The opening of the Lansdale Beer Fest is less than 24 hours away!  And according to the Fest’s Facebook page, Bell’s is bringing is something amazing!

“Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Official), after looking through the quality of beer being brought to :”this little town of Lansdale’s” Beer Fest, refused to be outdone. So they shipped in a brew not available in PA until now: Kalamazoo Hopsolution. We will be having a special tapping of this beer at 2:00 on Saturday. Pretty damn cool if we say so ourselves.”

There’s still time to get tickets for Friday’s Brewmaster Series event and Saturday’s General Session, but the 12:00 noon VIP Session is sold out!  Get your tickets here.

See you tomorrow!

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved

Sunday, June 15 is Father’s Day, and as I sit at happy hour at Forest and Main on Friday night enjoying a Yakutsk Pale Ale without any explicit Fathers’ Day plans, I am contemplating the question that arises every Father’s Day – how am I going to spend it?  It seems like a simple question to most, but there are several schools of thought. Let me explain.

A father’s initial thought may be – “It’s Father’s Day, I’m a father and I work hard at it all year, so I’m going to go do whatever I want!”  This may include activities that don’t involve your children – such as golfing or sitting at your “local” for an extended period of time.  If that is your conclusion, then it’s a easy decision and you don’t need to read any further.

There is a second school of thought that fathers should spend Father’s Day with those who made them fathers.  I have children, and traditionally, I spend the day with them.  But at the same time, my father is still living, and while I am spending time with my kids, I’m not with my dad – which raises, in the back of my mind, the specter of being a bad son and the Mike & Mechanics song “In Living Years” whispers through my brain.

But part of the reason I don’t do anything solely with my father on this holiday is because he usually spends it with his father / father-in-law (my grandfather) that day.  Typically I am invited to join that celebration at my grandfather’s house, and I do (along with my children) but one could argue that technically, as it relates to me, this is a Grandparents’ Day party.

So, as I finish the last sip of the Yakutsk and leave technicalities to the weekdays, I conclude that a multi-tiered Father’s Day party, including grandfathers, fathers, children, uncles and cousins is a great solution (I mean, when isn’t a party a great solution?) – especially when it’s a sunny day and each father brings a case of their favorite craft brew to the gathering!

So Happy Fathers’ Day to all you craft drinking Fathers out there – whatever you decide to do!

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved

I’m not trying to spoil your fun. But be warned – Philly Beer Week 2014 will end this Sunday, June 8.   That doesn’t mean that the party also has to end however.  Summer is quickly coming to the Philadelphia area, and with it many craft beer events.  Here’s a few that are high on my list:

Lansdale Beer Tasting Festival – June 28, 2014

In its fifth year, the hometown of Round Guys Brewing will host over 100 brewers and 300 beers.  Tickets and details here:  http://lansdalebeerfest.com

Philadelphia Zoo Summer Ale Festival – July 19, 2014

An evening of lions and tigers and brews, oh my!  www.philadelphiazoo.org/Explore/Upcoming-Events/Summer-Ale-Festival.htm

Brews for Books – July 26, 2014

All proceeds go to the Indian Valley Public Library and the Lutheran Community at Telford, and include a VIP pairing dinner and a homebrew competition.  Visit the website for instructions on how to enter the competition and to purchase tickets:  http://www.brewsforbooks.org

Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Across America – August 2, 2014

Sierra Nevada’s traveling festival to show support for the entire craft brewing community.  Of the seven Beer Camp festivals being held around the country, Philadelphia was rightfully chosen as the site of the Mid-Atlantic region festival.  250 fifty breweries from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and New Jersey were invited – as of this date, 76 have already accepted the invitation.  This is the “can’t miss” craft beer event of the Summer of 2014.  Purchase tickets and obtain more information here:  beercamp.sierranevada.com/festival/mid-atlantic_edition

So before you say goodbye to Philly Beer Week, buy tickets for your next event – it’ll make next week a little easier to survive!

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved