Not finding a recent thread on this, apologies if my search skills have deceived me. I will be in south Philly weekend after next for my brother's art show with a car. Looking for recs of opened breweries and/or pickup availability. Would love to eat lunch or dinner at Monk's one day as well as check out one of the Tired Hands facilities (looks like they are doing an Oktoberfest party while I am there). Any other tap rooms/breweries within 30 minutes drive worth checking out? Imprint would be one. Would love to make it up for a Troon release, how do those generally work? any distro in Philly? any other breweries/bars/bottle shops a must do in the area? Thank you in advance!
Here is a recent thread concerning Philly: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/day-in-phildelphia.660966/ And a recent thread for the Philly area (SEPA): https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/whats-hot-in-se-pa.661032/ @cjgiant was very recently in the area visiting, maybe he has some suggestions for you. Cheers!
Those threads cover most of it but to address some of your specific questions: St. Oner's is still only open for takeout, so if you want to sit and have a beer you'll have to go out to Ardmore. Imprint is an hour away, not 30 mins. I think most people here would recommend Tonewood and Forest and Main a little closer than that. And my understanding is that Troon releases work by being close to or at the brewery when the release is announced on Instagram, or being clued in beforehand. That said, I've never been or even thought about trying, for that very reason, and if that has changed someone else here will have to comment.
I don't live in Philly but I have seen folks post about the wide beer selection at The Foodery (multiple locations). I recall reading that the beers are quite pricey there. http://www.fooderybeer.com/ I have no knowledge of Troon beer availability. Cheers!
In South Philly, both Brewery ARS and Second District are solid and are with walking distance of each other. Love City, Yards, Human Robot are places I like that I would recommend further north. Like previously said, Imprint is more like an hour from South Philly even when traffic is decent. And only worth visiting if you are a fan of the ridiculous candy/pastry/fruit smoothie style "beers" they focus on. They are 10 min from my house yet I've only gone three times in the 3 or 4 years they've been open.... If you are coming out to the suburbs, then Forest and Main, Workhorse, and Bald Birds arent as far (of the places worth checking out in my opinion). Any particular styles of beer you looking for?
Think Human Robot and Tired Hands will be my stops based on the above. Seems like Tired Hands is having an Oktoberfest party to coincide with my weekend in so that's good! I love all styles, the heavily fruited smoothie styles and seltzers by far the least. Any beer bars in Philly other than Monk's with noteworthy tap list?
In South Philly - I've never been to these, but South Philadelphia Tap Room, POPE, and Fountain Porter get mentioned.
Monks is my go-to when I visit Philly for work - moules/frites are a must. I hit Glory Beer Bar for the first time a few months ago and also came away quite impressed. I wanted to hit 2nd Story right across the street from Glory but it was unfortunately closed the day I went.
BRU Varga Bar Jose' Pistoles Sancho Pistoles Standard Tap Johnny Branda's the Trias Always have to mention McGlinchy's (next to Jose's) And a couple unmentioned brewpubs Earth Bread Is Bar Hyugge open?
Tom, My wife and I were in Chestnut Hill early last evening for a music event at the Mermaid Inn. We decided to visit Earth Bread & Brewing for a couple of beers and dinner (pizza). I was surprised at their very limited times they are open: “Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4:30-8:30” http://earthbreadbrewery.com/about/ I can’t help but wonder how they remain in business only operating 12 hours a week. Cheers! @rotsaruch
Man, I haven't been to the Mermaid in a hundred years, good to hear it's still going, they still have off-beat music? Just checked their schedule. Crap, Psych-A-Billy is there tonight, and I already have a show lined up.
Last night was my first visit to Mermaid Inn in likely over 10 years. My wife is friends with one of the persons in the band. It was a pleasant evening with the band set up outside in the parking lot area. The music started at 6:00. And they had Victory Hop Devil on tap which I enjoyed drinking. Cheers!
Imprint's Riwaka Nelson Wallpaper was a really killer dry hopped Pils, so they are capable of nailing other styles it seems...wish I had picked up the Czech Dark beer. I don't really like smoothie beers but am curious to try their stuff..just maybe not 25 a 4pack curious.
i made it over to imprint this weekend and came out very impressed with their ipas and pills. don't think they should be labeled as pastry/schmoojee only brewery. Also loved Human Robot, Tired Hands and of course Monk's.
I will add that I stop going to Imprint years ago. Beertenders were rude multiple times to me when i would stop in and there was this sense of entitlement in the atmosphere like their pastry/sour brews are above all else. Typically, all their brews contain lactose and a whole bunch of adjuncts and other questionable additives. Not in my wheelhouse but to each their own. Why are they adding adjuncts to an ESB?? Makes money I suppose. Anyways, to each their own. Thats cool you had a good time. Human Robot is brewing exception lagers and I try and purchase them when I find them at my local.
Yes, they seem to be capable when they want to be - I picked up cans a couple years ago of a pretty good Doppelbock they brewed. When they first started they had more diverse beers but it quickly veered down the gimmicky path and now they are like a parody.
