March 2017: News update, part 1

The last few news updates have been rather lengthy. Here's a more easily digestible set of news links to catch you up on the last couple weeks.

~ Excellent piece on beer and its purported "health benefits". For the record, I've never and would never endorse such a thing. It's a pleasurable beverage and relatively better than some other alcoholic drinks, but not one you drink for any health benefits. [link to Outside]

~ Obviously just a tad late to the news here with this nicely-made video out of the Harrisburg region. [link to Vimeo]

~ Love me some good analysis. This one with Westvleteren. [link to Draft Magazine]

~ I believe I covered this before but, just in case I didn't, here's more detail about what's happening in Haddonfield, NJ. [link to Philly.com]

~ Looks like another for the list next time in Pittsburgh. [link to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

~ Beer and politics, again, unfortunately colliding. Question I still have is how so few breweries signed on to this? Afraid of blowback? [link to Yours For Good Fermentables]

~ And now for your fun piece of beer-meets-politics news. This one is fun, I promise you. [link to Philadelphia Magazine/Foobooz]

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© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2017. All content is owned and uniquely created by Bryan J. Kolesar. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Kolesar is strictly prohibited. Excerpts, images, and links may be used with advance permission granted and only provided that full and clear credit is given to Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Contact Kolesar at TheBrewLounge@gmail.com

We Run this Thursday, will you?

And drink free beer too. Well, some of it will be free, at least.

Here's the story.

I sort of snuck this story out on a Sunday over a week ago. Many of you noticed, but I'm guessing some may have missed this. You can link back to the original posting if you wish.

Basically, I'm teaming up with the Fishtown Beer Runners (FBR) on Thursday, May 19 for a run and some beers. FBR will conduct the run. It's a 6.5 mile run through the city ending at Johnny Brenda's.

At JB's, Jean Broillet will present a keg of Tired Hands beer to us as a complimentary gesture. Well, actually he's not yet permitted to sell the beer in the State, but you can have it as a preview taste of what he'll be making in his Ardmore brewery later this year once he opens shop. He'll be at JB's to talk about his beer, location, and plans with anyone who's interested.

He plans to bring for us a "spicy saison" weighing in at around 3.6% ABV. Perfect for what we'll need after the run. Other session-y type will also be on hand. Jean's beer will be complimentary; the rest (and food) will be pay-as-you-go.

By the way, we run rain or shine. Runners (esp. FBRs) are a hearty bunch.

So far, we've got around 50 runners expected. But, we can always use more. mailto:Bryan@BrewLounge.com?subj=BeerRunRSVP if this is something you'd like to join us for. The RSVP will help with proper planning at Johnny Brenda's.

Philly Beer Week 2011: Come join us for a Run (beer, pizza, and live music too)

I've already received RSVPs for my Philly Beer Week event, an event that I haven't even officially mentioned here at The Brew Lounge. To say that I've been quite a bit behind (and quite a bit of a behind!) is an understatement. It's on the official PBW calendar and Dock Street's marketing materials. So it's high time I get the word out around here, y'think?

For the 4th consecutive year, I'll be teaming up with Dock Street to conduct the Philly Beer Run.

This year, we're going back to the 2009 concept and beginning the run in Society Hill at the street named Dock Street and will be ending in West Philly at the brewery/restaurant also named Dock Street.

The date is Sunday, June 12 and we'll gather at 10:30 a.m. at the plaza by the intersection of Dock and Front streets across from Sheraton Hotel and Society Hill Towers.

Participants will need to find their own transportation to and from the beginning and finish points.

Runners will run either solo or in teams of two through the city from point to point collecting "clues" along the way. If you participated in 2009, you'll recall how this works. If not, as the day draws near, I'll share more details. These clues will become important in earning points that can win prizes for you or your team at the finish.

Best of all, there is no fee to participate and the prizes will be awarded at Dock Street just prior to the 2 p.m. kickoff of their annual Music Festival. Those who attended last year can attest to the great music and fun had by all after the run at Dock Street.

An RSVP is required so that proper planning can be made at Dock Street.

Casey said there was calcium in it, so it must be good for me

The approach to this piece of writing has been a perfect summation of my last week: chaotic. Let's see, this is the...third (?) rewrite of these events. And, what has happened since then? The marathon of which I spake has now been completed. The restaurant at which we ate last Thursday that was the beginning of this particular posting is owned (now) by the Next Iron Chef. The beer of which we drank at Bridgid's is still of New Jersey (shhh, Turnpike) fame/infamy. And the last two beers that I drank before the Marathon, Yards ESA (once at Bridgid's and once at TJs, both cask), was the first beer that I drank afterward at Kite & Key...it was also on cask. Let's look back on some of the original and twice modified verbiage. Not my typical final days before a marathon, but then again these months of training have been anything but typical. So why not go out for a semi-decadent dinner at Distrito (Jose Garces' "modern Mexican" restaurant) in University City? Yeah, sure. A Dock Street Rye IPA was my one beer of choice with dinner. Then follow it up with a stop by Bridgid's for some Exit 1, Exit 4, and Exit 11 (and of course a gravity-fed Yards ESA for good measure) from Flying Fish. Definitely. The first words I heard from head brewer Casey Hughes when I walked in to Bridgid's (after "Thank you so much you wonderful and supportive beer writer/blogger guy for coming out to support my lovely beer-drinking event!"...or something like that) was "Aren't you training for a marathon? The Exit 1 has calcium in it, so it's good for your bones." Sold...cuz Casey said so. I suppose this means if today goes well, I'll owe a little nod to Casey and the bivalves of his Exit 1. And, the Exit 4, bottles of which took less than an hour to go through at Bridgid's. This beer continues to get more difficult to find. Well, let's see. This decadence of which I speak almost 48 hours prior to the race? Perhaps I'm (and Casey is) on to something. I registered my fastest marathon time ever by 2 minutes (almost a 1% improvement) and bettered my Philly Marathon time by 17 minutes (a 6.5% improvement). What else did I learn Thursday night in a bar full of brewers, writers, and reps? There's a brewery doing a new beer (a redux of sorts) that I'm betting will get people pretty excited. Still a little too early to write specifically about it. Yards will not be canning their beer anytime soon, though it would make for a convenient way to airline contract negotiations. And, the next of the Exit Series will not be a sour tomato hefeweizen. The rest is just purely conjecture. I leave the breaking of news to the big boys and girls of beer PR. Otherwise, come Monday, it'll be alright...and these sort of running-related posts will diminish. That should please some of you. Well, come Monday...most everything was okay. Feeling just a bit under the weather. Tuesday brought a little bit of muscle soreness. But, all in all, the recovery from this marathon (barring an x-ray confirming a stress fracture) was pretty a-okay. Thanks to everyone who "participated" along with me in their support! The chiropractor and massage therapist did their jobs; Patty did hers; I did some training; Mother Nature did hers; TJs did their job with, count 'em, two heaping plates of pasta; and you all who came out and cheered me on and joined me for brunch all did your part. There's no doubt that it was a big help to my psyche. Now I must get myself to planning some more fun beer runs. Oh, and have I mentioned that I have the best neighbors in the world?

Me and My Marathon

It can be a lonely road out there, even with 20,000 other runners, perfectly built for plenty of introspection. This will be my fifth marathon I've run in the last 4 years. Even though it may not be true, I somehow feel less prepared physically and psychologically than ever before. Sunday's Philadelphia Marathon will tell. Until then, I need a pick-me-up. So, if you've got any shouts of encouragement that you can offer up here (or just general yelling if that's your thing).... Or if you'd like to come out Sunday morning to support me during the race.... Best yet, do both and join me afterward for a brunch at The Kite and Key pub just a few blocks from the Art Museum Finish Line. It's a mighty fine place for a Sunday morning meetup for some grub and grog. I'm looking for all the motivation and inspiration that I can gather up right about now. I'll be asking the crew at Kite and Key to hold some tables for me, so if meeting up for brunch sounds like something you'd like to do around 12pm-ish, drop an e-mail to me. One last way that you can join in support of my Philadelphia Marathon: come on out to TJs in Paoli on Saturday for the Early Bird Special around 5pm. That's when and where I'll be "carbing up" with my pre-long run ritual...Cajun Chicken Alfredo, French Onion Soup, Bread, and Salad...oh, and 1 (relatively) low-alcohol beer. I hope Jeff has a few extra bits of pasta in the kitchen on Saturday! Oh, and this here is just all too appropriate given the timing of the fall marathon season and the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street...enjoy a trip down memory lane! y'gotta watch it all, it's bound to bring a smile to your face and rub away any rough edges of your day.

