Weekly Brew Bits Update: 2/27/12

February may only have 29 days, but even for the dead of winter, there was no shortage of beer news to share. Here's a bit more from the last week of the month.

PHILADELPHIA
~ Lew Bryson, Senator McIlhenny, and a roomful of beer lovers discussed evolving legislation at Yards on 2/9. Philly Beer Scene's Mat Falco was there and shared audio from the event.

~ While we're on the topic of Yards, BeerNews.org has an interview with Yards' Tom Kehoe and the recently-dismissed operations manager, Steve Mashington. They discussed the phenomenal growth and plans at the brewery over the past few years.

~ Chris LaPierre, Philly Beer Week 2012's collaborative brewer from Iron Hill, has blogged some words and pictures from the big brew day over at Brasserie Dupont in Belgium.

~ About Philly Beer Week, wish I'd written this, but then again I wasn't there. Great piece by this beer guy Craig LaBan ;-)

EASTERN PA, NJ, DE, AND OTHER NEARBY PARTS OF MID-ATLANTIC
~ "The end result is an elegant and succinct brewery/cafe space, with floor drains in every room, that can comfortably house one hundred and eleven people enjoying a glass of Saison." That's a quote in a recent blog post from Jean Broillet, owner of the soon-to-be Tired Hands Brewing Company in Ardmore, Pa., a place that from that quote makes me very anxious to be paying customer there.

~ Evil Eye PA. They're calling it a sessionable IPA and, at 6%, it'll be pushing that boundary a bit for some. None the less, these new suburban Philadelphian brewers, Luke Bowen, Trevor Hayward, and Mark Braunwarth, at Evil Genius are contracting their beers out of Four Horseman in South Bend, Indiana and if you've seen any of their beer around the area, share with the group please.

~ I've still got a few more spoonfuls of chili to work off from yesterday's Chili Challenge at Victory. They've got all sorts of fun planned to coincide this year with the brewery's 16th anniversary. A new one I learned of was the new Chocolate Lager, brewed in collaboration with nearby Eclat Chocolate in West Chester, Pa. This beer won't last long, so get yourself to the pub soon and try this delicious beer.

~ How about one more bit from Victory? Matt Krueger is still raising money to fight the good fight against cancer. Here's a way that your contributions can benefit you. Do the right thing.

~ Female fans of great beer continue to band together in appreciation and support of their favorite beverage. The West Chester Beer Ladies group continues to grow and now they'll be brewing a beer at the West Chester location of Iron Hill. On Wednesday, in two days, they'll be gathering at Iron Hill to toss back a few beers, announce the collaboration brew, and hear from guest brewer, Whitney Thompson, of Victory Brewing.

THE REST OF PLANET EARTH
~ One last blurb from SF Beer Week comes in the form of a 15 minute long video wrap up of Celebrator Magazine's anniversary party, which every year is a Bay Area Beer Highlight. (Philly Beer Week shout-out at 10:40)

~ And in other northern California news, for those of you that love the behind-the-scenes type of stuff and Pliny the Younger too, you'll probably like this video shot during the initial brewpub release of PtY.

~ Must not be much of a man, if twisting a cap makes him feel like one. Loser. Keep drinking the swill and puffing the chest.

~ And, while you're at it Einstein, keep rubbing your nose grease and boogers and sticking it in your beer to kill the head. Thanks, Mr. Sixpack for an informative article. Or you could treat your beer and pour it properly to begin with.

