The Hoppy Easter Herald For March 31, 2013

Photo courtesy of the Drink Up NY blog.

Balcones 5th Year Anniversary Dinner At Harlow

The following press release was sent to us from our blogging buddy, The Whisky Woman:

On Saturday evening, 6 April, 2012, Chip Tate, the Owner/Distiller/President of Balcones will host an intimate dinner at Harlow, one of New York’s hottest new restaurants. Chef Danny Ye has designed a special five-course menu just for the evening –  each course has been specifically created to pair with a Balcones whiskey. Reservations are required and seats are limited.  To purchase tickets, please go to: http://balconesharlow.eventbrite.com/#

Founded in 2008, Balcones Distillery has become one of the most highly awarded craft distilleries in the world. With more than 30 top awards to its name – of which more than half are gold or double gold from internationally renowned competitions – perhaps no recognition has been quite as impressive as their recent win. In a blind tasting competition hosted by a panel of British spirits experts, Balcones Single Malt was named Best in Glass, the best new whiskey in the world. Their victory is reminiscent of the famous 1976 “Judgment of Paris,” in which California wines bested their storied French counterparts. In this case, this was the first time an American whiskey has won Best in Glass.

Top Awards:

Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky – 2012 Craft Whiskey Distillery of the Year

Wizards of Whisky International Competition  - 2012 Global Distillery of the Year

F. Paul Pacult Spirit Journal

**Balcones was the first and is the only craft-made whiskey to receive a 5 point rating**

5 stars – Baby Blue

5 stars – Balcones Single Malt 

For more information and the complete list, please go to www.balconesdistilling.com

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LAST CALL! AMERICAN SPIRITS: THE RISE AND FALL OF PROHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER

Philadelphia, PA (March 28, 2013) – Only one month remains for visitors to experience American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition exhibition at the National Constitution Center, which will conclude its run on Sunday, April 28, 2013. From the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal and NBC News, the exhibition has garnered critical acclaim across the nation since making its world debut at the Center on October 19, 2012.

Currently this is the only East Coast opportunity to see the exhibition. Following its run at the Center, American Spirits will tour cities across the country including St. Paul, MN; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; and Grand Rapids, MI.

Exploring the “sexy and serious sides” of Prohibition according to WHYY and demonstrating “energy and antics” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the exhibition reveals the real stories behind hit dramas like HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and also provides timely perspectives on current constitutional debates about the government’s role in our lives.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition features over 100 rare artifacts, including:

• Original ratification copies of the 18th and 21st Amendments
• A hatchet used by Carry Nation during one of her barroom-smashing raids
• A Prohibition Bureau Badge issued by the Department of Justice in 1931
• Temperance propaganda, including pamphlets, school lesson manuals, speeches, and hymnals
• The phone used by Roy Olmstead, the defendant in the landmark Olmstead v. United States wiretapping case, to run his bootlegging empire
• Flapper dresses, cocktail couture, and other women’s and men’s fashion accessories from the 1920s
• Original home manufacturing items used for making moonshine, homebrewed beer, and other illegal and highly potent liquor
• Prohibition agent Eliot Ness’ signed oath of office from 1926 in which he swore to “support and defend the Constitution”
• Al Capone’s guilty verdict from his conviction in Chicago in 1931
• One of the first crates of Budweiser produced after the “Beer Act,” which passed in April 1933 and changed the legal limit for “intoxicating” beverages to 3.2% per volume to allow for the return of beer production.

Interactive elements and immersive environments bring to life the sights, sounds, and experiences of the time period. Wayne Wheeler’s Amazing Amendment Machine, a dazzling 20-foot-long, eight-foot-tall carnival-inspired contraption, traces how the temperance movement culminated in the 18th Amendment.

In addition, visitors can:

• Sit in a pew of a recreated early 1900s church to learn about the rise of the Anti-Saloon League and take a quiz to find out if they would have been a “wet” or a “dry”
• Test their knowledge of what could and could not be consumed under the rules of the 18th Amendment during the “Is it Legal?” interactive touchscreen game
• Explore a re-created speakeasy complete with a bar, dance floor, bandstand, and powder room and learn how to dance the Charleston
• Play the role of a federal Prohibition agent chasing rumrunners in a custom-built video game where you drive your own speedboat
• Join gangsters in a criminal lineup for a memorable photo opportunity.

