Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Beer Event Calendar: Philadelphia & beyond: What To Do in December 2018

File under I'm Not Dead Yet. Or, maybe, The Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated. So, too, that of Beer Blogging. Maybe. Or maybe not. Time will tell in this world of perfect pix on Instagram and ill-informed ratings on Untappd. I mean, who needs anything else in this age of beer communication and information sharing?

Well, I'll try to keep my cynicism at bay and get back to (six months later, really?! it's been that long?!) my publication of monthly and weekly calendar of beer events. Yeah, those things still happen. And they're not just pop-up releases of, regrettably more often than not, mediocre and unmemorable liquid. There's plenty of negativity, hand-wringing, pessimism, and whatnot, but we can save that for another day.

Plus, more than reading about history and profiles and facts and figures and other related stuff, you guys seem to want to know where to drink the good stuff. The calendar postings I put up here have long been some of the most popular material I share with you all. Yeah, since 2005; how about that?

Not to mention the singular most comprehensive calendar of beer events available in the greater Philadelphia region, for no cost or judgement passed. And some of you have let me know that you've missed them since May.

So let's get back to it, get out there, and enjoy the best that Philly has to offer in breweries, bars, and events......

As always, if I'm missing any that you feel should be on here, let me know.

$20 and under, down to and including FREE...Pay As You Go (PAYG) also included here

Philadelphia
Sat. 12/1; All day — Annual Fireplace Lighting Party at Devil's Den in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Mon. 12/3; 6 p.m.-8 p.m. — Bottle Shop Happy Hour at Local 44 in Philadelphia, Pa. [$Free]
Tue. 12/4; 6 p.m.-9 p.m. — Beer Season Brewery Meet & Greet: Week 2 Eight & Sand at Grey Lodge Pub in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Tue. 12/4; 4 p.m.-6 p.m. — Tuesday Tapping at Lucky's Last Chance (Manayunk) in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Tue. 12/4; 5 p.m. — Cantillon 20 Ans d'Amitié Bottle Release at Monk's Café in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/5; 6 p.m.-9 p.m. — Sly Fox & Jameson Caskmates at Grey Lodge Pub in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/5; 5 p.m.-7 p.m. — Lawson's Finest Liquids Philly Launch at Jose Pistola's in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 7 p.m.-9 p.m. — Mad Elf Night with Tröegs at Interstate Drafthouse in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 5 p.m. — Tired Hands/Half Acre Tap Takeover at Memphis Taproom in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 5 p.m. — Lawson's Finest at Bainbridge Street Barrel House in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 3 p.m. — Featured Sampling at Bell Beverage in Philadelphia, Pa. [$Free]
Fri. 12/7; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. — First Friday Art Show w/ Founders at Bottle Bar East in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; All day — 15th Anniversary Party at Good Dog Bar in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/8; 12 p.m.-5 p.m. — Second Street Sessions: Holiday Crawl at 7+ stops along North 2nd Street in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Mon. 12/10; 6 p.m.-8 p.m. — Bottle Shop Happy Hour at Local 44 in Philadelphia, Pa. [$Free]
Tue. 12/11; 4 p.m.-6 p.m. — Tuesday Tapping at Lucky's Last Chance (Manayunk) in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/12; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. — Mad Elf Night at Hop Angel Brauhaus in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/12; 7 p.m.-9 p.m. — You Buy The Glass at The Abbaye in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/13; 4 p.m.-7 p.m. — December Can Release at Evil Genius Brewing Company in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/14; 3 p.m. — Featured Sampling at Bell Beverage in Philadelphia, Pa. [$Free]
Fri. 12/14; 5 p.m.-11 p.m. — Christmas Extravaganza to Benefit Cradles to Crayons at Kite & Key in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/14 & Sat. 12/15; 5 p.m.-9 p.m. & 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — Crime & Punishmas at Crime & Punishment Brewing Company in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. — Excelling At Your Craft Brewing Symposium at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pa. [$20]
Sat. 12/15; 6:45 p.m.-8 p.m. — The Chairman Dances / Brewery ARS Anniversary at Brewery ARS in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; 5 p.m.-11 p.m. — West of Broad Holiday Pub Crawl at Six Stops at some of South Philly's Finest in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sun. 12/16; 7 p.m.-11 p.m. — A Very Metal Holiday Event wtih Copper & Kings Brandy, 2SP, and Yards at Butcher Bar in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Mon. 12/17; 6 p.m.-8 p.m. — Bottle Shop Happy Hour at Local 44 in Philadelphia, Pa. [$Free]
Tue. 12/18; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. — Trivia on Tap with Stateside & Yards Brewing Co. at Pizzeria Vetri-Chancellor Street in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/21; 3 p.m. — Featured Sampling at Bell Beverage in Philadelphia, Pa. [$Free]
Sun. 12/23; 5 p.m.-10 p.m. — Festivus at Grey Lodge Pub in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]


