Thursday, December 20, 2012

Weekly Beer Calendar Update: December 20 - December 31

This list is Santa-approved. Even as the year winds down, whether you've been naughty or nice, check this list twice and get out there to relax and enjoy some of the area's best beer and bars at these nearly 40 events.

This will be the last calendar update of 2012. As always, it's my pleasure (and madness) to continually bring you the best of the Philly beer region in weekly and monthly calendar updates. All the best to you through this holiday season.

Check out the entire December 2012 calendar over here. If I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, don't hesitate to let me know.

First up once again, and continuing what seemed to be popular with you guys last week, I'll draw your attention to special event tap lists posted up at PhillyTapFinder.com.

As I asked last week, show the Philly love and go check out the events on PhillyTapFinder, then go check out the beer in person. If you like this idea, let me know.

PhillyTapFinder.com
@2nd Street Brew House, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Christmas/Not End Of The World Party (8 p.m.; $PAYG for this special event tap list brought to you by PhillyTapFinder.com)

@Barcade, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Duck-Rabbit Brewing Night (4 p.m.; $PAYG for this special event tap list brought to you by PhillyTapFinder.com)

@The Institute, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Sat. 12/22 - Chocolate, Coffee, and Barrel-aged Things (2 p.m.-8 p.m.; $PAYG for this special event tap list brought to you by PhillyTapFinder.com)


Brewery Promos and Samplings
@Austin's Beverage, Collegeville, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Friday Night Sampling (4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; $Free tasting samples of Rogue Santa Private Reserve, Widmer Brrr, Anchor Christmas, and Goose Island Christmas.)
@Austin's Beverage, Collegeville, Pa.--- Sat. 12/22 - Saturday Afternoon Sampling (2 p.m.-3 p.m.; $Free to tasting samples of Shock Top Midnight and Goose Island Christmas)
@Austin's Beverage, Collegeville, Pa.--- Fri. 12/28 - Friday Night Sampling (4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.; $Free tasting samples of Rogue beers.)

@Beer Yard, Wayne, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Friday Night Sampling (5 p.m.-7 p.m.; $Free tasting samples of Unibroue La Fin Du Monde because the Mayan calendar says the world is going to end tomorrow (or thereabouts) so what better beer to pour?)

@Earth Bread + Brewery, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Flying Fish Promo (4:30 p.m.; $PAYG for lots of Flying Fish beer on tap)

@Exton Beverage, Exton, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Friday Night Sampling (4 p.m.-6 p.m.; $Free tasting samples of Stella Artois)

@Hop Angel Brauhaus, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Germany Comes from Cleveland (6 p.m.-10 p.m.; $PAYG for a night with Great Lakes Brewery from Cleveland.)

@Old Eagle Tavern, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Sat. 12/1-Mon. 12/31 - Brewery Of The Month ($PAYG for month-long specials on beers from Schmaltz Brewing, aka He'Brew)

@Perch Pub, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Tue. 12/11 - Sat. 12/22 - The Twelve Beers of Christmas 2012 ($PAYG for twelve award-winning seasonal brews and a nine-foot recycled beer bottle Christmas Tree to help benefit The Salvation Army.)

@Pinocchio's, Media, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Victory Tasting (7 p.m.-9 p.m.; $PAYG for beers from Downingtown)

@Sly Fox, Phoenixville, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Third Friday Firkin Fest (11:30 a.m.; $PAYG for Chester County Bitter, Pughtown Porter, and Brewer's Select Pale Ale from firkins)

@Standard Tap, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Wed. 12/26 - Firkin Wednesday (6 p.m.-9 p.m.; $PAYG for a Flying Fish firkin still TBD.)

@Valley Forge Casino Resort, Valley Forge, Pa.--- every Thursday in December - Sly Fox Thirsty Thursday (5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; $PAYG for Sly Fox specials and giveaways)


"Takeovers", Debuts, Festivals, and other noteworthy events
@City Tap House, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Sat. 12/22 - Stone Vertical Epic Series (12 p.m.-2 p.m.; $100 for this once in a lifetime opportunity to taste the Stone Vertical Epic Series, with a specially-crafted food pairing menu and keepsake Stone glassware.)

@Kite & Key, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Sat. 12/1-Mon. 12/31 - 31 Days Of Christmas ($PAYG for a constant selection of Christmas Seasonals on tap. As always, Mad Elf will be a permanent handle throughout the month.)

@The Drafting Room, Exton, Pa.--- Fri. 12/28 - Smuttynose Tap Takeover (5 p.m.; $PAYG for Vunderbar, Zinneke, Big A, Porter, IPA, Brown Dog, and more.)

