the noise can reach high levels. That's the price of popularity
The second stop on the beer trail, TJ's Everyday, is west on route 30 in Paoli. The bar has a relaxed sports bar feel. There are large screen T.Vs, a few video games, a large couch, arm chairs, and coolers filled with beer for takeout. That's where the sports bar comparison ends. This place has one serious beer list, actually a beer book. Check the tap list on the overhead black boards behind the bar or explore the bottle list that comes in book form. The book is organized by style, country and region and also list special cellered beers . A few of the most recent beers on tap were, Victory Baltic Thunder, Great Divide Old Ruffian, Left Hand Warrior IPA, and Leffe Brune. TJ's has a good balance of American craft beers, Belgians and other imports. Besides drinking your favorite libation one look at the menu shows you the interesting mix of food and beer. The chefs here know what they are doing with their, "Cuisine a la Biere". Three of my favorite dishes are the Belgian Blonde Burger (doppelbock carmelized onions and boursin), Arrogant Chipotle Chili and the Rauchbier BBQ wings (extra hot). If you are wondering what beer to enjoy with your meal the menu conveniently lists beers that would pair well with each dish. Between the beer, food and special event nights (poker and bingo with prizes) TJ's has the type of atmosphere that can suck you in for hours.
The last stop on the beer trail is The Flying Pig in Malvern. The atmosphere is no gimmicks, no frills just a basic old neighborhood bar. This is the type of place you go to have a drink and hang with a few friends. I have to admit that out of the bars mentioned The Pig is the one I have been to the least. It's probably because of all the food and drink consumed at TJ's that my evenings end there. Also even though they have food I have never ordered any and again I blame that on TJ's. With that said what I have had is the beer. The selection is a good one. The beer list seems smaller than TJ's or Teresa's N.D. but offers a good mix. Avery, Allagash, Weyerbacher, Brooklyn, South Hampton, Southern Tier, Verhaeghe, New Holland are typically offered. I think the next time I do this beer trail I'll make The Flying Pig the starting point to mix things up and get a better perspective on this beer bar.
The Main Line is defiantly not lacking when it comes to great places to enjoy a quality beer. If I had to rank the three stops along the trail TJ's Everyday would hold the top spot. The combination of unique beer choices, beer cuisine, atmosphere and weekly events wins out. Teresa's Next Door is a close second followed by The Flying Pig. Now that I have moved from the city it's comforting to have three beer stops among the strip malls, 24hr grocery stores and generic pizza shops. Welcome to the burbs.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Capone's, It's Criminal Not to Stop
It's a little over a week into the new year and I find myself already falling behind. I wanted to put this post up during the last week of December but with the holidays and traveling it kept getting pushed to the side. So before the year gets any older it's time to shout about Capone's restaurant. Capone's is located on Germantown Pike in Norristown and is a must stop for anyone who enjoys great beer. If we all think about what makes a great beer place there are a few things that show up on any list. You want a good tap selection, great bottle list, beer events and comfort food. Well Capone's covers it all and they do it very well. From the outside it looks like your standard local family restaurant. Walking in the front door doesn't do much to change that impression. The bar almost runs the width of the building with tables on the opposite side of the room near the front window and along the sides. The locals are in place on bar stools, televisions are overhead, macro beer specials are listed behind the bar and a dinning room is viewable through an archway on the back wall. But a close look at the tap handles tells you this place isn't just home to the Bud/Miller/Coors monster. A few of the beers pouring were Troeg's Mad Elf, Bear Republic Racer 5, Victory's Baltic Thunder and Founder's Breakfast Stout. If your having a hard time deciding what to drink Capone's allows you to order a sampler. Then there's the bottle selection. If you didn't notice it on your way in you will know it once you read the bottle list. This place has a treasure in the back of the building, a bottle shop.
The bottle shop is accessible through the restaurant or from the outside on the left rear corner of the building. The selection is nothing less than amazing. Many of the beers are extremely hard to find anywhere else in eastern PA. The small space holds some of the best offerings from breweries across the country as well as around the world. On any given visit you can find Founders, Bell's, Avery, Three Floyd's, Middle Ages, Hair of then Dog, New Holland, Stone, Russian River, Olfabrikken, Otto's, Fort Collins, Rock Art, Left Hand, Hoppin' Frog, East End, Voodoo, Breckenridge, Port Brewing/Lost Abbey and Mikkeller just to name a few. Of course the local craft beers are all there along with a solid selection of Belgians. Any of these beers are also available to enjoy in the restaurant.