Friday Night's Alright for Beer Running

[Insert Great Picture of Bryan, Eric, and Kevin after a Great Run] When I recover the picture (i.e. never), I'll post it up here. Due to my jackassery, I obviously don't know the difference between 'OK' and 'Cancel' when asked if I want to format my memory card in the camera. For those who don't know, it basically means to say goodbye to the stored photos on memory card when you choose 'OK.' So, we're left with the pleasant memories of a challenging but rewarding 7.1 mile run through the nearby Main Line country roads with a couple of Fishtown Beer Runners who swam upstream to TJs in Paoli to join me on this, my latest, Beer Run. I said 6 miles, it turned into 6.4, and then wound up at 7.1 miles by the time we returned. We dove into lots of rehydration and nourishment in some sandwiches, mac & cheese, pasta, and salads...La Trappe Isid'or, Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA, Dark Horse Oatmeal Stout, and a few other goodies. Another great Beer Run in the books. There'll be more to come sooner rather than later, so Stay Tuned.

Joe Sixpack likes Beer Runs

Now that Joe Sixpack has reminded me in today's column, I need to get around to planning some more of these Beer Runs. A good read, even without my quotes. And a great notice for those of you in and around the city of Philadelphia to join up on Thursday nights with the Fishtown Beer Runners (FBR) for great runs, great beer, and great camaraderie. Thanks, Mr. Sixpack, for bringing more attention to the subject of beer and fitness.

The General would have (and did) approve

(a welcoming sign at The General Lafayette) The weather might have been better if it actually had rained...it was definitely on the hotter side of warm, and the 60% humidity didn't exactly help either. Nonetheless, 7 stalwart runners and bikers came out for a 4 mile run or 6 mile bike ride to/from The General Lafayette yesterday. Same amount came and met up with us afterwards (with our "earthy" aroma, these cleaner individuals were perhaps even braver and more stalwart! come to think of it, we might have even been able to ferment a beer with our "earthiness"!) (front patio at The General Lafayette) Anyway, it may not have been the largest group I've ever gathered, but it was definitely for one of the most selfless causes. Unless you count for being selfish wanting to see The General Lafayette still here next year serving up good beer, food, and atmosphere. Nick and Russ commented that it was the busiest Sunday afternoon bar crowds that they've had in a while. (ready to ride) Chris Leonard, proprietor, thanks everyone who has thusfar shown support in both verbal and more tangible ways. He had commented that other groups like ours that showed up yesterday are coming up with innovative ways of helping to support their local brewpub. There have been discussions, too, about having a homebrew club write a recipe and subsidize the brewing of a beer that would be named and served in their honor at the pub. After conversations yesterday, I've got another idea that's stewing that could be a fun fall activity involving The General. Stay tuned... (house with 5 rooms for double occupancy lodging out back of the restaurant) Nutshell version: Good things are still happening at The General Lafayette Inn & Brewery. With support from customers that care about places like this, they stand a chance of continuing to do what they do. There's a new chef in the kitchen exuding a new passion for food. The Mirage is still one of the tastiest low-alcohol (2.8%) light beers I've ever tasted. They're waiting on an order of fresh honey to make a new batch of Raspberry Mead. The Chocolate Thunder Porter is still as wonderful as ever, both on draft and in the bottle. The Marquis de Lafayette is fresh, very drinkable, and has some wonderful fruit and malt flavors coming through this mid-range Belgian. And Sly Fox is taking up "residency" for the latest brewing partnership. (Russ Czajka; Jean Broillet; Mr. Lafayette (Marquis de to you); Bryan Kolesar; and if you look really closely in the far, far distance on Forbidden Drive with a flat tire is Suzy Woods) (taps, people, growlers, and tabs...a good sign for a Sunday afternoon) (eggs benedict holds a special place in my heart and stomach for a weekend brunch)

