July 30th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Local artist and beer lover Andrew Loder has created a very cool poster (above) honoring Philly’s beer scene. The artwork depicts all of the local breweries in a fun Philly setting. Cost: $15 for a numbered print…
Johnny Brenda’s (Fishtown) is hosting a Kenzinger Clambake Saturday (7/31) at 4 p.m., with a limbo contest emceed by Phila. Brewing Co… Sly Fox will hold the grand opening of its new brewpub in Phoenixville next weekend. They’re promising 20+ beers on tap and lots o’ fun…
Word from NEPhilly.com is that Matthew Hartnett, formerly of Slate on Rittenhouse Square, will be executive chef at the soon-to-open Hop Angel. The German-style beer house will be opened by Mike (Scoats from the Grey Lodge) Scotese at the site of the former Blue Ox in Fox Chase… Downingtown’s Victory Brewing is growing again. The brewery is expected to take delivery next week of eight 440 bbl fermenters to boost its annual capacity to about 100,000 bbl a year. The brewery reports its sales are up 24 percent so far in 2010 - very impressive…
Why anybody would want them I don’t know, but some company called Beer Savers will sell you a half dozen silicon beer caps for $12.99. Supposedly they keep a beer carbonated after you open the bottle in the off-chance that you can’t drink an entire 12 ounces…
Black Star Beer is running a sweepstakes on Facebook called “Maybe the Best Trip Ever.” A trip to Brussels? Munich? Wildwood, N.J.? Nope, winner gets to go to Montana…
America’s only Benedictine monastery brewery, New Mexico’s Abbey of Christ in the Desert, will soon be sending its beer to Philly. South Philly’s Bella Vista Specialty Wholesalers scored the beer, which it says is along the small beers made by Belgium’s Westmalle and Chimay…
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June 16th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Missed your favorite event during beer week? Look around and you might find some leftover beer. My advice: travel with a growler. You never know what you’ll find
In fact, Devil’s Den is suggesting you fill one or more up for Father’s Day. Here’s what they’re pouring right now:
- Ommegang Witte - $13.50*
- Spaten Oktoberfest - $12.50
- Nogne-O Porter - $36.00
- Stillwater Stateside Saison - $18.00
- Nogne-O Imperial Stout - $42.50
- Nogne-O #100 - $48.50
- Sly Fox Gang Aft Agley - $16.00
- Breckenridge Oak Aged Oatmeal Stout - $23.00
- Nogne-O Saison - $44.00
- Bruery Coton -$45.00
- Duck Rabbit Rabid Duck - $21.50
- Duck Rabbit Brown Ale - $12.00
- Duck Rabbit Barleywine - $21.50
- Avery Fifteen - $20.00
- Weyerbacher Double Simcoe - $16.00
*Prices exclude cost of growler. Yes, you can bring your own.
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June 14th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Stephen Lyford took off from work for the entire week and brought along his camera. Click here to fill in those blank spots in your short-term memory.
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June 11th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Steve Hawk was named Philly Beer Geek 2010 last night at Manayunk Brewpub. He clinched it with his nomination of Philly Pale Ale for mayor. Here’s his campaign poster and a hilariously inventive winning speech.
Yards Philly Pale for Mayor
I assure you as a registered voter in the city of Philadelphia – I took this round very seriously.
As we all know this great city of ours is on the forefront of the beer world. Known for being innovative, passionate and notoriously hardworking. But unfortunately as the PLCB raids from a couples months ago prove - we still have a long way to go.
In my opinion we need a mayor that’s a refreshing alternative. A candidate who isn’t afraid to - pour himself into the job. And if you are like me, you too are sick and tired of the same bland candidates, who make these big promises but only leave a bitter aftertaste.
That’s why I’ve accepted the job as campaign manager for a beer we all know and trust. One of our own - born and raised here in the shadow of the liberty bell, Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale.’
A session beer that came from a modest upbringing and slowly rose to prominence in the last 16 years. A beer that was born from a small brewery actually not too far from here actually, A beer that campaigned hard for over a decade in local beer bars. This beer has won me over and will win you over too.