Another plus at Capone's is the food. I can only speak for what I have had in the bar, but it never disappoints. When I come here it's typically to enjoy the liquid offerings but a night of beer with no food is not a good night. The standard bar fare is done well. The Buffalo wings are spicy, crisp and a good size and the burgers are large and flavorful. At some point I will make sure to explore the menu and actually eat in the dinning room.
Finally, what really makes this a beer destination are the monthly brewery events. A few of the events from last year included owners, brewers and reps from Bell's, Russian River (My first taste of Pliny the Younger and Elder and a growler of each for The Beer Fridge), Allagash, Boulder, Legacy, Penn, Flying Fish and Founders. These events are always a great way to taste a wide range of beers from the participating brewery and to talk a little shop. So whether its for a beer event, comfort food, to find a unique bottle, or enjoy what's on the ten taps make sure that Capone's is on your short list of great beer destinations.
The bottle shop is accessible through the restaurant or from the outside on the left rear corner of the building. The selection is nothing less than amazing. Many of the beers are extremely hard to find anywhere else in eastern PA. The small space holds some of the best offerings from breweries across the country as well as around the world. On any given visit you can find Founders, Bell's, Avery, Three Floyd's, Middle Ages, Hair of then Dog, New Holland, Stone, Russian River, Olfabrikken, Otto's, Fort Collins, Rock Art, Left Hand, Hoppin' Frog, East End, Voodoo, Breckenridge, Port Brewing/Lost Abbey and Mikkeller just to name a few. Of course the local craft beers are all there along with a solid selection of Belgians. Any of these beers are also available to enjoy in the restaurant.
Another plus at Capone's is the food. I can only speak for what I have had in the bar, but it never disappoints. When I come here it's typically to enjoy the liquid offerings but a night of beer with no food is not a good night. The standard bar fare is done well. The Buffalo wings are spicy, crisp and a good size and the burgers are large and flavorful. At some point I will make sure to explore the menu and actually eat in the dinning room.
Finally, what really makes this a beer destination are the monthly brewery events. A few of the events from last year included owners, brewers and reps from Bell's, Russian River (My first taste of Pliny the Younger and Elder and a growler of each for The Beer Fridge), Allagash, Boulder, Legacy, Penn, Flying Fish and Founders. These events are always a great way to taste a wide range of beers from the participating brewery and to talk a little shop. So whether its for a beer event, comfort food, to find a unique bottle, or enjoy what's on the ten taps make sure that Capone's is on your short list of great beer destinations.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Travel North for the New Year
Kelleigh and I spent this New Year's Eve extended weekend on the road traveling to a friend's wedding just northwest of Boston in Waltham Massachusetts. The weekend ultimately turned into a very, very good beer experience. Once in Waltham I decided to do a little research to uncover beer bars, breweries and beer stores within a decent vicinity of the hotel. I was surprised to find a well rated liquor, wine and beer store close and a brewery less than 2 miles away. So while the ladies were getting their hair and makeup done for the big day, a friend and I jumped into the rental car and headed towards Gordon's Liquors. Once there I searched the shelves for something new or not available in PA. The overall beer selection was average and the store seemed to cater more to the wine crowd. On the shelves were several Belgians and other imports, along with many familiar craft brews; Victory, Allagash, Rogue, Magic Hat, Ommegang etc. What I came away with were a bottle each of Cape Ann Brewing Company's Fisherman's Navigator '05, Coastal Extreme Brewing Co's Newport Storm '06. and a mix case of Magic Hat. The Navigator and the Newport were traveling back to the beer fridge in Philly and the Magic was for the wedding after party.
