2015 Philly Beer Week Picks
It’s BEER WEEK! Events focusing on beer are happening across the Philadelphia area all day, every day for the next week. Does it get any better?
We recommend downloading the Philly Beer Week app for your phone. You can set filters to show only the events you like such as tap takeovers, brewery spotlights, Beer Week Gardens and you can search by date and time of day. It’s essential to getting the most out of Beer Week. While slaving away at work, it’s always good to check out the Philly Beer Week site to start planning.
Most of the beers being celebrated are stronger than your average Bud Light so moderation is key. You don’t need a bad hangover to knock you out of commission and miss a day of Beer Week. That being said, with hundreds of events going on, we are going to select one event per day as our pick for the day. These picks could be based on bargains, location, but mostly just because we think some beers/breweries are worth not missing.
FRIDAY MAY 29TH.
THE WORLD’S SMALLEST TOAST BY LA CHOUFFE at the Pub on East Passyunk Ave (P.O.P.E.). Now, the P.O.P.E. give you a great location to start out on because it’s walking distance to a bunch of events, but this is about the beer. La Chouffe is one of our favorite Belgian breweries, if not our favorite. Everything they do is superb. Hopefully, La Chouffe will be on special and they usually give out decent La Chouffe swag during their events such as fine glassware. The event runs 7:00 p.m. to midnight.
SATURDAY MAY 30TH
DESCHUTES BREWERY STREET PUB hits Head House Square at 2nd and Pine Streets. This is the first and only east coast stop of the 400 square foot street bar that claims to have a “ridiculous” number of tap handles pouring Deschutes brews. Deschutes does almost everything right. So you’ll be outside, just off South Street, drinking great beers and eating food provided by Alla Spina, Lo Spiedo, Mom Mom’s Polish Food Cart, and The Twisted Tail. Live music will also be provided and all proceeds go to the Vetri Foundation for Children. This block party goes from noon to 10:00 p.m.
SUNDAY MAY 31ST
CAPTAIN BRUNCH at the Khyber Pass Pub on 2nd Street. After a solid Saturday of all-day drinking, we will all need a solid brunch. Dan Conway from Captain Lawrence Brewing will be on hand with some of the breweries rarer brews. I’ve been enjoying the Captain’s Kolsch lately and it’s a great summer beer. This brewery from Elmsford, NY has a nice selection of brews AND it gives you the chance to visit one of Esquire Magazine’s top 100 Bars for 2015!
MONDAY JUNE 1ST
OMME-GASH IT’S ALLA-GANG! Ommegang and Allagash take over the taps at Good Dog Monday night. These are two great American Belgian style breweries with great beers. They’ll be pouring Allagash Session Brett, Golden Brett, Currant Affair, Victoria, and Victor, Ommegang Game of Thrones Three Eyed Raven, Glimmerglass Saison, Gnomegang, Triple Perfection, and Calypso Hennepin. This even runs 5:00p.m. – 10:00p.m.
TUESDAY JUNE 2ND
VINTAGE DOGFISH HEAD VOL 1 (feat. 2012 bottle-aged 120 Minute IPA) happens at Fiume Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. For starters, Fiume is a great spot, kind of a speakeasy, above an Ethiopian restaurant at 45th and Locust. You have to enter Absynnia, the restaurant, through the side door and head upstairs. This is a great hidden spot in the city with an amazing selection of beers. AND, they are serving 12oz Bottles of 120 Minute IPA aged since 2012. Plus 750ml Bottles 2011 SahTea, 2011 Hellhound On My Ale, 2011 Life & Limb, 2011 Ta Henket, & 2011 Château Jiahu. They’ll also do 5oz pours of; 2012 Positive Contact & 2011 Black & Blue.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 3RD
We are back with more Ommegang fun with FUNK, ROCK, AND SOUL WITH OMMEGANG/BOULEVARD AND DJ SIDESWIPE happening Wednesday night from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at Industry. Ommegang and Boulevard beers will be on tap. More importantly, DJ Sideswipe, one of our favorite DJs in town, will be spinning tunes while drinking great beers. FUN! Draughts will include: Ommegang Tripel Perfection,
Ommegang Calypso Hennepin, Ommegang Flur de Houblon, Ommegang Three Eyed Raven, Boulevard Heavy Lifting IPA, Boulevard Saison Brett, Boulevard Ginger-Lemon Radler, Boulevard Hibiscus Gose.
THURSDAY JUNE 4TH
There may not be any better beer than a Pilsner on a hot summer day. So, why not enjoy a few Pilsners with a hearty fill of pierogies? Pure genius. Get Yer Fill of Pils (& Pierogies) happens Thursday from noon to midnight at the Grey Lodge Pub. This pilsner tap takeover will include:
Fegleys Impossible Germany
Hill Farmstead Mary Keller Pils
Lancaster Pils
Penn Kaiser Pils
Sam Adams Downtime Pilsner
Sixpoint Crisp Pils
Sly Fox Charles Bridge Pilsner
Troegs Sushine Pils
Two Roads Ole Factory Pils
Victory Prima or Braumeister
CANS
Neshaminy Trauger Pils
Sly Fox Pikeland Pils
Stoudts Pils
FRIDAY JUNE 5TH
Of course our good friends at Johnny Brenda’s found a way to combine Beer Week with good, live music with Victory Brewing Presents: CRUISR with special guests Tutlie and Suburban Living. We love the Victory folks so why not head out to grab a nice variety of Victory brews while watching some local indie rock. This event starts at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and goes until closing. Here’s a sample of CRUISR’s music so you know what you’re getting into.
SATURDAY JUNE 6TH
STONE BREWERY TAP TAKEOVER at Growlers happens from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Stone has a repertoire of fantastic beers. Hal Bittner the Stone regional rep will in attendance and bringing along with him: Double Bastard Ale, The Imperial Mutt Brown Ale, The Chai-spiced Imperial Russian Stout, and a collaboration of Ecliptic/Wicked Weed/ Stone known as the Points Unknown IPA.
SUNDAY JUNE 7TH
WYNDRIDGE FARMS AT PHS POP UP GARDEN SOUTH STREET (1438 South Street) is our final recommendation. We don’t know much about Wyndridge Farms as they are a newer brewery, but what better way to end Beer Week than a day of outdoor day-drinking? They will be pouring a brewer’s one off, Framhouse ALe, Cranberry Cider, and 10 Point Ale. This even runs 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.
That’s what we got. Make sure you download the app to maximize your Beer Week enjoyment. Hope these picks help you in one way or another. Here’s to good weather and good drinking during Beer Week.
CHEERS!