Visiting Philadelphia Guide

[owlsfan]

Probably craft beer outlet if it was north.

Glad you had fun!!

 

[Futurepoop]

Yeah I was also able to grab some Divine Retribution, Pumpkin Retribution, and various Mikkeller beers that I haven't seen in NJ before. Ya'll are lucky to have those spots near you!

 

[cry me]

Anyone going to the Sixpoint/Barcade thing tonight? If so, report back as to what kicked if you could, I'm considering a trip up tomorrow for some leftovers if anything good is left.

 

[lazerviking]

Anyone hitting up Monk's on Monday? The lambic raffle is insane. I would love to skip work just to take a shot at the basket, but it sadly isn't in the cards.

RAFFLE 1   LAMBICS

Cantillon Fou Foune (750ml)
Cantillon Monk’s Café Gueuze (375ml)
Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze 1998 (750ml)
Cantillon Gueuze - Magnum
Cantillon Kriek (375ml)
Cantillon Zwanze 2008 (375ml)
Cantillon Zwanze 2009 (750ml)
De Oude Cam Oude Faro (750ml)
Drie Fonteinen Intense Red (375ml)
Tilquin Oude Gueuze a l’Ancienne
Tilquin Oude Questche a l’Ancienne

 

[cry me]

Anyone hitting up Monk's on Monday? The lambic raffle is insane. I would love to skip work just to take a shot at the basket, but it sadly isn't in the cards.

RAFFLE 1   LAMBICS

Cantillon Fou Foune (750ml)
Cantillon Monk’s Café Gueuze (375ml)
Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze 1998 (750ml)
Cantillon Gueuze - Magnum
Cantillon Kriek (375ml)
Cantillon Zwanze 2008 (375ml)
Cantillon Zwanze 2009 (750ml)
De Oude Cam Oude Faro (750ml)
Drie Fonteinen Intense Red (375ml)
Tilquin Oude Gueuze a l’Ancienne
Tilquin Oude Questche a l’Ancienne

 

[Iliketurtles]

If anyone would like to get in on some turtle love, duceswild and I plan on hitting up TH Sunday evening.

Time TBD depending on how hung over we are over from EBF.

screwyouguys

 

[RedCoffee]

Traveling to Philly at the start of next week. I haven't been since I got into craft beer. What are the regional must-have beers that I should seek out? On draft ideally - I don't want to mess with transporting stuff home and don't you need to buy cases in PA? Imagining that? I could research based on ratings and what is/isn't available in Chicagoland but I would rather trust the locals.

Also, I'll be in the University City area if that matters for recs. No car but I am fine with a cab ride if it's worth it. I did the Pat's/Geno's thing last time so I don't need to detour down there for that whole experience again. Any solid choices for a cheesesteak place up that way would be great to have.

 

[islandboi8204]

Traveling to Philly at the start of next week. I haven't been since I got into craft beer. What are the regional must-have beers that I should seek out? On draft ideally - I don't want to mess with transporting stuff home and don't you need to buy cases in PA? Imagining that? I could research based on ratings and what is/isn't available in Chicagoland but I would rather trust the locals.

Whatever your heart desires: http://www.phillytapfinder.com/on-tap/

 

[ForkAndSpoonOperator]

Traveling to Philly at the start of next week. I haven't been since I got into craft beer. What are the regional must-have beers that I should seek out? On draft ideally - I don't want to mess with transporting stuff home and don't you need to buy cases in PA? Imagining that? I could research based on ratings and what is/isn't available in Chicagoland but I would rather trust the locals.

Also, I'll be in the University City area if that matters for recs. No car but I am fine with a cab ride if it's worth it. I did the Pat's/Geno's thing last time so I don't need to detour down there for that whole experience again. Any solid choices for a cheesesteak place up that way would be great to have.

There are bottle shops (must also serve food, so mostly pizza shops or Chinese restaurants or whatever). Many will let you mix six-packs. 192 oz. limit per transaction. Be ready for serious markups. Wine and booze are strictly through the state monopoly.

As a general statement, I quite like Local 44 in that area. Philly Tap Finder is gonna be the way to go if you're looking for specifics.

 

[lazerviking]

RedCoffee, to echo islandboi8204 and ForkAndSpoonOperator, Philly Tap Finder can be a great asset. It's usually accurate and there are a ton of bars listed on it. As for West Philly/University City, Local 44 is by far the best option. It's at 44th and Spruce and an easy walk from anywhere in U. City. They've always got a pretty good draft list and are one of the better bottle shops in the city. (Despite popular legend, you can buy single bottles/six packs/12 packs in Pennsylvania. The only retailers who sell singles/sixers/12s though must also sell food (usually a deli, convenient store, etc.). But it is extremely easy to find bottle shops and Philly has a lot of good ones. But some are definitely on the pricey side, as ForkAndSpoonOperator mentioned). Other than Local 44, City Tap House often has a great draft list, but the place kind of sucks (douchey/****** atmosphere). It's probably worth checking out though if the draft list is good (check Tap Finder). Also, Dock Street is in West Philly and definitely worth a stop. They also make some good pizza. Finally, Fiume is an awesome awesome dive bar that's above an Ethopian restaurant a block away from Local 44. They have great cocktails, despite what the aesthetic may suggest. And their whiskey list was pretty good last time I was there.