@Union Jack's On The Manatawny, Boyertown, Pa.--- Sat. 12/22 - Hoppy Holidays (1 p.m.; $PAYG for a draft list (and firkin) of overly hopped beers. 3-liter '11 Tröegs Mad Elf and 3-liter '09 Corsendonk Christmas Ale to be raffled off)

@World Café Live, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Thu. 12/27 - Winter Beer Festival (5 p.m.-9 p.m.; $40 to sample the offerings of over 30 breweries.)


Food and Beer events
@Kennett, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Mon. 12/31 - New Year's Eve with Yards Brewery (8 p.m.; $65 for a four-course meal paired with Olde Bartholomew Barleywine, Trubbel de Yards, Love Stout, and ESA.)

@Monk's Café, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Mon. 12/31 - New Year's Eve Dinner (6:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.; $75 & $125 for a four-course and six-course feast, respectively, paired with excellent beers.)

@Side Bar, West Chester, Pa.--- Sun. 12/23 - Sunday Christmas Brunch with Dogfish Head ($TBD for an aged-DFH brunch that will include at least Palo Santo Marron '11, Olde School Barleywine '11, Burton Baton '11, and World Wide Stout '11.)

@Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pa.--- Mon. 12/31 - New Year's Eve Beer Dinner (6 p.m.-8 p.m.; $75 for a six-course meal paired with Braumeister Pils, Midlands Stout, Helios Ale, Headwaters Pale Ale, Yakima Glory, and Old Horizontal.)


Homebrewing, Charity, and Education
@Yards Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Cancer Is Ugly Sweater Christmas Party (7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; $40 as all Yards beers will be on tap that night, as well as a few special rarities. Your ticket includes access to all of this - not to mention brewery tours, live music, and so much more. There will also be an ugliest sweater grand prize, so make sure to raid grandma and grandpas closet.)


Special holiday-themed events
@Craft Ale House, Limerick, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Mad Elf Par-tay (6 p.m.-10 p.m.; $PAYG at the annual last promo of the year featuring Scratch beers, Mad Elf, and lots more from Tröegs.)

@Devil's Den, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Tue. 12/25 - It's A Mad Elf Christmas (7 p.m.; $PAYG for a great holiday tradition of some great Christmas Beer and a limited food menu.)

@Forest & Main, Ambler, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - Twas The Night (7 p.m. & 10 p.m.; $PAYG for dinner by candlelight with Victorian-themed dishes. A reading of the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at 7 for families and again at 10 for the bar crowd.)

@Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Sun. 12/23 - Festivus (6 p.m.-10 p.m.; $PAYG for an old fashioned Festivus with all the trimmings including an aluminum pole, Feats of Strength (with prizes), Airing of Grievances, and if we're lucky some Festivus miracles. We'll have a greatest hits of Xmas beers on tap including Tröegs Mad Elf, Great Lakes Xmas Ale, Goose Island Xmas Ale, Manayunk Festivus, Scaldus Noel, and Sly Fox Xmas Ale.)

@Iron Abbey, Horsham, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Christmas Vertical Pairing (5 p.m.; $PAYG for last year's version paired with this year's version. 12/21's special tapping is Dupont Avec Les Bon Voeux.)

@Memphis Taproom, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Wed. 12/26 - Boxing Day Beer Festival ($PAYG for some of the best holiday & seasonal ales from around the world. In the spirit of Boxing Day, please bring canned and non-perishable food items and (gently used) winter coats for donation to two local organizations.)

@Varga Bar, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Sun. 12/23 - Sing-a-long Christmas Karaoke with Smuttynose Brewing (9 p.m.; $PAYG to dress up in Christmas gear, sing Christmas cheer, and drink some Smuttynose craft beer.)


End Of World parties are all the rage this week
@Craft Ale House, Limerick, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - End Of The World Dogfish Tap Takeover ($PAYG for Theobroma and many others)

@Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Thu. 12/20 - C'est La Fin du Monde, et Nous Nous Sentons Bien (11 p.m.; $PAYG to drink Unibroue's La Fin du Monde and a load of bottle-conditioned Unibroues too.)

@Iron Hill, Maple Shade, NJ--- Thu. 12/20 - End Of The World Party (5 p.m.-9 p.m.; $PAYG to beef up for the Apocalypse as we serve up some of the finer and fattier delicacies in life. Featured beer is Apocalypso, a single-hopped American IPA with 100% Calypso hops.)

@Varga Bar, Philadelphia, Pa.--- Fri. 12/21 - Celebrate The End of the World with the Mayans and Left Hand ($PAYG to celebrate what surely should be the end of the world's best party with beer from Left Hand.)




No comments: