February 2017: News update, part 2

Plenty more this week to fill up your beer news mail bag. I don't cover it all, so I link to it for your convenience.

~ Looks like cat is finally out of the bag. [link to BillyPenn.com]

~ Nice news for the future of Bell's Brewery. [link to The Full Pint]

~ Iron Hill is about to climb yet another. [link to The Brew Lounge]

~ Interesting story out of Reading, Pa. [link to WFMZ]

~ Excellent news for beer lovers in Pittsburgh. [link to Post-Gazette]

~ Absolutely NFW. Please stop ruining beer. [link to New York Times]

~ Guppy's is cool. This might be a decent replacement for Growlers. [link to Philly.com]

~ Great background on a sappy Super Bowl ad. [link to Yours For Good Fermentables]

~ Great to hear the news developing out in Boyertown. Wish I lived closer. [link to Other Farm's FB page]

~ Charitable beer drinking. [link to Draft Magazine]

~ You know I'm a numbers guy; these are interesting numbers. [link to Appellation Beer]

~ Perhaps even more so, I a coffee and beer guy. [link to Joe Sixpack]

~ For some reason, I was wondering if I was missing out on not following Beer Advocate forums. Then I went down this rabbit hole and reconfirmed why I never have. [one and only time link to BeerAdvocate.com]

~ Chalk this interesting talk about Neshaminy Creek up to something worth following. [link to Philly.com]

---

---

© 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

---

---

A prelude to Philly Beer Week 2016 - t minus 3 days

Gonna keep this really simple, fun, and visual for you today. This is the result of me simply scrolling and picking from amongst thousands of photos. They represent just a smattering of out-of-town guests that have come calling on Philly Beer Week. No order in these pictures, no captions, no rhyme or reason, but just one request please. I've had a couple occasions recently where I've found my pictures popping up around virtual beer hall. Want an original of one and permission to use it? Just ask. It's always worked well in the past. Thanks in advance for the courtesy.

---

---

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.)

---

---

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.)

---

---

Philly Beer Week 2013, Day 1 Sights and Sounds: Friday, May 31

You know how I've been falling back on my "I'm too busy" excuse for, oh, the last year or so now? Well I think it will apply all throughout this week as well.

So instead of getting wrapped up in a lot of words about the preceding days, I'll save it all for one wrap-up at the end of Philly Beer Week 2013 and deliver each day to you in the videos and pictures that I collect along the way.

Hope you're all enjoying another year of incredible sights, sounds, food, and beer during Philly Beer Week. Stay safe and stay hydrated!

Cheers!


Video of The Hammer of Glory being transported from Kite & Key to The Institute, Top Gun-style.

Video of Nick Johnson (Tröegs) and Jim Kirk (Kite & Key) playing Top Gun's Goose and Maverick.

Video of the uniquely-Philly reception for the Hammer of Glory at Nodding Head.

Link to a picture gallery over at Picasa.

---

---

Yards is Philly's Brewery

A few years down the road from Tom Kehoe taking his Yards concept solo (no need to reenact it here, but if you need more details, here's one link), any concerns about the brewery's long-term plans and viability should have been put to rest.

Not that this 610 WIP Beer Brawl accomplished that all by itself, but it's another part of Yards continued growth and success on Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, and beyond.

Of the three categories being judged in last Thursday's competition finals at Chickie's & Pete's in South Philly, Yards took first place in two of the three.

Philadelphia Pale Ale — the beer that just may have bumped ESA from the top spot of my Yards' favorites — took the gold in the Best Light-Bodied Beer category (also in Listener's Choice, perhaps the more coveted one).

Their Saison took the top prize in the Best Seasonal/Specialty Beer category. In other Philadelphia brewery news, Nodding Head took first place for Best Full-Bodied Beer with its Grog and a homebrewer, Rick Kocher of Bruclear Homebrewers, was awarded the top spot in the homebrewing portion of the competition.

Digging around the Web, all I could find for picture-documenting of this event was this one public site and this one semi-public site (facebook).

Probably glad I wasn't a judge in this one. As you can see from the finalists below, their were no dogs in the bunch.

