Dogfish Head - still going and still growing

While Dogfish Head is on my mind, particularly after dabbling in its Philly Beer Week annual collaboration with a Belgian brewer — in this year's case, it was Browerij De Brabandere — it reminded me to pass along one of the more recent press releases I've received. This one announcing the current status of DFH's growth in its home state of Delaware over the last three years. If you visit Rehoboth Beach, you likely are already aware. If not, read on.

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Dogfish Head Celebrates Completion of Three-Year Journey Bringing Together all the Goodness in Rehoboth

Opening of new courtyard, merchandise store and brewing and distilling systems

Rehoboth Beach, Del., May 29, 2018 – After 23 years of serving original beers and spirits, wood-fired food and world-class music, Dogfish Head is embarking on a new era of creating more goodness as they celebrate the completion of a three-year journey at the location where it originally began on Rehoboth Ave.  The beautifully landscaped courtyard, new brewhouse and distillery operations, and Off-Centered EmPOURium store is the final stage in bringing together the downtown restaurants,  Brewings & Eats – an off-centered brewpub, and Chesapeake & Maine – a geographically inspired seafood restaurant, and establishing it as the heart for all things Dogfish.

The project commenced in 2015 when they first began construction on Chesapeake & Maine, then went on to build a new, world-class Brewings & Eats in the former parking area. Dogfish then tore down the original pub to make way for the new courtyard and operational enhancements. “From the world-class stage to the killer brewing and distilling program, guests can truly experience 360° of Dogfish in the same place we first began our story in 1995 as the smallest craft brewery in America,” says Sam Calagione, CEO and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. “I’m most proud that over the years we’ve been successful in building our Rehoboth restaurant brands as top beer destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region, and by coming together, and connecting our beer, food, spirits, music and merchandise – we can provide a world-class, panoramic, multi-sensory experience for folks to enjoy at our downtown properties.”

The charmingly landscaped, dog-friendly outdoor patio area seats 36 guests and serves as a passageway connecting Brewings & Eats and Chesapeake & Maine. The menu offers a full selection of food and drink offerings from the pub.  With a rustic wooden exterior and large glass windows framing the courtyard, the gathering space offers behind-the-scenes views into the brewing and distilling production areas along with allowing guests to see bartenders and mixologists serving drinks and chatting up customers through the windows of both restaurants.  Nestled in the corner of the patio is a beautiful, 14-barrel mash tun dating from the late 90s.  Handcrafted in the UK, this wooden relic was Calagione’s dream mash tun back in the day when he first opened the doors for business in Rehoboth.  When the opportunity to purchase the brewing equipment became available, Calagione jumped at the chance to bring it home to Dogfish and plans to incorporate it into the off-centered outdoor garden as a beer-inspired rain barrel of sorts.

The new, fully-manual five-barrel brewhouse system includes five fermentation tanks and five serving tanks.  These enhancements allow for increased brewing production capacity enabling Bryan Selders, Dogfish Head Brewing Ambassador, the ability to create a significantly higher volume of ingredient-driven, inventive brewpub exclusives. The new 50-gallon still allows Graham Hamblett, Lead Distiller at Dogfish Head Distilling Co., to experiment with creating culinary-inspired spirits which will be served at the Rehoboth restaurants.

To celebrate the opening, Dogfish Head Distilling Co. is debuting Lemon & Peppercorn Vodka, a spirit that captures the essence of both restaurants as it contains the quintessential seafood seasoning found at Chesapeake & Maine, with a wood fire smoked twist done at Brewings & Eats. Using Analog Vodka as the base, they distill dried lemon peel and a medley of peppercorns. This citrus-peppery spirit is used to macerate hand-sliced, wood-fire grilled lemons from Brewings & Eats. Lemon & Peppercorn Vodka will be exclusively available in the restaurants.

For those looking to take a little bit of the Dogfish Head universe home, guests can swing into the Off-Centered EmPOURium to purchase Dogfish merchandise, including exclusive Rehoboth t-shirts, hoodies and hats. Folks can also find keychains, stickers, coasters and glassware.  Keeping the spirit alive from the original Brewings & Eats, the counter top in the Off-Centered EmPOURium is the old bar top from the 1995 pub.  Bike racks and stroller parking are also available.

