Best Philadelphia area beers???

If you are into hoppy beer, you are not going to find much locally that would stand up to what they have out in Cali. I suggest her getting you a Growler from Tired Hands of their new DIPA, just tapped today.

'Cosmic Slop! Double IPA brewed with spelt. Hopped intensely with Citra, Simcoe, Columbus, Amarillo, and Centennial. Fermented atop purée of: grapefruit, lime, blood orange, and lemon.'

Closed Monday and open at 4pm the rest of the week www.tiredhands.com

And Ithaca Flower Power should not be hard at all to find and is delicious. Also Victory has a new DIPA called Dirtwolf which i am not sure makes it out west, but should.

 

I'd go with Boxcar Mango Ginger IPA, Troegs Perpetual IPA, Prism Felony & Prism Bitto Honey IPA, & if you can find it, Victory Dirtwolf. All local and I believe Victory is the only one available in CA.

 

I would certainly not go for any growler that you need to ship approximately 5-7 days back. I doubt you will be impressed with any of the local PA IPA'S to be honest. I would pick up some Mad Elf figuring that some might like the seasonal favors.

 

My exact thoughts. Tired Hands beer does not travel well in growlered form. Mad Elf is around as is Flying Mouflan. Voodoo and Lavery are worth checking out as well. I'd also recommend a 4pk of Flying Fish Exit 16 DIPA.

 

If all you want is hoppy stuff, I'd probably agree with @Beerisheaven (and on the growler front too). CA has some great IPA's coming out of there, and not much in PA will stack up. But if you insist, maybe Weyerbacher's Double Simcoe or Ithaca's Flower Power would do the trick.

However, if you don't want JUST hoppy stuff, I'd have to suggest Founder's Breakfast Stout. That really shouldn't be passed up. Also, Bells stuff is available in Philly - definitely worth looking into.

 

These are good recommendations also. However, Exit 16 comes in 6 packs by me.

 

Stuff that you won't get in Cali but are good Philly-area beers, IMHO

Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale
Yards Brawler
Troegs Sunshine Pilsner
Flying Fish Exit 4
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

 

Sorry, I was half watching the Broncos-Chiefs game while posting. I got Exit 4 mixed up with Exit 16. That being said, get a sixer of Exit 16.

 

Not to knock someone for suggesting Tired Hands because they do make great beer and if i did knock someone for suggesting Tired Hands I'd be doing it in every Philly thread. But this person's girlfriend is traveling and we do not know the method but I don't think she's going to make her way out to Tired Hands to get a growler and potentially put it in her luggage?

Since the OP said he is open to suggestions I'll throw in:

Anything from Yards, Philadelphia Brewing Co, River Horse, SlyFox, Flying Fish, Troegs and Weyerbacher. Just have her look for those brands and be happy for the grab bag of beers!

 

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe
Yards Poor Richards Tavern Spruce
Troegs Mad Elf, Perpetual IPA (now in cans which will probably travel better) and Hop Back Amber
Victory Dirt Wolf, Hop Devil and Golden Monkey
Flying Fish Exit 16
Just a few of my local faves! Good luck!

 

I'd suggest the Churchville but not sure it's in production.