I’m a big fan of offbeat events, and there’s nothing more offbeat than Grey Lodge owner Mike (Scoats) Scotese teaming up with beer writer Lew Bryson for a smackdown.
Features brews from Lew and Scoats’s haul from a very long day trip through upstate PA, picking up interesting sixtels usually not found here in Philly.
About these beers… this is just my way of plugging upcoming events and the outstanding beers being served throughout the region. You can buy all the beer you like and guzzle at home, but there’s no better place to drink beer than at a bar. Get off your butt… visit a favorite, discover a new joint. If you’re just a beer drinker like me, sign up for my weekly newsletter by visiting JoeSixpack.net. I share this and other great info every Friday!
If you’re a tavern owner in Philly, drop me an email about your events and the beer you’re serving. It’s joe (at) joesixpack.net.
I got a sneak peak at Kraftwork, Sidecar owner Adam Ritter’s new joint in Fishtown (541 East Girard Ave., at Montgomery) yesterday, which is to say I barged into the place with a few friends and demanded beer. This place is really sharp, featuring a very industrial, heavy metal look - very appropriate for the neighborhood.
That’s a giant handsaw hanging over the U-shaped bar. I forgot to ask who crafted it, but it’s a thing of beauty, decorated with cut-outs of hop buds. At the front end of the bar, looking out on Girard Avenue, you can see a portion of the tap handles. There are 25, including a hand pump. (I got only a quick look at the lunch and dinner menu, but it appears ambitious.)
Adam told me he’s been holding onto kegs for several months, including what I imagine is one of the few remaining local barrels of HopSlam, which I imagine will kick the night the place opens officially. I also spied a tap handle for Hitachino Nest, which Adam hopes to pour regularly.
For those who are unfamiliar with the neighborhood. Kraftwork is a very walkable seven mostly short blocks from Johnny Brenda’s, along Girard. Yes, the turf may look a bit grimy, but it’s relatively safe for peds. The bar is a few doors down from the local police district.
It’s just 30 days till Philly Beer Week, and traffic at PhillyBeerWeek.org is beginning to pick up. We just signed up our 100th official participant (welcome Resurrection Ale House!) and logged the 200th event.
With two weeks till the deadline for registration by participating venues, those numbers will swell big time. And we’re just a few days from announcing a couple cool, new features at the web site.
Historic Kennett Square, home of one of the area’s most popular annual beer festivals, has jumped into Philly Beer Week with a new event:
Each brewery will provide 3-4 different beers from their portfolio and will feature at least one “Connoisseur” quality beer that you have come to expect from the Kennett Brewfest. Here’s the ticket link with more info.
And you can get a head start on the festivities on Friday night (6/4) when Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead Brewery stops by The Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley) for a fun night of food, beer and music.
This one cracks me up: Lord Chesterfield himself will be visiting town during Philly Beer Week. I have no idea what they have up their sleeve, but you can catch the namesake of Yuengling’s famous Lord Chesterfield Ale (and great beer specials) at several locations throughout the week, including:
Headed to Opening Tap with a bunch of friends/business colleagues? You can save a few bucks by purchasing through Philly Beer Week group sales (minimum of 10). Check out PBW’s O.T. page for more details.
It’s not just about professionally brewed beer during Philly Beer Week; there are several homebrewing events being held, too. Here’s two, one in the city and one in the ‘burbs:
Homebrew Competition judged by Sierra Nevada brewers. $20 - Pint glass, Sandwich, $3 pints all night. Pale Ale, Summerfest, Collaboration, Southern Hemisphere and more.
Local homebrewers competition for the coveted Oakmont Cup. Brewers brew a special IPA for this Beer Week event. Beer friendly menu, patrons participate.
Sly Fox (Phoenixville) completed its move across Rt. 113 to the Maple Lawn Shopping Center, and full menu service begins tomorrow. The new joint has 20 taps, three hand pumps and an automated growler filler On Sunday, the spectacular Bock Festival & Goat Races will be held in the Maple Lawn parking lot (not the Pikeland Village lot, as I wrote in my newsletter this a.m.)…
Dock Street (West Philly) has a bunch of summertime refreshers heading for the taps. Look for Summer Session spiced with lemongrass, Saison Du Potts (coyly named after brewer Ben Potts) and Bubbly Wheat, a Champagne-like Belgian witbier… Gen. Lafayette Inn & Brewery’s Suds for Buds continues on Sunday (4/2) from 3-6 p.m. Bring your dog, grab a pint, enjoy the fun in the sun and help raise some much-needed funds for the SPCA…
Fire Island Beer is running a summertime sweepstakes with a chance to win a trip to, yes, Fire Island… Here’s a pretty cool resource for pre-game beer-drinking: It’s the Tailgate Wiki, a guide to tailgating action across the country.