Light-bodied beer:
1) Victory Prima Pils
2) Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale
3) Nodding Head Brewery Goldihops

Full-bodied beer:
1) Weyerbacher Merry Monks
2) Dock Street Rye IPA
3) Nodding Head Grog

Seasonal/specialty beer:
1) Flying Fish Exit 4 American Tripel
2) Victory Summer of Love
3) Yards Saison Belgian Ale

Philly Beer Week 2011: A few missed videos

Grab your coffee, here are some quick early morning clips for your viewing pleasure that I've missed putting up for you earlier this week.

Hammer of Glory tour, stop #14-the only video that I took during H.O.G. on Friday June 3

Sean Paxton at Nodding Head's Punk Rock and Finger Sandwiches

Sam Calagione and Sean Paxton at Nodding Head's Punk Rock and Finger Sandwiches

Philly Beer Week 2011: Spreading the News in NYC

The weekly Beer Session Radio, based in NYC, were talking up Philly Beer Week during last week's episode.

Our beer-drinking buddies to the North were chatting up Don Russell (Joe Sixpack), Tom Kehoe (Yards), and Curt Decker (Nodding Head) as they tried to decipher what happens (and what they might try to do while visiting during PBW) during Philly Beer Week.

Here's a direct link to Beer Sessions, where you can listen to Episode 65.

Philly Beer Week Collaboration Raffle at McGillin's Olde Ale House

Pictures from the Philly Beer Week Collaboration at McGillin's

De Proef has brewed four Brewmaster's Collaboration Series beers in the past, one each with Tomme Arthur (Port), Jason Perkins (Allagash), John Mallett (Bell's), and Brian "Spike" Buckowski (Terrapin). For the 2011 version, Philly Beer Week Executive Director Don Russell took an idea to Alan Shapiro of SBS-Imports (the annual liaison between the brewery and the American brewers) and the planning of a PBW collaboration beer took off.

According to Russell, it only took a few beers worth of discussion with Alan and then pulling Tom Peters into the conversation to get the ball rolling on this very exciting idea for publicity and fundraising.

It's hard to tell if Mr. Curtin likes this idea or not, but I for one think it one of PBW's more ingenious ideas.

The idea seems to be a win for everyone. ~ De Proef is associated with the original and, arguably, most successful Beer Week ~ a local brewer gets his name attached to the beer and nationwide attention ~ a local beer drinker gets a free vacation and the chance to rub mash paddles with brewing celebrities (or do a lot of grunt work) ~ PBW raises money for its coffers ~ a good reason for a pre-PBW party in November at McGillin's.

Okay, so everything above was written prior to the PBW bash last night at McGillin's. We now know that the winning brewer was Brian O'Reilly from Sly Fox and he'll be accompanied to Belgium in February by Jason Kramer to brew their concept of a porter with Dirk Naudts of the famed De Proef Brouwerij near the town of Gent.

The crowd was almost wall-to-wall in the upstairs room of McGillin's last night and they came from near and far to party and for a chance to win the trip to Belgium.

Brewers were there. Owners, too. Reps, distributors, homebrewers, fans, and other hoperati were as well. "Regulars" from Hulmeville to Grey Lodge to Teresa's Next Door descended upon the historic McGillin's. An early estimate shows close to 1,000 ballots in the ballot box. Final counts and total dollars raised will be available by the end of the week.

Everyone was there, well, except for not only the winning brewer but the winning entrant too, which made for a bit of an anticlimatic ending to the event. Apparently Kramer submitted his absentee ballot via the mail and the system certainly worked out for him.
If you'd like to see a 4 minute clip of the drawing and announcement, check out the video and just picture the joy on Kramer's and O'Reilly's faces.

The competition was formidable amongst the eligible brewers listed below: - Ben Potts (Dock Street) - Bob Barrar (Iron Hill-Media) - Bill Covaleski (Victory) - Bill Moore (Lancaster) - Brett Kintzer (Stoudt’s) - Brian O’Reilly (Sly Fox) - Casey Hughes (Flying Fish) - Chris Wilson (Weyerbacher) - Doug Marchakitus (Manayunk) - Gordon Grubb (Nodding Head) - Jon Carpenter (Dogfish Head) - Rob Pfeiffer (Twin Lakes) - Tom Kehoe (Yards)

Saturday the Thirstless-teenth

No one should go thirsty this Saturday the 13th. This coming Saturday will be a busy day across the Philadelphia region for beer events. As you'll see with tomorrow's weekly beer calendar that I publish, there are no less than eight beer events in and around the City on Saturday, 11/13. Really, it's eighteen when you add all of the individual events that comprise the Craft Beer Express. (And, there's probably another one or two that I'm missing that I'm sure you good readers will help to fill me in on, right?) >>> The big one is the Craft Beer Express in Philly. With 11 participating establishments and a steady flow of buses (was it 7 or 8 buses that I was told?) linking them all together, it should be a fine day. Plus, the weather should cooperate much more nicely than it did back in March during the first incarnation of this idea. Here's a quick rundown of who's doing what during the 10 hours of buses, beers, and bars. Ten dollars gets you on the bus; after that, it's PAYG at every bar along the way.

Kraftwork: 20 Beers from B.United and the sweet sounds Damon Bennett's Jazzsoul Experience

Johnny Brenda's: The Wet Hop Rodeo, A round up of local & national wet hoped beers

Standard Tap: Imperial Pageant, An orgy of excess and power in a glass.

The Institute: The Power Of The Darks Side, Stout & Porter event featuring Brewers & Owners

Bishop's Collar: Southern Tier Invades The North East

Kite & Key: A.A.A. (Almighty, Afternoon of Allagash)

Jose Pistolas: Big Bold Barleywine & Live Blues

Sidecar: Discoteque & Brothel, featuring Bell's Jazz series brews & The Sidecar Jazz Quartet

P.O.P.E.: Dogfish Head Dominates The P.O.P.E., featuring the Randell 3.0

Devil's Den: Stockertown Beverage Supplies Sudds, special tapping of Founders Nemesis

Brauhaus Schmitz: still T.B.A.

>>> Along the Delaware River at Penn's Landing's Independence Seaport Museum, Rolling Barrel Events is hosting its first annual Stout & Chowder Festival from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For a $40 admission, in their words you can expect "over ten 'Burly Beer Stations' featuring all local breweries, a special breakout session showcasing pumpkin beers, and numerous hearty soups, stews and chowders. Proceeds will also benefit the Independence Seaport Museum." >>> Back in the heart of Center City, Nodding Head is throwing 4 of their wet-hopped beers on the bar and one on the beer engine at 3 p.m. Harvest Ale on the hand pump and Wet Chinook Double IPA, X, Hoppo Marx, and BPA all on the bar top served via the lovely forces of gravity. The tasting event is PAYG. >>> Moving out from the City, first up is TJs in Paoli where they will be helping Sierra Nevada with its ongoing 30th Anniversary Celebration. All four anniversary beers are due to be on tap. Plus the Northern Hemisphere Harvest. Plus the Estate Homegrown Ale. Plus the Celebration Ale. Plus the Tumbler Autumn Brown. And, plus the Pale Ale. How's that for an all-growed-up 30 year old brewing company? This is an all-day event (and, PAYG) with nothing necessarily special planned at any given time. Just a lot of great beer (and some rather rare ones, too) served until it kicks which will be sooner for some than others, I'm sure. >>> Just a keg's throw away in Exton, The Drafting Room is conducting a seasonally-appropriate Harvest Beer event. Expect such fresh and hoppy beers from Bear Republic, Flying Dog, Founders, Great Divide, Harpoon, Philadelphia Brewing, Port Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Southern Tier, Terrapin, Tröegs, Two Brothers, Victory, and Weyerbacher. This also is a PAYG all-day affair, so come and go as you please. >>> Stretching farther to the west, downtown Reading's Canal Street Pub is hosting the 8th Brewphoria festival. Admission is $35, the event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and you can expect a beer tasting and exhibition featuring local and regional brewers with live music being provided by The Youngers. >>> Down "south", Iron Hill's Justin Sproul and his Newark location are throwing a delightful-looking cask ale festival. It begins at noon, is PAYG, and is expected to showcase "real ale" from Iron Hill, Yards, Flying Fish, Tröegs, Sly Fox, Stewart's, and Victory. >>> And, finally, stretching the Pennsylvania's Fertile Crescent of Beer to its outer limits in Harrisburg, Pa., the Expo Hall at The State Farm Show Arena is playing host to an event called PA Flavor: A Food & Beer Expo of which I know very little but have picked up some tidbits from the Web. It lasts from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and promises up to 40 Pennsylvania breweries, 60 Pennsylvania food producers, and 20 Pennsylvania restaurants. Attendees can expect two-ounce samples of close to 100 different beers. All proceeds from PA Flavor are reported to benefit the Pennsylvania Brewers Guild. You can't do them all. I promise you. Though, if you get a hired driver, there's the ever-so-slim chance that you could pull it off. If I dared you, I'm afraid someone might try it. So get out there....forget about the yardwork, ditch the wedding (unless it's yours), call off from your weekend job. Drink a few great beers, support your local economy, be safe, and enjoy!

Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers' Festival in Media, PA: 5/16/09

Skies threatened, but the crowd wouldn't have noticed even if it had rained. The temperature was a bit on the warm side, but the crowd knew how to deal with hydration as well. Iron Hill-Media hosted the 9th annual Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival this past Saturday. It's the one of the very few annual festivals in the Philadelphia region that I know of that routinely attracts most of the region's breweries. And, it appears that participating breweries sense that not only are beer drinkers in the Philadelphia region among the savviest around, but that this festival draws some of the best. They respond by bringing not just, or not even at all, their usual suspects. If you count Iron Hill as seven breweries, which I'd argue you should do, there were 27 local breweries from the Philadelphia region pouring their delights. Ranging from Flying Fish in New Jersey to Tröegs in Harrisburg and Dogfish Head in Delaware to Bethlehem Brew Works in the Lehigh Valley the regions best lagers, ales, and indescribables were pouring. Indescribable? How about a Quintuple from Triumph? Never got around to trying it but it was there. Apparently, it had a lot of alcohol ;-) So was a porter from Iron Hill that was put in a framboise barrel with little buggies. What happened to the porter? Dunno, but it didn't stop me from trying to find it in three different glassfuls of it. Buried beneath the funk and the tart fruit was a porter...somewhere...claimed Mark Edelson. Call it what you like, it was a delicious delight that I won't forget for quite some time. (Speaking of Iron Hill, make that almost eight. If you're in the Maple Shade, NJ area today---that's 5/19/09---between 10am-2pm give or take, you'll get to see brewing history, or at least the beginning of it as the brewhouse arrives and is installed at IH's first NJ outpost. The address is 124 E. Kings Highway. A photo op if I've ever heard of one. Come to think of it, I won't be able to attend, so the first reader to send me a post-able photo of the big day will be rewarded in kind...something kind-a good, I'm sure!) How about the Bill Payer from Nodding Head? Not all too unusual, but one I don't see nearly enough of and one that I really enjoy when I do. Apparently it's currently on tap at the pub, but will likely disappear quickly as it always seems to do. What else? Well, to the tell the truth, I paced myself with a dozen or samples. Enough to enjoy myself without getting crazy (okay, the jockey box diving---see below, way below---was a bit crazy you might say), but not too much so to sap myself before the Sierra Nevada event at TJs rolled around later in the evening. So, I'll apologize for lack of words (y'think?) and get on with the pictures...... (With 1200 tickets pre-sold, the gate was closed to day-of ticket sales) (Triumph's Patrick Jones pouring his Le Cinq, a "13.5% Belgian Quint") (Was it the beers or Mike Fava's Mojo that tapped out Nodding Head's supply before anyone else?) (Mary Lu and Mark Haynie from Somers Point, NJ) (Drew Carey endorses Tröegs) (The crowds were particularly thick, as they always are, around the host brewery...Iron Hill....their hourly R.I.S. pourings didn't hurt) (Bob Barrar holds court for the 4pm R.I.S. jerobaum pouring) (The heat of the afternoon sun was no deterrent for this gaggle of R.I.S. lovers) (The band, name?, played on and rocked the alley) (Jackie and Jeremy demonstrate the perfect Iron Hill Mug Club member behavior) (Mark Edelson, Iron Hill partner, pitches in to help Chris Lampe push out the remainder of Weyerbacher in the closing minutes of the festival) (The newliest weds in brewing---Larry Horwitz, Iron Hill/West Chester and Whitney Thompson, Victory) (More brewfest love, this from Nick Johnson of Tröegs and his wife, Meg) (Casey Hughes, Flying Fish, and Nick Johnson, Tröegs, getting competitive...Sumo wrestling costumes were not available) (How many captions are there for this?) ("Not to be outdone by the brewers, the writers get their chance at glory?") ("Look how much cooler we are than Casey and Nick?")("Stupid Is as Stupid Does?")("Collin and Bryan were at it for so long, onlookers began walking away?") ("These guys are so smart, they used their writing hands for the contest?")("The winner gets what?")