Where I've been and What's Happening, sort of

My recent duties around The Brew Lounge have been shirked a bit, without much good excuse except that of how "hectic" life has been. The addition of writing a column over at The Washington Times has added some load as well, but basically all facets of life have lately been full for me. This has led even--gulp--to the near non-existence of any physical activity, including my beloved running program. As such, here addeth the 15-20 pounds since this past springg. Things must change...and soon, they will. But, until then... If you haven't stopped by After Hours over at The Washington Times in its Communities section, it may be something you'd like to do. You may not have noticed that there are now 9 articles over there with the promise of a handful more in October. It's still a schedule, and content for that matter, that I'm working on routinizing to the point that it doesn't create undue or debilitating stress and work. Plus, there's the Exton Beverage Center's newsletter, or shall I say Brewsletter. You can catch up on some of the archived material over there via this link. Greg Ramirez and the crew just celebrated their 36th anniversary last weekend with a Customer Appreciation Day. While I certainly have not been on the breaking edge of news lately, there are two events that caught my eye that I haven't shared with you. They both involve closures. First, for anyone living in or visiting Texas, Fort Worth's award-winning brewpub, The Covey, closed this month. It has been seven years since I've been to Fort Worth and, with all of my trips to the Dallas area, had been looking forward to finally carving out some time to make the short trip over to Fort Worth to visit these guys. The Covey strung together an almost five year history of creating award-winning beers, both at GABF and WBC (an '08 WBC gold, two '09 GABF silvers, a '10 WBC silver, and a '10 GABF bronze). They haven't cited any specific cause for closure other than to note that brewer/Owner Jamie Fulton is taking his talents to Washington, DC to help get a new project, currently called Farmers and Brewers, off the ground. Closer to home, the long-churning rumor mill finally came to a stop when Chris Leonard announced on his blog that they were finally closing shop on the General Lafayette Inn & Brewery as we've come to know and love it over the past 14 years. Well, many of 'we' at least, but not enough to keep the lights on. My interactions with Chris Leonard, his restaurant, and his beer have always been at least above average...particularly with regard to my fondness for hunkering down in the cozy pub and drinking of the Chocolate Thunder porter. But, a poor economy, in addition to some persistent market dissatisfaction in recent years with inconsistent food and service, has forced Chris to re-examine the future. The good news is that Chris will continue brewing and former assistant brewer Russ Czajka will be involved as well--as owner--in the new venture, which will be called Copper Crow Beer Company. Here, they will concentrate solely on brewing, which includes plans for significant growth in the local market. That should make fans of Leonard's and Czajka's beers happy for the foreseeable future. For all of the details, check out Chris' blog and/or Jack Curtin's additional thoughts.

Philly Beer Week 2010: Day 3 Wrap-Up

Link to Day 3 Pictures

Link back to Day 2 ----- Link forward to Day 4

What Saturday lacked in The Brew Lounge's participation in Philly Beer Week 2010 (see Day 2 if you don't know of what I speak) was completely made up for with a very pleasant Sunday outing. With Patty staying at home, this means, however, that you'll be subjected once again to my quite suspect photography skills (you'd never guess that I was the photography editor of my high school yearbook, now would you?). Though, she was pleased to see her work recognized by the esteemed Jack Curtin who commented on her keen eye and quick shutter finger in capturing William Reed, nightclub dancers, and other activity from Day One.

I began my Sunday with a solid breakfast at home of eggs, bacon, bagels, juice, and coffee. No way I was going to be undernourished on Day 3.

I figured with the city likely to be one traffic nightmare after another (related to the annual Bike Race that takes place in Philly...one of Philly's truly great sporting events/assets to be sure), I opted to begin my Sunday with a quick pop-in at Capone's just outside Norristown on Germantown Avenue. This would then facilitate the Germantown Avenue tour That I planned to take into the City, thus avoiding the Manayunk Mess of people, logjammed traffic, and people leaving SOGO ;-) (if you don't know SOGO, then you don't know! but ask, and maybe I'll tell you)

Quick? HA! This was not to be from the moment I spied my barstool, looked across the bar, and was beckoned by Mr. Dan Bengel. Here we go, I thought...the slippery slope! My 30 minute planned stop turned into around 90 minutes, with as perfect of a sampler as I could have imagined (3 from St. Somewhere and 1 from Cigar City). But then, a special midwestern brew from Boulevard was offered up by John, another fellow barstool jockey, and then, Mr. Big Dan insisted we split an appropriately small glass of Cigar City's brandy barrel-aged Hunahpu. My first experience with this incredible imperial stout was a wonderful one, but certainly an indicator that my time at Capone's must come to a close if I was to stick to the rest of my so-called schedule.

Bob Sylvester stopped in with Jordan Fetfatzes (Bella Vista Beverages) for a couple of hours at Capone's. The affable Bob took time to stop at each table to talk Florida Beer with the folks who had come out to taste some of his fine beers, especially the Saison Athene...this one particularly shone when served after being aged 18 months in wood.

Even though this event was not part of the official 2010 PBW Calendar, I felt it important (as apparently have many others during the restaurant's 4 events that they've conducted over the past 3 days) to stop in for a visit at one of the region's must-stops for great beer and great beer events. My Philly Beer Week is really to be about focusing on the positive, and that's what this stop-in was all about.

Off I went, but not before bumping into Sara (formerly of Ortino's Northside) who was heading in to meet up with Brian, Dan, and John. So, I can only imagine that the leisurely Sunday afternoon lollygagging continued on for a couple of more hours.

Next up on Germantown Avenue was General Lafayette Inn & Brewery in Lafayette Hill, just on the suburban side of the city's northwestern boundary. Chris DePeppe (Beerheads) was there hosting a dog-friendly event called Suds 'n' Buds where the dogs got to play freely behind the restaurant in the bed and breakfast's fenced-in front yard. Maybe 15 people, 10 dogs came out for this event? It seemed like a nice afternoon for the folks to kick back and enjoy some beer while allowing their dogs to get some quality social time and exercise.

Me? I was hoping to try the Copper Crow IPA, one that's been getting some nice reviews. But, alas, the second (or was it third?) batch had just been kicked earlier during brunch, so I went to my fallback beer--and the beer that put Chris Leonard and Russ Czajka on the map for me--the Chocolate Thunder porter. And, just like that it was time to move on.

I'd fallen a bit behind schedule due to the maniacal machinations of Big Dan back at Capone's (fine, fine! I'll take some responsibility as well). I was still intent on hitting up Johnny Brenda's and City Tap House, with not much room for error on the Schuylkill Expressway to get me home in time for the puck drop at 8:20.

I was pleasantly surprised at my ability to easily slide through the city coming down Henry Avenue (I opted off Germantown Avenue at this point since Earth Bread + Brewery was not opening until 4:30pm), Hunting Park, Kelly Drive (now just having been reopened after the Bike Race with virtually no cars yet on the road), to 33rd Street, to Girard....across town hitting most lights 'green' to Girard and Frankford where Casey Hughes (Flying Fish) and Nick Johnson (Tröegs) sat outside like beacons (or sirens?) calling me to crash on the rocks of Johnny Brenda's.

A parking spot out front was not too difficult to come by. Johnny Brenda's remains one of my favorite venues in the city...the building's got real honest-to-goodness character, to say the least. And, to be hosting a solid brewery like Tröegs, its brothers (Chris and John) and "ambassador" (Nick) paired up with some right solid local music (some of which included brewery employees like Ed Yashinsky), this quickly became one of my early favorite events of PBW 2010 thusfar. At least, shall we say, favorite of those I've attended. Otherwise, the Hammer of Glory Tour might instead be at the top of my list.

Some rockin' music, great beer peeps to hang out with, some rockin' beers (roggen beer, yes! the Citra hop-based Scratch 31, yes! in a new oak barrel? yes!) made for a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. Then, it was time to add my one last stop before heading home for the Stanley Cup Finals game five.

Mr. (or Brother?) Woody Chandler had stopped in to Johnny Brenda's and although he has been working his way into a Driver's Permit and License (yes, you read that correctly...like how I buried that deep within this posting?!...let's see which of you fastidious readers pick up on it), he's always up for a ride across town. He hadn't been to City Tap House yet and was also interested in checking out the Deschutes premiere that was scheduled.

After dropping off Woody and parking the car (feels like 'Driving Mr. Woody', eh?!), I made my up the elevator and inside to dip into some Hop Henge and The Abyss, two wonderful beers which I've previously only had on the West Coast or GABF...unless you count the bottles that I've flown home with me to drink in the backyard.

We'd arrived too late to get a picture with the brewer, but in enough time to find John Doherty, a couple of Fishtown Beer Runners, The Philly Beer Girl (Helene), and numerous other fans of Deschutes beer.

But, the place certainly would not have been what you'd call crowded. Unless perhaps it was busier closer to the kickoff of the event at 4pm? But, then again, neither was Johnny Brenda's...and these were two very solid events of interesting and unique offerings. Now, of course, Smoke 'Em if Yous Got 'Em at Yards was occurring simultaneously as were dozens of other events, but from reports I've picked up on along the way, attendance at most events has not exactly what I'm guessing most would have hoped for or wanted.

It then brings me back to the question I posed the other day: Is 1000 events too many? (Well, actually, I stated that in my opinion it is, but I am asking for your own feedback as well.) I'll continue to think it is, but will reserve final judgement for a week from now when the post mortem begins. Thus far, though, it seems that in this warmer weather, just as many potential participants (maybe) are doing not as many things as in past years and they're being stretched across almost twice as many "events" as last year. I'll be anxious to hear more from the proprietors and event organizers as the week wears on.

Until then, it's Day 4. Happy (continued) Philly Beer Week 2010! Today and tomorrow may turn out to be the two best weather days of PBW 2010. Enjoy and be safe.

and thus endeth (perhaps) the TBL posting with the most parentheticals ever (?)

The General Blogs Again

Lafayette's Escape is Back. I get a feeling that this will be a good thing. Which reminds me to remind you: Have you filled your General Lafayette growler lately? Stopped in for dinner? Bought a case of Chocolate Thunder? Better hurry, my case of Chocolate Thunder is almost finished and I'll be needing another one.

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)

See you Sunday at The General?