It's All About Constant Improvement

There are all kinds of motivational adages out there about constant self-improvement. While it would be great to go to bed each night feeling like a better man, truth is for me it probably happens less often than not. Somehow, I don't think I'm alone in this quandary...let me know if you grow and improve every day, I'd love some tips. So, that sorry-sounding intro was my lead in to sharing my last weekend in Pittsburgh, PA and my quest for an improvement in my marathon finishing time. This visit to the 'burgh, it was less about the beer and more about the return (after a six-year hiatus) of the Marathon to the City's streets. On the way into Pittsburgh on Friday, I wanted to drive some of the Marathon course to get a better feel for it, so we jumped off I-376 onto Braddock Avenue and stopped at D's Six Pax and Dogz in search of liquid goodies. This time only came away with a Reuben & The Jets (Lagunitas, Zappa Series), Mama's Little Yella Pils (Oskar Blues, 12 oz. can), and Imperial Porter (Shipyard, Pugsley's Sig. Series). Nothing local to speak of...until our way out of the city on Sunday after the Marathon. After a way-fortuitous upgrade to the Presidential Suite and a big-time carb loading meal of pasta, salad, and bread, Patty and I relaxed Saturday night in our suite (that probably had more square footage than our house), watched a movie, and I tossed back the 5.4% ABV Pils from Oskar Blues. Liquid carb loading (providing a low abv) can be a good thing too. Plus, the alcohol's sedative effects can help calm the night's-before jittery nerves. But you, or at least I, need to stop after one or two of these. I won't get into all of the gory details of my marathon experience; I'm not sure that many of you really care. Suffice to say, it's one that I'll recommend to others and likely do again in a few years. Between the organization, the neighborhoods and spectators, and the course layout, it all played a role in me having my best marathon performance ever. I finished in 4:08:42 and was almost satisfied. If you'd like to know more, drop an e-mail to me and I'll share. (Or, if you'd like to check out some local Pittsburgh news coverage of the Marathon, check this link or this other link.) After it was over and with our late checkout from the Presidential Suite (had to milk every last minute we could), I was able to shower and stretch a bit before packing up and heading out. But, before a 4 hour drive across state, we needed some food and beer. Church Brew Works seemed to make sense. They'd reopened at 2pm after being closed during the race. Let's just say we got a bit more than we bargained for! Meaning: EKG IPA, check. Oatmeal Stout, check. Pizza, soup, and pierogies...checkedy, check, check. But then, I spied some mini-kegs. Nope, not the run-of-the-mill Dunkel, Gold, or Pale. It was a mini keg of Millenium Trippel and 750ml bottle of Quadzilla to go. Knowing when to say when is an elusive talent! Now, this weekend, it's onward to improving my 5-k performance...this time a bit closer to home in Berwyn, PA. Afterward, you should likely find me rehydrating at Triumph in Old City, looking for a bit more of the lovely Eddy (the only Eddy I've known to call lovely!) from Iron Hill and a bunch of other sour and funky friends. Will I see you there?

PBW 2009: The Brew Lounge & Dock Street on CBS3.com

A direct link to the article. A direct link to the slideshow. A nice recap of our Dock Street to Dock Street Scavenger Run on 3/7/09 and many, many pictures are posted up on CBS3.com's homepage. Ted did a nice job of capturing our day in words and pictures. Thanks once again to everyone who came out and supported us.

PBW 2009: How to Burn off the Calories

Well, I suppose I'm on a Press Release tear here. Though, I have a selfish motivation for this one. What's remarkable is that after some of the odd glances I got for hosting last year's only physical activity during PBW, this year there are no less than three others scheduled. Two bike rides and two runs will give participants a chance to burn off calories before putting them back on again. Hm, and those glances? Come to think of it, those are the glances I see most of the time.

