Philly area Homebrewers

[dfess1]

Funny, when we lived in Roxy, we never went there. Go to the one in glenside all the time now.

 

[ScotBrew]

Can you copy/paste the PA Licensing thread you mentioned? I did a search and came up with a bunch of threads! Thanks!

What is SWMBO?

Speaking of Kildares... if you want to try a place with exceptional craft selections on tap and bottles/cans, go across the alley to Lucky's Last Chance (the old Yunkers). Always interesting and unusual draft choices and a knowledgeable staff! Also heard Pitchers has an extensive draft list!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/pa-licensing-sales-distribution-385969/

Was in Lucky's last night actually. Staff are good too. Have managed to get to know them a bit and they're a nice bunch.

The bar manager in Kildare's organised a tour of Yards for his staff and I was lucky enough to be allowed to join. Tour was given by the President, Tom. Was lucky enough to chat to him for around 30mins at the end of the tour. Definitely worth a visit.

 

[WissahickonBrew]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/pa-licensing-sales-distribution-385969/

Was in Lucky's last night actually. Staff are good too. Have managed to get to know them a bit and they're a nice bunch.

The bar manager in Kildare's organised a tour of Yards for his staff and I was lucky enough to be allowed to join. Tour was given by the President, Tom. Was lucky enough to chat to him for around 30mins at the end of the tour. Definitely worth a visit.

Weird, I was there as well! Had the Elysian IPA on tap that was not on the menu! Very good!

I am friendly with Doug Mashington @ Yards and had a tour some time ago, great staff!

 

[Gitmoe]

Went to the Winter Warmer / Chili Cook off event thrown by the Philly Homebrew club today. Great event and some awesome beers. My compliments to the brewers and cooks.

 

[LeverTime]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/pa-licensing-sales-distribution-385969/

Was in Lucky's last night actually. Staff are good too. Have managed to get to know them a bit and they're a nice bunch.

The bar manager in Kildare's organised a tour of Yards for his staff and I was lucky enough to be allowed to join. Tour was given by the President, Tom. Was lucky enough to chat to him for around 30mins at the end of the tour. Definitely worth a visit.

Maybe they've gotten better, but I went to Lucky's soon after they opened and was NOT impressed. The prices were on the high end of normal, and the beer was served in dirty, undersized glasses.

 

[dfess1]

Went to the Winter Warmer / Chili Cook off event thrown by the Philly Homebrew club today. Great event and some awesome beers. My compliments to the brewers and cooks.

Nice! We've been in Hawaii since the 8th. Not looking forward to coming home on monday!

 

[Gitmoe]

Nice! We've been in Hawaii since the 8th. Not looking forward to coming home on monday!

Thats rad. Hope you guys are having fun. My wife and I are in phoenix. We just landed. It's Beer Week here. We're gonna hit some events starting tomorrow.

 

[whitehause]

Wife has a doctors appt at Penn medical on Monday......I'll be at Monk's by noon

 

[alien]

I was knocking about Rittenhouse Sq so I popped in Home Sweet Homebrew for a few bits and bobs. Had a really nice chat. They are good people.

 

[Gitmoe]

The beer scene here in this phoenix is better than I originally thought after my last trip here in December. Still nothing like Philly, but solid... tried a LOT of local brews.

 

[whitehause]

I was knocking about Rittenhouse Sq so I popped in Home Sweet Homebrew for a few bits and bobs. Had a really nice chat. They are good people.

Read a bunch of reviews saying that place is really bad. Never been, so might have to stop in and see for myself.

 

[WissahickonBrew]

The beer scene here in this phoenix is better than I originally thought after my last trip here in December. Still nothing like Philly, but solid... tried a LOT of local brews.

If you can get up north to Flagstaff there are a few nice micos to tour and sample!

 

[WissahickonBrew]

Read a bunch of reviews saying that place is really bad. Never been, so might have to stop in and see for myself.

Been shopping there for all of my supplies for several years. George and Nancy are legends. Friendly, helpful and enough brewing knowledge and know how to fill volumes of reference books. They are pretty well known, and their reputation is solid in the Philly beer scene! Just picked up supplies to do an Imperial Red IPA.

 

[Gitmoe]

It's kills me how much cheaper beer is here in Phoenix. We stopped at BevMo today (a local chain beer/wine/liquor outlet) and got 8 22oz bottles of great craft beer for under $50. The Johnstown and local PA alcohol taxes are ridiculous. The same bottles in PA of some stuff were $3-4 cheaper here. They had Stone Vertical Epic for $5/bottle. Ugh..... I hate PA so much.

 

[ScotBrew]

Got my kit @ HSHB, George and Nancy seem like really nice, knowledgeable people!

 

[alien]

They are really friendly and knowledgeable. A little on the pricey side but I would definitely go back. The restaurant next door is really good by the way (Melograno). I am going to try to take the Mrs on a Wednesday when HSHB is open late

 

[dfess1]

wow, it sucks to be back in PA! So much nicer out in HI. Did manage to brew a beer with the BIL while we were out there though. Nice hoppy pale ale, much to his liking.. Too bad I won't be there when it's time to try it!