Later in the day we moved on to Watch City Brewing Company in downtown Waltham. We were hungry and what better place to get take-out than a brew pub? While waiting for the order I grabbed a sampler of 4 beers. The Explosion IPA, Moody Street Stout, Pie Eyed Pumpkin Ale and Father Time Winter Ale were all fairly light in taste. The explosion IPA had a good nose of pine and fruit but lacked any
hop punch as the name might suggest. The stand out beer was the Pumpkin ale. The smell of pumpkin pie comes at you as soon as you lift the pint to your mouth. The cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar were all detectable. To my surprise the taste was more bittersweet than pumpkin pie sweet. The pumpkin and spices were there from start to finish with the spices lingering after the last sip. This was a very balanced easy drinking beer. Overall Watch City is the type of brew pub that would work well for someone who is trying to break away from the mainstream beers and test the craft brew waters.
The best part of this northern journey happened later in the evening during the reception. The groom who is an employee of Samuel Adams had two special treats. First was a beer he had entered in the Sam Adams Long Shot Homebrew Contest. He was a finalist in the employee competition and had a sample of his Orange Hefeweizen at the reception. The beer poured a hazy orange, had a strong banana and clove nose with a light hop bitterness from start to finish. As good as it was the evening's winner was the snifter of Samuel Adams Utopias. This was my first taste of the Holy Grail of beer. From the smell it's hard to believe this is beer. It is easy to understand why so many equate it to bourbon, scotch and brandy. The color is hazelnut and with no carbonation, there is no head. The taste is maple, butterscotch, nut, and sugary malts but is never sticky sweet. The slight bitterness is so hidden that it is almost nonexistent. Some warmth comes through as you sip, but the biggest surprise is with an abv of 27% there is no alcohol burn. Utopias is silky and smooth all the way down. This was the perfect beer to toast a friend's wedding and bring in the New Year.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Bear Spotted in the Burbs
Bear Republic is now in PA!!! I read about this last week on the Beer Yard site. As reported Stockertown Beverage Co, a Lehigh Valley wholesaler, is putting the beer on the taps and shelves of bars and restaurants all around Philadelphia. Bear Republic Brewing Co, located in Sonoma County California, is known for well balanced hoppy ales. Expect to see Red Rocket Ale, Hop Rod Rye, Big Bear Stout Ale, XP Pale Ale and Racer 5 IPA. The later I first had while on a weekend trip to Washington D.C.. I was in a Whole Foods market and came across a display of Racer 5. I puchased two bottles and after trying it was hooked. Before heading home I made sure to grab several bottles to enjoy back in Philly. Now you no longer need to take a road trip down I-95 to quench your thirst, it's just a quick local trek to put a pint of Bear Republic's best in your hand. On a journey out to the burbs I found Racer 5 on tap at Capone's in Norristown and Red Rocket Ale at TJ's Everyday in Paoli. In Philly look for XP Pale Ale soon at the Grey Lodge in the Northeast. Having Stone, Moylan's, Port Brewing/ Lost Abbey and now Bear Republic in Pennsylvania makes finding a unique ultra hoppy west coast beer easier than ever. Hopefully we can look forward to more California breweries sending their best to the east coast.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Looking Forward to March 08
Philadelphia Beer Week, March 7-16, is fast approaching. Expect a beer lovers fantasy week. Look forward to festivals, events, dinners and more. Check out the link to stay on top of everything.
www.phillybeerweek.org
Also in March on the 1st
The Philly Craft Beer Festival @ The Philadelphia Cruise Terminal. Tickets are on sale now.
http://www.phillycraftbeerfest.com/
March will be a very, very, very good month!!!
www.phillybeerweek.org
Also in March on the 1st
The Philly Craft Beer Festival @ The Philadelphia Cruise Terminal. Tickets are on sale now.
http://www.phillycraftbeerfest.com/
March will be a very, very, very good month!!!
Quick Brewery/ Brewpub Update
I stopped by the Dock Street Brewery and Restaurant at 50th and Baltimore Ave on Thursday after work. I hadn't been in for months and wanted to see what was new on tap. Now that it's winter my taste buds crave anything malty and toasty with a little oak mixed in. I just can't get enough of the winter warmer style. Dock Street did not disappoint. I started with the Barley Wine and WOW this is a good one. It's not too sweet on the tongue like so many barley wines are. The lack of sticky sweetness along with a medium mouth feel makes it very drinkable. The taste is of caramel, dark fruit and mild oak. It all finishes with a warm alcohol kick. Respect this one it comes with an ABV of 10.5%. I also had the Cuckoo's Nest Red which is a nice malty red ale. I wanted to try the Golden Stock Ale which is described as, a blonde ale with soft malts, aromatic hops and oak notes, but time and the fact that I had to drive home didn't allow it. Other offerings on tap are Kolsch, Rye IPA and Imperial Oatmeal Stout.
