Here are some of the Beer Week events close to my home. Visit the Official Website of Philly Beer Week for a complete list of events.
SUNDAY, 9 MARCH
Colorado Beer Brunch
Jose Pistola’s
263 S. 15th St.
215-545-4101
www.josepistolas.com
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. $30
Buffet-style brunch featuring Colorado-based craft brews hosted by Jim Meiers and Ed Friedland of Origlio Beverage.
Sweet & Savory: Craft Beer & Chocolate
Devil’s Alley
1907 Chestnut St.
215-751-0707
www.devilsalleybarandgrill.com
Noon-3 p.m.
A five-course tasting with savory BBQ from chef MichaelYeamans, prepared with cocoa and chocolate and paired with fine craft beer. Special guests: Carol Stoudt, Stoudt’s Brewing; Jim Javenkoski, Unibroue; Lucy Saunders, author of “Grilling with Beer.”
Belgian Beer Basics Class
with Tom Peters
Monk’s Café
264 S. 16th St.
215-545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
2 p.m. $25
This is a Philly Beer Week event. Tom will talk about Belgian Beer Culture, how to pour a proper beer, and how to really enjoy a great Belgian beer. This will be a tutored tasting of 5 totally different beer styles. Perfect for a novice, but enough information to please a beer geek. This will be held in the back room, so we will have room for only 25 guests. Tickets go on sale Jan 14th.
Urthel Dinner
with Hildegard & Bas van Ostaden
Monk’s Café
264 South 16th St.
215-545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
6 p.m. $60
Hildegard is a highly regarded female brewer. She moved her brewing operation from Belgium to the Netherlands last year and their already-great beers improved. The entire Urthel lineup of beer is very quaffable. Hildegard is a charming woman and her husband Bas is one of the most entertaining people I know. This will be a great dinner. This will sell out quickly, so don’t delay in purchasing your tickets.
Meet the Brewer: Iron Hill’s Paul Rutherford
Good Dog
224 S 15th St.
215-985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com
8 p.m.
Paul Rutherford makes the trek from Lancaster to crack open a firkin of Iron Hill’s finest. Beer TBD.
MONDAY, 10 MARCH
Meet the Brewer: Big Boulder Brewing
The Black Sheep
247 S. 17th St.
215-545-9473
www.theblacksheeppub.com
6-9 p.m. Monday, March 10
The country’s oldest Craft Brewer coming into town for special event at the Black Sheep Pub. 3 offerings and maybe a firkin if we are lucky! Also Meet Marvin Simpson from Boulder Brewing to answer any questions about the brewery and how in love with hops they are! Keep the pint memento.
Meet the Brewer: Larry Bell of Bell’s Brewery
Tria
18th and Sansom streets
215-972-8742
www.triacafe.com
8:30-10 p.m.
An extraordinary chance to meet craft brewing legend Larry Bell of
Bell’s Brewery and enjoy his range of brews. Eight stellar Bell’s
beers will be available including two that will make their PA debut at Tria. No reservations needed.
TUESDAY, 11 MARCH
Meet The Brewer: Flying Fish
Tavern 17
220 S 17th St.
215-790-1799
www.tavern17restaurant.com
Meet the Brewer: 25 years of Chimay
Monk’s Cafe
264 S. 16th St.
215-545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
6-10 p.m. Cash bar
Luc “Bobo” Van Mechelen will be on hand to celebrate Chimay’s 25 years in the United States. What better place to share a Chimay with this bear of a man? Monk’s Café was the first establishment in the United States to pour Chimay on draft. This event was originally scheduled for The Belgian Café.
