Help a fella pick some brews at the upcoming Philly Craft Beer Festival
Thanks to Jim for sending me word about the craft beer festival being held in Philadelphia on Saturday March 1 at the Cruise Terminal, 5100 South Broad St..
I phoned the organizers, who gave me these details. About 70 craft brewers are expected. There are two sessions, noon to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m to 10 p.m. The cost is $40 per session if you buy tickets on line, $60 at the door. Designated drivers $10. The link is phillycraftbeerfest.com.
Jim wants to know which of these brews he should sample. I would say don't miss Gritty McDuff's from Maine. I have never had their beer, but I love their name.
Anybody else want to offer sampling suggestions? Click on "beer" at the bottom of the Philadephia beer festival home page and scroll through the long list of brewers that are supposed to be there. Then offer your picks.
By the way, this event is a precursor to Philadelphia Beer Week March 7 - 16, 10 days of beery celebrations. I guess in Philadelphia a week lasts longer than 7 days. More on the beer week later.
Comments
Oskar Blues was a huge surprise to me the first time I had it. Not only does it have a great taste, but the biggest surprise came because they only have it in can and keg (no bottles).- mine was in a can, nothing good normally come out of a can
Posted by: Jason | February 21, 2008 4:06 PM
Check out Lakefront Brewing from Milwaukee. They have a lot of great brews!
Posted by: Andrea | February 21, 2008 4:56 PM
The quick and dirty recommendation is to recommend whatever you can't get in Baltimore or Maryland. On that list, it's (in beta-alphical order) Wyder's Cider (although you might be able to find it 1 or 2 places), Triumph, THomas Hooker, Summit, Stewart's (brewpub in Delaware), Saint Somewhere (which I've never heard of), Peak Organic, Long Trail, Ithaca, General Lafayette, Eel River, Cricket Hill, Climax, Boulder, Atomium (Another I've never heard of--must be new), Voodoo, Paper City, Sly Fox, Rock Art, Nodding Head, Legacy, Butternuts (another wottheheck name), and Gritty McDuff's. That's STILL a gawd-awful heck of a lot of beer, even if they only bring 1-2 apiece. Good thing I have a hotel room awaiting me!
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | February 21, 2008 5:05 PM
Don't miss the offerings from Atlantic Brewing out of Bar Harbor, Maine. Their Blueberry Ale is outstanding. When you crack open a bottle, everyone within 10 feet of you will enjoy the blueberry aroma.
Their Bar Harbor Real Ale is their signature brew, and it is also very good.
They are a very small craft brewer - operating out of a building that is smaller than the space Wild Goose has for their brew kettles.
We took a tour while vacationing in Maine, and I highly recommend it to everyone else that travels through Bar Harbor and is looking for a good beer with some friendly people.
Posted by: Rick | February 21, 2008 9:56 PM
Alexander mentioned Summit--I overlooked them on my first look at the list!
They are a St. Paul, MN brewery, and their beers are incredibly popular in the Twin Cities. Their pale ales are very hoppy, but crisp and refreshing!
Posted by: Andrea | February 22, 2008 10:44 AM
Gritty's makes solid, english style ales. Good stuff, but not worth going out of your way for. However, their pub in Portland is definitely worth going out of your way for. It's a great bar.
As for the festival, besides the obvious breweries (all the Belgians, DFH, Unibroue, Stone, Rogue), I would suggest Weyerbacher, Rock Art, and Oskar Blues. North Coast is also quality -- look for their Old Rasputin or Brother Thelonious.
Posted by: BA | February 22, 2008 11:22 AM
Long Trail...I long for the day when we can finally get this in MD
Posted by: Greg S | February 22, 2008 12:31 PM
I heartily recommend Long Trail. They are a Vermont brewer and, in my opinion, superior to the better known Magic Hat (also from Vermont). I especially like Long Trail's Hibernator, a winter beer, and their Double Bag.
Posted by: Duane | February 22, 2008 3:37 PM
Here's a few to seek out, but how can you go wrong with any of the brewers here? Better yet, how do NOT drink too much good beer?
Troeg's Dreamweaver Wheat - add a slice of lemon, tastes like sumertime
Anchor Bock - if they offer it, I've only had it in CA. Delicious.
Victory HopDevil Ale - a classic. I remember it from a micro-brew fest in '95. Blew me away.
Unibroue's La Fin du Monde - get this, a Canadian micro-brewery. Found this first at Disney's Epcot. A really big beer.
Posted by: TimD | February 22, 2008 7:53 PM