Last minute checklist Where: General Lafayette Inn & Brewery, (google map) Date: Sunday July 26 Time: 12pm for runners/walkers/bikers; 1pm for meetup at pub Route: The route that I have planned is part road, part dirt/loose gravel. Check out the route map over here. Why: If you don't know The General's current predicament click here. If you are familiar with the story, then you know that we're gathering to drink some beer, eat some food, socialize, and support The General Lafayette. What to bring: Clothing appropriate for exercise, heheh. Otherwise, a wallet and a growler for take home beer. Remember! Chris Leonard, proprietor, said that they will fill any standard-size growler. They are currently out-of-stock of their own branded ones; so if you need a growler, I'd be happy to donate one for your use. Why else you should show up: Other than the excellent General Lafayette beer on tap and in bottles, brewers Larry Horwitz and Jean Broillet over at Iron Hill (West Chester) have donated a "Belgian Single" that they named General Abbeyesque in honor of you know who. The rub here? You'll likely never taste this beer anywhere again, at least not exactly this beer...it's a 1/2 barrel (yes, barrel....yes, 1/2) experimental batch that they typically do for R&D, special occasions, and/or gifts/donations. They've donated it for our enjoyment on Sunday. RSVPs are great since it helps the management plan better for our arrival. But, if you can't RSVP, feel free to just show up. So, I've heard weddings and being down the Shore. Any other excuses why you won't show up? p.s. This is an all-weather event!

Run/Walk/Ride...or Just Show Up at The General Lafayette this Sunday 7/26

Some of you have already replied and I'm expecting more. Need to know more of what I speak? Check back here. (Need the whole story on The General Lafayette's status? Check here.) Now breweries are getting involved. Okay, just one so far...here's the scoop. I'm going to keep the local Philly-area brewery and the beer a bit of a secret...kind of like a little extra carrot to get some more of you to come out on Sunday. The brewery is hoping to send a few employees out for the run/walk/ride on Sunday and has graciously offered an extra little something in support of The General and what we're doing on Sunday. They're sending over a quarter keg of something you stand very little chance of ever seeing again. !! This, my friends, is one of so many things that makes the beer community, our beer community, so great !! The camaraderie amongst the brewers that brings them together at times like this to help support each other into the future is remarkable and not very common in most industries. So, will you do it too? Heck, I don't care if you show up at The General at 1pm to join us only for lunch. That's all this is really about. Sure, the run/walk/ride would be more fun with more people. But, if only 30, or 20, or 10 do it. That's fine. But, for lunch, let's get 50 people out on Sunday afternoon. Let's fill up at least that many growlers and buy some cases of beer to take home with us. Let's do our part to help keep The General in charge for the next 300 years. What Would the Marquis Do? Cheers!

Let's go for a Run/Walk/Bike Ride in Support of the General Lafayette Inn & Brewery

** 7/22/09: There's been an update with word of a very special keg appearing at this event...click over here for more details. ** Those of you who come around here enough know of my constant striving for balance between fitness and food/beer appreciation. Back during Philly Beer Week, around 50 of you came out to do a run with me to Dock Street. Over the last couple of years, there have also been other similar runs during the year that you've run with The Brew Lounge. Now... Let's collectively get off our keisters this coming Sunday for a run/walk/bike and then have some beer and bites at The General Lafayette Inn & Brewery. Here's the deal. We'll meet up at The General Lafayette (map) at 12pm on Sunday the 26th and leave on a route of just a tick over 4 miles. The route will touch on Forbidden Drive along the Wissahickon Creek, in my opinion one of the city's best outdoor treasures. (Does Saturday work better for you? Let me know and we'll see where the majority falls.) We'll wind up back at The General Lafayette for a lunch. The idea this time isn't for any special deals. ("sponsoring establishments" for these runs in the past typically have made nice offers for us to stick around for beer and food.) We don't want that this time. What we want is The General Lafayette to continue operating well into the future. Let's do our part. We'll have some grub, drink some beer. AND, be sure to bring along a growler to fill with beer to take home with you. If you noticed, Chris Leonard piped in on with a comment the other day to say that he'll fill any 64 oz. growler with beer for you to take home with you. They should have some packaged beer to go as well. And, listen...if you don't have a growler, let me know....I'll bring an empty one for you to have filled. Remember, these days are all about doing your/our part to Save the General. Let's get physically fit and help The General back to better financial fitness. The weather looks fine as of now. But, we'll do this rain or shine...unless there are severe thunderstorm warnings in effect. Drop a private e-mail to me if you'd like to be on the list or need additional information. Cheers to you, fitness, and The General Lafayette Inn & Brewery!