For more information about Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, Chesapeake & Maine and the Off-Centered EmPOURium, visit dogfish.com.

Dogfish Head:

Dogfish Head has proudly been focused on brewing beers with culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened as the smallest American craft brewery 23 years ago. Dogfish Head has grown into a top-20 craft brewery and has won numerous awards throughout the years including Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 Brewery of the Year and the James Beard Foundation Award for 2017 Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional. It is a 300+ coworker company based in Delaware with Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, an off-centered brewpub and distillery, Chesapeake & Maine, a geographically enamored seafood restaurant, Dogfish Inn, a beer-themed inn on the harbor and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and distillery featuring a tasting room and food truck.  Dogfish Head supports the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, the definitive icon for American craft breweries to identify themselves to be independently-owned and carries the torch of transparency, brewing innovation and the freedom of choice originally forged by brewing community pioneers. Dogfish Head currently sells beer in 42 states and Washington D.C. and will expand into additional states in 2018. For more information, visit www.dogfish.com, Facebook: @dogfishheadbeer, Twitter: @dogfishbeer, and Instagram: dogfishhead.

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© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2018. 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

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Rest in Peace 2017 -- Thanks for all the beers

As I do each year, it's time to look back on those individuals and their significant contributions to the industry that we lost in 2017. Many thanks to additional feedback from Brian Yaeger, Tara Nurin, and Don Russell.

9/8/17, Tom Draper, 76, bicycle accident
  ~ Father and father-in-law to Mariah and Sam Calagione, Draper's passing was a sudden blow to the media world as well as the Calagione family. Sam referred to him as his "greatest business mentor" in a statement following the accident. [link to DelMarVaNow.com]

August '17, Trent Dolyniuk, cancer
  ~ A big personality and talented chef whose name Brian Yaeger passed along to me, Dolyniuk had a hand in Columbia County Brewing in St. Helens, Ore. so he, too, gets included here. [link to Portland Mercury and a profile that Yaeger wrote just prior to Dolyniuk's passing]

7/26/17, Tony Knipling, 63, heart attack
  ~ A major force behind craft beer over the last twenty years in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Vecenie Distributing. [several links here: link to his obituary; one from Chris Dilla of Bocktown link to Bocktown Beer & Grill; another from Bob Batz at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and my piece that was published in Ale Street News]

4/28/17, Curt Plants, 33, blood infection
  ~ Trained in both brewing school and under John Maier at Rogue, Plants opened GoodLife Brewing in Bend, Ore. in 2011. His sudden loss was a shock to his family and the beer community. His Sweet As! Pacific Ale won a gold medal at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival. [link to The Bend Bulletin]

3/19/17, Pierre Zuber, undisclosed
  ~ Information was difficult to come by regarding Pierre's passing. A sad loss for the Belgian beer drinking community. My hope is that if you'd been to Brussels prior to his passing, you had a chance to meet and drink with this incredibly friendly, hospitable, and knowledgable personality who ran the Délices et Caprices beer shop. [link to a profile of Zuber at Brussels Life]

3/5/17, Zach Ziegler, 32, undisclosed
  ~ A founding partner in Molly Pitcher Brewing Company, Ziegler helped bring better beer at this still growing brewery in downtown Carlisle, Pa. [link to The Sentinel's website]

March '17, Ben Flerchinger, undisclosed
  ~ A long time brewer at Lucky Lab in Portland, Ore., Ben passed unexpectedly in March after a brief stay in the hospital. More recently he spent time at Gigantic Brewing and across the Columbia River in Washougal, Wash. at 54’40° Brewing. He was a significant presence on the Portland-area brewing scene including the Lucky Lab Barleywine Festival, Cheers to Belgian Beers Festival, and BenFest. [link to a video tribute at Lucky Lab's website]

2/4/17, Wajih Abed, 71, cancer
  ~ Abed and Fergus Carey were the two that opened and grew Fergie's Pub into one of Philadelphia's most must-visit bars over the last 22 years. [link to Philly.com and link to Philadelphia Weekly and a column by Don Russell]

If you care to look back on the previous ten years that I've been doing this year-end wrap, consult the links here for: 2016, 2015,  2014,  2013,  2012,  2011,  2010,  2009,  2008,  and 2007.