To complement the exhibition, the Center developed a variety of engaging activities and resource materials for students, teachers, and families that illuminate the amendment process, the role of liquor in American history, and the cultural revolution of the 1920s.  Daniel Okrent, Ken Burns, and Lynn Novick provided their voices and commentary to a special iPod audio tour that guides visitors through the exhibition.

Admission to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is $17.50 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 4-12. Active military personnel and children ages 3 and under are free. Group rates also are available. Admission to the Center’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theatrical production Freedom Rising, is included. For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Okrent collaborated with filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on the documentary Prohibition, which aired on PBS in fall 2011. The exhibition has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

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Devil’s Den Celebrates Five Years with Wood-Themed Anniversary Party

Philadelphia, PA—Devil’s Den has been a craft beer lover’s destination for the past five years and the Devil’s crew is ready to celebrate with a 5th Anniversary Party on Saturday, April 6^th starting at 1pm, and the traditional gift for five years is wood—hence a playful and carefully selected rare and wood-themed draft list and tapas menu with $1 off drafts until 5pm.

Devil’s Den thinks the best way to thank the fans and patrons for five years is with an amazing draft list of special, rare and limited beers, along with some house favorites from owner Erin Wallace’s cellar. The traditional gift for a fifth anniversary is wood, and Devil’s Den is giving the gift back in the shape of wood-aged rarities on draft and as a very special thank you all drafts are $1 off until 5pm. Draft list includes:

• Monarchy Of Musselland Son of a Batch Gose (Hickory Wood)
• Bruery White Oak
• Stillwater Red Wine Barrel Aged Debauched
• Dochter Van De Korenaar Embrasse Peated Oak Aged
• Shawnee Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter (Nitro)
• De Struise Pennepeut
• Neshaminy Creek Coconut Mudbank Milk Stout
• Against the Grain Gungle Gem
• Ommegang Iron Throne
• Founders All Day IPA
• Ommegang Witte
• Great Lakes Dortmunder
• Along with other favorites, limited & seasonal beers from the cellar

Additionally, Devil’s Den will have a firkin of Round Guys K-I-N Tucky Saison (7/1% ABV, 35 IBU). This Saison is the only firkin of its kind and the beer will not be released again until Philly Beer Week. Round Guys grabbed a bourbon barrel instead of an apple brandy barrel and this rare gem was born, and unlike the other barrel-aged beers, this beer was not blended with fresh saison.

Chef Paul Trowbridge will also prepare special tapas dishes that will be available all day during the anniversary party. Trowbridge has been with Devil’s Den since December 2010 and has added cool flavors and fresh recipes to the menu. He began his culinary career at Dockstreet Brewpub in 1992. His accolades and influences throughout his career have led him to Devil’s Den—back to creative beer-driven cooking.

With this milestone anniversary also comes new menu items. In addition to Devil’s Den’s menu of delicious plates, Chef Trowbridge has added Pork Belly Mac & Cheese with crispy pork belly, pamesan, and gruyere; and Shrimp & Chorizo with lemon aioli & tomato jam to the Small Plate Section. New entrees include Crispy Duck Legs with an orange glaze, grilled radicchio and yams; Fish & Chips with curry mayo & wasabi mayo; along with other new entrees, flatbreads, and sandwiches.

Devil’s Den is also open for brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am-3pm. New brunch plates include Bread Pudding French Toast; Eggs Ranch Style with spicy beef sauce and queso fresca; and Croque Maison. Devil’s Den brunch provides beer lovers with unique dining options along with the amazing beer selection like the signature BEERMOSA made with Ommegang White.

“When we opened the Den we were looking to create a place that we wanted to go to,” owner Erin Wallace says. “We wanted to make sure that we covered a variety of styles– that we weren’t just a Belgian or German beer bar– that no matter what style you preferred we would have something to accommodate you. We wanted an atmosphere that would be comfortable and a space that feels like home”.

