Tuesday, March 08, 2011

*Early Release* of Weekly Beer Calendar Update: March 10 - March 20

I put out a lot of information about beer events. Some may ask why I do this. Some might say this doesn't really qualify as beer 'writing'. I would agree. However, in the world of beer, a large contributor to what makes the whole big industry wheel go 'round are beer events. If you can't get people to your joint to taste your products, y'ain't gonna get too far.

In the Philadelphia region, I've served as a bit of conduit for the past five years with monthly calendars, and in the past three, weekly calendar of events during the month with up-to-date event details. Nobody pays to get on The Brew Lounge calendar and I do not pass judgment or censor events on the calendar. I get to quite a few events myself and, when I do, I write about them -- mostly focused on the positive, but also the negative when I deem it in the public interest -- for the sake of providing information that can help customers decide about future attendance.

So, with this, my 'real' writing comes not just an expression of my so-called writing skills, but also a venue to communicate information -- practical information that you all can put to use in order to decide how to best support one of your favorite industries.

Enough of that; felt like I needed to clear the air.

What I really want to focus on here early in the week is the not-quite-Philly-Beer-Week that one might argue begins this coming Thursday evening. There's no real kick-off to these 10 or 11 days and no particular organization of these events outside of the Craft Beer Express on Saturday. More, really, of just me saying "look at this cluster of events" where Philly Beer Week used to reside in March.

Like last year, this is a time in March when a significant number of establishments in the region fill the gap left by Philly Beer Week (moved in '10 to the month of June) with a lineup of events to get us all through the last days of winter and to keep the spirit of Philly Beer Week alive year-round.

Recall last year's stellar cluster of it's-not-Philly-Beer-Week events. Not entirely sure, but the Nick Johnson birthday party might have been the kickoff at Teresa's Next Door. Many were sad -- though, maybe not the staff at TND -- to see the event not repeated again this year. Happy birthday, anyway, Nick.

Okay, here we go -- roll call. I lost count at 27 events over 11 days. I'll continue to update as I learn more.


It's all starts with
Saturday 3/12 - Craft Beer Express @12 Participating Kick-Ass Beer Bars, Philadelphia, PA (11:00am-9:00pm; $10 bus ticket, then PAYG at each bar -- though, bus is not required for admittance)


Then, throw in some Tastings
Friday 3/11 - Friday Night Sampling @Exton Beverage, Exton, PA (4:00pm-7:00pm; Free tasting samples of Yards)
Friday 3/11 - Friday Night Tasting @Goshen Beverage, West Chester, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free tasting samples of Philadelphia Brewing)
Friday 3/11 - Friday Night Tasting @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free tasting samples of Unibroue)
Friday 3/11 - Friday Night Tasting @Beer Yard, Wayne, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free tasting samples of Stone)
Thursday 3/17 - Charity Cask Night @Bethlehem Brew Works, Bethlehem, PA (5:00pm; PAYG for A Wee Bit O' Honey IPA to benefit the Center for Animal Health & Welfare)
Thursday 3/17 - Kill the Cask Night @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG for a firkin of Manayunk Brewing's dry-hopped California Dreamin')
Friday 3/18 - Friday Night Tasting @Beer Yard, Wayne, PA (5:00pm-7:00pm; Free tasting samples of Sierra Nevada)
Friday 3/18 - Friday Night Tasting @Bell's Beverage, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-6:00pm; Free tasting samples of Philadelphia Brewing)
Friday 3/18 - Prism Night with a Side of Bacon @The Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-9:00pm; PAYG for a firkin of Prism's Bacon Imperial Chocolate Stout)


