Philly Beer Week 2013 (May 31st - June 9th)

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by riemster, Apr 13, 2013.

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  1. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    What are people’s thoughts on Philly Beer Week 2013 vs. the previous year’s Philly Beer Weeks?

    Cheers!
     
    #401 JackHorzempa, Jun 10, 2013
  2. shadowane

    shadowane Zealot (631) Sep 7, 2007 Pennsylvania

    This sentiment is ridiculous.
     
    #402 shadowane, Jun 10, 2013
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  3. joeebbs

    joeebbs Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2009 Pennsylvania


    Please elaborate.
     
    #403 joeebbs, Jun 10, 2013
  4. shadowane

    shadowane Zealot (631) Sep 7, 2007 Pennsylvania

    The idea that Philly Beer Week, a week of celebrating beer in Philadelphia, should only have Philly beer on tap is ridiculous. Besides the fact that you'd be limited to what, two breweries and a couple brewpubs if you actually only have Philly beer, all beer, not just local beer, is what makes Philly such a great town.

    edit: Besides, there were quite a few events that showcased "locals" if that's what does it for you. I imagine they weren't even that busy for the most part too.
     
    #404 shadowane, Jun 10, 2013
  5. joeebbs

    joeebbs Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I get that only having Philly brewed beer in every bar would be stupid for a whole week. (or even the local beers, as defined by Philly Beer Scene) But perhaps it's just the name of it because it's in Philadelphia (and suburbs) makes sense to call it Philly Beer Week but it's more of a celebration or bragging of "look how much breweries love us and will send us teh rares!" Meanwhile events of PBW magnitude happen all year round at a lot of establishments. And it's great that there are so many establishments that support craft beer in the region and that breweries ship their beer here because they know it will sell. It's more of a Craft Beer Week than a Philly Beer Week but I suppose that happens in every city.
     
    #405 joeebbs, Jun 10, 2013
  6. shadowane

    shadowane Zealot (631) Sep 7, 2007 Pennsylvania

    I mean, yeah. Beer Weeks are Craft Beer Week in <insert city.> It's quite true that Philly has excellent beer and events all year round, but beer week is special in that there are just more. Regardless, I think we see eye to eye on this and it's just not quite what you are looking for in a beer week.
     
    #406 shadowane, Jun 10, 2013
  7. callmemickey

    callmemickey Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2007 Pennsylvania

    So "Philly Beer Week" can't have non-Philly beer, but Philadelphia's "Craft Beer Week" can? This is taking semantics to a ******ed level.
     
    #407 callmemickey, Jun 10, 2013
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  8. ajfa531

    ajfa531 Zealot (686) Jun 2, 2007 New Jersey
    Trader

    ...semantics to a handicapped level...

    e.g. I started drinking too early on Saturday and I got handicapped.

    - Joe
     
    #408 ajfa531, Jun 10, 2013
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  9. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just my two cents on this, but.... after attending numerous PBW events (maybe not as many as Retail1LO and thoreaulikeagirl, but a lot), I've come to the conclusion that some places really shine during PBW, and for some it's a complete disaster. In the case of DD, I think it's closer to the latter. The time I attended during PBW, I think they had extra staff working the BV event I was at, but that was their only concession to what (predictably) was a very busy night. I got the impression that they expected customers to understand that they would be slammed for the event, and so the need to be tolerant and patient during protracted waits. It didn't appear that the staff went out of their way to speed things up, or to try to rush orders out to the crowd. That's no knock on DD... I could name a lot of places that handle a crowd in the same manner.

    At the other end of the spectrum, you haves places like Capone's and Max's down in Baltimore. For the FB event last year, Matt pre-poured a lot of the Funky Buddha beers, to make sure orders went out to the crowd as quickly as possible. It really made a difference, as 20 minutes into the event, everyone in the place had their first order. In the case of Max's, they handed out order cards to folks waiting in line prior to 72 hours of Belgium, as well as menus. People in line were checked for ID prior to even entering the place. Again, the idea was to hopefully speed things up for the customers, and like at Capone's, it clearly made a difference.

    At Pinnochio's this past year, the staff pre-poured the entire PtY keg before the first customer entered the bar. As a result, everyone had their glass of younger 15 to 20 minutes after the doors opened.

    Again, after attending many PBW events, I hope for a Capone's or Pinnochio's type experience, but I tend to expect a DD one. If a place is too slammed then I'll walk, as for me, no beer is so wonderful that I want to have to put up with the sort of experience pwoody11 had. That being said, it is what it is, and I have a hard time giving DD or their staff a hard time for simply working at their normal pace during an unusually busy night. As a long time PBW attendee, I pretty much know what to expect, and ultimately I'm the one who can choose whether or not I want to try to put up with the crowd at an event like this.

