tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-150638142024-03-07T01:02:59.125-05:00The Brew Lounge<hr><i>Telling the stories behind the passionate pursuit of great beer since 2005.<br>Do you need a copy of my book - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beer-Lovers-Mid-Atlantic-Breweries-Brewpubs/dp/1493001558">Beer Lover's Mid-Atlantic</a>?</i>Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.comBlogger3369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-35751254161521760832023-01-20T16:11:00.002-05:002023-01-20T16:11:37.181-05:00Glass half empty or full?
Just paid my annual domain fees for The Brew Lounge. What should I do with it?
© Bryan J. Kolesar and The Brew Lounge, 2023. 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 Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-86279118225368276202022-06-01T14:00:00.001-04:002022-06-01T14:22:59.454-04:00Philly Beer Week, you can't quit us. June 3-June 12, 2022.(TLDR? - Well, shame on you, but go ahead and Click Here anyway) 😎It took me 364 days to get my first Brew Lounge posting of 2021 out there in the wild. Only took me 5 months here in 2022! What does that mean? Oh, likely not much. However, just because I haven't been writing about the beer scene doesn't mean it still doesn't interest me.So then what do we have here? Why, it's Philly Beer Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-17032662083468067982021-12-31T10:55:00.000-05:002021-12-31T10:55:04.048-05:00Hello. Is this thing on? Who needs a beer to close out 2021?According to stats for TheBrewLounge.com, I haven't had anything to say or share here in the year 2021. How can that be? Well, at least here on the last day of the year, I'll change that and at least not show a goose egg for the first time in the 16 year history of The Brew Lounge.
Will that change in 2022? Dunno, too soon to say. Should probably figure out first if I have anything in my voice Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-6243978462928680982020-12-18T14:15:00.003-05:002020-12-18T14:15:09.937-05:00Here's how to help your local brewery this winter
I don't need to tell any of you why this year will go down as one of the most unforgettable, most miserable, most {fill in the blank}... through which most of us will likely ever live.
And I probably don't have to cart out one of the most urgent pleas -- that being, to support your local small businesses in whatever way possible. Not just here at the holidays, when it's easier. But, throughoutBryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-58130984925257585602020-09-17T09:30:00.007-04:002020-09-17T09:37:54.377-04:00In Memory of Jack Curtin, part 6: "The 1995 Project"[Click the picture for access to a 26-page PDF version of the 6-part series, The 1995 Project (including comments)]<<<--- Back to Part 5
Fitting that this 6th entry in my Jack Curtin-In Memoriam series is a 6-part series of Curtin's — The 1995 Project. Actually, it was part of my decision to run this series. On Facebook, Don Russell (aka Joe Sixpack) made passing reference to Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-50665660917665880042020-09-10T13:00:00.010-04:002020-09-17T09:36:52.051-04:00 In Memory of Jack Curtin, part 5: "Stockbrokers Gone Wild" or "IPO guys turned loose in the world of IPAs"[Click the picture for access to a 6-page PDF version of the article]<<<--- Back to Part 4A link for you to head off to Part 6 --->>>
Alrighty, this is where things really get good in this look back on the life of Jack Curtin as seen through his beer writing. The '90s were mostly a mess, a confusing mess. As I came of (legal) drinking age in the early '90s, I searched out Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-14795618084932247832020-09-09T11:00:00.099-04:002020-09-17T09:35:01.257-04:00In Memory of Jack Curtin, part 4: "Celebrating Michael Jackson, again"[Click the picture for access to a 2-page PDF version of the article]<<<--- Back to Part 3A link for you to head off to Part 5 --->>>
This unofficial memorial continued yesterday with a look back on the life of Jack Curtin as seen through his beer writing in an article he'd written about Michael Jackson in Philly in 2000.