And behind this great ale stands the mighty forefathers of our nation- Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, as represented by their respective ales of the revolution. And whilst it would be easy to pick any of THEM for mayor- they have all HAD their time in office and it is time now for someone new, someone who, unlike any of our esteemed forefathers, was born and raised in Philadelphia from the sweat and toil of Philadelphians themselves, someone who ALREADY represents this city. Ladies and gentlemen- YPPA IS this city!
• My candidate pledges to give a full 4.6% to the city that raised him.
• My candidate goes well with cheese steaks, soft pretzels and even tasty cakes.
• My candidate will not tax his carbonated cousins
• And my candidate will not require Monetary compensation either. The only form of payment he needs is…Refrigeration
Ben Franklin said “It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.” But I say it is Yards Philly Pale Ale that can make a miserable man happy
And tonight I leave you with our campaign slogan – Drink baby drink. For there are much happier times at the bottom of this bottle.
(Raising a mask to his face) I’m Tom Kehoe and I approve this message.
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June 7th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Opening Tap… Haddon Pub Fest… Ladies Beer Tea… 12 separate bars in one day… Smoke ‘em if yous got ‘em… McGillin’s 150th and a ride aboard the Clydesdales.
So how am I going to work off some of those pints? Happy Hour Yoga at Yards Brewery tonight. Loosen up with me (and Mrs. Sixpack) for the rest of Philly Beer Week.
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June 1st, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Opening Tap on Friday will be preceded by the vaunted Hammer of Glory relay. What a great way to tune up for the kick-off of Philly Beer Week - here’s the schedule so you can join in the fun.
(And thanks to Scoats of the Grey Lodge, William Reed of Standard Tap, Jennie Hatton the PBW dynamo and all the creative geniuses along the route for pulling this together!)
- 11:10 a.m. – Grey Lodge Pub to Draught Horse Pub (1431 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 215-235-1010) via Bicycle Convoy
- 12:05 a.m. – Draught Horse Pub to Philadelphia Brewing Company (2439 Amber Street, 215-427-2739) via Horse
- 12:45 p.m. – Philadelphia Brewing Company to Johnny Brenda’s (1201 Frankford Avenue, 215-739-9684) via Kensinger Express Train Kinetic Sculpture
- 1:10 p.m. – Johnny Brenda’s to Yards Brewing Company (901 North Delaware Avenue, 215-634-2600) via Trophy Bike “Bar on a Bike”
- 1:35 p.m. – Yards Brewing Company to Delilah’s Den (100 Spring Garden Street) via Dog-Drawn Wagon
- 1:55 p.m. – Delilah’s to Standard Tap (901 North 2nd Street, 215-238-0630) via Delilah’s Girls
- 2:20 p.m. – Standard Tap to The Foodery (837 North 2nd Street, 215-238-6077) via Zip Line
- 2:35 p.m. – The Foodery to The Institute (549 North 12th Street, 215-765-8515) via Tricycle
- 3:00 p.m. – The Institute to The Belgian Cafe (2047 Green Street, 215-235-3500) via Wheel Barrow
- 3:25 p.m. – The Belgian Cafe to Kite and Key (1836 Callowhill Street, 215-568-1818) via “The Reckoner” Three-Wheel Giant Kinetic Sculpture
- 3:50 p.m. – Kite and Key to Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant (1516 Sansom Street, 215-569-9525) via Hearse
- 4:25 p.m. – Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant to 12 Steps Down (831 Christian Street, 215-238-0379) via Hand Truck Keg Throne
- 5:10 p.m. – 12 Steps Down to Bella Vista Beer Distributors (755 South 11th Street, 215-627-6465) via Running Rocky Look-Alike
- 5:40 p.m. – Bella Vista Beer Distributors to Hawthorne Cafe (738 South 11th Street, 215-627-3012) via Hand Truck
- 5:55 p.m. – Hawthorne Cafe to Varga Bar (941 Spruce Street, 215-627-5200) via “Growler Power”
- 6:15 p.m. – Varga Bar to Brauhaus Schmitz (718 South Street, 267-909-8814) via Varga Pin-Up Girls on Roller Skates
- 6:35 p.m. – Brauhaus Schmitz to Opening Tap (Independence Visitors Center) via Hostess Station “Chariot,” pulled by Dirndl-Clad Waitresses, accompanied by the Fishtown Beer Runners
- 7:05 p.m. – Arrive at Opening Tap
- 8:00 p.m. – Swung by Mayor Nutter to tap the first keg of PBW2010
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May 23rd, 2010 Joe Sixpack
Here’s the logo we’ve created for this year. Look for shirts and caps at participating bars and at Opening Tap.
