Going to philly for Presidents' Day weekend.

Use Philly Tap Finder for drafts, and run a quick search on here for Philly recommendations. I'm not trying to be a dick, but this exact thread is started almost weekly. Plenty of info on here already. Have a good trip!

 

Your best bet of getting Pliny the Elder or Blind Pig would be Monks on 16th and Spruce.

 

If you're looking for a higher-end meal to remember, all of Jose Garces places have good (but short) beer lists.

If you're looking more casual with good beer, there are many options within walking distance of where you will be, but Smokin' Betty's (southern comfort food) and Jose Pistolas (amazing burritos) are a few I've really enjoyed.

 

Phillytapfinder.com is a great resource to use. The best chance I have seen for Pliny (besides monks) would be memphis taproom or local 44. Even if it's not on tap in the city, all three of them have wonderfully curated beer lists

 

Yup, check phillytapfinder the day of your trip. January is a great time to be in Philly. Both Pliny and Blind Pig were pretty easy to get last weekend. Nugget Nectar is released this week, and Hopslam will be released the week of 1/19, if you're still around. As for more local beers, Shape of Hops to Come and almost everything from Tired Hands, although you'll need a car for the latter.

 

There are a number of threads on this, and probably two a month, if not weekly . As everyone has said, nugget nectar is approaching. As someone else has stated, I've found monks to have pliny more regularly this time of year compared to spring for some reason, but besides pliny their tap list is just meh Imo right now. Shape of hops to come was great but its probably a bit old/sold out by now.


You don't need a car for tired hands, in fact taking the paoli/thorndale light rail line is arguably easier. It runs frequently and is 5 stops to TH from 30th street station (maybe 1 long stop and 4 short ones, 12-15 minute trip max on the train). Then a block or two walk from the station to tired hands. Highly suggest doing this if you can.

 

@Rav4pudge FWIW, Philly has several bars in Draft magazine's top 100 best US beer bars... http://draftmag.com/americas-100-best-beer-bars-2015/

One small warning about navigating Philadelphia, it's footprint is very large in comparison to many other major US cities. Don't assume that because a bar/restaurant is located in Philadelphia that it will be easy/quick to reach, especially if you don't have a car... be sure to check the place's location relative to you on a map or ask someone. That said, don't stress if getting to some suggested bar in a far corner of Philly seems out of reach, because the entire city has a great beer-culture and you'll find great beer bars pouring amazing beers everywhere.

 

I'd actually say the exact opposite. If you've been out of the Northeast US, a lot of the "newer" Sun Belt cities have ridiculous city limits that incorporate all suburbs and urban sprawl.

Philly's area is 141 square miles. San Antonio is 465 sq mi, Phoenix is 517 sq mi, Houston is 627 sq mi. Jacksonville is more than 5x the size, at 821 sq mi. Philadelphia has the smallest footprint of any city in the top 20 cities by population, and only Detroit is even close.

The OP is staying near City Hall, so at least any Downtown spot will be within walking distance.

 

Ok. Fair enough. I just don't find getting around Philly from one side to the other as easy as many other cities I've been to, but I don't have as much experience in the more sprawling cities you mention.

I guess my main point is more in line with your last sentence... Philly's beer scene is awesome no matter where you are in the city, so there's little reason to hike to some far corner of the city or suburbs for that matter for a beer bar when there are surely great options nearby.

 

Yeah, Philly's mass transit is lacking compared to NYC, Chicago, or maybe DC. But all of those cities I mentioned have even less, driving is required for anything.

And yes, no reason for someone to say "drive out to Capone's", if there are a dozen places geographically closer, and of close to comparable quality.

 

you're forgetting the BA Golden Rule of "When in Philly, Head to Montgomery County."

 

although joking aside, while not for bars, that might actually be true for breweries/brewpubs. As the city proper is actually a little lacking in numbers compared to the suburbs.

 

Somewhat unrelated but... that's part of the reason I was very disappointed when I visted San Diego. For all the hoopla over San Diego's beer scene it's all very spread out over the greater San Diego area. I think Philly is by far more of a beer city than San Diego. For example it takes 30-40 minutes just to drive out to the Stone Bistro, and public transit is NOT an option. I'll take Philly's craft beer bar on every other block over San Diego any day. I'm sure I'm not biased of course...

Agreed, but the city makes up for the lack of breweries with fantastic distribution.

 

Yeah living in the city I would love some more brewpubs and such, but the great distro and bars make it easier . Some great beer on tap right now!

 

It's been a while, but Dante and Luigies was always a favorite for dinner, love Linguini in Red Clam.

 

Depends what you have access to. Post up your wants and what you have. Or post it into the IP trade for the area.

 

Not only is it smaller, much of its land area is in the Northeast. I just did a rough outline on Google Maps, and the area roughly bounded by Cecil B. Moore to the north, Oregon to the south, and both rivers was only a little under 13 square miles, and it's within that area where you will find most of Philly's many beer bars.

I'd wager that there are probably 2 dozen, if not more, excellent beer bars that are less than a 2 mile walk from City Hall. I'm obviously far better acquainted with the scene here as opposed to other cities, but I'd be surprised if there is any city that crams nearly as many excellent beer bars into such a small area, and the number just keeps growing. And the best part is, even though our subway/El system sucks, it will still take you to the places (like the Girard/Frankford corridor or S. Philly) where there are several worthy spots not quite within walking distance of the center of town.