Openings and closings.
John Harvard's in Wayne is down and out. It seems that the company is doing serious down sizing. Earth Bread and Brewery will rise in the Mt. Airy section of Philly sometime near the end of March 08. The owners are Tom Baker and Peggy Zwerver the former owners of the defunct Heavyweight Brewery. A little further from Philly, actually a lot further from Philly, Elk Creek Cafe and Ale Works has opened in Millheim PA. Finally, One Guy Brewing in Berwick should open in the next few weeks.
Openings and closings.
John Harvard's in Wayne is down and out. It seems that the company is doing serious down sizing. Earth Bread and Brewery will rise in the Mt. Airy section of Philly sometime near the end of March 08. The owners are Tom Baker and Peggy Zwerver the former owners of the defunct Heavyweight Brewery. A little further from Philly, actually a lot further from Philly, Elk Creek Cafe and Ale Works has opened in Millheim PA. Finally, One Guy Brewing in Berwick should open in the next few weeks.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Happy New Beer or Hoppy New Year!!!
The clock is ticking towards the New Year, so if you still don't have a date or plans for the big night here are a few ideas that incorporate our favorite beverage. Now all you have to do is find a date. Good luck.
Stoudt's Brewing Company
Toast in the New Year with Carol and Ed.
www.stoudtsbeer.com/events_new-years.html
General Lafayette Inn and Brewery
Choose from either a 3 or 5 course pre fixe meal. Includes champagne toast at midnight.
www.generallafayetteinn.com/default.htm
Manayunk Brewery
The Cocktail Party goes from 8pm-12am. Premium 4 hour open bar with BEER, wine and top shelf liquor. Party favors, hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast are included.
www.manayunkbrewery.com/events.php
Johnny Brenda's
Peek-A-Boo-Revue
"Philadelphia's Premiere Neo-Burlesque"
www.johnnybrendas.com/?p=409
Triumph Brewing Company
The party starts at 10pm. The champagne toast is at midnight.
www.triumphbrewing.com/indexfl6.html
Monk's Cafe
Early dinner, 4 courses with beer 6:30pm
Late dinner, 6 courses with beer 9:30pm
This is a food and beer spectacular.
www.ripsneakers.com/monks/
The Grey Lodge Pub
This party has food, drink, noisemakers, a dj and the champagne toast at midnight. It all starts at 9:30pm and rolls until 1am.
www.greylodge.com/index.html
Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats
Dinner in downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE. Two seating times available 6:00pm and 8:15pm.
www.dogfish.com/news/New_Years_Eve_Beer_Dinner!/1029/index.htm
Make sure to check the links for detailed info and availability.
Happy New Year!!!
Stoudt's Brewing Company
Toast in the New Year with Carol and Ed.
www.stoudtsbeer.com/events_new-years.html
General Lafayette Inn and Brewery
Choose from either a 3 or 5 course pre fixe meal. Includes champagne toast at midnight.
www.generallafayetteinn.com/default.htm
Manayunk Brewery
The Cocktail Party goes from 8pm-12am. Premium 4 hour open bar with BEER, wine and top shelf liquor. Party favors, hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast are included.
www.manayunkbrewery.com/events.php
Johnny Brenda's
Peek-A-Boo-Revue
"Philadelphia's Premiere Neo-Burlesque"
www.johnnybrendas.com/?p=409
Triumph Brewing Company
The party starts at 10pm. The champagne toast is at midnight.
www.triumphbrewing.com/indexfl6.html
Monk's Cafe
Early dinner, 4 courses with beer 6:30pm
Late dinner, 6 courses with beer 9:30pm
This is a food and beer spectacular.
www.ripsneakers.com/monks/
The Grey Lodge Pub
This party has food, drink, noisemakers, a dj and the champagne toast at midnight. It all starts at 9:30pm and rolls until 1am.
www.greylodge.com/index.html
Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats
Dinner in downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE. Two seating times available 6:00pm and 8:15pm.
www.dogfish.com/news/New_Years_Eve_Beer_Dinner!/1029/index.htm
Make sure to check the links for detailed info and availability.