 Devil’s Den has accomplished just that—it’s comfortable, cutting edge and there’s something for everyone. Seventeen rotating drafts, over 200 bottles, and a wide variety of cans make Devil’s Den an enticing beer haven, but add in a non-stop events calendar of tongue-in-cheek thematic beer-centric events and you have a notable mainstay in the nation’s self-proclaimed craft beer capital—Philadelphia. This 5^th Anniversary Party with its super rare and limited wood-aged beers is a perfect example of clever and entertaining events that Devil’s Den does best.

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Devil’s Den is one of Philadelphia’s best destinations for import and craft beers, with 17 rotating drafts and over 200 bottles.  Chef Paul Trowbridge offers homemade comfort food and stepped-up fare in a warm and enveloping setting. Popular favorites include house signature Duck Fries, Salmon BLT, and several tempting mussel renditions.  The elevated gastropub has knowledgeable and friendly staff, popular happy hour specials, and an unparalleled beer selection. A dominating architectural feature is the wood-burning fireplace, which offers ambiance and warmth in colder months in both the dining room and the extensive bar. Outdoor seating creates a spirited street scene when weather permits.  A lively events calendar adds to the fun. Devil’s Den is open daily from 11am to 2am.

Devil’s Den | 1148 South 11^th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | (215) 339-0855| http://www.devilsdenphilly.com

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Ardbeg Rockets to the Top!

Ardbeg is the star at the World Whisky Awards in London with hat-trick of wins

Iconic Islay malt is named ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’

Ardbeg completed a hat-trick of prestigious awards at the renowned World Whisky Awards held in London on 21^st March.

Ardbeg scooped the World’s Best Single Malt 2013 accolade and received further recognition when its latest limited edition, Ardbeg Galileo, was also declared Best Islay Single Malt.

However, two awards were simply not enough, as Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg distillery visitor centre manager, was named Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, confirming her growing reputation in the industry.

The latest Limited Edition release Ardbeg Galileo was launched to celebrate the Islay distillery’s world-first experiment in space on the International Space Station.

Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay Malt, has never done things by halves, and these three prestigious awards just go to prove it.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation, explained: “As Ardbeg’s visitor centre manager Jackie Thomson lives and breathes Ardbeg. Her enthusiasm and passion for the Ultimate Islay Malt is clear to the thousands of smoky malt drinkers who make the pilgrimage to the distillery.

“We’re all so proud of Jackie and her achievements. She embodies Ardbeg’s commitment to providing an unforgettable experience, and everyone who meets her is inspired.”

Allan Little, Ardbeg senior brand manager, said: “Receiving these awards is amazing. We’re over the moon to be recognised as the World’s Best Single Malt 2013, Best Islay Single Malt and Jackie is an inspiration to us all every day.

“We are thrilled she has been acknowledged as the Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, as she’s the ultimate visitor centre manager.”

Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.

Ardbeg Galileo is the limited edition 12 Years Old Single Malt Whisky, which is a special vatting of different styles of Ardbeg laid down in 1999. The spirit has been matured in ex-Marsala wine casks from Sicily that add fruity aromas to Ardbeg’s famed smooth and peaty house style.

Philly Food and Drink News For March 25, 2013

Drink, Learn and Linger at Village Whisky’s 1st Whisky Social

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, April 18 beginning at 9:30 p.m., Chef Jose Garces’ sexy cocktail bar and brown liquor library, Village Whiskey (118 South 20^th Street, 215-665-1088), will host their first-ever Whiskey Social.  For $60 per person, including tax and gratuity, guests will enjoy an informative yet relaxed class on classic whiskey cocktails, followed by passed bites and a cocktail hour during which they may sample the drinks from the evening’s lesson.

“Whiskey is at the root of so many good, classic drinks,” says General Manager Paul Rodriguez, a whiskey enthusiast and connoisseur who will lead the social.  “We’re looking forward to a casual evening with our guests and the chance to get to know them a bit more over a few straight up, or rocks, cocktails and good food.”

