Upcoming trip to Philly?

Well you can go to a distributor to buy a case of beer, or a six pack store/bottle shop to mix and match. Where in Phila will you be staying?

 

Yes Russian River is distributed in PA...to a degree. You'll be able to get your hands on some Damnation but I wouldn't be expecting to find Pliny on the shelves.

 

No, it means at "beer distributors" you may only purchase a case (I've refused to do so, but I understand this to be 24 12 oz bottles or 12 bombers). You can buy individual bottles at places that use some kind of loophole to technically be a restaurant. Whole Foods, a number of deli counters, and some bars do this. There's a place called Local 44 that I think has a large bottle selection, but I've never been there. The Foodery is also well known for bottles, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. Fairly limited selection and high prices.
Unfortunately buying bottles in PA just kind of sucks.

Also make sure you go to the Tired Hands brewery, which doesn't distribute yet to my knowledge.

I've actually seen Supplication in Wilmington, DE, but I have no idea how they got their hands on it; the distribution to Philly is definitely spotty and I think largely orchestrated through relationships with Russian River itself.

 

Damnation is everywhere. I still see a lot of Supplication bottles in Phiily, mostly because it is $19 a bottle.

 

Definitely let us know where you'll be staying and if you'll have a car; that will help greatly with the recommendations. If go to a distributor you will not be able to mix a case unless someone is doing that I've never heard of. And no Tired Hands doesn't distribute anything but if you can make it to Ardmore you definitely should!

 

Beer distributors (cases only, no mixing and matching):
Bella Vista
Society Hill Beverage
Beer Yard

Bottle shops (single bottles and sixers, can mix and match, much more expensive):
The Foodery
Hawthornes
Food and Friends
Beer Heaven
The Bottle Shop

All of the RR -tions are available in bottles at different times during the year in Philly, depending on availability. No PtE or Blind Pig in bottles, but we do get it on draft. Check www.phillytapfinder.com to see if either are on.

 

We really should just make a FAQ on PA/Philly trips.

 

Hope you don't mind. I'm just going to copy/paste this weekly when we get our typical 'Where to go in Philly' threads.

 

I'm in the same boat. Got here last week and will be here until the end of March. I'm in south Philly. Lots of great taps. Not a lot of great bottles. Are the laws in NJ the same?

 

No, Jersey stores can sell singles, sixers, and cases under the same roof. Prices are usually cheaper in Jersey (there's that $5 toll of course if you take a major bridge) but the Philly bottle shops will typically have many harder to find things.

 

What part of S. Philly? There are plenty of great bottle shops.

 

13th and christian area. Been to Hawthorns, and there was nothing out of the ordinary. Visited a couple deli shops too. Haven't been out of the south side.

 

Did you check out Brew on the corner of 15th and Mifflin? Or The Bottle Shop on East Passyunk? http://www.bottleshopbeer.com/beer.html

 

I was going to chime in with these two, beer heaven is worth the trip as well.

A lot of bars in the area will sell hard to come by bottles too. Last year devils den sold CBS and varga at 10th and spruce sold bourbon county variants this year.

 

Well now, I'll have to check these places out. Does Monks sell bottles to go? Didn't look like they did, but I didn't ask.

 

yes and no. they will sell things to go, but chances are whatever you're going to ask for won't be available for take out (ie Cantillon, vintage bottles, etc).

 

You read my mind. Does Philly get Anchorage Brewing or Jester King?

 

Yes, and yes (limited).

 

I only brought a couple of bottles with me (love buzz, petite prince, cascade apricot) in case of a tasting going down.