Meet the Brewer: Larry Bell of Bell’s Brewing
Jose Pistola’s
263 S. 15th St
215-545-4101
www.josepistolas.com
6-10 p.m. Free
Meet and Greet with Larry Bell Come meet Larry Bell and drink many of his best
At Jose Pistola’s, 263 South 15th Street
Meet the Brewer: The Buhlers of Elysian & Rogue
Nodding Head Brewery
1516 Sansom St. 2nd Floor
215-569-9525
www.noddinghead.com
7-10 p.m. Free
Join David Buhler, from Elysian Brewing in Seattle, and his sister Sebbie Buhler, from Rogue, for an evening of beer and merriment. Elysian is the three-time GABF Large Brewpub of the Year, and we all know Rogue as one of the benchmarks of the American craft brewing scene.
Meet the Brewer: Kasteel’s Xavier Van Honsebrouck
Tria Cafe
12th & Spruce streets
215-629-9200
www.triacafe.com
8:30 p.m.
The Van Honsebrouck family has been brewing beer in Belgium since 1900. Xavier Van Honsebrouck will be on hand to discuss and enjoy with you some of his wide range of excellent Belgian brews.
Meet the Brewer: Long Island’s Blue Point Brewery
Good Dog
224 S. 15th St.
215-985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com
7:00 p.m.
Brian Flynn from Long Island’s Blue Point Brewery will do a meet and greet, pouring a firkin of Blue Point’s IPA, and maybe even giving away some goodies
Spaten Optimator Keep the Pint Night
Fox & Hound Smokehouse
1501 Spruce St.
215-732-8610
7-9 p.m.
www.spatenusa.com
Enjoy the classic German double bock, and bring home an authentic pint glass.
WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH
Sweet 16 of Beer
Tir Na Nog
1600 Arch St.
267-514-1700
www.tirnanogphilly.com
6-8 p.m., $16 for the event- a buck a beer!
Not your typical “Irish Pub” with the many spaces and separate rooms, and not your everyday beer bar, but a great place to kick off the Sweet 16 of beers! Join us in a sampling of 16 different beers, from Allagash white and Abita Purple Haze to Sierra Nevada Porter and Weyerbacher Hop Infusion, and 12 more great beers in between to see which beer comes out as the winner. Mark your brackets and your tasting notes on place mats designed for this event. Who will be in the elite eight? Who will be in the final four? Which two beers will tip off for the grand finale? It’s up to you to pick the Champion! Three oz. samples with selected appetizers to complement the beer selections. A guaranteed night of fun and great-tasting beer!
World’s Most Expensive Beers
With Stephen Beaumont
Monk’s Café
264 South 16th St.
215-545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
7 p.m. $95
Monk’s Café presents… The World’s Most Expensive Beers Dinner! (Well, Not Really, But Highlighting Some of the Most Expensive – and Controversial – Beers in the World) Featuring Your Host, Stephen Beaumont. We’ve held many amazing beer dinners with this world-traveling writer, but this may be the most outrageous idea that he has come up with thus far. Expect to be impressed with the sheer hedonism of this event. A keg of Cantillion St. Lamvinous and a few bottles of the rare Samuel Adams Utopias are two of the beers that will be featured. This will obviously be a pricey event, but what the hell…just go for it! Tickets go on sale January 21st.
Farmhouse Ales with the Guy Who Wrote the Book
Tria’s Fermentation School
1601 Walnut St.
215-972-7076
www.triacafe.com
6:30 p.m. $45
Phil Markowski of Southampton Publick House wrote the book on farmhouse ales – yes, it’s called “Farmhouse Ales.” He will lead you on a tutored tasting of of his own sublime farmhouse ales along with the best from Belgium and France.
Avery Beer Dinner Hosted by Adam Avery
Jose Pistola’s
263 S. 15th St.
215-545-4101
www.josepistolas.com
7 p.m. $65
Colorado’s Avery Brewing Company joins owners Casey Parker and Joe Gunn for a five-course beer and food-pairing event. Each course will be accompanied by two beers. This event will be one-of-a-kind, true culinary experience as the Chef is given free license to create. A sampling of the evenings brews: Avery IPA, White Rascal, Hog Heaven, 2003 Czar, Samaels Ale and Collaboration not Litigation ale, plus other retired beers.
