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Pucker Up! Sour Fest at Devil’s Den is Back for the Fifth Mouth-Puckering Year

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An entire week full off Philly’s largest sour beer selection, complete with a Sour Beer Class instructed by Joe Sixpack

Philadelphia, PA – Sour beer lovers will pour into South Philadelphia’s Devil’s Den on August 16 through August 22 when beer aficionado and bar owner Erin Wallace hosts the fifth annual Pucker Up! Sour Fest. Devil’s Den, one of Philly’s best beer bars, will provide patrons with the largest selection of sour, tart, and funky beers the city has to offer. Also during Sour Fest, beer connoisseur Don Russell, aka Joe Sixpack, will be leading an instructional Sour Beer Class on Tuesday, August 19.

To launch the week, the entire draft tower at Devil’s Den {17 drafts} will be filled with sour beers on August 16 and 17. Then, for the remainder of Sour Fest, eight lines will pour sour drafts exclusively, changing frequently as they get tapped. The lineup will include around 60 new award winning and/or rare finds. Sour Fest beers include Off Color’s Troublesome, Bruery’s Sour in the Rye, Bruery’s Oude Tart, Ithaca’s White Gold, and eight sours from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales.

“We had a couple sour beers at Devil’s Den for our first anniversary party and I kept thinking about how much I liked them,” said Wallace. “So I decided to host a Sour Fest, which started off at 10 beers the first year and now, five years later, we are up to 60 sour beers throughout the week. They’re not for everyone, but the people who like them, love them and we wanted to celebrate that,” Wallace said.

Award-Winning beer writer Joe Sixpack will be at Devil’s Den during Sour Fest on Tuesday, August 19 from 7-10pm. This is a limited $35 ticketed event through eventbrite.com.  The event includes six, six oz. pours of specially selected sour beers and appetizers.  Russell will also be teaching guests different brewing techniques used to create these unique, mouth-watering sour beers. Tickets available here.

Erin Wallace owns and operates three beer-centric establishments in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia suburbs, including Old Eagle Tavern in Manayunk, Devil’s Den in South Philadelphia, and Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery in Lafayette Hill, PA. Wallace attended Baltimore School for the Arts, and Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. Her love for beer developed from her time as a server and bartender in various Philadelphia bars and restaurants. She opened Old Eagle Tavern 11 years ago with a limited knowledge of craft beer, but an immense appreciation for the art of beer drinking. Devil’s Den has been open since 2008. Barren Hill opened in the fall of 2013. Wallace is a self-taught beer connoisseur, but has an extensive knowledge of local and imported craft beers and is noted as one of Philadelphia’s top craft beer bar owners. Her bars/restaurants have received accolades from Philadelphia Magazine, The Drink Nation, PHL17 Hot List, Zagat, and more, and have been noted for their various recurring beer-centric events, impeccable menus, and extensive beer lists. In 2010, Wallace was elected to the board of Philly Beer Week and remains the only female member of the board.

Devil’s Den is one of Philadelphia’s best destinations for import and craft beers, with 17 rotating drafts and over 200 bottles.  Chef de Cuisine Freddie Ryan offers homemade comfort food and stepped-up fare in a warm and enveloping setting. Popular favorites include house signature Duck Fries, Salmon BLT, and several tempting mussel renditions.  The elevated gastropub has knowledgeable and friendly staff, popular happy hour specials, and an unparalleled beer selection. A dominating architectural feature is the wood-burning fireplace which offers ambiance and warmth in colder months in both the dining room and the extensive bar. Outdoor seating creates a spirited street scene when weather permits.  A lively events calendar adds to the fun. Devil’s Den is open daily from 11am to 2am. | Devil’s Den | 1148 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | (215) 339-0855| http://www.devilsdenphilly.com