Philadelphia's close suburbs (within 20 mile radius of Philadelphia)
Sat. 12/1; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. — Snowflakes and Suds Multi-Tap at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Maple Shade, NJ [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/1; 6 p.m.-10 p.m. — Lighting of the Leg & Notafingah! Release at Village Idiot Brewing Company in Mount Holly, NJ [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/5; All day — Give Back Day at Conshohocken Brewing Company in Bridgeport, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 6 p.m.-9 p.m. — Imperial Stout v3 Release at Iron Abbey in Horsham, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 5 p.m. — Allagash Resurgam at Pinocchio's in Media, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 6 p.m.-9 p.m. — Firestone Walker Tap Takeover at Blue Monkey Tavern in Merchantville, NJ [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 5 p.m.-8 p.m. — Ugly Sweater Party Multi-Tap at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Media, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/13; 6 p.m. — Oskar Blues/Cigar City at Pinocchio's in Media, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/13; 6 p.m.-9 p.m. — Tröegs Mad Elf Day with Nick Johnson at Teresa's Next Door in Wayne, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/13; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. — Elf Fell Off The Shelf at Keg & Kitchen in Westmont, NJ [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; 12 p.m. — Kili Bottle Release at Broken Goblet Brewery in Bristol, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; All day — A Festivus For The Rest Of Us at Naked Brewing Company in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; 5 p.m.-8 p.m. — A Holiday Evening With Allagash at 320 Market Café in Swarthmore, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/20; 8 p.m.-10 p.m. — Deck The Halls With Ugly Sweaters & Holiday Gift Wrapping Party at Keg & Kitchen in Westmont, NJ [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/26; 7 a.m. — Boxing Day at Iron Abbey in Horsham, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/29; 12 p.m. — Fire And Ice Fest at Moss Mill Brewing Company in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. [$PAYG]