Today Jack takes us forward to summer 2007 with an Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-12396460802857034702020-09-08T14:00:00.004-04:002020-09-17T09:26:54.727-04:00In Memory of Jack Curtin, part 3: "Celebrating Michael Jackson"[Click the picture for access to a 2-page PDF version of the article]<<<--- Back to Part 2A link for you to head off to Part 4 --->>>
This unofficial memorial that looks back on the life of Jack Curtin as seen through his beer writing got off to a great start last week. Thanks to the many of you that have followed along thus far, sharing and commenting on the first couple Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-58673062278347590982020-09-04T10:30:00.138-04:002020-09-17T09:40:40.474-04:00In Memory of Jack Curtin, part 2: "Belgium in Philadelphia, the early years"[Click the picture for access to a 3-page PDF version of the article]<<<--- Back to Part 1A link for you to head off to Part 3 --->>>
Jack liked to tell stories, right? But Jack also had a thing for facts. As in, get 'em straight. He never hesitated to point out or question something he knew or believed to be incorrect in my writing. Made me a better writer, particularly from aBryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-34541243935382145412020-09-03T18:00:00.121-04:002020-09-17T09:32:57.670-04:00In Memory of Jack Curtin, part 1: "The Long and Sordid History"
<<<--- Back to the Intro postA link for you to head off to Part 2 --->>>
Here we go, off and running with the first part in the series that looks back on Jack Curtin as seen through his beer writing. Figured starting off with basically what was his About page on his blog would be the best place to begin. Earlier today I introduced my motivation for this series, which is stillBryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-12013459915203030442020-09-03T10:15:00.003-04:002020-09-04T08:48:24.273-04:00In Memory of Jack Curtin: A Beer Writer and His WorkUpdated with a link for you to head off to Part 1 --->>>
Jack Curtin passed away on August 30, 2020. Here is a link to his obituary.
John Thompson, coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, passed away one day later on August 31 and I'm sure Jack is needling him endlessly now about the 1985 Villanova championship victory over his team. Coincidentally, esteemed beer writer/journalist Michael Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-84298848642753275542020-03-19T17:00:00.000-04:002020-03-19T17:00:06.182-04:00Want to know which Philly area breweries are open and ready to help you through the pandemic, distancing, and quarantine?Took a little spin through 80 of our local beer brewing establishments (brewery tasting rooms and brewpubs) to find out who's doing what as we meander through these uncharted waters.
I relied solely on websites and social media of each location and decided not to burden the staffs with additional inquiries for validation.
Check out the Google Sheet I put together and you'll find many are doing Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-79722835002715639742020-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:002020-01-22T08:22:23.497-05:0096 Hours in Wisconsin as seen from the barstool at 15 breweries and 2 distilleries
Click the picture for a tankful of beer, brewery, and brewpub pictures in Wisconsin
Let's talk Wisconsin beer. My travels around the world and through this life have taken me to some pretty incredible beer destinations. Back in September, I visited Madison and Wisconsin for the third and fifth times, respectively.
From a beer perspective, you may be forgiven if all you know of the State is Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-21150031717975750652020-01-20T13:00:00.000-05:002020-01-20T13:00:05.929-05:00Rest In Peace 2019 - Thanks For All The BeersAs I do each year, it's time to look back on those individuals that we lost in 2019 and their significant contributions to the industry. 2019 certainly saw a unusually high number of our younger beer buddies leave us.
First up, however, is one that I missed in 2018.
6/24/18, Lynn Hoffman, 73, throat cancer
~ A writer of good things beer and wine, in the beer world he taught courses Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-34511478324289783162019-08-16T05:00:00.000-04:002019-08-16T05:00:10.377-04:00Staying local at Monk's
I've been at this thing for almost 14 years now, officially on the record, that is, with The Brew Lounge, etc. These Monk's dinners which were once a standard, reliable nearly on a monthly basis for a while, are much more infrequently spaced out during the year. But, the excellence remains.
So while Monk's has maintained its standing in the city's (and country's) beer scene, there's just oneBryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-3538215504713193262019-08-12T17:30:00.000-04:002019-08-12T21:38:37.996-04:00Back to Monk's Cafe for dinner
Let's see if this thing still works. In all probability, I put too much "material" on social media that could instead make for better-reading blog posts here. But I'm beyond apologies; it's the way these days, it seems.
Enough hand-wringing. Let's talk about Monk's Cafe. Let's talk about how tomorrow, Tues. 8/13, will not only be the day that would mark my father's 96th birthday (!), it willBryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-27550463264759761632019-06-03T17:00:00.000-04:002019-06-03T17:14:13.641-04:00Philly Beer Week the 12th hits its stride early
The first three days of Philly Beer Week 2019 are in the rear view mirror. I concur with the feedback I heard from many on both sides of the tasting tables that the 2300 Arena as a venue worked well for Opening Tap, utilizing both indoor and outdoor (under I-95) space to facilitate the flow between tasting tables and other amenities like axe throwing, photo booth, food, and live music. Other Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-82746421007157879532019-05-30T17:00:00.000-04:002019-05-30T17:00:01.120-04:00Rest up tonight Hammer of Glory, your big day is tomorrow
(HOG shenanigans in 2017 with Allagash's Rob Tod, Suzy Woods, and Katie Tella)
Remember that detailed itinerary for the Hammer of Glory I referred to the other day? Found it. Thanks to Mr. Scoats and Ms. Dowd for forwarding along to me.