As in past years, I'll repeat a soothing message: Be still sad heart and cease repining; Behind the clouds the sun is shining, Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life a little rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary. ~ Longfellow

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© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2016. 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

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5 favorite beers of last week (May 15-21)

Alrighty, I enjoyed doing this last week so much, I'm gonna keep it going. As many of you know, "favorite" beers are often found in the context of people and place. This past week, for me, was no exception.

Again, in alphabetical order by brewery:

(SeaQuench takes center stage at Jose Pistola's.)
~ SeaQuench Ale, by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Del.)
    A few weeks back, brewery sales rep Wendy Domurat tossed a couple of these at me. Lime and sea salt dominate this refreshing "session sour" (4.9%). Since then, a couple more six-packs have found their way into my cooler. In the past week, Men's Health, for what it's worth, gave it their nod of approval. This was a weekend pleaser too (see Free Will, next) during/after plenty of vigorous outdoor work. Plus, I took this one to my book signing too (see Spoonwood, further below) and the attendees were likewise pleased. Seems like this one will be around for a while.

(Don't overlook gems such as the Kölsch.)
~ Community Kölsch, by Free Will Brewing Company (Perkasie, PA)
    So much outdoor work got done this last weekend and early Sunday evening made it all worth it with this really nice and clean Kölsch (4.8%) with mild fruit notes from a brewery that gets plenty of attention for its sours.

(The best meal of the day...and pleased to have finally made my first visit to the SPTR Wheat Beer Fest.)
~ Wit Or Wit Out, by St. Benjamin Brewing Company (Philadelphia)
    Before heading off to the festival at Citizens Bank Park, my pal Greg and I stopped for a couple beers at South Philly Tap Room's annual Wheat Beer Fest. Only had time for two beers and some live music so I made one of them the St. Benjamin Wit or Witout. Gave me a chance to meet a new crew member at St. Ben, Shawn, and toss back a beer that I haven't had in a while. It's a solid and refreshing Belgian Golden (4.6%) with extra, but subtle, spicing.

(This is how good it was.)
~ Meta Shepherd, by Second District Brewing Company (Philadelphia)
    And after the festival at the ballpark, it was time for some South Philly neighborhood action. Only my second time at Second District, but both visits have been home runs. Any idea what goes extremely well with the Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese on the menu? This "smoked porter conditioned on juicy pineapple puree" (6%). Say what? "Weird and wonderful", perfectly described by the brewery. Really wonderful.

(A picture of Cold Drip Doppio before leaving Pittsburgh.)
~ Cold Drip Doppio (Wigle Whiskey barrel-aged), by Spoonwood Brewing Company (Bethel Park, PA)
    Did you see the beers I was serving during my book signing last week? There was this one that really stood to both the attendees and me. It was this wonderfully layered strong coffee beer (8%) with whiskey barrel notes, all so well balanced and nothing overpowering. So smooth, so nice.

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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

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January 2017: News update, part 1

And we're off and running in 2017. A few newsy and fun bits that I collected over the past couple weeks to share with you.

~ I'm a consumer and I'm not confused. Pretty confident there's millions more in the same camp. [link to Richmond.com]

~ A rare look at the more commonplace practice of questionable beer marketing these days. [link to Chicago Tribune]

~ This guy always has some keen insight to beers you should know about. [link to Joe Sixpack]

~ Another fascinating look into the big business of big beer. [link to Brewbound]

~ Here's another decent list worth checking out. [link to Draft Magazine]

~ And one last list; this a well-conceived one of beers. [link to Philly.com]

~ Excellent wish for the new year -- [link to Yours For Good Fermentables]

~ Helpful news for those of you, like me, that really enjoy Hopslam -- [link to The Full Pint]

~ Big business prognostications for those of you, like me, that really enjoy following big business and, in this case, how it affects our favorite beverage -- [link to Beer Business Unplugged]

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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

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Beer News You Can Use, 10/31/2014

For your consumption, here's a mashup of what I've read, what I've heard, and what I've tasted in the past week. As I mentioned last week as I began to revitalize this feature, the primary focus will be on the greater Philadelphia region first, extending outward as it seems interesting or necessary.

