Best-Laid Plans

Our hophead's picks for Philly Beer Week 2009.


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Published: Mar 4, 2009

michael persico

face off: On Sat., March 14, Kite & Key owner Jim Kirk (left) and Yards' Tom Kehoe will throw down sumo-style for pride (and that mask).

Right now, brewers from around the world are flying into PHL, hoping the firkin they stuffed in their luggage didn’t explode in unpressurized cargo. They’re on their way because Philly is about to put on the biggest celebration of fermentation in the country. In 2008, we didn’t know what to expect. Beer Week founders Tom Peters (Monk’s Café), Don Russell (aka Daily News columnist Joe Sixpack) and Bruce Nichols (Museum Catering) hoped that local bar owners would step up with 50 happenings. This year, 20,000 thirsty attendees are expected at more than 600 events. View the full calendar at phillybeerweek.org — and please, pace yourself.

Fri., March 6

Heed the old cautionary rhyme at Whiskey Before Beer at The Khyber (56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888) at 5 p.m., but keep in mind that an opening night hangover is inevitable.

Three years ago, when I asked Duvel sales rep Sarah Lescrauwaet when we would see the benchmark strong golden ale on draught, she laughed at me. Seems like I wasn’t the only one asking, since Duvel-Moortgat is now rolling out their first-ever kegged-for-draft beer, Duvel Green. Eulogy (136 Chestnut St., 215-413-1918) is one of the select bars pouring the stuff — taste it first at 7 p.m.

Before his death in 2007, beer writer Michael Jackson’s tutored tasting was always the finale Book and the Cook event that predated Philly Beer Week. Prohibition Taproom (501 N. 13th St., 215-238-1818) pays tribute to the man by pouring the Beer Hunter’s most-loved American brews, starting at 5 p.m. ProTap co-owner Michael Pasquarello is seeking out 12 drafts from Jackson’s all-time-favorite list, like Victory St. Victorious, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and the hard-to-get Alaskan Smoked Porter.

Sat., March 7

Malt Advocate managing editor Lew Bryson pours Germany’s morning brew at his Wheat Beer Breakfast of Champions, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford Ave., 215-825-5357).

Serious cyclists will be pedaling 60 miles for their refreshment on Le Philly Tour de Brew. Le Tour leaves from Yards Brewery (901 N. Delaware Ave.) at 10 a.m., and cruises to the General Lafayette Inn, Iron Hill North Wales and Manayunk Brewery before returning to Yards. E-mail bicycleja@yahoo.com for reservations.

The all-star event of opening weekend is sure to be New Holland/Revival Burlesque at the P.O.P.E. (1501 Passyunk Ave., 215-755-5125). The girls will be performing sassy beer-themed shows, including New Holland “beervangelist” Fred Bueltmann's number, “Bad Girls Love Good Beer.” The event is free, so get there before the 11 p.m. start.

Mon., March 9

Think your coast is the most? Drink from both sides at the weeklong East Coast-West Coast Rivalry at Local 44 (4333 Spruce St., 215-222-2337), 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Owners Leigh Maida and Brendan “Spanky” Hartranft have been hoarding unusual kegs from Russian River, Elysian, Green Flash and Dogfish Head, and inviting the makers to join in the fun. “We’re collaborating meet-the-brewer events with this smackdown-style contest,” says Maida.

Tue., March 10

You won’t be able belly up to the bar without tripping over a successful craft brewer this week. We’re keen to meet Mikio Kiuchi, of Japan’s Hitachino Nest, at Jose Pistola’s (263 S. 15th St., 215-545-4101). Jose’s may also be tapping the only 40-year-old firkin of classic Scots “real ale,” Harviestoun’s Old Engine Oil, that evening. If so, it should bring out the bearded beer geeks in droves.

Wed., March 11

Drink with your eyes at Bohemian beer night (with dirndl-clad girls!) at For Pete’s Sake (900 S. Front St., 215-462-2230), 7 p.m. A few of the waitresses have exhumed their Halloween costumes just for you, and will be attempting to carry 12 liters of Spaten beer at a time.

Fri., March 13

The Yards men say smoke ’em if you got ’em — meaning beer and barbecued meat. The mini-festival at their brewery ($15) will feature a ’cue contest and a variety of smoked beers, including Yards and Iron Hill’s collaboration on a never-before commercially brewed style, Smoked Polish Wheat. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m., and a complimentary bus will run between Yards and The Grey Lodge so you don’t have the miss the chaos of the Northeast destination bar’s Friday the Firkinteenth.

Note to extreme beer fiends: Mike “Scoats” Scotese, the cellarmaster and architect of FtF, finds that “it’s normally the more humble beers that stand out as cask beers.” Drinkers can make their own judgement on the 30 firkins, seven of which will be tapped at a time, starting at 9 a.m. and running till every one is kicked.

Sat., March 14

Yards owner Tom Kehoe and Kite & Key owner Jim Kirk will be donning sumo suits and taking it into the ring at the Throwdown in Franklintown, 2:30 p.m. at K&K (1836 Callowhill St., 215-568-1818). The prize? The right to wear Kirk’s custom Eagles luchador mask this football season. Yards Brawler Ale will be on special to get the crowd (and the fighters) in the right frame of mind.

Suburban Phish phans get a chance to commune over weed ales at noon at T.J.’s Drinkery (35 Paoli Plaza, Paoli, 610-725-0100). Not that they would know anything about that.

Sun., March 15

To cap off Beer Week, the Zythos Belgian beer festival ($45) travels to America with more than 75 world-renowned beers. Hanssen’s will be pouring from super-rare, unblended lambic casks; VIP ticketholders ($75) will be treated to a tutored tasting under the dramatic Chinese rotunda at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (3620 South St., 215-898-4000). Tickets can be purchased at phillybeerfests.com.

(felicia.dambrosio@citypaper.net)