I went back 10 pages and didn't see anything about this, so I thought I would ask. I'm visiting Philly from DC on Saturday, and we are spending the day downtown. I've got about an hour for beer hunting between museum visits, so I want to make the visit count. I know Philly has weird laws about buying, so here's what I am looking for: A place in Philly, preferably close to the main tourist attractions, that will sell sixers and singles for me to take home. I am looking primarily for a place that will have stuff I can't get in DC, MD, or VA. I have heard Local 44 mentioned. Is there somewhere better or is this the best spot? If there is somewhere with better selection, how do prices compare? Thanks!
That's a good spot, but not close to where you'll be if you only have an hour. Corner Foodery may be the closest spot to the Art Museum area but it's as expensive as it gets.
Unless your going to be way out in West Philly, Local 44 is going to be a bit out of your way There's the BA list http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/city/13 Or this list which is a couple years old but I think most of these places are still around http://philly.thedrinknation.com/articles/read/690-Six-Pack-Stores-in-Philadelphia# Art Museum City View Pizza (16th and Spring Garden) Old Philly Ale House (20th and Brandywine) Center City Spruce Food Market (16th and Spruce) Food & Friends (20th and Spruce) Locust Deli (21st and Locust) Monde Market (21st and Chestnut) Omega Pizza (22nd and South) Town Food Market (13th and Lombard) Paolo’s Pizza (13th and Pine) Zeke’s Fifth Street Deli (5th and Pine) Pac a Deli (12th and Walnut) VIP Market (13th and Walnut) Fishtown/North Liberties Plaza Pizza (3rd and Spring Garden) Yards Brewing Company (Delaware and Poplar) North(east) Philly 2200 Broad Deli (22nd and Broad) Moffin's Steak (Tioga and Germantown) The Six Pack Store (Roosevelt and Tyson) Sunny's Grill & Beer (Rhawn and Roosevelt) South Philly Beer Heaven (Columbus and Titan) Emily’s Cold Beer (16th and Tasker) Wings & More (9th and Washington) West Philly Allegro Pizza (40th and Spruce) Best House Pizzeria (43rd and Baltimore) Colonial Pizza (43rd and Pine) Evan’s Pizza (43rd and Locust) Garden Court Eatery (47th and Pine) Bottle Shops/Boutique Stores The Bottle Shop (South Philly, 13th and Passyunk) Brew/Ultimo (South Philly, 15th and Mifflin) The Foodery (Wash. Square, 10th and Pine) The Foodery (NoLibs, 2nd and Poplar) Hawthorne’s Café (South Philly, 11th and Fitzwater) Local 44 Bottle Shop (West Philly, 44th and Spruce)
If you're in the Art Museum area, Old Philly Ale House is probably your best bet. Expensive, but so is every other place around here.
You could take a cab from the art museum to Local 44 and back in an hour. Their selection isn't the biggest but there's always a good amount of harder to get bottles and obscure imports. They very frequently have Russian River sours on the shelves (plenty of supplication and sanctification hanging around last week). Prices are in line with the rest of the city (expensive).
Also, If you're going to be at independence hall/liberty bell area you're within walking distance to the foodery location at 10th and pine, as well. They have a big selection of hard to get stuff but the highest prices in the city.
Thanks for the responses everyone! Looks like I will be hitting up local 44. Perhaps I can even convince the SO to have dinner at tired hands, since "we're practically halfway there..." If anyone is craving some DC local stuff or anything else from the area, let me know and I can bring it up for an IP meet. Cheers! Jeff
Can I ask why you picked Local 44? Just seems like it's a bit out of your way, especially if you only have an hour. Were you looking for something in particular?
Sounds from all accounts that it's got a good selection of stuff that won't have Venn diagram issues with DC, it's not the *most* expensive shop, and it provides an excuse to continue west afterwards to tired hands for dinner and a growler. Instead of making the shopping trip fit into the day I am going to convince the SO that dinner out of the city is a good idea, and that will be a quick stop on the way to the brewery
Are you planning to drive through West Philly to Ardmore from Local 44? Not meaning to be in your business, but that's not the most 'scenic' route...
Before you get out into the burbs, Lancaster Ave (Rt. 30) can be pretty shady. Some people hate driving through areas like that. Also, depending on what time you go, it's a terrible drive.
It's really not that bad, there's just a stretch on Lancaster Ave that wouldn't be the most pleasant place to get a flat after dark. But Local 44 to Tired Hands should take around 20 minutes as long as it isn't 5PM on a weekday. I make that trip quite often.
I hope I don't get shot when I'm there for Philly Beer Week! I'll be carrying multiple Tommy DiNic's sandwiches wherever I go in case I get into trouble. I can always trade a Tommy DiNic's sandwich for my life.
Hey, you should be fine... Most of Philly is safe at all times. I didn't mean to suggest danger, I just always suggest friends from downtown to take I-76 / Montgomery Drive when visiting me in Ardmore as opposed to the Google maps default of route 30 all the way. Deep West Philly is also slow to drive through.