Beer "of the week"
Another canned option of a beer in the 5% ABV range has presented itself to me as a potential yearly occupant of my cooler. Not only does the Otter Creek Overgrown Pale Ale come packaged in a can bearing an image of old friend (from Dogfish Head days) Mike Gerhart, the liquid inside is quite perfect for everything that the fall brings: bonfires; tailgating; post-yard work sessions; post-exercise rehydration; and end of season picnics.

In fact, the first can of the case I purchased helped chase down some crack-and-eat crabs spread across the table a few weeks ago. It's hop-forward but in a citrus, sweet, and only slightly bitter way. This can be a crowd-pleaser for seasoned beer lovers and newbies alike (my test case confirms this).

Openings
I've enjoyed the Mad Mex's in Pittsburgh, State College, and University City (Philly). In the hoopla of finishing the manuscript a few months ago, I must've missed the opening in Wynnewood, just across Philly's western city line. [Mad Mex]

Closures
If you read this when it "publishes" around 1 p.m. today (Friday Oct. 31), you should likely find me at Nodding Head for a long lunch helping them drain some kegs prior to shutting down business on Sansom Street later tonight. This condition is only expected to be temporary as the brewpub begins its relocation efforts elsewhere in the city.

It's been a great run in Center City, but I think I speak for many that look forward to owner Curt Decker, brewer Gordon Grubb, and the entire crew establishing something new and even better in one of the city's lauded neighborhoods. Here's a link to a trip down memory lane at Nodding Head with some words, pictures, and videos.

Coming Soon
A bit more current is the opening this coming week of City Tap House near Logan Circle in the former home Dock Street. [City Tap House]

And coming a bit further down the pike is the SawTown Tavern, part ownership coming from Mike "Scoats" Scotese of The Grey Lodge and Hop Angel Brauhaus. [Jack Curtin]

Interesting reading
This is just as germane, if not more so, today as it was over three years ago. The only one I can't really get behind is number ten. [Ding's Beer Blog]

I can vouch, as I think many can, for Calagione's continued relentless and passionate hands-on pursuit of great beer at Dogfish Head. [Dogfish Head]

Major Announcements
The arrival of the brewhouse in Ardmore means that Iron Hill is creeping toward opening its eleventh location in the next couple of months. [Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant]

Upcoming Events
This weekend sees a bunch of beer events around the region. A couple of big ones stick out. One in the city at Bishop's Collar (Sun.) and one just outside the city in Hulmeville at the Hulmeville Inn (Sat.)

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Event Review: Dogfish Head Ancient Ales Dinner at Monk's Cafe (9/23/14)

As I attempt to regain some traction here at The Brew Lounge with more routine and predictable writings, it might be fitting that I bring back some of the mojo with a piece about last night's dinner at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia. Fitting because it was writing of a dinner at Monk's in 2005 that got things going for me here (it's not the prettiest of writings, not to mention a bit humbling). It was a dinner with Dominique Friart of St. Feuillien in Belgium and can be found here if you're inclined to click back through the time machine to the early days of The Brew Lounge.

Last night's dinner also served to snap an unintentional personal hiatus from beer dinners at Monk's. Looking back through my "archives", it turns out to be a bit more than two years since the last dinner. No complaints there — it was a dinner with Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River), Brian Grossman (Sierra Nevada), and Brian Morin (beerbistro). Wow, just reading it again...no complaints whatsoever. And in no way explains my two-plus year absence from Monk's dinners.

Last night, it was Patrick McGovern, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Wendy Domurat of Dogfish Head holding court at the lauded Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia with the full lineup of beers that McGovern has partnered with at the groundbreaking brewery in Delaware over the years in a series that has become known as Ancient Ales. McGovern, in his introductory comments to the dinner, described how it was a tasting of aged Chimay coincidentally with the owner, Tom Peters, of Monk's Cafe that began him on his interest in the concept of aged beers and his pursuit to work with Dogfish Head to uncover some of the believed oldest beer ingredients and recipes.

Throughout the last few years, a dinner concept has sprung forth both at the brewery's pub in Rehoboth Beach, Del. and restaurants across the country that features some of the beers from the collection served with plates of food meant to enhance the tasting experience. At Monk's, the full series was in attendance — minus, it was noted, the Chicha, which got a chuckle from all who know it as the "spit beer". Google it if you'd like to learn more.

The Dogfish Head series of Ancient Ales is comprised of, in order of introduction to the beer-loving market: Midas Touch (Turkey - honey, white muscat grapes, and saffron); Chateau Jiahu (China - hawthorn fruit, sake rice, barley, and honey); Theobroma (Honduras - cocoa, honey, chilies, and annatto); Sah'tea (Finland - rye, juniper, and black chai tea); Ta Henket (Egypt - chamomile, doum palm fruit, and Middle Eastern herbs); Birra Etrusca Bronze (Italy, Ethiopia - hazelnut flour, pomegranates, Italian chestnut honey, Delaware wildflower honey and clover honey, gentian root, and Ethiopian myrrh resin); Kvasir (Denmark - lingonberries, cranberries, myrica gale, yarrow, honey, and birch syrup).

McGovern, while not tipping his hand, promises another beer in the Ancient Ales series being worked on to be released in the near future.

Scallops

Duck Breast

Pork Tenderloin

Pear Tarte Tatin

Now to some tasting notes:

Amuse Bouche
Ta Henket served with Olive Tapenade
~ It was fitting to begin the dinner with a piece of chewy baguette and Olive Tapenade, which itself has a history that dates back millenia. Perfect as the opening taste for the dinner along with the Ta Henket and its soft herbal flavor.

First Course
Birra Etrusca Bronze served with Scallops with Pomegranate and Cauliflower Puree
~ Two perfectly-cooked scallops with a neutral cauliflower puree that served to counter the perfumy and slightly bitter beer.

Second Course
Midas Touch served with Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Shallot, Fennel Blossom, and Cucumber Water
~ A refreshing end-of-season dish of ripe tomatoes and my personal favorite beer from the Ancient Ales collection, an almost Mead-like beer.

Third Course
Sah'tea served with Duck Breast with Arugula and Sah'tea-cooked figs
~ Tender duck meat, sweet figs, and delightfully aromatic beer stepped up the dinner to another level.

Fourth Course
Chateau Jiahu served with Brook Trout with Smoked Potatoes and Spinach Puree
~ The triple-play of animal meat courses continued with a fish dish (the Brook Trout, which I later learned is a state fish of Pennsylvania) that had a nice crunchy skin to it and picked up a nice smokey characteristic from the potatoes.

Fifth Course
Theobroma served with Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Puree and Brussels Sprouts
~ My hands-down favorite combination of the dinner. Succulent stuffed pork, earthy brussel sprouts, sweet (emphasis) potatoes and a clean and dry beer with slightly bitter hints of cocoa nibs. A very close second in my personal ranking of the Ancient Ales.

Sixth Course
Kvasir served with Pear Tarte Tatin
~ I typically look to a home run in the dessert course; here, a wonderfully sweet and flaky pear dessert unfortunately didn't play well enough with the sharply tart Kvasir. Still, a tasty end to a wonderful dinner and night at Monk's Cafe.

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Philly Beer Week 2014 is underway

(Looking like they just won the World Series, consumer and Dock Street fan, Daniel Neuner, catches overjoyed head brewer Justin Low after their winning names were announced.)
Not to suggest that Philly Beer Week is not a year-round endeavor for many around the Philadelphia region, but if there was any question of when it begins, it was surely answered yesterday at The Field House.

For the fourth consecutive year, Philly Beer Week has raised awareness and money for itself by conducting a raffle whereby one winning individual gets an all-expense paid trip to Belgium to brew a "Philly Beer Week beer". As part of the prize, he or she gets to take along their favorite local brewer.

Past brewers that have benefited from their fan bases include Brian O'Reilly (Sly Fox) with Belgian brewery DeProef, Chris LaPierre (Iron Hill) and Brasserie Dupont, and Chris Wilson (Weyerbacher) who brewed with the highly-regarded Brasserie de la Senne in Brussels.

This year, beer enthusiast Daniel Neuner won the raffle and chose Justin Low from Dock Street for the brewing excursion that will result in a beer collaboratively brewed at Brouwerij Dilewyns with head brewer Anne Catherine Dilewyns. I think this has worked out extremely well as Dock Street continues today to carry on its twenty-five year tradition (albeit with a short "break" in the late 90s) of representing the Philadelphia brewing scene.