So anyone here headed up to WOTW this weekend? Think the wife is headed to the Pocono's for a friends birthday party, so I have the weekend to myself.

 

[Coff]

I'm not going to make it to WOTW this weekend, I did submit 2 beers though. Instead I am just going to take a little old trip to Brussels and Brugge for a few days, ho-hum. I leave tomorrow night, cant wait.

 

[AnOldUR]

So anyone here headed up to WOTW this weekend?

Over the river and through the woods.

Plan on being there. Always a good time.

 

[ScotBrew]

wow, it sucks to be back in PA!

I'm just back from a long weekend in Vegas with work. Was sooooo nice to be wearing shorts & t-shirt during the day!

 

[Gitmoe]

I'll be at WOTW. Because it's my job.... see you guys there. Gonna be a crazy long day. I'm judging the morning session.

 

[dfess1]

I'm not going to make it to WOTW this weekend, I did submit 2 beers though. Instead I am just going to take a little old trip to Brussels and Brugge for a few days, ho-hum. I leave tomorrow night, cant wait.

well, that's a good excuse! Enjoy!!

Over the river and through the woods.

Plan on being there. Always a good time.

Nice! Should figure out a way to meet up. I'm liking the brew pub pour session before the award announcements.

I'm just back from a long weekend in Vegas with work. Was sooooo nice to be wearing shorts & t-shirt during the day!

I hear that!! It sucked having to put on pants, shoes (damn flip flops/barefeet is sooo much nicer), and a second layer this morning!

 

[ScotBrew]

I hear ya! Although being out in shorts/tshirt and then the sun going down wasn't much fun! Could literally feel the temp gauge dropping every minute!

 

[wobrien]

So how did you all do at the WotW last night? My foreign extra stout didn't place but I scored a 38, so I was pretty happy with that. Anxious to get my scoresheet back.

 

[dfess1]

38 is a great score. My wife and I took 2nd in the Strong Ales with an American Barleywine. Not bad out of 39 entries at the table! Some of those categories were brutal. We got a 38.5 on a bretted IPA, and didn't get a wif of anything in the Specialty category. Apparantly that was loaded with Black IPA's, and enough that there are pretty much two different Black IPA styles (at least as evident from the submissions). Either it's an IPA with a little bit of Carafa put in it to darken it, or it's a West Coast Stout that's been hopped all to hell. Either way, I'd be happy if they made that another category, or sub categories to IPA. And alot of people are playing around with bretted styles that aren't normally soured. Would like to see a category/sub category for that. Though that could be tough, if you screwed up a beer you could just put it in a "soured" collect all. i guess I can see that.

 

[wobrien]

38 is a great score. My wife and I took 2nd in the Strong Ales with an American Barleywine. Not bad out of 39 entries at the table!

Congrats. This my first ever comp, so I was unsure what to expect. If you don't mind me asking, what score did you get? Or...what kind of score usually places?

 

[Gitmoe]

Congrats. This my first ever comp, so I was unsure what to expect. If you don't mind me asking, what score did you get? Or...what kind of score usually places?

In a lot of smaller competitions a 38 would place if not win. I judged the specialty category yesterday and it was really intense. We had a ton of Rye IPAs as well as Black IPAs. I don't think it's remotely fair those two styles of IPA are in specialty category. That section should be reserved for beers with specialty ingredients as it was intended. I had a great day at WOTW even though I was working. I stood outside for 2 hours directing traffic. It was nice and quiet out there.

I finally had some free time to myself today so I worked on my kegorator. Went from a single tap tower to this....

Need to paint the tubing but whatever. I can finally pour all four beers the kegorator holds. I also sold one of my kettles and picked up one of the new Bayou Classic 64qt Deluxe kettles we started carrying at Keystone. They come with a pretty nice falso bottom system. I'll be using it as my direct fire mash tun. No pics of the kettle. It's still in the box...

 

[jeffjm]

Congrats. This my first ever comp, so I was unsure what to expect. If you don't mind me asking, what score did you get? Or...what kind of score usually places?

The actual score doesn't seem to matter much when it comes to placing. I've placed as low as 30 and missed out as high as 42. It doesn't seem to matter how big or small the comp is, either. At an 850 entry competition recently, I had a German pils score a 40 and not place. My American IPA scored a 35 and took second place. Go figure.

 

[jeffjm]

We got a 38.5 on a bretted IPA, and didn't get a wif of anything in the Specialty category. Apparantly that was loaded with Black IPA's, and enough that there are pretty much two different Black IPA styles (at least as evident from the submissions). Either it's an IPA with a little bit of Carafa put in it to darken it, or it's a West Coast Stout that's been hopped all to hell. Either way, I'd be happy if they made that another category, or sub categories to IPA.

No kidding. At the last comp I judged, I did cat 23, and fully a third of the entries were black IPAs. I hope they get their own subcategory under IPA soon.

 

[ScotBrew]

Has anyone ever been to McKenzie Brew House in Berwyn? I pass it going to/from work and checked it out online. Pics of it look good but was wondering if anyone had been before?