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CRAFT BEER + THE GREAT OUTDOORS = TWO BIKE RIDES AND TWO RUNS DURING PHILLY BEER WEEK 2009 PHILADELPHIA, PA – The second-annual Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2009 (Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 15) will include beer runs and bike rides among its more than 500 events. Perfect for beer lovers who also like to get a little exercise, these events will combine running, biking and craft beer. The four active events are: Saturday, March 7 * Le Tour de Philly Brew, a scenic yet strenuous 60 mile ride starting at Yards Brewery (901 North Delaware Avenue) leaving at 10 am sharp with stops at General Lafayette Inn, Iron Hill North Wales for lunch and Manayunk Brewery before recovering back at Yards. Limited to 25 riders. For more information contact bicycleja@yahoo.com. * Dock Street to Dock Street - The Brew Lounge Scavenger Run, a five-mile scavenger run starting at 10 am at the Veterans Memorial Plaza at Dock and Front Streets, ending at Dock Street Brewery (701 50th Street), including a post-race buffet that is free for participants. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Bryan@BrewLounge.com. Monday, March 9 * Run and Drink with the Brewers, a 5k run through Philadelphia’s beautiful Fairmount Park starting and ending at the Bishops Collar (2349 Fairmount Avenue) with Adam Avery of Avery Brewing, Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Brian O’Reilly of Sly Fox and Tom Kehoe of Yards Brewing on a “pace scooter” handing out beers. Refreshments from Avery Brewing at Bishops Collar after the run. Run is limited to 100 runners. To sign up, please visit The Bishops Collar Saturday, March 14 – Visit your Local Brewery Day * The Brewery Bike Ride, a leisurely 14-mile ride open to all skill levels that will visit five of the breweries within Philadelphia’s city limits. 11 am start at Nodding Head Brewery (1516 Sansom Street), then on to Dock Street, Yards, Philadelphia Brewing Company and ending up at Triumph Brewpub. To sign up, please contact jesseleekeenan@gmail.com. The second-annual Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2009 will kickoff on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m., in the spectacular Comcast Center lobby and Winter Garden (17th street and JFK Boulevard) with the Opening Tap, a celebration honoring over 30 regional breweries whose beer help make Philadelphia "the best beer-drinking city in America." The Opening Tap will begin with a ceremonial 'first tap' using the official Philly Beer Week Keg Mallet, followed by a strolling beer tasting and a festive awards ceremony. Opening Tap tickets cost $40 and are available for purchase online. For general information, including the ever-expanding schedule of events and list of participants, please visit Philly Beer Week

Run, Beer, and Brunch this coming Weekend?

This weekend, anyone interested in a 13.1 mile run, then brunch at the tiedhouse? (disclaimer: I'm not buying) Shoot an email to me and we can coordinate day and time. (p.s. at 138 non-space characters, this is the closest you'll see me to Twittering...well, except for the spaces and this parenthetical which pushes me over ;-) Maybe I'll put it on My Wall at Facebook? ha!

Dock Street to Dock Street Scavenger Run - Philly Beer Week 2009: 3/7/2009

Have you seen this running event on the PBW schedule and wondered what the heck it's all about? Scavenger...what? I've gotten a decent response so far for the Run that I'll be conducting in conjunction with Dock Street on 3/7/09 during Philly Beer Week. All without mentioning it here. However, it was one of the earliest listings on PBW's calendar of events. In case you're not checking in over there, I wanted to make sure that you know about it. Afterall, last year almost 100 of you initially signed up to do it. (Unfortunately, we eventually lost some due to a date change to accommodate Mother Nature). I'll include a birds-eye scoop about the run on March 7th. If you'd like more information, drop me a note (drop a note, not me) and I'll forward the details along to you. 10:00am-10:30am: meet at Dock Street in Old City (Veterans Memorial Plaza) 10:30am: Scavenger Clues are unveiled 11:00am: Leave for Dock Street, West Philly After finishing at Dock Street, you will be scored based on two things: how many answers you get right and how quickly you get to Dock Street. This is not just a speed event. For more details, drop an e-mail to me. Can't wait to see you all and get this Philly Beer Week started! Oh, and pee ess, if you can't make it to my Philly Beer Week Run, don't forget that there's a much bigger celebrity Beer Run on Monday the 9th at 3pm at Bishop's Collar. Names like Calagione, O'Reilly, Avery, and Kehoe (yes, Kehoe) are rumored to be in attendance for this 5k run. There are a couple of bike rides too if that type of physical activity more suits you.