Happy New Year!!!
Beer Break Before the Holiday
As we head into those days just before Christmas take a break from the madness of last minute shopping and stop by one of these upcoming beer events. Cheers!!!
Tues Dec 18th
Tasty Tuesdays At Teresa's Next Door
Enjoy TND's food paired with sample sizes of various beers and/or wines.
124 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne PA(610) 293-0119
Wed Dec 19th
In Pursuit of Ale's Holiday Bash @ Johnny Brenda's
Everyone is invited to this holiday gathering that supports a great cause and promotes local beer at a very comfortable price. A $13 cover gets you in the door, plus it benefits the National Parkinsons Foundation. Look for $3 pints of Iron Hill, Sly Fox, Troegs, Dock Street and Flying Fish. Along with beer enjoy snacks, raffles and a little Rock-Paper-Scissors. Check the links below for more info.
1201 N. Frankford Ave Philadelphia, PA 215-739-9684
Fri Dec 21st
Third Friday Firkin Fest: Sly Fox Red Ale @ Pheonixville
This one promises a one time only release of Unspiced Xmas Ale. Just one firkin of this dry hopped brew. The event starts at 12pm and flows to 10pm.
519 Kimberton Rd, PIKELAND VILLAGE SQUARE PHOENIXVILLE, PA 19460
610-935-4540
Fri Dec 21st
Ithaca Brewing Firkin and More @ Union Jack's Inn on the Monatawny
Ithaca Brewing reps bring out their beer knowledge and of course their beer. Look for Cascazilla DIPA, Winterizer and a mystery brew. Yummy!!!
546 Manatawny Rd, Boyertown, PA 19512
(610) 689-0189
Sunday, December 16, 2007
School is in Session
For those of you who thought school was always stressful and found every reason to skip class Tria Cafe has the perfect solution. Sunday School. No not the religious classes you went to as a kid but rather an excellent chance to taste some great beer, wine and cheese. On Sundays Tria selects a beer, wine and cheese and offers it at 1/2 off the regular price. This gives everyone a fantastic opportunity to try something they have never experienced without having to take a deep dive into the wallet. This week's beer selection was De Dolle
Oerbier from Diksmuide, Belgium. The commercial description says that it is," ...brewed from no less than 6 malts, uses Poperinge Golding hops and special yeast and is cellared at a constant temperature of 8 degrees Celsius...". All this creates a highly carbonated beer that pours deep red with a complex wine like sweet, tart fruitiness (apples and dark berries). The alcohol weighs in at 9%. I paired this with the cheese of the evening, the Sprout Creek Toussant from Poughkeepsie, NY which was served with crusty sliced bread and Amontillado apples. The De Dolle Oerbier was a perfect compliment to the robust, slightly peppery cheese. Not to forget our wine friends, Kelleigh had a glass of the Meritage Lyeth, 05 from Sonoma, CA. This was also from the Sunday School syllabus. To end the evening I had a beer I can never pass up when I find it on tap, Stone's Double Bastard. This beat out my second choice Victory's Old Horizontal. Wow, it's nice to have choices. Oh did I mention there was also Dogfish 90 minute. Well, whether you stop in on a weekday or take part in Sunday School, Tria Cafe is the perfect place to test your taste buds.
