Overwhelmed at Monk's Cafe. Help?

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by PetieP, Nov 27, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 3
  1. PetieP

    PetieP Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2011 Pennsylvania

    Hey guys and gals. Im in downtown Philly for a few days while my wife is training for her new job. Mini vacation. Last time she went, she stopped in a few bottle shops and brought home some gems, so I decided to join her this time and do my beer shopping while she's in her training classes. I'm about 6 blocks away from Monk's Cafe, so I'm headed there at some point.

    I checked their website for tap and bottle list. Very excited to finally get Pliny (on tap, no less!), but when I saw the bottle list, i got weak in the knees. SO many things I'd love to bring back with me, but I have to be picky.

    I've got a cellar of almost 300 bottles, with only a handful of really notable bottles, so I want to add a few diamonds to the collection. At the same time, I want a bottle or two to enjoy this week, or possible for the holiday.

    tl;dr - Going to Monk's, want to get some bottles for cellaring, and some to enjoy right away. Suggestions?

    If you've the time, give it a look-see and let me know what you think. I definitely want to get a Cantillon, but I'm unfamilar with them, dont know which to choose. Same with Russian River. I've got a Temptation, and had Damnation, but wouldnt know which of their others to get.
    http://www.monkscafe.com/bottles.cfm

    Thanks so much, friends. Having only been beer-geeking for 2 years, I'm still learning and have a ways to go. Any advice is appreciated.
     
    #1 PetieP, Nov 27, 2012
  2. Pnell316

    Pnell316 Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Good luck those gems you see, probably wont leave the premisis, especially the loons. Plus any bottles that do leave can pobably be foud somewhere else cheaper.
     
    #2 Pnell316, Nov 27, 2012
  3. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    In addiition to Pliny have the Blind Pig. Bottle wise if you haven't had any Port IPAs I really liked the Mongo. I also have a Wipeout but haven't drank it yet.
     
    #3 fredmugs, Nov 27, 2012
  4. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    If you haven't had them, then...
    Firestone Walker Abacus
    Firestone Walker DDBA
    Lost Abbey Deliverance
    Port Brewing Older Viscosity
     
    #4 fujindemon74, Nov 27, 2012
    ao125 likes this.
  5. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    Most of the rare stuff like 'loons are on-premises only.

    P.S. you should move this to Mid-Atlantic
     
    #5 chcfan, Nov 27, 2012
  6. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    Why? He wants comments on beers from all over the world and outside of his personal territory.
     
    #6 fredmugs, Nov 27, 2012
  7. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    That tap list was from 4 days ago. I can't imagine Pliny is still on after a busy weekend...

    Don't worry about getting anything to cellar. Just not worth it at bar prices, if they even let you take what you'd want. Enjoy whatever style floats your boat - Monk's isn't going to serve you crappy beer.
     
    #7 cbeer88, Nov 27, 2012
  8. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    stick with the taps. They are not cheap either. Check out phillly tap finder and you can see the beers and bars around you. Monks is great but there are others too.

    Pretty sure Devils Den will sell you bottles to go. They should have the fire place going with this weather. Nice spot to hole up at. Usually a good beer list and pretty good food.

    PS
    I love the seitan cheese steak at monks

    enjoy
     
    #8 Giantspace, Nov 27, 2012
  9. Hotmetal1

    Hotmetal1 Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2012 Mississippi

    Cantillon St. Lamvinous
     
    #9 Hotmetal1, Nov 27, 2012
    GrumpyOldTroll and gpawned like this.
  10. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I agree there are many others.

    I'd say Monk's beer offerings are good/great depending on your tastes, but that is all.

    Customer service, food, atmosphere, etc, average to poor.

    I'd rather spend my money at Devil's Den, among other places.
     
    #10 fujindemon74, Nov 27, 2012
  11. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    Because that's how the site usually works?
     
    #11 chcfan, Nov 27, 2012
  12. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    It looks like your from PA but not Philly, so I would go with any of the RR sours since they're only distributed here. However, you'll likely get better prices on them at bottle shops around the city.
     
    #12 chcfan, Nov 27, 2012
    fujindemon74 likes this.
  13. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,239) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Reality is about to hit hard.
     