A Brew Lounge Request for a Friend in Need

I don't ask for much from you around here. I've never asked for donations and never will. That said, it's time that I ask you to spend your money in one particular place. If you are a lover of good, well-crafted beer then I believe that you will agree that the future should have the General Lafayette Inn & Brewery in it. If you appreciate history and landmarks, then I believe that you will want to support The General. If you believe that good people who do good things should not be cast aside by unfortunate incidents and accidents, then you should want to help support the Leonard Family of the General Lafayette. I've pasted the contents of an e-mail that has made its way into numerous other websites/blogs that you may have already caught wind from. You can read the details below. Chris has always been straight forward, almost to a fault, in person or in his blog, that I wish he keeps posting to. Whether you decide an investment of $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 is appropriate for your situation, I have a simpler request of you. Consider it a back-to-school project. In other words, beginning today and before the end of summer, you must make it a high priority to: - go to The General more often---if you currently go once a month, go twice. If you've never been, go once in July and once again in August. Go for dinner, take the family or go with a group of friends. Have a full dinner and a couple of brews. - when you go for a meal, make sure you take home a growler of fresh beer with you. We all know that there's nothing better than beer fresh from the brewery. - buy packaged General Lafayette beer for take home or to give to friends. Their beers can be found at distributors and at the pub. Buy the Abbey Brune or the Abbey Blonde. Or better yet, buy the recently bottled Chocolate Thunder, one of the first beers to make me appreciate The General for what it is. So, let's sum up the homework. Once in July and once in August (or more, if you can)---Keep The General in business by going for a meal. Buy a growler to take home. Buy packaged product to drink at home and share with friends. Convince others that they should go and support The General as well. You don't want to sitting here in October saying "ah, it's a shame..." now do you? We can all do our part...and should.

---

The General Lafayette Inn and its Guest House are in jeopardy of closing. Stiff competition, limited resources, and the failing economy have contributed to a steady decline in revenues over the past 16 months. While beer sales have remained relatively stable, our food, wine and liquor sales have decreased to the point that we are finding it almost impossible to maintain operations. Past due mortgages, property taxes, payroll taxes, and accounts payable to vendors have pushed the General to the precipice. Unless we raise significant funds in the next two months - to get current with our debtors, improve facilities, increase wholesale beer production, and increase our marketing efforts – closure is imminent. While we have solicited sale of the General, no offers have come – understandable in this economic climate. Any offer we do receive will likely come from a party uninterested in the history of the General. It could become the next Wawa or CVS. Even more likely is that we will face foreclosure, allowing a developer to more easily acquire the properties and demolish the 5th oldest tavern in the country. The General Lafayette Inn consists of two properties and three buildings. It’s most recent appraisal (2007) valued it at just under $2.2 million. We are a family owned operation. I, Brewmaster Christopher Leonard, am the majority owner. We desperately seek to avoid losing the General Lafayette Inn and the fate that would befall it if we do. So, we are soliciting equity investors to become silent (or not-so-silent) partners in this unique local treasure. Generally speaking, we are offering stock in the General Lafayette Inn for approximately 1% per $10,000. We will consider partners for as little as $5000. You would gain a small piece of history, pride in preserving the past, and a heck of a lot of delicious beer in return. We are also starting a special “Friends of the General Lafayette Inn Society”. We are looking for up to 150 passionate local beer and/or history lovers with $1000 to invest in our past and good beer future. In return you will receive an annual $275 house account each of the next 5 years. This can be used for any goods or services. We will host an annual members-only event and dedicate the oldest portion of the building to the Society, displaying each member’s name. In the meantime, know that operations at the General Lafayette Inn will continue as normal. We continue to produce new, innovative beers (look for a kriek soon). We have a new chef, Oliver Munguia. He has made some interesting changes including hand cut fries, house made pickles and has shown an attention to freshness, quality, and consistency that the General has lacked for some time. Please contact me at chris.leonard@generallafayetteinn.com, or stop in to speak with me, for more details/information. We understand how untraditional and risky this approach is. However, we are steadfast in our belief that the General Lafayette Inn is worth it and willing to do just about anything to protect its future. Very Truly Yours, Christopher W. Leonard, Brewmaster/Proprietor General Lafayette Inn & Brewery

Escape with some Refreshing Thoughts from a Local Brewer

Brewers blogs are nice, sometimes quite useful. Sometimes, though, they tend to be a bit dry, fact-based, and not very insightful with regard to their deepest most honest opinions. Chris Leonard has a new blog that he snuck up on us; I haven't noticed anyone else linking to it. I found it somewhat buried on the tiedhouse's website when I was looking for more information about Lew Bryson's Session Beer event during Philly Beer Week. This blog has got some good stuff written by Chris that certainly provides food for thought. Speaking of food and thought, the post that caught my attention the most was the one related to birthday cakes. (not brewing related, surprised?) Anytime I've been out for a birthday meal for a co-worker, or such, I've always wondered about what the restaurant's real opinion of the cake was that we might happen to bring through the door with us. Hearing Chris' thoughts on this subject and others he raise are quite refreshing and revealing. He has the tone that suggests he might not stick with it long term. I hope he does.

