Philly-ish Covid-safe beer destinations?

I was at Rebel Hill only once a couple of years ago and I enjoyed the beers I drank there.

FWIW I am a BIG fan of Root Down. I suppose not enough Stouts/Porters for you?

On a related matter there is a second outlet for Root Down beers in Phoenixville: Uncle B's Bar-B-Q and there is a beer garden in the back (picnic tables and such).

Cheers!

 

Vault in Yardley has an outdoor setup. Definitely at the brewpub, but maybe at the taproom/brewery too. I dig the food and beer there.

 

Human Robot makes some of the best lagers in the state. Well worth the stop.

 

Yeah if you've been to brick farm, then you know the options there, including Troon, usually features a great selection of beers from NJ. Obviously that's a drive though.
Not much else there with COVID, though technically you could arrange a beer pickup at Referend if you like spontaneous fermented sours/farmhouses (from your post I assume that's what you meant by sours, seeing as you correctly knocked Imprint/FROOT JOOSE, which is ready to explode the minute it hits 65 degrees).
If your friend has any ability to take cans home, I agree with the prior posts regarding St. Oner's/tired hands in fishtown. The lager/sour/IPA combo is pretty unbeatable for any brewery in the area, with only Tonewood in oaklyn, NJ coming close (neither however consistently has stouts available, though ironically both at this moment have BA stout 4 packs, so you never know).
Can't speak to the other breweries in Philly, since honestly pre COVID I stuck mostly to the tired hands beergarten, bottle bar east, Monk's, and glory bar (which as far as I know, has no current outdoor service, but in my opinion in normal times is the 1b to Monk's 1a in Philly, if anyone hasn't been).

 

Tonewood is not sadly, they don't have much outdoor space to justify it.
Glory in old city usually has a great tap list, pre pandemic when I would go anyway. Some hill farmstead, tired hands, bissell, tonewood, russian river, and plenty of others, including bottled belgians etc if you wanted to burn money. Usually I went to Monk's for WCIPAs and belgians, and glory if I wanted NEIPAs, stouts, American farmhouse. Both usually had good lagers. Sadly they basically only have a tiny porch for a few small seaters so they aren't a great spot for outdoor like brick, but you could call and see if they're doing it with heat lamps.

I've bought some crowlers/cans there that weren't easy to find otherwise (including a bissell swish crowler early on in the pandemic). Obviously they're high prices for takeout like a lot of bars are these days to try to stay afloat. when things improve I recommend them unequivocally. In the meantime anyone in and around Philly looking to support a local bar that's definitely worth keeping around should get something there. On instagram they keep their menu and bottle/draft selection updated daily.

 

Glory Bar has had some insane tap lists over the past few years. It’s a shame I would often forget them when I’m planning for an evening in the city just because they’re not on Philly Tap Finder.

 

Another option is Ambler Beer Company, in the Ambler Yards business park. Smallish outdoor space with patio heaters. They do a real nice job, particularly with Belgian styles.

 

I'm fairly certain they're only open for takeaway at the moment... which is a shame, because based on the preferences you've described they sound right up your alley.

 

I agree, unfortunately, on the quality of their beer. Love their ethos, love their focus on certain styles (ESBs and cask ales yes please), really love their location, and love some of their beers (all of which warrants a few visits a year). But I also like seeing some reviews before I commit to buying from them too.

 

Crime & Punishment does not have any outdoor space...they used to have 1 outdoor table, but no longer. That being said, you can get 16oz draft pours of anything to-go for $6-$7, and there is a little park right across the street...so that’s a thing now.

 

They typically will (and will often have wine options available on draft even), and I know Lunar loves to showcase their natural wine selection, but food and drink service has kinda been on a week-to-week basis there from my understanding. I had cocktails there recently (which means that they were likely serving wine by the glass too), but that was prior to the most recent, more stringent regs. They don’t open back up for food until Jan 2 so you’re likely out of luck until. They might have some to-go options at Tiny’s though (albeit pretty expensive).

(Really love natural wine though personally, so best of luck in your search!)