Aside from what's listed above, U City is probably the worst spot in the city for beer, so I wouldn't hesitate to seek out other neighborhoods if you have time. There are a lot of good bars just a short cab ride away in the Graduate Hospital area, (which is just over the South Street Bridge from University City) and Center City. Most of these bars are also very easy to walk to. Anywhere else in the city really isn't far by cab and cabs are fairly cheap. Also, there are a bunch of bus lines that cross the various bridges into and out of U City every few minutes (just google the routes). The bus is highly reliable and cheap.

As for local/regional drafts, I've been liking a lot of what Spring House has been doing. Their Big Gruesome is worth checking out of you see it. I love Flying Fish Exit 16 Wild Rice DIPA. You should be able to find that one on draft very easily. Carton Boat beer is a must try and will be easy to find. Bull Frog has been producing some great stuff and you should be able to find their offerings pretty easily. Their sours have been really nice and their Edgar IPA is delicious. Forest and Main usually has some taps floating throughout the city. Drink these if you see them. Neshamany Creek is a newish local brewery that makes a great pilsner, and some other nice lagers (I haven't enjoyed their ales). Free Will makes some nice stuff, but I'd rank them below the ones I've listed. If you are looking to drink strictly local, Sly Fox, Troegs and Yards will be close to ubiquitous, even at the shittiest options (same goes for Victory, but I suspect you see a lot of their stuff in Chicagoland).

 

[mythaeus]

Nice list so far! A few comments...

1. I'd change "NoLibs" to "Northern Liberties". I live there, but it's not something that out-of-towners would know or search for.

2. A lot of omissions of good bars in NoLibs (the majority are in the Piazza, great area for out-of-towners to visit)
- King's Oak
- Gunner's Run
- Jerry's Bar
- Northern Liberties Beer (bottle shop)

3. Some other bottle shops with decent price and with surprising good finds from time to time:
- Monde's Market (Center City)
- Pasqually's (University City)

 

[ForkAndSpoonOperator]

So, Bluecane is in town tomorrow and we have too much beer. Anyone interested in a mini bottle share at my apartment in Germantown? Trying to keep it small, so PM if you're free tomorrow night, want the address, and are not an *******.

 

[reaper16]

My partner and I decided that we're moving to Philadelphia (she and I live in Alabama right now) in a month or two, now that we're both finished with our graduate programs. So I am going to be memorizing this entire thread. Thank you, all, for the information here.

 

[Max]

So, Bluecane is in town tomorrow and we have too much beer. Anyone interested in a mini bottle share at my apartment in Germantown? Trying to keep it small, so PM if you're free tomorrow night, want the address, and are not an *******.

wish i woulda seen this on friday! did this happen?

 

[ForkAndSpoonOperator]

wish i woulda seen this on friday! did this happen?

Ended up being just me and Adam splitting a couple bottles. Still good times. Could have used a couple extra livers to tackle a DL so we didn't feel left out.

 

[Max]

Ended up being just me and Adam splitting a couple bottles. Still good times. Could have used a couple extra livers to tackle a DL so we didn't feel left out.

damn. i was flying solo saturday, too. just hit a couple record stores and, uh, went grocery shopping, haha.

 

[lazerviking]

Really really excited that Bella Vista is going to be distributing Pizza Boy in kegs, cans, and, supposedly, limited 750s. I'm sure getting any 750s will be a **** show, but the cans and kegs should make it easy to drink Pizza Boy all the time now.

 

[Timmush1]

I have been to Philly many times but this thread is very helpful. Any of you Mo-Fos going to be around the weekend of August 15-16 me and a few friends are doing a mini-beercation.

 

[screwyouguys]

I have been to Philly many times but this thread is very helpful. Any of you Mo-Fos going to be around the weekend of August 15-16 me and a few friends are doing a mini-beercation.

shoot me message, i may be able to sneak lil time out to meet up

 

[owlsfan]

so is anyone else going to hang out with the bros at the beer camp thing?

 

[ForkAndSpoonOperator]

so is anyone else going to hang out with the bros at the beer camp thing?

 

[user 305778]

I'm going to the beer camp thing but to drink not hang out with people I don't know.

 

[owlsfan]

I'm going to the beer camp thing but to drink not hang out with people I don't know.

 

[xnicknj]

If you're into going to any of the cool beer gardens that have been popping up around the city, do it now. The ******* ******** in Harrisburg are trying to squash them due to "misuse of permits" and other PLCB nonsense.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/p...ighten_rules_for_use_of_catering_permits.html

 

[owlsfan]

Or basically restaurant and bar owners whined and cried because they weren't smart enough to do it.

 

[lazerviking]

More Farmer's Cabinet drama. Looks like it's done for good this time.

 

[owlsfan]

More Farmer's Cabinet drama. Looks like it's done for good this time.

What a surprise

 

[ForkAndSpoonOperator]

Ye gods, those people are the wurst. Found out Fork and Barrel had closed when Thoreau Like A Girl and I showed up, like, the day after. The place looked like it had been abandoned for years.

 

[Max]

Ye gods, those people are the wurst. Found out Fork and Barrel had closed when Thoreau Like A Girl and I showed up, like, the day after. The place looked like it had been abandoned for years.

complete with an inch of dust haha

 

[ForkAndSpoonOperator]

complete with an inch of dust haha

Part of the ambience, or some such. Thought for a second about stealing the barrel they kept out front. Didn't. Should've.