    Again, just my two cents... I love PBW, but there's no doubt that as it's become more crowded each year, the sort of experience pwoody11 describes has become increasingly the norm rather than the exception.
     
    #409 John_M, Jun 10, 2013
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  10. Retail1LO

    Retail1LO Initiate (0) May 4, 2011 Pennsylvania


    I really don't go to a ton of events. We do more bottle sharing back at my place. This year I went to the opening act at Devil's Den, went to Memphis Tap Room for BA Abraxas the following day, Tired Hands for their anniversary on Sunday, and that was the extent of the events I traveled to. Battling crowds for beer really isn't my thing. If there's something I really want to try...sure. I didn't make it down to Capone's at all. But then I really haven't been there for a few months. Indeed, as PBW has gotten bigger, I've found it harder to go out and enjoy myself.
     
    #410 Retail1LO, Jun 10, 2013
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  11. rfgetz

    rfgetz Pooh-Bah (2,609) Nov 14, 2008 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah


    This is how I have felt. In years prior, I would be bouncing all over the city in lines or densely packed bars itching to try the rare and exotic. Last year, I kept it all local at Kite and Key and Prohibition and got to try a lot of great stuff, even a few hours after the listed tap times. This year I missed out on all of it due to moving, but I couldn't peg more than 2-3 events I would risk being in a crowd for.

    I'll never forget the insanity that was the Bell's Tap Takeover at City Tap House a few years back or even the laid back vibe of the Great Lambic Summit, but for my money, some of my favorite events have been sparsely attended events with solid, but not spectacular beer.
     
    #411 rfgetz, Jun 10, 2013
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  12. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I never had an issue with crowds all week - are there just a few key events that get swarmed?
    The worst crowds I hit was for Goose Island at Perch Pub and Civil War at The Cambridge the first Saturday. We still got served promptly, just didn't get a table.
    The second Saturday I went with a group of 10 and we never had trouble getting seating for 10. We pretty much had the upstairs bar to ourselves for Bell's at Strangelove's.
     
    #412 RichardMNixon, Jun 10, 2013
  13. ThoreauLikeAGirl

    ThoreauLikeAGirl Initiate (0) Mar 11, 2011 Pennsylvania


    *peeks in* you called?
    oh... carry on.

    i was poor this year. only went to 5 events. womp womp.
    ironically, last year i was unemployed and went to about 5 events a day. c'est la vie. thanks, tax payers :wink:
     
    #413 ThoreauLikeAGirl, Jun 10, 2013
  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I only went to two, and if I'd have gone to many more like the founders event at World Cafe Live, I'd feel like I was unemployed.
     
    #414 John_M, Jun 10, 2013
  15. SPRichard

    SPRichard Maven (1,296) Apr 26, 2008 New Jersey
    Trader

    As crazy as that was, it was my favorite event in recent years
     
    #415 SPRichard, Jun 10, 2013
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  16. bigfnjoe

    bigfnjoe Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Capones still had just about everything that was on tap yesterday still on today (including KBS). We went to the breakfast yesterday morning, and were the only ones in there for about a half hour after opening. Being able to drink all that great beer with elbow room at the bar was awesome. Plus, the omelette station was pretty great.
     
    #416 bigfnjoe, Jun 11, 2013
  17. AgeOfQuarrel

    AgeOfQuarrel Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2007 Pennsylvania


    Makes me wonder if choosing not to be a part of PBW this year hurt them by not having their name out there "officially".
     
    #417 AgeOfQuarrel, Jun 11, 2013
  18. SPRichard

    SPRichard Maven (1,296) Apr 26, 2008 New Jersey
    Trader

    Misspelled words usually hurt them when getting their name out there
     
    #418 SPRichard, Jun 11, 2013
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  19. ThoreauLikeAGirl

    ThoreauLikeAGirl Initiate (0) Mar 11, 2011 Pennsylvania

    the only time they were officially part of beer week was last year. so no, that reasoning is not what hurt them. maybe others, yes. but not that.
     
    #419 ThoreauLikeAGirl, Jun 11, 2013
  20. Axic10

    Axic10 Maven (1,386) Mar 15, 2008 New Jersey
    Trader


    I think a big reason is a few posts up.
     
    #420 Axic10, Jun 11, 2013
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