Greater Philadelphia Metro / Eastern Pennsylvania / Other (beyond 20 mile radius of Philadelphia)
Sat. 12/1; 4 p.m. — Toys for Tots with Great Lakes at Union Jack's On The Manatawny in Boyertown, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/1; 12 p.m.-3 p.m. — Beer Release: Snitches Get Stitches & Hagrid at Mispillion River Brewing Company in Milford, Del. [$PAYG]
Sun. 12/2; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. — Christkindlemart Holiday Shopping at Stoudts Brewing Company in Adamstown, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sun. 12/2; 2 p.m.-4 p.m. — Trail Clean Up Day at Fork & Ale in Douglassville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sun. 12/2; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Beats & Brunch at Two Stones Pub in Wilmington, Del. [$PAYG]
Sun. 12/2; 12 p.m.-8 p.m. — Neighbors Helping Neighbors at Locust Lane Craft Brewery in Malvern, Pa. [$PAYG]
Mon. 12/3; 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. — Monday Night Football Beer & Buffalo Wing Pairing at Bethlehem Brew Works in Bethlehem, Pa. [$20]
Wed. 12/5; 12 p.m.-8 p.m. — One off: Cherry Vanilla Honey Porter at Cape May Brewing Company in Cape May, NJ [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/5; 5 p.m.-8 p.m. — Cigar City/ Oskar Blues Tap Take Over at Home Grown Café in Newark, Del. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 5 p.m. — Neshaminy Creek Tap Invasion at The Tavern on Penn in West Lawn, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. — Great Lakes Toy Drive at Bottle Room in Downingtown, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 5 p.m.-8 p.m. — Easton Assassinator Release Party at Two Rivers Brewing Company in Easton, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 6 p.m. — Beer & Cookie Pairing at Friendly Greek Bottle Shop in Lancaster, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. — Vintage & Vinyl: The Immortal Grapes Of Wrath at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Del. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/6; 4 p.m.-9 p.m. — Dogfish Head Night at Paradise by the Slice in Wernersville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. — Fat Head's Christmas Bash at Sturges Speakeasy in Harrisburg, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 5 p.m.-8 p.m. — Ugly Sweater Party Beer Release at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Newark, Del. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 5 p.m.-8 p.m. — Cookies With Santa Beer Release at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Phoenixville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/7; 5 p.m. — Beer Tasting: Holiday Brews at Washington House in Sellersville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/8; All day — Back In Black Stout Fest at Union Jack's On The Manatawny in Boyertown, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/8; 4 p.m. — Santa Stumble With New Belgium Brewing Co. at Federal Taphouse in Lancaster, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/8; 6 p.m.-10 p.m. — Roundtop + Tröegs present Ullr Fest at Roundtop Mountain Resort in Lewisberry, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/8; All day — Phoenix Rising Beer Release at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Phoenixville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sun. 12/9; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Brunch With Santa at Victory Brewing Company in Kennett Square, Pa. [$PAYG]
Tue. 12/11; 8 p.m.-11 p.m. — Christmas Movie Quizzo & Ugly Sweater Competition at Roy-Pitz Barrel House in Philadelphia, Pa. [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/12; 12 p.m.-8 p.m. — One off: Cranberry Orange Devil’s Reach at Cape May Brewing Company in Cape May, NJ [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/13; All day — The Russians Are Coming at Two Stones Pub in Kennett Square, Pa. [$PAYG]
Thu. 12/13; 4 p.m.-9 p.m. — Holiday Beer Night at Paradise by the Slice in Wernersville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/14; All day — 23rd Anniversary Party and Hop Project No. 009 Release at Sly Fox Brewing Company in Phoenixville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; 1 p.m.-3 p.m. — Beers With Santa at Bottle Room in Downingtown, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; All day — Beer Geek Christmas at Hunger N Thirst in Lancaster, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/15; 12 p.m.-4 p.m. — The Dark Side Party Multi-Tap at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Wilmington, Del. [$PAYG]
Wed. 12/19; 4 p.m. — Christmas Party with Sly Fox & Jameson at Penn Taproom in Doylestown, Pa. [$PAYG]
Fri. 12/21; 4 p.m.-6 p.m. — Friday Night Sampling at Exton Beverage Company in Exton, Pa. [$Free]
Sat. 12/22; 12 p.m.-8 p.m. — Ugly Sweater Party at The Tap Room at Weyerbacher in Easton, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/22; 7 p.m. — Ugly Sweater Party at Bistro on Bridge in Phoenixville, Pa. [$PAYG]
Sat. 12/29; All day — Hoppy Holidays at Union Jack's On The Manatawny in Boyertown, Pa. [$PAYG]


Events Over $20

Philadelphia
Sat. 12/8; 2 p.m.-6 p.m. — Beer Brewing Program, Level One at Philly Beer School in Philadelphia, Pa. [$150-$200]
Tue. 12/11; 7 p.m. — Annual Holiday Beer Dinner at Monk's Café in Philadelphia, Pa. [$75]
Tue. 12/18; 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. — Beer and Bonsai at Love City Brewing Company in Philadelphia, Pa. [$53]
Sat. 12/22; 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. — Beer America at Philly Beer School in Philadelphia, Pa. [$51-$89]


Philadelphia's close suburbs (within 20 mile radius of Philadelphia)
Mon. 12/10 & Tue. 12/11; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. — 12 Beers Of Christmas at Iron Abbey in Horsham, Pa. [$75]
Wed. 12/12; 6:30 p.m. — December To Remember Beer Dinner at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Ardmore, Pa. [$65]
Sun. 12/16; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Holiday Taproom Brunch at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company in Croydon, Pa. [$25-$30]
Sat. 1/12; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. — Winter Beer Festival at Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, Pa. [$15-$5]


