Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Despite being inhabited by settlers for years, Philadelphia was officially founded in 1681, when King Charles gave the land to William Penn.

It is said that when Penn sailed to America and first docked at his new land, it was next to The Blue Anchor, an Irish pub—one of many taverns and pubs in Philly. Shortly thereafter, Penn began work on his first brewery.

Ever since, beer has run through the history of Philadelphia just as the Schuylkill River runs through the city itself. In 1840, John Wagner is thought to have brewed the first American lager in Philadelphia, and by 1870, the city boasted nearly 70 breweries (and still has a neighborhood called “Brewerytown” to show for it). The city’s taverns have also played a large role in the city’s history; the Old City Tavern was likely the “unofficial” meeting place of the First Continental Congress, and the idea for the Marine Corps was born at the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia’s now-historic Old City.

Today, Philly has upwards of 20 breweries within a 100-mile radius, including Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, and nationally known brands like Victory, Flying Fish and Stoudt’s. And at no other time is the force of the city’s passionate beer culture more evident than during the annual 10-day blowout known as Philly Beer Week. Established in 2008, it is the first and largest event of its kind in the country, with countless events spread across over 200 venues, and growing. Philadelphia is a city of distinct and diverse neighborhoods, each having its own unique personality and, of course, local watering holes. Here are just a few of the best.

Monk’s Café
One of the most venerated drinking establishments in the world, Monk’s put Philly on the beer geek map. Co-owners Tom Peters’ and Fergus Carey’s frequent trips to Belgium result in their staggeringly huge stock of fresh, and often rare, Belgian beers. In the mix is always one tap dedicated to their Monk’s Flemish Sour.

Standard Tap
Standard Tap serves a purely local selection at its upstairs and downstairs bars in the Northern Liberties area. Patrons select from nearby breweries like Victory, Sly Fox, Weyerbacher, Philly Brewing Co. and even the occasional Dogfish Head (which Philadelphians like to claim is “local” as well).

Eulogy Belgian Tavern
While the 21 taps are impressive—including their own Eulogy’s Busty Blonde—the real draw is the 300-plus bottles and cans available. The location (in the historic Old City neighborhood) and monster beer list make it susceptible to overcrowding, but brave the throngs—your chances of finding beer bliss here are sky high.

Memphis Taproom
Amazing bar food and a diverse selection of beer styles makes Memphis Taproom a staple of the Kensington-area beer scene. The bottle list is packed with gems—including some large format and vintage finds—and the draft options never disappoint. During the summer months, stop by their outdoor beer garden for gourmet hot dogs and canned craft beer.

City Tap House
Their 60 taps are constantly changing. If you’ve got a large party, this is the place to go—the space inside is huge, and it’s complemented by a sprawling outdoor patio overlooking University City.

South Philadelphia Tap Room
SPTR always has something good waiting on one of their 13 taps, which include a healthy mix of local brews as well as great finds from all over the country—and their bottle list is no different. Weekly happy hour specials offer half-off appetizers and local drafts on weekdays from 4pm-6pm.

Khyber Pass Pub
A venue that used to be known more for its live music scene, the Khyber was recently revamped and now offers 22 taps and an extensive bottle list. Just around the corner from Eulogy in Old City, the Khyber is a quick and easy beer stop on any night out. The food is also worth checking out, especially for vegans.

McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Originally built in 1860, McGillin’s is the oldest continually operating bar in Philadelphia. Because the rest of the city was built around it, McGillin’s can be hard to find on its one-block alley down a dead-end street in Center City. It’s worth the hunt just to grab the 1860 IPA, a brew made exclusively for the bar by Stoudt’s.

The Farmers’ Cabinet [closed]
A relatively new destination in the Philly beer scene, Farmers’ Cabinet specializes in rare European beers (the beers are even listed by country). Extremely knowledgeable bartenders and the ability to purchase half-sized pours will keep you coming back for more. Coming soon: an on-site 2-barrel nanobrewery brewing solely for the restaurant.

Tria
Named for the trio of fermented goods it specializes in (cheese, wine and beer), Tria is the perfect place for the many couples who find themselves divided into beer and wine drinkers. The ever-changing beer selection is broken down into categories—“Invigorating,” “Friendly,” “Profound” and “Extreme.”

Brauhaus Schmitz
This authentic German beer hall is housed in South Philly, and offers a plethora of German beers on tap and in bottles. Brauhaus also serves up an ample portion of German food, music and lots of lederhosen. Be sure to get a soft pretzel—one of the most popular snacks in Philly—while you sip on your half-liter of Hofbrau.

Kraftwork
With a beer menu that lists what’s being poured from each of their 25 rotating taps as well as what’s on deck when each keg kicks, Kraftwork is a beer geek’s dream come true. The wide selection usually includes one or two rarities, so repeat visits are a must—if not for the beer, then certainly for the out-of-this-world Yard’s Porter mustard that comes with every order of fries.

The Foodery
The staff’s in-depth knowledge of The Foodery’s vast stock of beers makes this bottle shop the perfect place to get a rare bomber for Philly’s thriving BYO scene. Between their two stores, The Foodery offers over 800 American and imported craft beers available in single bottles that you can pick and choose from to create your own six-pack.

Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant
Often called the best brewpub in Philly (though don’t miss Triumph Brewing Co. in Old City), Nodding Head in Center City plays host to one of the best beer events as well—The Royal Stumble, where brewers chase customers around trying to get them to drink their beers. But don’t wait for the Stumble—every night sees a lively crowd of amiable beer fans. The Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse is one of the best you’ll have. ■