TRIA Rittenhouse Square • 18th & Sansom Streets • 215.972.8742
TRIA Washington Square West • 12th & Spruce Streets • 215.629.9200
http://www.triacafe.com/
Oerbier from Diksmuide, Belgium. The commercial description says that it is," ...brewed from no less than 6 malts, uses Poperinge Golding hops and special yeast and is cellared at a constant temperature of 8 degrees Celsius...". All this creates a highly carbonated beer that pours deep red with a complex wine like sweet, tart fruitiness (apples and dark berries). The alcohol weighs in at 9%. I paired this with the cheese of the evening, the Sprout Creek Toussant from Poughkeepsie, NY which was served with crusty sliced bread and Amontillado apples. The De Dolle Oerbier was a perfect compliment to the robust, slightly peppery cheese. Not to forget our wine friends, Kelleigh had a glass of the Meritage Lyeth, 05 from Sonoma, CA. This was also from the Sunday School syllabus. To end the evening I had a beer I can never pass up when I find it on tap, Stone's Double Bastard. This beat out my second choice Victory's Old Horizontal. Wow, it's nice to have choices. Oh did I mention there was also Dogfish 90 minute. Well, whether you stop in on a weekday or take part in Sunday School, Tria Cafe is the perfect place to test your taste buds.TRIA Rittenhouse Square • 18th & Sansom Streets • 215.972.8742
TRIA Washington Square West • 12th & Spruce Streets • 215.629.9200
http://www.triacafe.com/
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Brewery Stop in the Burgh
While in Pittsburgh my fiancee, Kelleigh, and I made sure to stop by the East End Brewing Co. The brewery is located in an old warehouse building on a small back street in the Homewood area of Pittsburgh. If you don't have GPS definitely jump on Google Maps to get detailed direction. Once there don't bother looking for any flashy signs or the brewery's name up in lights you won't find any. This place doesn't even have windows. Just look for the grey door marked with a small open sign. The brewery is open during growler hours for free tastings. Once inside it's a quick walk down a dimly lit hall to the tasting room/ brewing floor. Scott Smith, the owner, wasn't on hand the day we were there, but he had two assistants manning the taps. Eight people were there already with pints in hand tasting and chatting. The atmosphere was very casual friendly and we were immediately greeted and asked what we would enjoy. I started with their Winter Warmer- Snow Melt Winter Ale, described as, "A rich malty, ruby-red, lightly spiced winter ale...". It poured murky reddish brown with a thin head. The taste was of coffee and chocolate and finished slightly sweet and toasty. Kelleigh had a Fat Gary Nut Brown Ale and we actually had a chance to meet Fat Gary. I followed my Snow Melt with a Black Strap Stout, Fat Gary, Big Hop IPA and an East End Witte. Yes I drank dark and toasty first and went to light and slightly sweet. Oops my bad. All the beers were very good. We stayed for an hour or so tasting and talking and left with a growler of the Snow Melt and a bottle of Smokestack Porter. If you want something more than beer to remember your journey they offer hats, t-shirts and of course pint glasses. I highly recommend stopping by this little brewery if you ever make it out to the Burgh. Check out the link to find out more details on Scott and his Brewery. http://www.eastendbrewing.com/
Sour Holiday
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, overeating and good drink. For all of this I ventured westward to Pittsburgh to celebrate the holiday. My Turkey Day was fairly routine, in attendance were my parents, sister, grandmother, uncle and fiancee. The food consisted of the grand bird, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, collard greens, cranberry sauce, corn pudding, rolls, green beans, apple pie and sweet potato pie. For this grand meal I brought a bottle of Rodenbach Grand Cru from my beer fridge. The sour ale complimented the meal and created an interesting if not perfect pairing with both slices of pie. I ended up being the only one to partake in the big bottle. Everyone else found the Flemish Red Ale far too sour and my uncle commented the aroma from the glass was, "very odd". That just meant the entire bottle was all for me. Not a problem =).
If you are not familiar with Flemish Red Ales they are aged in large oak vats that are home to wild yeast and bacteria. With aging the beer takes on and acidic, vanilla, oakiness on the palate. Older and younger beers are blended, Rodenbach Flemish Ale, creating a light, tart, fruity taste. The Rodenbach Grand Cru is not blended and is aged for 2 years giving it an acidic tongue prick with flavors of oak and passion fruit. Both beers can be an acquired taste. I suggest if you're going to try them search for the smaller bottles if you don't have someone to share them with.