Featured cocktails, including the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour and Sazerac, will be poured and served by Village Whiskey’s skilled bartenders, while guests are encouraged to ask questions and learn more about what distinguishes each cocktail and why specific whiskeys are used in each.  Guests will receive drink recipe books so they may take what they’ve learned and apply it to their home bar.

In addition, a sampling whiskey will also be passed along with a variety of snacks, such as Pickled Cherry Tomatoes and Beets, Deviled Eggs, Duck Fat Fries with Sly Fox Cheddar Cheese Sauce and a Variety of Sliders.  Guests will mix and mingle, getting to know each other as they learn more about the bar’s 80-plus whiskey selection.  The restaurant will be closed for this exclusive event, offering guests a rare chance to casually stroll throughout the space.  Tickets must be purchased in advance at villagewhiskey.com/social.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has called Village Whiskey “the ultimate height of low-down American decadence,” praising their “awesome parade of bottles” and the Village Burger, “my single favorite Philly burger,” according to food critic Craig LaBan.  Philadelphia Weekly gushed over their “cool and composed” service, “very good cocktails” and “rapture on a roll” burger, while Philadelphia magazine admired the “gorgeous bar,” “understatedly cool” vibe and “over the top” food.

Village Whiskey is open Sunday and Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m.  For more information, please visit www.villagewhiskey.com, follow them on Twitter (@VillageWhiskPHL) or call (215) 665-1088.

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A Bit of Cheese Talk With The Alemonger

About a week or so ago, G-LO agreed to answer some cheese related questions from our good friend The Alemonger. Click the above photo to read it for yourself. Proceed with caution! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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National Constitution Center’s “Cheers To Beer” Tasting Event

Don’t miss the final evening event for critically acclaimed American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition 

Philadelphia, PA  –  Toast the “Beer Act” of 1933, which legalized beer prior to Prohibition’s repeal, during the National Constitution Center’s suds-filled Cheers to Beer tasting event on Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $30 for museum members and $35 for non-members (ages 21+) and includes live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, samples from local Philadelphia breweries, a commemorative souvenir tasting mug, and one of the final opportunities to tour American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, before it closes on April 28. Reservations can be made by calling 215.409.6700 or at constitutioncenter.org. Guests are encouraged but not required to attend in their best Roaring ’20s attire!

Participating breweries/distributors include: Batch 19, Dock Street Brewing Company, Prism Brewing Company, River Horse Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewery, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, and Yards Brewing Company. Specialty whiskey cocktails made with Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Canadian Club Dock No. 57 also will be served.

Guests will tap their feet to live jazz music by the acclaimed Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, whose upbeat repertoire consists of tunes from the ’20′s and ’30’s, paired with classic blues and original works. For a memorable keepsake, guests can strike a pose in front of a ’20s era backdrop and have their photo taken by Peter van Beever Photography.

Beverages will be paired with an all-American menu prepared by Brûlée Catering including boneless buffalo chicken bites, BBQ pulled pork sliders, macaroni & cheese bites, crab tots, and a flatbread station. Vegetarian options also will be offered.

The Cheers to Beer event is the final of three exciting parties held throughout the run of the American Spirits exhibition.

Throughout the evening, guests can watch as the era of flappers and suffragists, bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al Capone and Carry Nation come vividly to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup. Featured artifacts include a Budweiser beer bottle and case from 1933, one of the first produced by Anheuser-Busch after Congress redefined “intoxicating liquors” to make beer legal.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Following its debut at the Center, the exhibition will embark on a nationwide tour.

During regular museum hours, admission to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is $17.50 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 4-12.  Group rates also are available.  Admission to the Center’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theatrical production Freedom Rising, is included.  For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

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Root for the Home Team at Iron Hill with the Release of “Phightin’ Phils Pils” and a Menu of Phillies-Inspired Hot Dogs for Opening Day

WILMINGTON, DE – On Opening Day, Friday, April 5, beginning at 12 noon, all nine Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations will celebrate the return of baseball with the release of Phightin’ Phils Pils and a menu of Phillies-Themed Hot Dogs as the Phillies take on the Kansas City Royals.  Each restaurant will be showing the game live on TV and all specials are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

“Phightin’ Phils Pils has become a game-day tradition for us,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson.  “We’re thrilled to bring back this bright, refreshing beer and to welcome our Philadelphia Phillies back for another exciting season.”