And some stronger-gravity Events
Thursday 3/10-Sun. 3/13 - Philadelphia Brewing Weekend @Hulmeville Inn, Hulmeville, PA (PAYG as Philadelphia Brewing takes over the tap tower with 12 featured PBC beers including...Kenzinger, Walt Wit, Rowhouse Red, Newbold IPA, Pennsylvania Pale Ale, Joe Coffee Porter, Fleur de Lehigh, Pharmhouse Arrest, Harvest from the Hood, Winter Wunder (cask), Shackamaximum Imperial Stout, and Kilty Pleasure Scotch Ale)
Friday 3/11 - Victory - 15 Beers for 15 Years @Hop Angel Brauhaus, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG for a whole lineup of Victory beer including draft versions of Hop Devil, Prima Pils, Dark Lager, Headwaters Pale Ale, Helles Lager, Hop Wallop, Braumeister Pils Tettnang-Tettnang, Scarlet Fire, Whirlwind Wit, St Boisterous Hellerbock, Mad King Weiss, and Festbier. Bottles of Storm King, Golden Monkey, and Helios)
Saturday 3/12 - Bitter Rivalry: Clash of the IPAs @Iron Hill, North Wales, PA (1:00pm-5:00pm; PAYG as 8 Iron Hill IPAs go head to head with 8 Guest Brewery IPAs. Guest breweries include: Dogfish Head; Flying Fish; Ithaca; Manayunk; Rock Bottom; Sly Fox; Stewart's; and Yards)
Tuesday 3/15 - Stone Brewing Night @Local 44, Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm; PAYG for a Stone blowout including 13th Anniversary, Belgo Barleywine, Double Bastard, Highway 78, Levitation, Ruination, Saison Du Buff, Smoked Porter, Stone IPA, Stone Pale Ale, Sublimely Self Righteous, and Vertical Epic 09.09.09)
Saturday 3/19 - Tsar Power RIS Fest @Khyber Pass Pub, Philadelphia, PA (11:00am-11:00pm; PAYG for big Russian Imperial Stouts like Founders Breakfast Stout, Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout, Philadelphia Brewing's Shackamaximum, Terrapin's Big Daddy Vladdy, Avery's Czar, Avery's Mephistopheles, Jolly Pumpkin's Madrugada Obscura, Dock Street's Prince Myshkin, and more)
Saturday 3/19 - Global Brewers Guild @TJ's, Paoli, PA (6:00pm-10:00pm; PAYG for some of the best from Global Brewers Guild like 21st Ammendment, Allagash, Arcadia, Aspall, Bellegems, Elysian, Great Divide, and Smuttynose)


A little wearing o' the green
Friday 3/11 - Irish Invasion @Iron Hill, West Chester, PA (5:00pm-8:00pm; PAYG to kickoff St. Patty's Day celebration with Dry Stout and Red Ale on tap. Plus a little Irish food and music. )
every Wednesday 1/12 through 3/16 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp @Sly Fox, Phoenixville, PA (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for music, fun, and beer all leading up to a chance to win a trip to Ireland on March 17 at the Phoenixville location)
every Thursday 1/13 through 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp @Sly Fox, Royersford, PA (5:00pm-11:00pm; PAYG for music, fun, and beer all leading up to a chance to win a trip to Ireland on March 17 at the Phoenixville location)


Of course, some Eats go perfectly with all of these beers
Thursday 3/10 - Ommegang Beer Dinner @J.G. Domestic, Philadelphia, PA (7:00pm; $75 for a four-course meal paired with Farmhouse Saison, Rare Vos, Abbey Ale, and Three Philosophers)
Saturday 3/12 - 4th Annual Stone Brunch @Teresa's Next Door, Wayne, PA (PAYG for a solid brunch menu and accompanying beers from Stone like Old Guardian, Imperial Stout, Vertical Epic 10-10-10, Lukcy Basartd, and more)
Sunday 3/13 - Brewer's Plate @Penn Museum, Philadelphia, PA (4:00pm-8:00pm; $45/$65/$125 for over 75 participating food and beverage purveyors)
Thursday 3/17 - 2nd Annual Celtic Beer Dinner @Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA (7:00pm-9:00pm; $50 for a five-course meal paired with Carlow Celtic Curim Wheat Ale, Belhaven Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, Magners Cider, Brew Dog Hardcore Imperial Double IPA, Harviestoun's Old Engine Oil [firkin], and Jamison Whiskey 12 year Reserve)
Thursday 3/17 - Beer and Cheese Celebration with Dock Street @DiBruno Bros., Philadelphia, PA (6:00pm-8:00pm; $30/$40 for a lineup of fresh, unfiltered ales and lagers paired with an array of cheese-related plates)


A couple more Festivals
Saturday 3/12 - Phoenixville Pub Crawl @7 participating bars, Phoenixville, PA (12:00pm-6:00pm; PAYG)
Sunday 3/20 - Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational 2011 @Yards Brewing, Philadelphia, PA (1:00pm-5:00pm; $20/$50/$65 for roughly 25 firkins of cask-conditioned beer scattered around the brewery)


And, don't forget the Homebrew
Saturday 3/12 - The Kharma Factor Finals (homebrew competition) @Yards Brewing, Philadelphia, PA (5:00pm; PAYG to join in as they find out who wins and gets the chance to make a collobaration beer with Yards. $4 beers until close)

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