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!

We Ran so Fast, We Ran Through the Rain

And, we ran so fast, we didn't get as wet as if we'd run slower ;-) A Few Light Showers. Please define 'Light'. 7 runners and 8 cyclists gathered outside General Lafayette Inn & Brewery on Saturday. I considered this a great turnout given only 4 days notice and a chance of rain. It wasn't raining at the time. But with only light showers forecasted and half our run being under a canopy of autumn colors, how bad could it be?...asks the fool. Plus, running or biking in a light drizzle can actually be pleasant. Not so pleasant were the occasional downpours that we ran through. Nonetheless, everyone seemed pleased with the route, their run, and more importantly the beer and food that awaited us at the Tiedhouse in Fairmount. I'll have more to come on the Tiedhouse in the near future. From a few hours spent there this weekend and a look at the food and drink menu, I can tell that it's just one more reason for me to miss living in the Fairmount neighborhood. If you didn't catch the upper-case shouting below, the Brewmasters Breakfast Bowl on the new weekend brunch menu (we were the first brunch customers in Tiedhouse history) is the perfect after-race meal. In the meantime, you should make your own visit there and tell me what you think. There's a very good chance that I'll be hosting, but no paying for, a post-marathon luncheon at the Tiedhouse on 11/23. You'll all be the first to know if this will happen. (The General's proprietor, Chris Leonard, lays out the route for Matt, Greg, Jay, Courtney, and Bree) (Is this a race?) (Refueling is key) Fresh Beer from The General and some of the best stuff not from The General (BREWMASTERS BREAKFAST BOWL. Yes, I'm shouting.)

The General to The Tiedhouse: We Run Tomorrow

Don't forget, you don't need to RSVP. Just show up at the General Lafayette tomorrow morning between 9:30-10:00 for a 10:15 departure. Again, this is not a race and runners and cyclists alike are welcome to join in for this autumn roll down the Wissahickon and Schuylkill. RAIN OR SHINE! If you'd like a sneak peek at our scenic route that we'll be taking, check it out over here.

Beer Run this Saturday

Come join Chris Leonard of General Lafayette and me on a 13.1 mile run from Lafayette Hill to Philadelphia's home of the new Tiedhouse. He and I could both use a lift as we come down the homestretch of preparation for the Philadelphia Marathon on 11/23. Run it or Bike it. It's one of the most beautiful routes through the Philly region into the heart of the city with...wait for it...beer and brunch awaiting us at the end...here's the tap list as of earlier this week. The official details follow below. It may be short notice, but you've gotta get outside for some exercise anyways, right?!

---

BEER RUN – THE TWO SWEETEST WORDS WANNA RUN? THIRSTY, NEED BEER? JUST SHOW UP, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED Saturday, November 8, 2008; meet @ 9:30am; leave @ 10:15am > Start: General Lafayette Inn & Brewery; 646 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA > End: Tiedhouse; 2001 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA * One hydration station will be located roughly at the midpoint of the route * Transportation will not be provided back to Lafayette Hill; but, contact Bryan@BrewLounge.com for possible carpooling options This is not a sanctioned or sponsored race event; you will run at your own risk. However, to get your first round free at the new Tiedhouse gastropub in Philly, you'll need to show up at The General Lafayette and run or bike 13.1 miles along one of the most scenic routes in the Philly area. This coming Saturday, come meet in Lafayette Hill, PA at The General Lafayette at 9:30am for a prompt 10:15am departure down along Forbidden Drive, Wissahickon Creek, and Kelly Drive into the Fairmount Section of Philly and the new Tiedhouse restaurant. Your first beer will be on the house; there may even be prizes. But, you must have first run or biked from The General Lafayette. Whether you're in the tapering stage leading up to the Philly Marathon on 11/23 or simply looking for some exercise with fellow beer lovers, this couldn't be a more appropriate run to do this coming weekend. Plus, the weather forecast looks great for a beautiful autumn run. For more information or with questions, contact Bryan@BrewLounge.com

