Dealing With Beer Week


Every year I psyche myself out. There’s so much going on during Philly Beer Week. So many zany events, so much great beer to drink, how am I going to handle it? How are we here at Foobooz even going to present it to our readers? For several days I’ve sat in a kind of stasis, frozen by enormity of Philly Beer Week. And then I start talking myself and hopefully you down. Here’s how I’m attacking Philly Beer Week.

Accept it, you can’t even get to a twentieth of the Philly Beer Week events you want

But don’t let that get you down. You can have a successful Philly Beer Week without leaving your neighborhood. There might people you don’t recognize in your local watering hole, but there will also be some great beers you don’t usually see either.

Hit at least one big Beer Week event

Sure you can stay in your neighborhood but don’t be a homebody. Hit a special event like the tomorrow night’s Opening Tap, the first Saturday’s International Great Beer Expo at the Navy Yard or the Manayunk Summer Classic.

Do something outdoors

Last year we loved the With Love Beer Garden at the Four Seasons. It’s back this year and will be open each weeknight of Beer Week from 4 to 8 p.m. It’ll be the spot to pick up guide books, merchandise and last-minute details before heading out for the evening. Each night a different local brewer will be featured at the garden. But that’s hardly the only outdoor venue; Varga Bar will host its Pints & Pin-Ups block party; East Passyunk is hosting a Craft Beer Day; Tapestry is pouring more than 30 Saisons and Frankford Avenue is being closed down for FestivALE, a weekend bash hosted by Johnny Brenda’s and Frankford Hall.

Eat, drink and be merry at a dinner event

We always recommend Scott Schroeder’s Founders beer dinner at South Philadelphia Taproom but it is far from the only food and beer pairing of the week. Alla Spina, a.kitchen, Hawthornes and Brauhaus Schmitz all are offering great dinner options.

Try a New Beer

Look for New Product introductions from one of your favorite breweries or something that’s never been poured before. In just the past couple of days we’ve highlighted the Feury brothers collaboration with Yards and the brand spanking new Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company.

Try a New Bar

With 207 venues for Beer Week, we’re betting you haven’t visited all of them. The Boilermaker has a ton of events as does Tapestry. Or go to a place that’s been around but you have never gotten around to.

Do Something Weird

There’s no shortage of weird and wacky events during Beer Week. It all starts with the Hammer of Glory tour through the city. And then there’s “Beer-lebrity” boxing at Kite & Key, the Gong Show at Standard Tap and mechanical bull riding at Percy Street Barbecue . But the oddest event that has caught our eye, Brews and Bowtiespresented by the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce held at the exclusiveRaquet Club. The June 9th event promises to teach all who attend how to properly tie a bow tie. How proper, how odd.

Utilize technology

Check out PhillyBeerWeek.org frequently for updates and this year, download the mobile phone app for both iPhone and Android. Also check out PhillyTapFinder. They do a great job keeping up to date with all the beer lists during Beer Week. On Twitter follow the #pbw hashtag and @PhillyBeerWeek for the latest news. If technology just isn’t your thing grab the dead-tree Beer Week guide that was in the May 30th Philadelphia Weekly.

Drink lots of water and maybe mix in a run

Drinking plenty of water while you imbibe is always good advice. But if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, why not a beer-themed run. There are three this year, including the Dock Street 5K, the American Sardine Bar Fried Chicken run and Fairmount Beermuda Triangle run.

This is just our first glance at Philly Beer Week. We’ll of course be covering the ten-day week exhaustively.