Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Independence Brew Pub in Philadelphia, PA


Now that Adam has spurred me to writing (well, first drinking, now writing), it looks like I'm back on the posting trail. Don't ask where I've been. The answer is probably somewhere between Nip/Tuck episodes, Lew Bryson's website, reading magazine back issues that have piled up, and the holidays. Of course, you can always blame the holidays.

Whatever....I'm back in the saddle and here to tell you a little bit about Independence Brew Pub in the heart of Center City Philadelphia. I've been to Independence many times, and have never before written on the subject. Why? Oh, who knows, maybe it reflects my general feeling about the place and its beers. My feelings have ranged from love to hate, from respect to ambivalence, from anxious curiosity to deflated pessimism. Sorry for the drama, it's just that I still don't know if I can nail down my feelings for Independence.

My last time at Independence was in November. You may remember me posting about The Foodery. Well, the day started with me taking the train to the Market East station and coming to street level to have lunch at the Reading Terminal Market and a beer at Independence.....then on to The Foodery....then on to Ludwig's (future post), eventually winding up at the Monday Night Football debacle that the Eagles participated in :( So, what if I instead list some pros and cons that I've come up with over my many visits to Independence. I'd be interested to hear other's reactions since I can't seem to commit to one point-of-view :-/

Pros
   - Located above the Market East train station; no need to walk outdoors after disembarking train
   - Large space for comfortable dining and drinking
   - Upstairs with pool tables and additional space for drinking, etc.
   - Relative to other breweries (is that unfair?), these are non-imaginative, unaggressive brews; i.e. easy drinking, inoffensive and can please anyone in your group
   - Food is acceptable and suitable to a group outing


Cons
   - Respectable beers, but not wildly impressive beers
   - Service staff not very outgoing, friendly, knowledgeable, or helpful (I suppose sometimes you do want to be left alone)
   - Relative to other breweries (is that unfair?), these are unimaginative, unaggressive brews; i.e. easy drinking, inoffensive ....no, this isn't a typo!
   - The size of the place, as well as two entrances on either side of the building, adds to some of the impersonal feel....and the lack of coziness.

On one hand, it's nice that the pub is in the middle of everything and easily accessible in Center City, but that can also be a detriment. So, where do we go from here? Trust me, I'll go back again....and again. It's especially convenient because we'll occasionally do shopping at the Reading Terminal Market and the brew pub is right across the street. Plus, it's not as if the beer is bad or offensive.

It's just that if I have time on my hands, I'm making my way to Monk's, Standard Tap, Bridgid's, Eulogy, TenStone, Tavern on Green, North Third, Druid's Keep, Triumph (coming soon to Old City), Ludwig's, Grey Lodge, etc. etc. etc. Just, when you go, keep your expectations within reason.



Beer Tasting: Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout

Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout Ummmm...I don't remember, but, it was good ;-) I'll post more next time I have some. Two more bottles in the fridge. Have you tasted this beer? Let us know what you think. As a suggestion, try to keep it to five words or less for each of the following; appearance, smell, taste, mouthfeel and drinkability. Appearance Adam: Bryan: Dark as night, with a medium-copper head Matt: Smell Adam: Bryan: cocoa Matt: Taste Adam: Bryan: slightly bitter, dark chocolate Matt: Mouthfeel Adam: Bryan: smooth, silky Matt: Drinkability Adam: Bryan: like a good dessert, you don't want to share! Matt:

Monday, December 26, 2005

The Holidays



Where ever you are out there and what ever holiday you are celebrating, I wish you the best! Thanks for visiting our site this year. :-) -Adam (beer tree in on the bank of the Rhine)

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Site Changes: Categories Added

We have almost 100 posts in brewlounge! We have written about so many things, but, they can be really hard to find. I'm in the process of categorizing all our posts. This should make it a bit easier to find that review of Burp Castle that Bryan wrote ;-) I'm done! Look for "Categories" on the right side of the page.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Beer Sighting: Seasonals & Warmers

Thanks again Bryan for inviting me to the holiday beer exchange. This year I was able to participate in the big bottle and the twelve ounce exchanges. Most of the following beer is from that exchange. Twelve Ouncers (left to right) North Coast Brewing Old Stock Ale Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale Bell's Winter White Ale High Point Ramstein Winter Wheat (Weizenbock) Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Russian Imperial Stout River Horse Belgian Frostbite Winter Ale Victory Hop Wallop Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout Not appearing in this picture... Harpoon Winter Warmer Big Bottles (left to right) Young & Co's Brewery PLC Winter Warmer Middle Ages Brewing Co. Wailing Wench Rogue Ales Brewery / Brewer's on the Bay Santa's Private Reserve Ale Rogue Ales Brewery / Brewer's on the BayFestiveAle Left Hand & Tabernash Brewing Company XXXmas Ale Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem - Affligem Paters Vat Christmas Bryan & Adam's Holiday Ale ;-)

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Tasting: Harpoon Winter Warmer

Harpoon Winter Warmer Appearance: brassy, head disapates quickly Smell: gingerbread Taste: tangy hops, light gingerbread, white grape sweet? Mouthfeel: not thin, carbonated Drinkability: holiday beer with spice, surprisingly drinkable Have you tasted this beer? Let us know what you think. As a suggestion, try to keep it to five words or less for each of the following; appearance, smell, taste, mouthfeel and drinkability.

Good Beer Blogs: Links Added

Here are a few blogs that you might like, if you like our blog. They have been added to the links section.


Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Brewing Progress: Barleywine, Wee Heavy, Imperial Stout

The Barleywine is bottled. Just one problem though. I forgot the priming sugar. I'm hoping that there's enough sugars left in there to feed the extra yeast I pitched. I did check a bottle a couple days ago and it seamed to make a little pffssst when I uncapped it. I still can't believe I did this with the barleywine. It could prove to be a quite the expensive mistake. All that malt....sheesh. Both the Wee Heavy and Imperial Stout (aka Stoutenporter ;-) are still fermenting in my basement. It has been consistently cold here providing a nice cool environment for fermentation. Ahhh...waiting...it can be the hardest part of brewing. That and making stupid mistakes like forgetting the priming sugar. Above Image from this Wikimedia Commons entry. "foam on the bunghole from a barrel...on april 4th 2005 in brewery Timmermans" user Henna

Monday, December 19, 2005

Site News

Pictures...
Beer Blogging is hard work!
Let us know... Site Changes: Brew Lounge
Adam, where are you?
Site Changes: What's new?

Restaurants

Monk's Beer Dinner 1/24/06 : Pizza Port & Russian River
Monk's Beer Dinner 9/13/05 : St. Feuillien
Dave Alexander's Regional Food and Drink (aka D.A.'s RFD) in Washington, D.C.

Misc

Thirsty? What's in the fridge?
Beer Bottle: Grolsch
Birthday Weekend in Review
Video: History Channel - Modern Marvels - Brewing

Equipment

Jockey Box Chiller
ProMash: Home Brewing Software

Culture

Some Good Growler Time
Belgian Beer
Personal: Homebrewer's Blues

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