Tap List at The Tiedhouse in Philadelphia, PA - 11/3/08

I'll have an announcement tomorrow which will explain why I'm jazzed to share this week's tap list at The Tiedhouse with you. The Tiedhouse draft list as of 11/3/08: GENERAL LAFAYETTE Beers: Tiedhouse Lager Sunset Red Ale Pacific Pale Ale Chocolate Thunder Porter East Coast IPA Octoberphest Cuvee de Lafayette - Belgian ale blended by GLI specifically for Tiedhouse 275th Anniversary Ale Lafayette's Escape The Mirage Raspberry Mead Ale Biere de Framboises On deck: Novemberfest, 2005 Phantom NON-GENERAL LAFAYETTE beers Harpoon Hefeweizen Victory Storm King Harpoon Leviathan IPA Allagash Trippel Ommegang Hennepin On deck: Weyerbacher Double Simcoe, Merry Monks, Ommegang Rouge

The Best of the Philly Region on Cask at Iron Hill

As everyone talks about sour beer/funky beer being "the next big thing" or "the next frontier" for beer trends, I'd counter and say that cask beer really hasn't seen its heyday yet...at least here in the U.S. The East Coast has been doing casks every way 'til next Sunday for quite a few years now. The West Coast has caught on recently and places in between are discovering the real, the natural flavors of beer delivered through a cask system. Frankly, I'd like to see "newer" beer lovers discover the wonders of cask-conditioned beer before the off-the-wall flavors of native Belgian or Belgian-influenced funkhouse beers. Many of the mega beer festival (e.g. Philly, NY, SF Beer Weeks) feature cask events. Iron Hill in Newark, Delaware continues its annual real ale celebration in November. Details are forthcoming on their website; in the meantime, here's a sneak preview.

---

Event: 7th Annual Brewer’s Reserve Cask Event, featuring Black and Tan Beers (Dark Beers and Pale Ales). Date: Saturday, November 15th Time: Noon until 10 PM Place: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Newark, DE What: Our annual Real Ale celebration showcases casks from the Philadelphia regions’ breweries, all in one place. This year’s Black and Tan theme will feature a dark beer or pale ale offerings from local brewers. Drink them straight or blend them and black and tans, it's up to you. All of the local breweries have been invited to participate. There will be at least 15 casks available throughout the day. Breweries include 7 Iron Hill locations, and up to 14 local breweries. Current participants include; Stewart’s, Nodding Head, Yards, Earth Bread + Brewery, Victory, General Lafayette, Sly Fox. Come out and enjoy an afternoon of pints or tasters of these great local beers.

I've Got Some Work to Do When I Return to Philly

In the meantime, get thyself over to EB+B and save a seat for me. (Just don't bother a guy named Richard if he happens to take the last seat.)

Way to knock this one off your list, Lew, before leaving town.

Then, follow Suzanne's notes over at The Beer Lass for what's happening at the Tied House, newest home for many of General Lafayette's beers. Check out her posting for opening menu of food and beers.

It appears that I've got some work to catch up with when I get home.

Fresh Hopping at the General Lafayette

Heard from Chris last night. The beer's ready to be loaded up into the bright tanks. It looks as if the DIY hop project has succeeded this year and we can look forward to trying some of their new "Belgian-style pale" brew as early as next week. If it's the only reason you're heading to the pub, you may wish to call first to check its availability. Here's a bit of the notes from Chris back in July.

---

We at the General Lafayette Inn & Brewery have been growing and harvesting our own Hallertau hops since 1999. This year's combination of intermittent rain and dry, sunny days have contributed to large, abundant hop cone growth. We will be employing them to brew a Belgian-style pale ale some time this week. We do not know their alpha acid content, but they appear (smell, taste) quite mild. So, we will only use them as an aroma addition in our kettle, late in the boil process. Look for our fresh-hop Belgian Pale Ale in mid- to late-August. Cheers, Christopher W Leonard, Brewmaster/Proprietor

The General Lafayette needs Your Help

Don't worry, the business is doing just fine. Though Chris is more than happy to accommodate as many of you that want to stop by as possible. I was excited to be able to join Chris Leonard and the rest of the General Lafayette team on their quest to compete in a very cool relay challenge...for each team member to complete two loops (8.4 miles each) around the Schuylkill River in 24 hours. The event is called the 20in24 Relay Challenge and supports a very worthy charity, Back On My Feet. But, then I checked my calendar and realized that I'll be at The Shore. This organization has received much well-deserved press over the past six months or so. Its main objective is to help get the homeless of Philadelphia "back on their feet" and into a life of self-sufficiency. They do this by using running as a means of building confidence and strength. Chris is being joined by his fellow Dragoon Running mates from the General: Steven Boyle (Bartender Extraordinaire); Tom Kiker (Mug Club Stalwart); Robert McCulloch (Veteran Dishwasher); and Seamus McCulloch (Dishwashing Upstart). Show them some support by wishing them luck at the pub and dropping a donation to their cause. You can also purchase a very sporting shirt that you can purchase from the shop that they set up. Very cool indeed. Run strong Brew Crew!

