TAKE ON PHILLY BEER WEEK 2015 LIKE A PRO

With thousands of events planned over 10 days, Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2015 can seem a little intimidating.  Never fear: below, you’ll find @ProfileTip’s top picks for events, breweries to watch, and fun hidden gems that will have you navigating America’s Best Beer-Drinking City™ like…well, like a pro.

 

2nd Story Brewing Company

In addition to participating in Opening Tap and the official PBW Beer Garden at The Shambles in Headhouse Square, 2nd Story will host a few choice events of their own:

• Barrel-Aged Night Monday, June 1 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Brewers from 2nd Story and other independent brewers will be on hand to sample special barrel-aged beers and chat about the process.  Featured pours will include two 2nd Story Breakfast Stouts aged in Dad’s Hat rye whiskey barrels.  Pay as you go
• Meet-and-Greet with Randy Mosher Wednesday, June 3 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.  Homebrewing legend Randy Mosher will stop by to chat with guests and sign copies of his books, including his latest, Mastering Homebrew: The Complete Guide to Brewing Delicious Beer, which will be available for sale on site.  $10 per person; includes a pint of 2nd Story beer and light snacks
• Sour & Funky Tasting Thursday, June 4 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Sample six house-made sour and funky beers and chat with brewers John Wible and Kirk Schillinger during this guided tasting.  $45 per person; includes six 9-oz. pours and light snacks

 

Boulevard Brewing Company

Midwestern craft brewers Boulevard will launch their first-ever line of Beer in Cans during PBW at The Foodery, with cans, bottles and draughts available, plus special meet-and-greets with brewery rep Mike Burke and pairing events featuring cheeses from Di Bruno Bros.

• Featured beers in 12-oz. cans will be available individually and in variety packs, and will include:
  • Heavy Lifting IPA, a West Coast-style IPA with bold citrus and tropical fruit aromas and a light, toasted malt flavor and bitter finish
  • Ginger Lemon Radler, a traditional German-style radler with fresh lemon aroma, bread-y malt sweetness and a lemon and spicy ginger finish
  • Pop-Up Session IPA, a hop-centric beer with relatively low bitterness and a big, fruity hop aroma
  • Unfiltered Wheat Beer, a lively, refreshing ale with a natural citrus flavor and distinctively cloudy appearance; it is Boulevard’s most popular beer and the best-selling craft beer in the Midwest
• A variety of other Boulevard beers will also be available in 12-oz. bottles, including:
  • Tell Tale Tart, a sour pale ale that is appealingly low in acidity
  • Hibiscus Gose, a German-style sour flavored with coriander salt and hibiscus for pronounced floral aromas and flavors and a memorable pink hue
• Heavy Lifting IPA, Ginger Lemon Radler and Hibiscus Gose will also be available on draught at select locations
• Foodery events with Mike Burke, featuring cheese pairings from Di Bruno Bros. and glassware, coasters and other giveaways, will be held:
  • Wednesday, June 3 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at The Foodery Northern Liberties (837 North 2^nd Street, 215-238-6077)
  • Thursday, June 4 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at The Foodery Roxborough (6148 Ridge Avenue, 215-482-4500)
  • Friday, June 5 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at The Foodery Center City (324 South 10^th Street, 215-928-1111)
  • Saturday, June 6 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at The Foodery Rittenhouse Square (1710 Sansom Street, 215-567-1500)

 

Brauhaus Schmitz

Philadelphia’s best and only authentic German bierhall is primed to host a week’s worth of exciting PBW events.

• Gose Gone Wild Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31 Kick off the week with sought-after German sour beers, featuring: Leipziger Gose; Leipziger Goseator; Leipziger Goseator (aged in tequila barrels); Freigeist Bierkultur Pink Panzer; Siren/Stillwater When The Light Gose Out; The Monarchy Grätzer; Freigeist Bierkultur Köpenickiade; Professor Fritz Briem 1809; Bayrischer Bahnhof Berliner Weisse Oak Smoke; and Bayrischer Bahnhof Berliner Weisse Mandarin.
• Beer & Cheese Pairings Tuesday, June 6 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Di Bruno Bros., led by cheesemonger Rocco Rainone, and Brauhaus Schmitz, led by Beverage Director Raymond Vlug, worked closely to expertly pair fine imported cheeses with delicious German beers.
• Beer Seminar Wednesday, June 3 beginning 7 p.m. Brauhaus’s resident bier experts, Ray Vlug and Doug Hager, will lead guests through a detailed tour of various German styles.  The session is strictly limited to 50 people, and a second session may be added at 9 p.m. depending on interest.  $25 per person; includes eight .2L pours
• New German Cooking Cookbook Beer Dinner Thursday, June 4 beginning at 7 p.m. Join chefs and authors Jeremy and Jessica Nolen for an intimate dinner celebrating their new cookbook, New German Cooking.  Copies will be available for sale at the dinner, and Chef Nolen will sign them on site.  Dishes include Truffled Hazelnut and Potato Soup and Spiessbraten, Spit-Roasted Flank Steak stuffed with green onions, roasted new potatoes and asparagus.  $70 per person; includes four courses and beer pairings
• Beat the Heat with Wheat, Friday, June 5 until Sunday, June 7 Close out PBW with 14 different German wheat beers, featuring five different Weizenbock varieties; seven different Hefeweizen varieties; and Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, as well as Andechser Weissbier Dunkel.