THURSDAY, 13 MARCH
Meet the Brewer: Tröeg’s Brewing
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
1310 Drury St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-735-5562
www.mcgillins.com
6 p.m.
Thursday, March 13th, 2008: No Cover
Meet these Mechanicsburg natives who have been handcrafting world-class beers combining traditional English brewing techniques with the eclecticism of new American brewing. No cover.
The Avery Experience
With Adam Avery
Monk’s Café
264 S. 16th St.
215-545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
5:30 p.m. $35
This is a Philly Beer Week event. Join brewer extrordinaire, Adam Avery, as he struts his Colorado stuff in Philly. Five flights of three beers. Or was that three flights of five beers? He’ll start out gently, then get a little more aggressive and finish up with some of the big ones. Be cautious and get a hotel room for after this event. This man loves to drink beer. I spent a week with him one afternoon in Brussels. This will be held in our back room. Only 25 tickets, so be sure to grab one when they go on sale Monday, January 14th.
A Bitter Bite with Joe Sixpack
Jose Pistola’s
263 S. 15th St.
215-545-4101
www.josepistolas.com
Time/Tix TBA
Join Joe Sixpack Beer Reporter in a fun taste of hoppy beers, paired with an imaginative menu. We’ll explore unusual styles, single-hop brews and classic hop monsters. Discover why bitter ain’t so bad!
Old Beer? Great Beer!
Tria’s Fermentation School
1601 Walnut St.
215-972-7076
www.triacafe.com
6:30 p.m. $50
Pay a visit to the beer cellar with international beer expert Stephen Beaumont as he explores the ins and outs, pros and cons of aging ales and lagers. You may never look at beer quite the same again! Tickets will be available on Tria’s website on Tuesday, February 12.
Meet the Brewer: Iron Hill Brewery
Good Dog
224 S 15th St
215-985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com
7 p.m.
Chris LaPierre from Iron Hill in West Chester will be pouring a firkin of his world famous IPA, maybe in a Hawaiian shirt.
FRIDAY, 14 MARCH
Brewers Happy Hour
Nodding Head Brewery
1516 Sansom St. 2nd Floor
215-569-9525
www.nodding head.com
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Free.
Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head), Adam Avery (Avery Brewing), Bill Covaleski (Victory), Tom Kehoe (Yards), and our own Gordon Grubb offer up some special brews for a Friday Happy Hour extravaganza. Stop by and chat with these phenomenal brewers, as well as some other special guests, as they swap stories about who is crazier, Sam or Adam. Who knows, you could end up in Sam’s next book.
Cask ‘n’ Cans night with Sly Fox and Southampton
Good Dog
224 S 15th St.
215-985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com
Dynamic brotherly duo, Spencer and Ryan Neibur will be on the scene pushing a firkin of Sullivan’s red ale, named for the Publik house’s owner. Sly Fox will join them with a firkin of their own red, Seamus. Come and pre-game for St. Patrick’s Day. Other specialties, including Sly Fox Oatmeal Stout and Southampton Double White will be poured. Sly Fox cans will be featured at one-half price!
The Good, the Black, and the Funky: Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing
Tria Cafe
12th & Spruce streets
215-629-9200
www.triacafe.com
5-7 p.m. Cash bar
Enjoy conversation and Belgian-style brews with one of the nation’s most creative and accomplished brewers, Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. Sample Allagsh White, Dubbel, Tripel, and Four as well as rare treats such as Allagash Black Ale and Interlude. No reservations– just show up! Special pricing on featured beers
The Belgian Expert
Tria’s Fermentation School
1601 Walnut St.
215-972-9076
www.triacafe.com
6:30 p.m. $50
Don’t miss a rare chance to tase amazing Belgian brews with Belgian beer legend Don Feinberg, co-founder of both Vanberg & DeWulf importers (Saison Dupont and many others) and Brewery Ommegang.
Beer and Cheese pairing with Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
DiBruno Brothers.
1730 Chestnut St., 2nd floor
215-665-1659
www.ironhillbrewery.com
6-8 p.m.