The Path To Philly Beer Week 2008 - A Profile of General Lafayette Inn & Brewery

PHILLY BEER WEEK INDEX @ THE BREW LOUNGE

Which is more interesting at the General Lafayette Inn & Brewery in Lafayette Hill, PA? Feeling like an American soldier or colonial 200+ years ago while sitting at the bar? Or wandering throughout the building and property, feeling the history oozing from every nook and ghosts drifting around each corner? Anyway, you look at it, the General Lafayette brings together history, charm, good people and beer.

Brewmaster Christopher Leonard and family are going into their fifth year of ownership at this local gem situated just outside of Philadelphia's northwestern city limit. While the brewery doesn't bottle (not yet), their beer is distributed on draught in limited quantities to local beer bars (TJ’s, Drafting Room, Brigid’s, Monk’s, Chaucer’s, Capone’s, Etc.). They do attend local festivals and host their own; giving craft brew fans a chance to sample some of the Delaware Valley's most interesting beers. Or, if you need yet another excuse to head to Lafayette Hill, brewer Russ Czajka hosts a homebrewer club meeting.

As you ready yourself for Philly Beer Week 2008, study up on some background notes on General Lafayette Brewery and consider yourself lucky to be part of such a vibrant and rich beer region that PBW 2008 will celebrate.

---

Download to Save & Print

Name: General Lafayette Inn & Brewery
Location: 646 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
Phone: 610-941-0600

People

Christopher Leonard; Brewmaster/Proprietor

Russ Czajka; Assistant Brewer

Major Brands

Chocolate Thunder Porter; Germantown Blonde; Pacific Pale Ale; Raspberry Mead; Red Velvet; Sunset Red Ale; Abbey Blonde Ale; Abbey Brune Ale (coming soon)

Awards

Alt! Who Goes There? (German-Style Brown Ale/Düsseldorf-Style Altbier)

Silver, GABF 2000

Lafayette’s Biere de Framboises

First Place Fruit Beer, Mid-Atlantic Region, US Beer Tasting Championships 2007

Silver, BTI World Beer Championships 2003

La Tete Fontaine Dubbel

Silver, BTI World Beer Championships 2003

Winner of Nodding Head's Royal Stumble 2000 & 2001

Best of Philly 2003–"Best Cheaters Bar-Suburbs" (sorry, had to throw that in, too)

Distribution

On-site Brewpub sales only of 22oz. bottles; plans for 12oz. bottles of Abbey Blonde and Abbey Brune

Production

Roughly 750 bbls/year

History & Tidbits

History of the Building goes back to the early 18th century (1732)

19-year-old French aristocrat, Marquis de Lafayette, joined George Washington in the Philadelphia and Valley Forge area in the war against the British

The restaurant and brewery today carry his name in a nod to the building's history and relationship to the Major General

Restaurant was restored and opened in 1996

Bed & Breakfast opened in 1999

Brewmaster Christopher Leonard has brewed at the GLIB since August 1999 and owned the Inn & Brewery since 2004

Prior to his tenure at General Lafayette, Leonard's experience included stints at Hops! Bistro & Brewer in San Diego and Neptune Brewery

Russ Czajka hired full-time as assistant brewer in 2007

Brewpub plays host to meetings of the local homebrewers club, GLUB – usually meets the last Wednesday of each month

Major Yearly Events

Winterfest (Winter event)

Beer Advocate Gathering (Winter event)

Sixtel Saturdays (2nd Saturday, each month) Currently on hold......

......as they release "secret beers" on a regular basis which includes aged beers and special blends

Where to Find General Lafayette During Philly Beer Week

Chocolate Thunder Porter will be featured as one of Joe Sixpack’s Favorite Beers on March 7th

Will be pairing their beer (Chocolate Thunder) with food (Beeramisu) at The Brewer's Plate at the Constitution Center on Sunday the 9th (a winning combo last year, too!)

Tentatively hosting a 6-course beer dinner & pairing on Saturday the 8th beginning at 5pm

The newly-released Lafayette's Escape will be showcased at The Aspen for Meet The Brewer on the 11th

Stay Tuned for a possible "Beers of Germantown Ave., of which they would certainly be included

Download to Save & Print

---

PHILLY BEER WEEK INDEX @ THE BREW LOUNGE