Phightin’ Phils Pils is a Northern German-style pilsner that is brewed with traditional German noble hops for magnificent hop aroma and flavor.  It is a perfect spring-and-summer beer that also pairs beautifully with any of their baseball-centric hot dogs.  Phillies dogs will include:

• The Chili Chooooooch Dog, topped with beef and bean chili, cheddar cheese and chopped onions.
• The Reuben Amaro Dog, topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and thousand-island dressing.
• The J-Roll Dog, with smoked pork, creamy coleslaw and sweet mustard sauce.
• The Papelbon Dog, with smoked bacon-tomato jam, chopped red onion and cheddar cheese.
• The Galvis Dog, wrapped in bacon and topped with pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeno peppers and crema.
• Harry the K-Dog, with sauerkraut, chopped onion and spicy brown mustard (“outta here” good!).
• The Ruf Ruf Dog, with egg salad, crumbled bacon and roasted long hot peppers.
• The Hamels Dog, with coleslaw, chopped bacon and spicy mustard.
• The “Chase Utley, You are the Man” Dog, with avocado, tomato, red onion and bleu cheese sauce.
• The Charlie Dog, with chopped onion, tomato, relish, mustard and ketchup.
• The Bull Luzinski Dog, with barbecue onions, smoked bacon and cheddar cheese.

Founded by home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has blossomed from one restaurant and brewery to nine locations across the mid-Atlantic with a tenth location in Voorhees, NJ scheduled to open in 2013.  Each restaurant is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

Locations include:  Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000);  Wilmington, DE (620 Justison Street, 302-472-2739);  Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000);  West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600);  North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000);  Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333);  Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800);  Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300);  and Chestnut Hill, PA (8400 Germantown Avenue, 215-948-5600).

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com, follow them on Twitter (@ironhillbrewery) and like them on Facebook.

Event Review – Fair Food Philly’s Brewer’s Plate 2013

This past Sunday, The Wookie, our friend Mike (an honorary Booze Dancer), and I attended Fair Food Philly’s annual Brewer’s Plate event at the National Constitution Center. This would be The Wookie’s second time attending this event (click here to read his review of last year’s event), and a first time visit for Mike and I.

Before I get into my event review, here is a bit of information about the Brewer’s Plate taken directly from a Fair Food Philly press release:

Fair Food, a nonprofit organization uniting local farmers, business and consumers, presents The Brewers Plate at National Constitution Center Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 5:30-9:00 PM. The organization’s largest, most popular and well-established fundraiser is truly a unique event uniting more than 50 local culinary outlets with an expected thousand attendees.

Outlet and beer pairings in the General Admission area are as follows:

• Brauhaus Schmidt/Street Food Philly and Neshaminy
• City Tap House and Troegs
• Fair Food Farmstand with McKenzie
• Iron Hill and Iron Hill
• Kennett Restaurant and Yards
• Khyber Pub Pass and Sly Fox
• London Grill and Desiato Cider
• Varga Bar and Brooklyn Brewery
• SPTR and Philly Brewing Co.
• Southwark and Nodding Head
• The Belgian Café and Fegleys
• Tria and Victory
• White Dog Café and Dogfish
• Alla Spina and Stoudt’s
• Keatings and Cricket Hill
• Guerrilla Ultima BBQ and Dock Street
• Field House and River Horse
• Bard Ferdinand and Lancaster
• El Camino Real and Weyerbacher
• Cedar Point Bar and Kitchen and Boxcat
• McCrossens and Prism
• Triumph and Triumph

Each restaurant has a little over a week to get creative with local dish ideas. Many of the restaurants and breweries are keeping their serving items under wraps as a surprise for attendants, but some interestingly imaginative dish ideas include Alla Spina’s mortadella hot dogs with red cabbage and pickles paired with Stoudt’s Karnival Kolsch; Cedar Point’s grilled cheese stuffed with BBQ portabella and apple slaw and Boxcar’s Mango Ginger IPA; and White Dog Café’s house-made scrapple sliders with Dogfish’s Chicory Stoudt. Additionally, lucky VIPrs will sample Victory’s newest not yet on the market creation and Weckerly’s Ice Cream ‘Man Full of Trouble’ flavor (porter with chocolate covered shortbread) created specifically for the event.