Running with Beer in the Bay Area

I've always enjoyed reading Jay Hinman's reviews of beers and locations that he runs into in the Bay Area (keeping me up-to-date while I can't be there) and as he travels the country. Recently, he reviewed Southampton's Cuvee des Fleurs, one of my perennial faves. Now he's taking up running. It's refreshing that he approaches it from a 'I really enjoy running' perspective as opposed to the resolutiony-type of 'I'm getting fat and need to run to lose the pounds' approach. (Though, he hints at that as well, you can easily tell that he does enjoy the act of running.) As you know if you pay attention around here, I really enjoy running as well. It's therapeutic, inspiring, and even relaxing. Jay is setting off on a marathon quest of his own this year. Stop by his blog, check out his readings, and subscribe to updates. Wish him well on his journey. I, for one, know just how far the simplest words and wishes can go to helping with motivation to hit the pavement.

Draft Magazine keeps the taps flowing

It's no secret that I enjoy an active lifestyle....active in outdoor exploits like running, biking, and hiking just to name a few. Active also in my pursuit of well-crafted beer. Many wonder if these should be mutually exclusive, as in you can be a beer drinker or a runner, but not both. I agree with one word in that sentence, the word "NOT." The regular of you readers out there can attest that I remind you (sometimes probably painfully so) that moderate consumption of great beer goes perfectly well with an active lifestyle. You could even say that they complement each other quite well. And, now, the online version of Draft Magazine has carried on with this theme with a new section called Beer Runner. Though, I've got to wonder why they didn't ask me to play host for it. Ah well, perhaps I'll get a call for an interview of me and my perspective one day soon. Check it out; they've already got some good interviews and other material up for you reading pleasure. They've got another relatively new section as well that examines the intersection of Sports & Beer. It's all part of a widening focus that Draft Magazine appears to be taking. This, paired with well-rounded coverage of the beer industry (as a whole, not necessarily just "craft") is making for a decent beer publication that's maturing quite nicely. If you haven't checked them out in a while, you might just want to do so again soon.

Everybody Drink Sly Fox Tonight, Everybody Wang Chung Tonight

Tonight you can get your Frankie on and drink to the glow of hot pink at The Sidecar with Brian, Suzanne, and the Sly Fox crew. They're promising lots of fun with excellent beer (the likes of which certainly wasn't brewed in Phoenixville in the 80s), neon, music, and food....and maybe even some legwarmers??? The Beer Lass is running things, so the night promises to be a lot of fun...and gentlemen, this is not an IPA-only event! But, I'm betting that some of 'em will be there. Speaking of running... Then, on 9/13, you can run like a fox by joining the Fishtown Beer Runners Club during the River City Festival at Penn Treaty Park along the Delaware River. Now, they may not have a permit for beer during the festival. But, no worries, since (the almost-ready) Yards, Druid's Keep, Standard Tap, and Johnny Brenda's are all just spittin' distance away.

Let's GoCycling

You might think that between Chris LaPierre and I that we had enough to say about Ommegang, cycling, and fitness? Well, I really dropped the ball in one regard. Behind the cycling odyssey to Cooperstown was local cycling and beer enthusiast Jeff Appeltans and his partner Lara Marek. Through all of my postings during their journey, I never once included a link to Jeff's latest endeavor; I've since gone back and fixed that and here's some more about Jeff and what he's up to with GoCycling. Jeff has taken roads for cycling and beer drinking that have crossed way back in the past. For starters, his father was born in the small Belgian village of Kerkom, home to the eponymous brewery that makes Bink beer. In 1983, Jeff was touring through Europe by bicycle and visiting extended family in Belgium and the Netherlands when he tried his first Duvel. He says that he's been hooked ever since. Not convinced? How about in 2006 when he and Lara took a 14,510 mile road trip with mountain bikes & road bikes riding well over 1,000 miles in addition to hiking more than 100 miles? In between they visited over 30 breweries along the route through Canada & the United States. They returned to Philadelphia with over 3 cases of beer and 2 cases of wine stashed under the seats of their Subaru and anywhere else that they could find space. Last year, they did the ride to the Ommegang BCTC festival on their own. In hind sight, Patty recalls talking with them in the gift shop at Ommegang on Friday afternoon. Quite a few others noticed their bikes as well and were interested but apparently not nearly as many as this year, likely due to the additional "celebrity beer" riders along for the ride. Jeff's up to a lot of great things that will help further the education of those who do not yet understand that there is place in a healthy and active lifestyle for the responsible and moderate consumption of fine alcoholic beverages. Keep an eye on his website, where he is currently selling sharp looking cycling jerseys. Over the coming months, you may start to see cycling tours being announced there, and when some of them involve our favorite beverage, well you know I'll be letting you know about them too. Cheers, Jeff & Lara. Keep up the great work!