The beer will make its debut at the annual kickoff to Philly Beer Week, "Opening Tap", and be available at events all around town during Philly Beer Week 2014 scheduled to run from May 30 to June 8.

The Field House served as a spacious venue to host the attending brewers from 25 local and regional breweries and the fans that came out hoping to win the grand prize. The drawing went off without a hitch for both Neuner and Low yesterday compared to November 2010 when the 2011 PBW collaboration trip was raffled off at McGillin's and neither the brewer nor the winning consumer was in attendance.

Gift box prizes were also raffled off, one of which was awarded to Mrs. Brew Lounge herself. See below for a picture of all the "swag", including some of the liquid kind from the relatively new Saucony Creek in Kutztown, Pa., that came with the prize box.

So there you have it. We now know who will be brewing what with whom over in Belgium. The dates have been locked in and Philly Beer Week 2014 will be here and gone before we know what happened to the next six months.

(Brewers being introduced with Fegley's (Bethlehem) Brew Works' Josh Bushey on the mic.)

(Brett Kinzer from Stoudt's taking his turn during brewer introductions)

(Tom Peters of Monk's Café and ("free beer for") Sparks, technical mastermind behind PBW.)

(Tom Kehoe, the main man behind Yards, always good with getting a rise out of the crowd. Here, during brewer introductions.)

(Jim Kirk, PBW board member and co-owner of Kite & Key, kept a close auditor's eye on the raffle entries as Andy Farrell, managing partner of City Tap House, drew the winning ticket.)

(Tom Peters, with assistance from Sparks, reveals the grand prize winner.)

(Daniel Neuner, left, and Justin Low (Dock Street) react to their winning names being announced during the Philly Beer Week grand prize raffle at The Field House.)

(Justin Low of Dock Street and brewery fan Daniel Neuner recreate their winning moment.)

(Justin Low, left, of Dock Street, and Daniel Neuner are going to brew Philly Beer Week's 2014 beer in Belgium.)

(from left: Sasha Certo-Ware of Dock Street; Tom Peters of Monk's Café and PBW board member; Justin Low of Dock Street; Daniel Neuner, 2014 Philly Beer Week grand prize winner.)

(The third box prize raffle was won by Mrs. Brew Lounge and contained a generous bevy of beer goodies from Artisanal Imports, Bell's Brewery, Devil's Den, Dogfish Head, Nodding Head Brewery, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Philly Beer Week, Philly Beer Scene, Saucony Creek Brewing Company, Smuttynose, and Stoudt's Brewery.)

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Philly Beer Week 2013, Day 3 Sights and Sounds: Sunday, June 2

(Links to video precede the pictures farther below.)

The opening weekend of Philly Beer Week 2013 came to a slightly cooler, interrupted by brief passing showers, end with festivities of every stripe going down around the city.

Early reports came in of some solid brunches being served up and I got mine in just before 3 p.m. at Kite & Key (great "stuffed" PB&J French Toast) as the Throwdown in Franklintown was warming up. I got roped into a couple of events so you may see some moving or still pictures (moving as in motion, not be confused with emotional) of me participating on the runner-up to the runner-up to the runner-up team.

Each year K&K does this event, a) it gets larger, b) it attracts more folks from the industry who want to participate in a couple hours of fun 'n' games, and c) it remains an event where you know, where you can trust, that K&K will do its job to secure great beer, but that isn't the focal point of the event. That last point, to me, is what differentiates truly special/unique events during beer week from the more run o' the mill types. Getting people involved, entertaining, and providing a fun atmosphere where it's not just beer geekerie sitting around, pontificating a beer's merits, and checking it into an app.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Usually.

So how about those beers, eh mister beer geek?

Yes, the beers were special (as would be expected) during the Throwdown at K&K. The two that stoodout and wound up multiple times in my hand were Allagash's FV-13 and Golden Brett, two beers aged in oak and treating folks to a wild ride of fruit and tart and sweet and rich. The Golden Brett comes across as cleaner and more refreshing, if you will, where the FV-13 has a wider range, and is a bit boozier, of flavors.

Also of note was my second Bell Ringer IPA from Victory. It was on CO2 and was just as enjoyable as the night prior at Johnny Brenda's where it was being served from a gravity cask. And, as their website warns "not to be fooled", I was. No way I'd guess this clocks in at 9% ABV.

