In the June/July 2014 issue of the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News, I talk about the wonderful farmhouse creations coming out of Forest & Main Brewing Company in Ambler, Pennsylvania (page 25). The paper can be found now in your favorite “local” from Virginia to New Jersey and everywhere in between.
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
It’s Philly Beer Week – the annual celebration of America’s best beer drinking city that runs from May 30 – June 8, 2014! Hundreds of events are planned at bars, breweries and restaurants throughout the week. It officially begins with the “Opening Tap” at the 23rd Street Armory at 7pm on May 30, where 40 breweries will serve the best of their best creations. A schedule of all the events can be found on the Philly Beer Week website.
So how are you going to celebrate #PBW14? I started by visiting Prism Brewing in North Wales, and through the guidance of the very friendly Veronica, I enjoyed some of their inventive creations (like the Prickly Pear Wit, Par Tea Pale Ale (made with black tea), Shady Blonde Ale (made with Blood Oranges), and their Mason’s Porter (with a special sugar rimming that took this to a whole different level!). Add an order of their fried pickles, and it’s not a bad start to the Week!
What made my visit to Prism very special was the fact that through the glass behind the bar, I could see the brewers, Rob and Matt, hard at work putting the bottles of brew into cases by hand. Watching them, it made me appreciate their brew even more. If you want to try their offerings, check their schedule to see where they will be during PBW14.
Have a great Philly Beer Week – maybe I’ll see you around!
Remember to follow me in real time at: “The Brewholder” on Facebook; @thebrewholder on Twitter; and The Brewholder on Instagram!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
In the July issue of Philly Beer Scene Magazine, I take a look at Antwerp’s own Brouwerij De Koninck. Check it out – the digital issue is available online now, and the printed magazine will be in your “local” soon!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Last weekend I had a great time at the 14th annual Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival hosted by Iron Hill Brewery in Media. Check out my review of it on Philly Beer Scene Online!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Philadelphia’s brewing community, both old and new, were in full force tonight at the annual Best of the Philly Beer Scene awards at World Cafe Live. With the return of “Joan Rivers” and a 60′ red carpet, the event, put together by Philly Beer Scene Magazine Publisher Mat Falco and Creative Director John Clark, was a joyous celebration of all things brew in the greater Philadelphia area.
Hosted by Mike Lawrence, the producer of the film “Beeradelphia,” the Best of the Philly Beer Scene Awards show was a homage to representatives from breweries, brewpubs, bars, restaurants, wholesalers, distributors and all other aspects of the brewing industry in the Philadelphia area. In addition to Philly Beer Scene icons Tom Peters, Fergus Carey, Jim Meiers, and Lew Bryson, up and coming stars like 2014 Brewer of the Year Jeremy Myers of Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Gerard Olson and Dan Endicott of Forest & Main Brewing Company, and Jean Broillet IV of Tired Hands Brewing were also in attendance.
A few highlights of the night:
– A hilarious short film about the decision to make Mike Lawrence the host of the event, including previous year host Joe Gunn and Band of Brewers 2014 host Curt Decker, was unfortunately cut shorter due to technical issues. (Stand by for the post on YouTube!)
– Freewill Brewing Company’s “Whit” beer, a Belgian white ale fermented with white cranberries created specially for the event. Guests were treated to a draft of the brew in a commemorative glass as they entered, and received a corked, caged, and wax-sealed bottle as they left.
– Firkins of brew were available, including:
Iron Hill Ironbound Ale – American Pale Ale
Tired Hands Hop Hands – dry hopped with nelson sauvin
Nodding Head 60 Shilling – Scottish Ale
Earth + Bread Brewery Tweed – Scottish Ale
Dock Street Pimp My Rye – American Double/Imperial IPA
Forest & Main Wojtek – English Porter
As it does every year, the Best of the Philly Beer Scene Awards again proved that the craft beer industry in Philadelphia is not only strong, but cohesive. The true friendships within the Philly Beer Scene shone through on stage; it has been those relationships that have bolstered not just craft brewing in general, but specifically Philadelphia craft brewing. Congratulations and thank you to all the nominees and winners!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
It’s American Craft Beer Week – Seven days of celebrating the exceptional growth of craft brewing in the U.S. and the brewers who are behind it! Make sure you get yourself to your “local” this week and thank them for all they do for craft beer (and you!) U.S.A.!…U.S.A.!…U.S.A.!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Have a wonderful and peaceful Easter! And read my newest article about Brasserie DuPont in the May 2014 issue of Philly Beer Scene, available at your local pub now!
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Check out my article on the Ommegang Game of Thrones inspired Fire and Blood Red Ale in the current issue of the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News!
And check out Chris’s review of it on BeerGeekNation.
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
My long-anticipated trip to San Francisco is finally here! I am stoked to check out the San Francisco beer scene, including 21st Amendment Brewing, Speakeasy Brewing, the Toronado, and as many others as I can! Keep track of my adventures in real time on Facebook (The Brewholder), Instagram (thebrewholder), and Twitter (@thebrewholder).
Cheers!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved
Last weekend I finally had the chance to visit Bierstube, located at 2nd and Market Street in Philadelphia. Opened in 2012 by Mike Naessens, the owner of Eulogy Belgian Tavern at 2nd and Chestnut, Bierstube is not your typical German-themed bar. In the U.S., German-themed bars usually drape every available square inch with German and Bavarian flags, incorporate Oktoberfest into the remaining space, and use bright lighting to accentuate white walls trimmed in wood. To say the least, I was shocked when I walked into Biertube and saw only a few of those trappings.
Rather, as I entered from the glare of the sunny street, my first impression of Bierstube was a dimly lit space with very little initial indication that it was a “German” bar (with the exception, of course, of the life-sized, cardboard David Hasselhoff / Baywatch cut-out whose nipples had been replaced with beer taps). However, my shock quickly changed to familiarity, as memories of my extended trip to Germany suddenly came rushing back to me. Once again, I was in a modern German bar found in every city and town in Germany. Bierstube is not a celebration of the commonly seen Bavarian heritage, but rather is, in my opinion, a dead ringer for the German local bar you could walk into anywhere in Deustchland and watch a Futbol game with Seinen Freunden today.
As would be expected from the owner of Eulogy, Bierstube’s beer list is extensive and includes an impressive selection of German varieties, including Helles lagers, Dunkel lagers, Berliner Weisse and Rauchbiers. Of course, the list is not limited to German beer; many Belgian brews have also made their way from Eulogy to Bierstube. While not an exotic beer for Philadelphia, I ordered a liter of Hofbrau Helles and sat back to reminisce about my adventures in Germany over a decade ago. If you have ever been to Germany, or even if you haven’t, I would recommend Bierstube as the perfect place to go for a modern German bar experience.
Prost!
The Brewholder
Copyright 2014 – all rights reserved