Beer Run at Ortino's Northside

I'm rounding up. It was a great 7 mile run (6.8 if you really want to be specific, but hey we earned the extra 0.2 mile credit), with no less than five noticeable hills, in a steady drizzle on Sunday. Big props go out to Chad and Kevin for making the long trek out to Ortino's Northside from where they live. Of course, the group could have been larger. But, given the distance of Ortino's from most of the beer runners on my distribution list and the projected weather, I wasn't too surprised. Somehow, we found a break in the weather where it only drizzled steadily on us, which was more of a refreshing drizzle rather than blinding, and we missed most of the wind and lightning. Any of you in the southeastern Pennsylvania area this past Sunday know exactly what I'm talking about. We actually had more friends meet up with us afterwards than there were of us doing the running. This one, that one, the other one, the little one, the big one, and everyone but no one showed up to lend rehydration support at the finish line. We all gathered outside under Northside's patio. And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Sara (WHO'S your shadow?!) who made sure that we stayed properly hydrated...and that we kept our odor-offensive selves outside and away from other more pleasant looking customers. Oh, and yes gentlemen, Sara still rocks. What a great place this is to gather and while the afternoon away, especially when the afternoon is filled with torrential weather. Hefeweizens, IPAs, chocolate stouts, and imperial something-or-others all went done extremely well, especially when paired with nachos, scallops, and of course John Ortino's signature barbecue. You should be able to pick up on my ringing endorsement of Ortino's Northside. If you haven't been there before--yes, it is a bit of a trek for those of you in the Philly area--I challenge you to get there and try it for yourself. Put up the atmosphere/service, the beer list, and the food against any of the Philly-area's best and tell me if you don't agree.

Biking to Belgium via Cooperstown; An Iron Hill Brewer's Story

Let's do a bit of a recap here. This week we all have been along for an odyssey courtesy of Chris LaPierre (brewer; Iron Hill-West Chester), who along with Don Russell (aka Joe Sixpack) and 4 other cycling/beer enthusiasts (Pete, Jeff, Lara, and Nick), has been pedaling his way to Cooperstown. Did you miss any of it? Here is a recap with quick links for your pedaling pleasure at your leisure.

Pre-Launch Notes

Sunday, July 27th - Philadelphia to Upper Black Eddy/Narrowsville, PA (60 Miles)
Stayed at: Indian Rock Inn
Day 1 Notes from Chris
Day 1 bonus pictures

Monday, July 28th - Upper Black Eddy/Narrowsville, PA to Delaware Water Gap (47 Miles)
Stayed at: Deerhead Inn
Day 2 Notes from Chris

Tuesday, July 29th - Delaware Water Gap to Hawley, PA (78 miles)
Stayed at: The Settlers Inn
Day 3 Notes from Chris
Day 3 Bear Pictures

Wednesday, July 30th - Hawley, PA to Hancock, NY (71 miles)
Stayed at: The Hancock House
Day 4 Notes from Chris

Thursday, July 31st - Hancock, NY to Andes, NY (48 miles)
Stayed at: The Andes Hotel
Day 5 Notes from Chris

Friday, August 1st - Andes, NY to Cooperstown, NY (50 miles)
Stayed at: Ommegang Brewery
Day 6 Notes from Chris

BCTC '08 Tap List

One of the most viewed pictures ever at The Brew Lounge!!

Highlights of Past Years at Ommegang's BCTC event

Also Mentioned by...
Larry Horwitz on his Iron Hill blog
Jack Curtin on his Liquid Diet blog
Joe Sixpack, prior to leaving
Foobooz, the fantastic Philly-based food and drink site
Jeff Appeltans at GoCycling

Ortino's Beer Run

How's does next Sunday, August 10th, sound for a 6.5 mile run, starting and ending at Ortino's Northside in Zieglerville, PA? I've already got a few runners ready to go; drop a note to me if you like the sound of this. If you don't like the sound of it, feel free to stop by and buy us a beer afterwards. We'll get started somewhere around 3pm. Drop a private note to me at Bryan@BrewLounge.com if you're interested.