25 stops in 9 hours. Looks like we'll finally get a break in monsoon season and a great weather day to kick off PBW 2019. Can you keep up?
Stop #1 10:00-10Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-19166850329412837562019-05-28T21:00:00.000-04:002019-05-28T21:02:47.667-04:00Time to get back on the Philly Beer Week wagon
I could not have been more proud of the work I did during Flagship February. So much so that I left it up here for the last three months while I collected myself and tried to determine where to go next. Well, I drank some good beers here, there, and everywhere. Did my social media bit and wrote some for Ale Street News.
Now it's time to move on to Philly Beer Week, the 12th edition. (The Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-3774364201786031852019-03-01T10:00:00.000-05:002019-03-01T10:49:52.253-05:00Index + Wrap-Up of Flagship February Beers [Philadelphia edition]Weeelllll, that was the longest 28-day month ever! I made 28 PDFs to accompany 28 posts that featured 28 flagship beers after getting in touch with 28 breweries and putting my lips on 28 beers. 14 beers were consumed at the brewery and 14 were consumed at home. Every brewery had personal input, but I had 12 in-person conversations and 2 phone conversations to aid in building the profiles. It was Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-25945193254402620482019-02-28T12:30:00.000-05:002019-02-28T12:38:24.947-05:00Flagship February daily feature - Sierra Nevada Pale AleI'm closing out the month of #FlagshipFebruary with two American classics that help start us down the road to where we are today. Throughout the month, I first featured 26 flagship beers in the greater Philadelphia region. Then, yesterday, I featured Anchor Steam and today I bring this undertaking to a close with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
Similar to my mention in Anchor's feature, Sierra Nevada's Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-35246732642298284082019-02-27T10:30:00.001-05:002019-02-27T10:38:03.160-05:00Flagship February daily feature - Anchor Steam BeerAnchor Brewing's special place in American brewing history is well-documented. If you're not familiar, I strongly suggest checking it out over here. In my frequent trips to the Bay Area over the last twenty years, I've drank plenty of Anchor around town, at the SFO airport, and been to the landmark brewery twice. Somehow, in all my grand organization of pictures on my numerous hard drives, I'm Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-7619469923413075142019-02-26T12:00:00.000-05:002019-02-26T12:00:08.525-05:00Flagship February daily feature - Sterling Pig Big Gunz DIPAI'm fairly certain that each time I've eaten at Sterling Pig, there's been a burger in front of me...or pulled pork. Burger and a beer. Either the Snuffler IPA or the Big Gunz DIPA or the This Little Piggy IPA. It just makes perfect sense.
There are also nachos, the Czerw sausages, smoked wings, and wood-fired pizza. The kitchen makes great use of the wood-fired oven. And you're tempted with theBryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-59751881945095752372019-02-25T11:30:00.000-05:002019-02-25T11:30:06.975-05:00Flagship February daily feature - Philadelphia Brewing Kenzinger BeerThe home of Philadelphia Brewing Company in Kensington is a strikingly beautiful look back on the city's brewing history. Once home to Weisbrod & Hess (1882-1938), markings of the brewery are still evident in the stone and tile work as well as the original name emblazoned on the exterior facing Amber Street.
A lot of good beer and events served up in one block where Philadelphia Brewing Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15063814.post-28244806247369888812019-02-24T13:00:00.000-05:002019-02-24T13:18:24.329-05:00Flagship February daily feature - East Branch Der BachEast Branch has been a perfect addition to Downingtown's beer scene. As Victory has grown much larger, East Branch opened almost two-and-a-half years ago (coincidentally, with former Victory brewer, Kevin McGovern, manning the mash paddle) to fill the demand for a small brewpub.
The brewery opened first with a small tasting bar and later moved the bar to a much more spacious upstairs, complete Bryan Kolesarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13063224838193829628noreply@blogger.com0