$45
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, the East Coast’s fastest growing brewery/restaurant group with seven locations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, will host a beer and cheese pairing event at DiBruno’s. Chris LaPierre, Head Brewer of Iron Hill’s West Chester location will select six handcrafted beers, including his Cannibal, Saison and Quadruppel, to perfectly match with DiBruno’s cheeses. LaPierre and a DiBruno cheese specialist will lead the informative tasting.
SATURDAY, 15 MARCH
Michael Jackson: The Man and His Legacy
19th Annual Tutored Tasting at Penn Museum
Chinese Rotunda and Upper Egyptian Gallery
Benefiting the Penn Museum’s research programs
Annenberg Box Office – 215-898-3900
$45 per guest; $40 for Museum members
Casual attire
Sessions at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m.
A panel of four experts, led by Philadelphia’s own Don Russell (Joe Sixpack), will taste a selection of beers brewed especially for this tribute weekend, reminisce about Michael Jackson’s life and times, and reflect on his influence in the Philadelphia craft beer world. Each session will begin with a tutored tasting hosted by our panel of experts, followed by the two-hour open tasting of dozens more beers in the Chinese Rotunda, accompanied by beer-friendly foods by Museum Catering Company. This event has quickly sold out in past years; purchase your tickets early!
Beer Gone Wild!
Tria’s Fermentation School
1601 Walnut St.
215-972-7076
www.triacafe.com
6:30 p.m. $55
For Lambic Lovers only! Join Armand Debelder, head of Belgium’s Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, and Dan Shelton, outspoken importer of mind-boggling brews, for a rare chance to lean about these funky fermented treasures.
Flying Dog meets Good Dog
Good Dog
224 S 15th St
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com
8 p.m.
Flying Dog Brewing gets a leg up at Good Dog. Two sixtels of Flying Dog’s finest. Beers TBD
SUNDAY, 16 MARCH
Real Ale Festival
Triumph Brewing
117 Chestnut St.
215-625-0855
www.triumphbrewing.com
1-4 p.m. $50
Co–hosted by Yards Brewing and Triumph, this fest will feature traditional cask-conditioned ales and participation by over 20 local breweries. Participants include Yards, Flying Fish, Dock Street, Tröeg’s, Sly Fox, Iron Hill, Stewart’s, Nodding Head, Manayunk, General Lafayette, Rock Bottom, Victory, Stoudt’s, Clipper City, Legacy, Southampton, Lancaster, Cricket Hill, and more. A few surprises and special guests are also in the works. Tix and info at 215-625-0855 or sales@triumphbrew.com.
Lew Bryson’s Pennsylvania Brunch
Fork
306 Market St.
215-625-9425
www.lewbryson.com
Noon-2 p.m. $35 (excluding tax and gratuity; beers extra)
Join Fork in welcoming nationally-noted beer writer Lew Bryson for a special brunch featuring a breakfast variety of local beers from his book Pennsylvania Breweries. You’ll enjoy pairing those beers with Fork’s interpretation of dim sum, the Asian small plates traditionally served with tea! The menu will include items like pot stickers, braised ribs, clams in black bean sauce, etc. Consider it a delicious preparation for the Real Ale Festival at Triumph, just two blocks away.
Meet the brewer: Chris the Enabler of Philadelphia Brewing
Good Dog
224 S. 15th St.
215-985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com
Chris “the enabler” Morris of Philadelphia Brewing will join us to impart his wisdom on why Kolsch is the beer of the future, and other smart things. Beer TBD.
Highlights from 10 years of Dinners with Michael Jackson
Monk’s Café
264 S. 16th St.
215-545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
6 p.m. $85
Our dinner will feature six of our favorite pairings from the past 10 years of dinners with Michael Jackson. We are donating $15 from each ticket sale to the National Parkinson’s Foundation to honor Michael’s lifetime of contributions to the world of beer. Michael was a good friend to me and to the entire beer industry. He is greatly missed. So come toast the life and lines of Michael Jackson.