The party rolled on with many moving into Center City and Nodding Head where owner Curt Decker and the team were hosting Tomme Arthur and his Red Poppy, Framboise, and several other tasty sours from southern California.

It was a bit of a sign of things to come when next Tuesday, if you haven't heard, Nodding Head will be doing a very special brew day with De La Senne and guest appearances by Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River) and again Tomme Arthur. Breakfast bites will be available as well.

With time for just a quick stop at Standard Tap, we buzzed in and saw owner Willam Reed holding court with three huge GABF 2012 winners. Tröegs (Hershey) won mid-size brewery of the year, Devil's Backbone (Virginia) won small brewpub of the year, and Church Brew Works (Pittsburgh) won large brewpub of the year. They each had multiple beers of theirs pouring, most of which are not typically available in Philly.

They also had a beer that all three collaborated on brewed at Tröegs. It's a black rye IPA and it was being served on the handpump. Interesting beer with an earthy hop profile and definitely worth checking out should you see it around (apparently it's tagged as Scratch #97).

Great exposure at Standard Tap, one of the city's most comfortable pubs, for these two out-of-town excellent breweries and, as always, for our home-region Tröegs.

That might be about it for me for a few days. It may even turn out to be the first year where I essentially take off the full week from PBW events. Must keep the balance in life. Time will tell. In the meantime, check out the fun videos and pictures and let me know where you have been and what you've seen that's worth reporting.

p.s. Special thanks to Megan Moore of Evolution Brewing for passing along the picture of me keg racing at the Kite & Key event.

Link to video of the keg race (they were full, btw).
Link to video of tug o' war (Victory versus Dogfish Head, first match)
Link to video of tug o' war (Victory versus Dogfish Head, second match)
Link to video of jousting (Jim Kirk-Kite & Key versus Tom Kehoe-Yards Brewing, first match)
Link to video of jousting (Jim Kirk-Kite & Key versus Tom Kehoe-Yards Brewing, first match)
Link to video of jousting finals (Greg Lehman-Victory Brewing versus Tom Kehoe-Yards Brewing)



(A slightly cooler day, it's relative of course, brought larger crowd than ever for the annual Throwdown in Franklintown at Kite & Key.)

(The Yards Brewing team from Philly.)

(The Victory Brewing team from Downingtown.)

(Good thing I had sustenance to carry me through the keg race and tug o' war that I was recruited for.)

(Yours truly got recruited for the keg race.)

(Fergie Carey, temporary custodian, and loving/nurturing custodian at that, of the Hammer of Glory.)

(Curt Decker of Nodding Head welcomes Tomme Arthur from Lost Abbey to his Sour Happy Hour event on Sunday, June 2.)

(Standard Tap featuring the reigning Small and Large brewpub and Mid-size brewery GABF 2012 winners. The Black Rye IPA on the handpump was the collaboration between the three.)

(William Reed of Standard Tap and Johnny Brenda's, with the Hammer of Glory natch, played host at Standard Tap to Jason Oliver from Devil's Backbone in Virginia.)

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Philly Beer Week 2013, Day 2 Sights and Sounds: Saturday, June 1

It took some time for me to re-engage with Philly Beer Week on Day 2. When I finally did I was at Varga for their block party which was teeming with great smells from the grill, sounds from the DJ table, weather-appropriate beers (ABV-speaking), and people all around. I got a fine tip from Foobooz to hit up the Cheu Noodle Bar on my way in on 10th Street, so a spicy pork Banh Mi did just the trick.

After a few cans of beer (plus a tasty Yards Calypso IPA from the handpump), from there it was over to Strangelove's for some cask-conditioned Courage Stout served from the bar top, courtesy of a fine tip from Dogfish Head's Wendy Domurat.

Then, the last stop was accompanied by the Sly Fox crew at Johnny Brenda's. More firkins of beer were the order of the day and night there accompanied by British punk rock spinning from the DJ table.

Before heading out of the city, Patrick (and Tracy) from Sly Fox insisted upon a pizza stop at Joe Beddia's Pizzeria Beddia, just steps away from Johnny Brenda's. What a great call indeed. BYO Sly Fox added to the experience of course. Is it some of the best pizza you can have? Quite possibly, yes. No pictures, here. Just good eats, drinks, and people.