Greater Philadelphia Metro / Eastern Pennsylvania / Other (beyond 20 mile radius of Philadelphia)
Sat. 12/1; 12 p.m.-8 p.m. — Craft Beer Festival 2018 at Allentown Brew Works in Allentown, Pa. [$10-$45]
Sat. 12/1; 6:45 p.m.-9:45 p.m. — Holiday Craft Beer Dinner at Mad Chef Brewing Company in East Petersburg, Pa. [$TBA]
Sat. 12/1; 6:30 p.m. — Beer Dinner Series: Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales at Cape May Ferry Terminal in Cape May, NJ [$66]
Sat. 12/8; 1 p.m.-4 p.m. — Buy Local, Drink Local. A Celebration of Berks County Breweries at The Loft at 505 in Reading, Pa. [$30]
Sun. 12/9; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Brunch With Santa at Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pa. [$Free-$28]
Sun. 12/9; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Brunch With Santa at Victory Brewing Company in Parkesburg, Pa. [$Free-$28]
Wed. 12/12; 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. — Ugly Sweater Dinner at Trapp Door in Emmaus, Pa. [$60]
Sat. 12/15; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. — Puppy. Yoga. Beer. at Stable 12 Brewing Company in Phoenixville, Pa. [$30]
Mon. 12/17; 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. — Firestone Walker Beer Dinner In The Ballroom at Bulls Head Public House in Lititz, Pa. [$39]




© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2018. 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



Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Who's brewing today, and why, on #GivingTuesday


I can't think of a better reason to awaken this dusty beer blog than for a topic quite befitting of #GivingTuesday.

I have long ties to Northern California - personal, professional, and beer/wine/food. Beginning in October of last year and through August of this year, I visited for the first time or revisited nearly all of the breweries in the Bay Area and north that for long have set the baseline for today's surging American beer scene (take it easy there Asheville, Denver, Philly, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle, I've got plenty of love for you too). Sierra Nevada was one of them.

My first ever (finally, I know right?!) visit to Chico was an incomparable holy grail type of visit and so it should be of no surprise that the news of the devastating Camp Fire during the last month caught me off guard when I mapped Paradise, Calif. to discover it only approximately 15 minutes from Chico. It should come with even less surprise that even while the fire was still in the process of being contained, a beer industry leader and pioneer that is Sierra Nevada stepped up to coordinate relief efforts.

Sierra Nevada said that they would brew a special beer and donate 100% of gross sales, yes, folks, gross sales, to the newly-established Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund. (I'll save my opinion for another day about organizations that donate a dollar of every beer sold during a two-hour period or, worse yet from my perspective, 10% of net proceeds instead of sales.) Doesn't sound like enough? They seeded the fund with $100,000.

The beer? They're calling it Resilience Butte County Proud IPA. Further, Sierra Nevada asked breweries across the country to do the same. And asked malt, hops, and yeast vendors to "provide raw ingredient donations" (I hope that's true and would certainly symbolize the industry coming together for this cause.)

Today is brew day and by the looks of social media, brewers are doing their job so that, later in December and into January, we'll be able to do our job and purchase/drink/repeat this beer. As this country nears 7,000 brewing establishments, it's impressive to see in the ballpark of 1,000 brewers (according to the SN website) commit to the effort. Here's hoping it's even more than that. No doubt this shows the bedrock camaraderie is still alive that once defined, almost without question, this micro segment of the industry.

I did a quick skim on the list for breweries in Philly and the wider SEPA, NJ, DE brewing region. Hoping I didn't miss any, here are the ones that jumped out to me as our locals that we can be proud of in their support of this worthy endeavor on #GivingTuesday.

P.S. Do you want to make a homebrewed version of Resilience? The AHA provided the recipe supplied by Sierra Nevada and scaled it for homebrewers. Here it is.

Aston Abbey
Brewery Techne
Broken Goblet
Brothers Kershner
Death of the Fox
Dogfish Head
Earth Bread + Brewery
East Branch
Eight & Sand
Ever Grain
Fetish Brewing Company
Flying Fish
Goose Island Brewhouse-Philadelphia
Imprint
Iron Hill
La Cabra
Love City
Mad Chef
Pizza Boy
Round Guys
Second District
St. Boniface
Stoudts
Tired Hands
Tröegs
Two Rivers
Urban Village
Wacker
Wallenpaupack
Zeroday




© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2018. 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