    #13 BearsOnAcid, Nov 27, 2012
    ShogoKawada, jmdrpi, SpeedwayJim and 2 others like this.
  14. xnicknj

    xnicknj Initiate (0) May 25, 2009 Pennsylvania

    if you want RR bottles (or other things you might not be able to find) to-go it sounds like you're within walking distance from the foodery or food and friends. they wont be cheap, but both places typically have some.
     
    #14 xnicknj, Nov 27, 2012
  15. PetieP

    PetieP Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2011 Pennsylvania

    Thanks for all the advice, guys. I had been told that most is dine-in, but that sometimes they let you slip away with a bottle every now and then. Gonna check the tap lists around here and hope to find Pliny, but no big deal if its gone. My taste is basically pro-anything but smoked beers, so I wont have a problem enjoying myself. If I strike out on take-out bottles, I was planning on hitting every bottle shop I could find, anyway. Was also holding my breath for Beatification. I should probably exhale, I suppose.

    And thanks for the heads up on Devils Den. Saw that somewhere else, and the name stuck with me. That'll definitely be on my route at some point.

    As far as suggestions thus far, I have the Firestone bottles in the cellar, and I've tried all others but the Lost Abbey Deliverance. Saw that and thought it looked interesting. Thats a surefire starter pint.
     
    #15 PetieP, Nov 27, 2012
  16. HopHound90

    HopHound90 Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2008 Pennsylvania

    I don't believe that Philly bottle shops have ever stocked Beatification. The only time that beer turns up is for special events.
     
    #16 HopHound90, Nov 27, 2012
  17. John_M

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

    Just to summarize what others have stated, and to otherwise respond to your post...

    As someone from out of the area who visits Philly fairly often, let me start off by saying that I NEVER visit Monk's any more. Not that it's a bad place (it's actually quite good), but parking around there can be a nightmare, Monk's prices are high, and the place is often so crowded, waits for a beer can be extreme. Service always seems to be up and down there (most of the time I've had very poor service at Monk's, but I'm told it can be good at times). Despite all that, I'd still drop in on a regular basis, if what Monk's had on offer couldn't be found any place else. At one time that may have been the case, but now-a-days, almost everything you can find on tap at Monk's can be found elsehwere and for considerably less money. As for the bottle selection, I was under the impression that it's Monk's policy not to sell beer to go. Certainly I've read numerous posts on BA from unhappy customers who upon visiting, were told that items on the bottle list can only be consumed on premise. So if you're hoping to pick up some treasures to take home with you, at the very least call Monk's in advance to see what the they have to say on the subject.

    Finally, as others have noted, a lot of what you'll find on the Monk's bottle list is readily available around town and for far less money. That's typical of most beer bars in SEPA (expensive to go prices), not just Monk's, but it's something to keep in mind. Also, with respect to this comment:

    "Very excited to finally get Pliny (on tap, no less!)"

    That's all that IS available in SEPA. Bottled pliny is not shipped to SEPA. Also, while draft pliny no longer creates the sort of feeding frenzy that used to occur on a regular basis 4 or 5 years ago, it's still a pretty popular beer, and so kegs rarely last more than a couple of days around town. So that's something to keep in mind (as others have noted).

    Last but not least, there are a number of first rate beer bars around that part of town (where Monk's is located), so if I were you, I'd do a little research on beerfly (places), and see what else looks interesting. Part of the reason I never visit Monk's any more is precisely because there are so many other great options in Philly, most of which do not have the sort of "issues" you're likely to experience at Monk's. Good luck!
     
    #17 John_M, Nov 27, 2012
    Steeeve likes this.
  18. xnicknj

    xnicknj Initiate (0) May 25, 2009 Pennsylvania

    yup, also bottles were brewery-only this year.

    OP you should still be able to find some of the other RR wild ales around town though.
     
    #18 xnicknj, Nov 27, 2012
  19. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    I thought Deliverance was delish FWIW.
     
    #19 chcfan, Nov 27, 2012
    fujindemon74 likes this.
  20. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    After having Deliverance on tap @ Capone's on Saturday following the Lost Abbey dinner the previous Thursday, I pounced on the bottles I stumbled upon at Trolley Car Diner in Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill and can say the same.
     
    #20 fujindemon74, Nov 27, 2012
Page 1 of 3
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.