Not a ton of pictures (and no videos from this day), so I've selected a few and included them here below. Trust your weekend is going well. Let me know what you've found interesting along the way.


(the beats and the people at Varga's block party)

(Lot of great summer drinking beers at Varga's block party.)

(Hydrating properly was the order of the hot weekend, for sure.)

(Flip cupping for the win)

(A schedule full of PBW events at Strangelove's.)

(excellent Courage Stout at Strangelove's for the Wells and Young's event.)

(Johnny Brenda's: Still a top 5 bar experience in Philadelphia.)

(A Firkin Riot at Johnny Brenda's.)

(British Punk Rock on the turntables at Johnny Brenda's.)

(Fresh, local, firkins, food, music, good times at Johnny Brenda's.)

(JB's Coffee beans to go please. Kept company by a Johnny's Berliner Weisse, made at Dock Street.)

(Joe Beddia at work in his pizza kitchen.)
(Big key to my next morning's health and well-being.)

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Writing this ship, Part II (all over the place, part 1)

If you keep up around here at The Brew Lounge on a regular basis, this may be an easy post to get through. In my continued effort to clear the backlog and bring us all up-to-date around here — and, in part, make amends for my perhaps perceived absence — Part II here focuses on a bunch of miscellaneous TBL activities from July 2012 through December 2012 mostly focused from New York through Delaware.

July
  - There was Ommegang's BCTC as has come to be a summer tradition since 2004. Of course, I wrote about it here at TBL as well as over at After Hours. They were both popular features and definitely gained some traction over there at TWT. Check 'em both out if you had previously not. Jury is still out whether I'll be making the trek again this year. The streak may finally be broken.

  - Also in July was the excellent Russian River beer dinner at the lovely Yardley Inn along the banks of the Delaware River. I wrote about it, as well, over at After Hours. I can only imagine that it was probably the only beer dinner where Russian River's beers were featured where there was a table that did not touch a drop of the five excellent beers set in front of them. They were close-minded wine people, whaddya want?

August
  - August brought an invitation to an excellent venue for a beer festival in Doylestown I'd not yet been to in the past. Certainly not your typical festival at not your typical place with not your typical beer festival people. I recommend keeping your eyes open for it this year if you've also not been.

September
  - You probably know that Sly Fox is up and running with their new production facility (and Tastin' Room) in Pottstown, Pa. The land around the brewery creates the perfect space for outdoor events. In September, they moved their Kan Jam from Phoenixville to Pottstown and added some excellent live music all day long.

  - Every year, the reputation of Yards' Smoke 'Em If Yous Got 'Em event seems to grow. It helps that craft beer lovers are finding their way to these unique beers more than ever. And, that there's excellent professional and amateur barbecue served up along side.

  - That was in September. So was the Dogfish Dash in Milton, Del. Good thing I do this running thing, especially when the the decadent Yards event was the week before.

October
  - As I was gearing up for the Harrisburg Marathon in November (well, actually, for the NYC Marathon, but I think we all know what happened there), there was one last beer dinner to squeeze in that'd been on my mind for quite some time at Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza. Here's the recap of a dinner at their Horsham, Pa. location with Victory Brewing Company as the beer pairing companion.

November
  - Not much to share with you from the beer world in November as I finished training for what would become my new all-time best marathon finishing time at the Harrisburg Marathon. But, as I can recite, to the second, each of eight marathon finishing times, I can also tell you the first beer I had after each marathon. Typically, I aim for something local to complete the association of the the race, the place, and the beer. In this case, it was a post-Marathon lunch and beer at nearby Tröegs in Hershey and the beer was a Scratch #78 Fresh Hop Ale. What they're doing at the brewery simply adds to making Hershey the Sweetest Place On Earth. If you haven't been, add it to your short list.


December
  - December, like November, was a fairly quiet month for me in terms of getting out into the beer events circuit. One that I wouldn't skip, however, was the Sly Fox Anniversary breakfast. It was one of several things that I would find over many of the last several "lost months" that went undocumented here in the pages of The Brew Lounge. While there are many beer events that can justify taking vacation time from work, breakfast with the Sly Fox folks is one that will both entertain and nourish you. I've added a few pictures here for your enjoyment.

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