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May 13th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
As the deadline for bars and breweries to sign up for Philly Beer Week approaches, I’ve been waking early to tackle the job of reviewing and posting events on the calendar. We’ll surpass 500 separate events sometime today, which is just incredible to me.
Here’s a few random, disjointed thoughts…
- I love the sense of humor of bar owners. The Irish Pol’s 40 taps had been the city’s largest list, but this week it was bested by the City Tap House’s 60 in West Philly. As part of beer week, the Pol is running a $4 special on every single beer it pours at “the home of the most taps east of the Schuylkill River.”
- At last count, there were something like 88 brewers attending events. There’s actually more, but we’re listing only one per brewery; some - like Yards, Philly Brewing, Dogfish Head and Yuengling - are represented by more than one. Among the bigger names coming to town: Jim Koch, Adam Avery, Tomme Arthur, Rob Tod, Phil Leinart, Frank Boon, James Watt, Phin DeMink, Fred Matt, Kjetil Jikiun, Eric Wallace, Brendan Moylan, Jean Van Roy and Simon Poynton. And, yes, Sam Calagione will be here, too.
- If you missed out on getting tix to Belgium Comes to Cooperstown, it’s not too late. Ommegang, which has been a big supporter of Beer Week (thanks Larry and Megan). will be raffling off tickets at several events around town. Find all of their events on the “Breweries” page at PhillyBeerWeek.org.
- We created a new event category: Music. Don’t know why we didn’t think of this earlier, but beer-drinking and live music are a natural. Johnny Brenda’s will host Black Landlord on 6/5. There’s also music featured at events at Prohibition Taproom, the Irish Pol, Bridgid’s, Grace Tavern and Fergie’s.
- Best new beer name for the week: Fatty Boombalatty, from Furthermore. Cracked me up, and Jordan at Bella Vista says it’s dynamite.
- Memphis Taproom is throwing down the keg mallet again with its No Repeat Week, which is to say every keg they tap all week will be a different one. Last year they ran out 128 separate brands in 10 days.
- Looking for something different? Mango Moon (4161 Main Street, Manayunk), the wonderful Thai tapas restaurant, will be featuring some interesting Asian beers throughout the week.
- And, finally, say HELLO! to the newest participant in Philly Beer Week: Delilah’s.
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May 10th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
In preparation for Philly Beer Week, FYI did a really nice piece on three great Philly beer stops: The Yards Tasting Room, Atlantis: The Lost Bar & the Wishing Well. Take a look! (Give the video a chance to load.)
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May 10th, 2010 Joe Sixpack
I caught up with Christian Heim, the former brewer at Lancaster Brewing, in a phone conversation over the weekend for a column for Beer Advocate mag about one of his beers, and during our conversation he filled me in on his ouster from the brewery late last year. According to Heim, he and head sales guy John Franz, who both had skin in the brewery’s operation, had a falling out with the majority partners over the future growth of the brewery.
Heim said the crux of the dispute was a 100,000 square foot former Hanover Foods facility that he and Franz own. They wanted to move the brewery into the facility as part of a significant expansion; their partners - the Keares Restaurant Group - wanted to go in another direction, he said.
Heim said he and Franz are still pursuing plans to open a brewery in the building, which he described as ideal for a brewhouse. The story has a familiar (e.g. Yards/PBC) ring to it, so - like that split-up - maybe this will all work out for the best.
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