 

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

In addition to participating in Opening Tap and the official PBW Beer Garden at The Shambles in Headhouse Square, Iron Hill will host a few choice events of their own:

• Fifth Annual Big Ass Beer Dinner Sunday, May 31 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.  This yearly tradition returns to Good Dog Bar where five Iron Hill brewers work with Executive Chef Jessica O’Donnell to create a tempting five-course beer dinner, each course paired with a different Iron Hill beer. This year, Heather Gleason (co-owner, Good Dog) brewed a collaboration beer with Paul Rutherford (head brewer, Iron Hill Ardmore); and Dave Garry (co-owner, Good Dog) brewed a collaboration beer with Chris LaPierre (head brewer, Iron Hill Chestnut Hill). Tickets are $50.
• In addition, LaPierre has partnered with Suzanne Woods, of Allagash Brewing, on a special collaboration beer for PBW2015 for the third straight year. The recipe was tested and created in Maine by Allagash and then brewed by Woods in Philadelphia under the guidance of LaPierre. The beer will be served at Iron Hill Chestnut Hill, as well as select Allagash accounts throughout the city.

 

London Grill

As has become an annual tradition, London Grill will participate in the HOG Relay leading up to Opening Tap, and will also host a slew of unusual and exciting events throughout PBW.

• Lowcountry Supper Saturday, May 30 from 12 noon until 5 p.m. London will host a tap takeover with Georgian~Terrapin Beer Company, featuring lowcountry snacks and pairings such as fried pickles, pimento cheese, shrimp ‘n’ grits, ham biscuits and more, with signed books from author (and long-time friend of London) “Hoppin’ John” Martin Taylor.  Pay as you go
• Quizzo Monday Monday, June 1 beginning at 8 p.m. The bar’s weekly Quizzo night will be even more exciting thanks to Terrapin Beer Specials and swag giveaways from Osprey.  Pay as you go
• Yards & Birchrun Hills Farm Pairings Tuesday, June 2 beginning at 5 p.m. Local craft brewing powerhouse Yards and artisanal cheese producers Birchrun Hills will create tempting pairings for guests to enjoy all night long.  Pay as you go
• Eastern State Penitentiary Tour Wednesday, June 3 beginning at 5:30 p.m.  London will partner with Stoudts Brewery for their annual tour of neighboring historic landmark Eastern State Penitentiary, followed by a hearty beer pairing dinner back at the restaurant.  $45 per person; includes a guided tour, dinner, beer pairings, tax and gratuity
• A Murder in London Thursday, June 4 and Sunday, June 7 beginning at 6:15 p.m. Fresh from a successful first event during Philly Wine Week, the talented improv artists of Blue Suede Productions are back for two more murder-mystery dinners at London Grill.  The reception begins at 6:15 p.m., and the meal / show will start promptly at 7 p.m.  Guests are invited to play along and help solve the murder while enjoying a lavish meal and beer pairings.  As before, these meals are expected to sell out well in advance.  $70 per person, or $80 at the door (if available); includes a beer cocktail during the reception, a multi-course dinner with beer pairings, and the show
• Robert Frost-y Poetry Happy Hour Friday, June 5 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Paris Wine Bar will host an artful happy hour with rare beers from Two Roads and readings from talented local poets and artists at the bottom of every hour, beginning at 4:30 p.m.  Pay as you go
• The Great Philadelphia Craft Beer Crawl Saturday, June 6 from 12 noon until 6 p.m. London will be a stop on this epic bar crawl, offering free samples of Yuengling Summer Wheat and Sierra Nevada Nooner, plus $3 craft beer specials and tempting food specials.  $20 per person; includes a keepsake mug and crawl map, plus samples and specials at participating bars and restaurants, such as London Grill

 

Saint Benjamin Brewing Company

In addition to participating in the HOG Relay and Opening Tap, Saint Benjamin will also pour at the official PBW Beer Garden at The Shambles in Headhouse Square; the brewery also has a host of other fun events planned during PBW.  Saint Benjamin will contribute to many of PBW’s biggest and best-known collaborative events:

• On Saturday, May 30, you’ll find them at The Great Beer Expo at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and Firkin Riot at Johnny Brenda’s
• On Sunday, May 31, they’ll host a Saison du Jour Tap Takeover at WinWin Coffee Shop, featuring the complete line of their various Saison du Jour beers
• Beginning on Monday, June 1, their beers will be available in the PBW Beer Garden, and they’ll host a pairing event at Bierstube
• On Tuesday, June 2, they’ll visit Johnny Brenda’s for an evening of collaborative beer drinking with Manayunk Brewing Company, serving a collaborative brew, as well as many of their own and Manayunk Brewing beers on tap.  They’ll also contribute a pin to Standard Tap’s King Pin.
• On Wednesday, June 3, they’ll again join Manayunk Brewery for a Meet the Brewer event at Local 44.
• On Thursday, June 4, they’ll host a Tap Takeover at Tir Na Nog, and will also throw a Coloring Party at SPTR featuring a custom coloring book created for the brewery by a graphic artist; guests are invited to help themselves to coloring sheets and crayons while the bar taps a variety of Saint Benjamin beers.
• On Friday, June 5, the brewery and Little Babies Ice Cream will celebrate their newest flavor, inspired by Saint Benjamin Liaison Saison with samples of each.
• On Saturday, June 6, guests are invited to Tour the Brewery.  The team will also be on hand at Gray Lodge to talk beer with their friends from Free Will and Naked Brewing in an informal Front Porch Session.
• In addition, throughout PBW, Saint Benjamin fans are encouraged to participate in their Easter Egg Hunt.  Along with Manayunk Brewing, they created three beers each in honor of their theme, “Building Bridges,” with each inspired by a different famous bridge from around the world.  Each brewery has dropped off a single firkin of each of their three beers at secret locations; fans are encouraged to scour the city for these “Easter egg” firkins.  Saint Benjamin’s beers, which will all be served on hand pump, include:
  • Ben Franklin Bridge, brewed with rhubarb
  • London Bridge, brewed with juniper berries and honey
  • Pont Marie, brewed with orange blossom water and dried bitter oranges

 

Tria Taproom

The city’s only draught-only bar has a star-studded line-up of guest brewers taking over their taps:

• 4 Hands Saturday, May 30 from 12 noon until 4 p.m.
• Sprecher Sunday, May 31 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. featuring rare barrel-aged beers
• Spellbound Sunday, May 31 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. an up-and-comer from nearby NJ that is rarely seen in Philadelphia
• Stone Monday, June 1 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. featuring rare barrel-aged and sour beers
• Green Bench Tuesday, June 2 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. a Florida-based sour specialist
• Ilkley / Hobson Wednesday, June 3 featuring two “British Invasion” breweries
• Ballast Point Thursday, June 4 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. featuring rare barrel-aged and sour beers
• Pizza Boy Friday, June 5 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. a rare tapping event complemented by half-priced flatbreads: Tria’s “pizzas” + “Pizza Boy” = Pizza, Pizza!
• Cascade Saturday, June 6 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. Portland sours making their Philadelphia draught debut

 

Two Roads Brewing Company

Having made their Philadelphia debut earlier this year, Connecticut’s cult favorite Two Roads is primed for their first PBW, including participating in the HOG Relay (with their custom-painted vintage VW bus), as well as a wealth of other fun events.

• On Saturday, May 30, you’ll find them at The Great Beer Expo at the Philadelphia Navy Yard pouring their No Limits Hefeweizen, Road Jam raspberry-lemongrass ale and Road 2 Ruin DIPA at their own tent, plus Conntucky Lightin’ Sour Mash Ale, aged in bourbon barrels, as a very special VIP beer for attendees with premium passes
• On Saturday, May 30, from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., Get your bibs ready as Two Roads will host a collaborative New England Lobster Boil Dinner at BarLy in Chinatown.
• On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m., Two Roads’ refreshing No Limits Hefeweizen will help usher in PBW’s first weekend at Hop Angel Brauhaus for their two-day Wheat Beer Weekend & Lobster Bake Tent Party.
• On Sunday, May 31 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Two Roads will host a Sunday Beer Brunch with “The Return of John Rehm” and DJ Enabler, aka Chris Morris, at Sancho Pistola’s, featuring some of their rarest and most prized beers.
• On Monday, June 1, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Two Roads will host a Beer Lunch with John Rehm, Director of Brewing Operations, at Smokin’ Betty’s.
• On Monday, June 1, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., Rehm, who lived and brewed in Philadelphia for 10 years before moving to Connecticut, will host a special early happy hour at Misconduct Tavern.
• On Tuesday, June 2, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., Two Roads will host a collaborative happy hour at Founding Fathers.
• On Thursday, June 4 from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m., they’ll visit Grey Lodge for the collaborative Get Yer Fill of Pils party, where they’ll pair Ol’ Factory Pilsner up with piping hot pierogies.
• On Friday, June 5 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., they’ll join London Grill for their Robert Frost-y Poetry Happy Hour at Paris Wine Bar, pouring rare beers to complement the beer-centric verse.
• On Saturday, June 6 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., they’ll join the Drexel Culinary Program for their Food Truck Evening at Garage, complementing the menu with a variety of their popular beers.

 

Available for comment: Kristine Kennedy, Philly Beer Week Executive Director

Contact: Michael Greger / (215) 985-2106 / michael@profilepr.com / www.profilepr.com / @ProfileTip`