If you are not familiar with Flemish Red Ales they are aged in large oak vats that are home to wild yeast and bacteria. With aging the beer takes on and acidic, vanilla, oakiness on the palate. Older and younger beers are blended, Rodenbach Flemish Ale, creating a light, tart, fruity taste. The Rodenbach Grand Cru is not blended and is aged for 2 years giving it an acidic tongue prick with flavors of oak and passion fruit. Both beers can be an acquired taste. I suggest if you're going to try them search for the smaller bottles if you don't have someone to share them with.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Don't Fear the Dark Side
With the cooler weather this past weekend I thought it was the perfect time to journey out and taste a few beers on the roasty, toasty dark side. The late fall and winter months always bring out great winter warmers, porters and imperial stouts and after drinking IPAs and DIPAs all summer my taste buds were ready for a switch. Below is a quick recap of my journey.
Friday 16, 07
1st stop
General Lafayette Inn and Brewery
Chocolate Thunder Porter (Mocha colored head, roasty, bittersweet chocolate with hints of coffee and a dry finish).
Dinner with my Fiance
Twenty Manning
Surprise find!!!
Sprague Farm and Brew Works, Hellbender Robust Porter (Murky deep deep brown color, roasted malt aroma, medium mouth feel and light chocolate sweetness)
After Dinner
Tria Cafe
Weyerbacher, Insanity (Thin head, dark amber pour, vanilla, caramel, hops and bourbon taste. Strong alcohol presence).
Bell's, Expedition (Pours black with aroma of dark fruit, chocolate and espresso. Thick mouth feel and alcohol warming effect.) My favorite of the night
Journey's End
Home in front of the fire
Brooklyn Brewing, Black Chocolate Stout (Pitch black pour with a medium tan head. Aromas of roasted malt, dark chocolate and fruit. Warm mouth feel.). Second favorite.
A beautiful end to a wonderful trip.
Friday 16, 07
1st stop
General Lafayette Inn and Brewery
Chocolate Thunder Porter (Mocha colored head, roasty, bittersweet chocolate with hints of coffee and a dry finish).
Dinner with my Fiance
Twenty Manning
Surprise find!!!
Sprague Farm and Brew Works, Hellbender Robust Porter (Murky deep deep brown color, roasted malt aroma, medium mouth feel and light chocolate sweetness)
After Dinner
Tria Cafe
Weyerbacher, Insanity (Thin head, dark amber pour, vanilla, caramel, hops and bourbon taste. Strong alcohol presence).
Bell's, Expedition (Pours black with aroma of dark fruit, chocolate and espresso. Thick mouth feel and alcohol warming effect.) My favorite of the night
Journey's End
Home in front of the fire
Brooklyn Brewing, Black Chocolate Stout (Pitch black pour with a medium tan head. Aromas of roasted malt, dark chocolate and fruit. Warm mouth feel.). Second favorite.
A beautiful end to a wonderful trip.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
What Should I Cover?
Since I am a one man operation I need to be realistic about what I can cover in the beer world. I would love to tell you that I'm going to fly around the country and visit great breweries and festivals and drink beer with the locals and report back on them, but that's not going to happen. There are people out there that make a living doing that (yes I'm jealous). I'm going to scale it back a bit and keep it fairly local. Since my home base is here in Philly, eastern PA, NJ and DE will be my main concentration. However, I grew up in Pittsburgh and try to get out there when I can so you will get info from the left side of the state as well. My adventurous side often has me jumping into the car with my fiance and heading to some little beer place in the middle of nowhere. So really I could be anywhere. I may even toss in some beer news from across the country from time to time. So much for scaling it back. Hey, this blog thing is still new to me so I will have to see how it goes.................check back for updates
Another Beer Blog
Yes, it's another beer blog but just like a great beer bar or brewpub you can never have too many. My focus is on craft beer. Sorry for those of you who might of stumbled on here looking for info on those macros (Bud, Miller/Coors...etc). They have their place its just not in my fridge or on this spot. I feel that people should be smart about what they drink and if I can lead anyone away from the world of thin, bland, tasteless, beer all the better. This is the best time ever to be a beer drinker so why waste it tipping back a beer that is just another mass produced bottle of fizzy yellow water. With so many options anyone would be hard pressed to not find a beer that satisfies their tastes. This blog is for the beer adventurer in all of us. As I hit new beer spots and taste all the wonderful offerings I look to learn and also provide helpful info on beer styles, bars, festivals, books, breweries, brewpubs and anything that is craft beer related. Here's to drinking smart.
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