The Institute is open
I finally had a chance to stop in last week at The Institute, the new beer joint at 12th and Green in the Brandywine section of the city (that’s just a block north from the Ridge & Spring Garden intersection). Owners Heather and Charlie have done a tremendous job fixing up the place - definitely worth the visit.
For some, the neighborhood is going to seem dicey on the first visit. Abandoned houses, vacant lots, broken glass - the whole drill. Strange, because five blocks east, west or south puts you into some seriously upscale real estate. Suburbanites, especially, see this and think crime. In fact, the neighborhood - and others like it - aren’t nearly as rough as they look. The people hanging out on the street? By and large, they’re decent, law-abiding people - just like you and me. They are not predators, they are neighbors. Remember, fear is a product of ignorance.
My advice: Stop in and have a chat with Heather and Charlie, and ask them why they’re so confident in the future of their neighborhood.
The beer? The tap list on my visit was Yards Philly Pale, Sly Fox Weisse, Ommegang Hennepin, Founders Red’s Rye and Centennial IPA, Bear Republic Big Bear Imperial Stout, Philly Brewing Walt Wit and Kenzinger, along with Yuengling, PBR and Miller Lite.
The Walt Wit was a pleasant surprise for me. The first time I tasted it, Walt Wit (which probably has the coolest tap handle in town) seemed thin and kind of average. This time around, there seemed to be more body and a bit more of a spicy punch. On a hot day, it was a beautiful thirst-quencher. I’ll hit that one again soon.