Philly Beer Week 2016

The Hulmeville Inn has their evets on their website: http://hulmevilleinn.com/beer-week/

 

This will be my first year going.... Is it best to buy tickets in advance or should I be safe to just show up and jump into the festivities? Any advise?

 

Most events aren't ticketed. Open tap is and I am sure there are one or two others that require a ticket, but for the most part just show up and enjoy. Check the Philly Beer Week website or look at the websites of any bars that you like. Bare in mind not 100% of the events get listed on the website, but pretty close to it.

 

The only other events that I can remember being ticketed in the past are brunch or dinner events, usually with the brewers in attendance. Often day time events at monks are this way, with their events taking an educational spin in recent years. Just check to make sure before going.

I think a lot of the venues plan the time for an event, and possibly know more specifics (like bullfrog at jons, they've done it for a while now) of the event far in advance, but as stated above it is a lot of events, in a lot of venues, so this week is normally busy with events being finalized and updated online.

 

I'm glad you brought up Jon's event, another point is if you are interested in an event show up either on time or before it starts. I went to the Jons event last year and since I live close by took my time leaving. Showed up thirty minutes in to a bar that was slammed. I was only able to get one beer before most stuff kicked or thy ran out of glasses. Not all events are like this but lesson learned.

 

Very few events get as slammed as the bullfrog event at jons. I showed up an hour or so early, I left right after work last year and was able to get a seat at the bar. Even then it took a half hour to get a beer. The CCB / Perennial event last year was pretty busy and stuff kicked but thats also because they tapped stuff earlier than they said they would.

 

i was informed yesterday that it is essentially the Philly Weekly publication people that have absorbed this event, and it is very costly for breweries, bars, etc. that are not within a certain mile radius of the city to advertise through them. everyone wants to get paid.

 

The Grey Lodge Pub's events are summarized here: http://greylodge.com/pbw.html

 

There does seem to be some confusion out there, which the organization needs to do a better job of responding to. In the mean time a couple of thoughts:

The cost to participate in Philly Beer Week really hasn't changed much since it began.

Philly Weekly is not longer involved, though one their former employees is a board member and all of his efforts, as with the rest of the board, are unpaid.

 

@Scoats So a story about a small brewery out in York, PA wanting to advertise through them for $6-700 sounds legit, or no? Of course, I only heard one side.

 

Why would a brewery in York want to advertise for Philly Beer Week?

 

Philly Beer Week is about rising the tide and lifting all boats in the Philly Beer sea. It is mostly an all volunteer organization, and has been since the beginning, which has had its limits.

I believe the entry level is about $500 so you're not wrong. I get it; I run small businesses. I know how hard it is to stay in business. $500/yr is both a lot of money, but to be part of rising the tide doesn't seem a crazy amount.

It's clear that PBW needs do a better job of listening to all its stakeholders and doing a better job of showing value. As a board member, I will be pushing this after this PBW is in the history books.

 

Cool, thanks for the info. The guy just seemed really disgruntled, but also probably isn't heavily involved in that decision-making process anyhow (part-time employee, bartends in Old City) and wanted to use it as a topic for conversation. Not sure how many people even think about how it's organized, but obviously people saying things like that will give bad vibes. I'd personally be interested in marketing that touches on the organizers more, so pushing for that seems worthwhile. Coincidentally, that day started off with a quiet brunch at your place, then ended over there.

 

Churchville's FB event last year was magical. Such a killer tap list.

 

Has anyone seen any hill farmstead events?

 

Philly Beer Scene published a Philly Beer Week guide

 

There may be some Hill Farmstead at Bru's 6/7 New England event, but it is not clear yet if the shipment will make it in time.

 

Events will pop up as the "week" unfolds...always the case.

 

That is true.

 

Thanks to you guys, my 4 years stay in Philly was glorious. I will be missing PBW for the first time since moving out