The Golden Age of Beer in Philadelphia Tours

[Rich Pawlak]

This year's Tours were a lot of fun, with great weather, utterly pleasant tour-goers (from as far away as Kansas, Pittsburgh, upstate NY, Delaware and Maryland), and terrific food and hospitality, covered briefly in today's Philadelphia InquirerFood Section.

Between myself and perennial Tour-goer Mike Gates and his nephew, Dave Cook, here are some pics to give you some idea:

Debarking from the vans at our initial stop for lunch at Ludwig's Garten. Yes, we even had someone on crutches (!) who felt the overwhelming need to drink beer. She received the Big Brass Ones Award that day.

Bellying up and tasting those first beers before lunch

Charlie "Mummer" Mayer displaying his obvious passion for the day

Some of the 25 taps at Ludwig's Garten

The rathskeller bar at Ludwig's, which smelled funky last Saturday, so we high-tailed it to their airier second bar

Beer writer Lew Bryson speaking at lunch

I'd love to show you our next stop, McGillin's Old Ale House, but on March 13, it was overrun with early St Paddy's Day revelers, and looked and smelled like a college-age mosh pit. I hope to have pics of our March 20 visit to McGillin's soon.

Some brave folks wandered in for a bit, but most stayed back at Ludwig's for an additional glass of German joy.

We arrive at Mcmenamin's Tavern in Mt. Airy

More of the crowd

The tap lineup at McMenamin's, which also included that day, 2002 Samichlaus!

(from l. to r.) Tavern owner PJ McMenamin, and Lew Bryson's big old butt.

[theakston]

Great pictures. Nice article about Michael Jackson too. He was here at RFD in Washington last night. I'm still a little hung over after the 13 beers we sampled, including Dogfish Head 120 minute poured through Sam's latest invention - Randal the enamel animal.

You did get to Monk's didn't you?

Edited March 25, 2004 by theakston (log)

[Rich Pawlak]

Debarking at The Standard Tap, with driver Chris Holst (cdh on eGullet) assessing legal possibilities in traffic.

The downstairs bar at The Standard

The upstairs "Quiet Bar" at Standard, quiet no longer.

Tour Operator Contemplates the 2004 Bataan Death March of Beer

Yet another Tour-goer enraptured my the latest Bryson pronouncements.

Fun tap handles at The Standard, including the spiky mace, from the short-lived, now-defunct, Savage Brewing Co. of Phila., and the softball trophy figure tap handle of Legacy Brewing's (Reading, PA) Duke of Ale.

The always impressive tap-only lineup at The Standard Tap

Our stop at the Yards Brewery, located in the restored Weisbrod & Hess brewery in Lower Kensington

next stop: The Grey Lodge, the perennial favorite of Tour-goers every year

The Grey Lodge lineup, which also included an amazing Whiskey-barrel-aged Scotch Ale from Sly Fox Brewing Co.

Bryson et mob at the Grey Lodge

Owner Mike Scotese (Scoats) of the Grey Lodge, with always helpful assistant Pat McGinley. He looks likes he's praying we leave soon. But no one ever wants to leave this place when it's time; it makes the greatest impression year after year, I swear.

The stupor finally sets in at the concluding Beer Dinner at Independence Brewpub, or that's just how driver Mike Lazar (c.) always looks. You decide.

Grilled Smoked Pork Filet with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Frizzled Onions at the Beer Dinner

The most impressive beer-food pairing of the day was this Grilled Salmon over Wilted Spinach with Pineapple Salsa, paired with Independence's floral, fruity, puckery IPA. An astonishing match, and this dish is on the menu there everyday. Run, don't walk to try this pairing.

Tour-goers at dinner; in the last pic, Lew Bryson chats with Independence brewer Tim Roberts.

[Rich Pawlak]

Great pictures. Nice article about Michael Jackson too. He was here at RFD in Washington last night. I'm still a little hung over after the 13 beers we sampled, including Dogfish Head 120 minute poured through Sam's latest invention - Randal the enamel animal.

You did get to Monk's didn't you?

Monk's has declined to participate in any Book and The Cook events, owing to a dispute with the organizers, and so has not been a stop on the Tours these past 2 years. Previously, it was our initial, lunch stop.

[beergirl]

Great pics, Rich. Boy, do I miss Philly!

[cdh]

Was a great tour of some of PHL's more serious watering holes. Rich has done a great job at putting together a tremendous fun day. Even for somebody who was just driving the van and not sampling the wares.

[Rich Pawlak]

Was a great tour of some of PHL's more serious watering holes. Rich has done a great job at putting together a tremendous fun day. Even for somebody who was just driving the van and not sampling the wares.

And you literally rescued the first Tour form near-disaster, Chris, so much thanks. I also had several people comment on how I was obviously getting a better class of driver these days, and I know they weren't talking about Lazar or me.

[chiapet]

Thanks Rich for another great year. Everyone in our group had a great time and remarked how well organized it was. And I have to concur that the Grilled Salmon was absolutely wonderful. However, we did miss out on the IPA since we were on the 3/20 tour ... oh well, I guess we'll just have to go back.

Can't wait til next year!!

[Susan in FL]

Nice job, RP. Thanks for reporting. I'm looking forward to my next trip to PHL!

[Rich Pawlak]

Thanks for the kind words, Chia, but the Tours are a reflection of the fun people who attend it. Here are a few more pics, this time of the March 20th Tour, courtesy of the aforementioned Ms. Chen and her friends. Most of these are exteriors of the locations visited, for the exterior-impaired.

Ludwig's Garten, our lunch stop.

The venerable McGillin's, on tiny Drury Lane in the shadows of Center City Philadelphia

McGillin's owner Chris Mullins, giving a traditional Irish Toast to the Tour-goers, as a fedora-wearing Gary Bredbenner contemplates his next beer.

McMenamin's Tavern in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philly

The Standard Tap, festooned with logos from local microbreweries Flying Fish, Victory and Yards

The fermenters at Yards Brewing Co. And yes, we often get to sample beer directly from them.

The tavern/reception room at Yards, everyone's favorite new lounge, with Inquirer reporter George Ingram (3rd from l. rear) digging the vibe.

Tour-goers outside the Grey Lodge

Dinner at Independence Brewing Co.

Chia Chen's large group of friends and love slaves at Independence

[stephenc]

I swear I see my tenth grade English teacher in one of those pics....

[Rich Pawlak]

I swear I see my tenth grade English teacher in one of those pics....

In what pic, Steve, and what would be your teacher's name? I have the attendee list.

[mrbigjas]

Wow, looks like an excellent time there, Rich. Nice job. Maybe next year I'll be able to attend.

[herbacidal]

Wow Rich, if I had known Chen's group was going to be there, maybe I would've stopped by.

Looks great, man.

[Rich Pawlak]

Wow, looks like an excellent time there, Rich.  Nice job.  Maybe next year I'll be able to attend.

It's always been a good time, Jim and Herb, and I must say that this year's beer menus throughout were spectacular. Broadest variety of styles and breweries, as well as superb food, especially with dinner.