Keeping in mind that the list above does NOT include the food and beer pairings that were going on in the VIP area, and the desserts and spirits that were being served in the Speakeasy area, there is only one way to describe my experience at this year’s Brewer’s Plate: overwhelming, but in a very very good way! There was so much food and drink available, and I tried so many different things in such a short period of time, that by 7PM (90 minutes into the event with 120 minutes to go), I was really wishing that I owned a pair of Sansabelt pants.

While I would love to talk about every Craft Beer and food thingy that I consumed during this event, the truth is that we were moving so fast that I didn’t have time to take notes (I was also trying to get some decent photos AND socialize a bit, so multitasking was becoming increasingly difficult as I ate and drank my way through the evening. I know, I know. Poor me! ). Whether it was one of the casked Ales from Forest & Main, the Eclat Hop Wallop Infused Chocolate Truffles, the Duck Confit-Foie Gras Banh Mi (try saying THAT three times fast after having a few beers) from London Grill, the always superb Capogiro gelato, or even the beer-cured salmon from Bar Ferdinand, I can honestly say that everything which I consumed throughout the course of this 3.5 hour eating and drinking extravaganza was excellent.

One of the most interesting parts of the evening occurred at 7:15 when we took part in a beer and cheese pairing session which was led by Aimee Olexy of Talula’s Table in Kennett Square and Talula’s Garden in Philadelphia. Once again, I can’t remember the names of all the cheeses and beers we consumed, but I do remember the first beer/cheese pairing which I thought was particularly interesting…

On the morning of the event, Aimee whipped up a batch of fresh ricotta (which was of course made from locally sourced and uber fresh milk) that she planned to serve at these tastings. The ricotta was layered atop some home made granola, and we were instructed to try it with a wee sample of Troegs JavaHead Stout. I was truly blown away by this combination because the creaminess of the ricotta, the crunchiness and mild sweetness of the granola, and the boldness of the Stout all played together so beautifully that I can totally imagine having something like this for dessert. All of the other beers and cheeses were also outstanding, but once again, I can’t remember any other details. My only complaint about this portion of the evening has more to do with my approach to all of the eating and drinking than with the beer/cheese tasting itself. When you plan to consume vast amounts of food and drink at an event like this, the key to survival is constant movement (and Sansabelt pants!). As I told The Wookie at the beginning of the beer/cheese pairing, I liken what I was feeling when I first sat down at the table to fresh mixed concrete, i.e. as long as the concrete mixer keeps moving you’re fine, but once you pour it, it will start to set. Again, my fault, not theirs.

In addition to Craft Beer and fantastic food, there were also a bit of high test libations on hand to sample in The Speakeasy and VIP areas. The Philadelphia area is home to some outstanding brewers, but there is also a bit of a distilling Renaissance going on as well. Philadelphia Distilling brought their Bluecoat Gin and Vieux Carre Absinthe, Art in the Age brought their Root, Snap, Rhubarb, and Sage, and Dad’s Hat brought their White Rye and Rye Whiskey. I never made it to the Art in the Age table, but I did get to try the Vieux Carre Absinthe and Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey. Both were highly enjoyable and served as a fine intermezzo as we took a small break from all of the Craft Beer and fine food.

While the food and drink were wonderful, what really made this event truly special were the people. From the volunteers and security people, to the people working at the tables pouring our drinks and serving our food, to all of those in attendance, the National Constitution Center was overflowing with enthusiasm and good cheer! Brewer’s Plate 2013 was an evening that I will talk about often. I can’t wait to see what they (literally) cook and brew up for next year’s 10th Anniversary event!

Just two more things…

#1 – In between all of the eating and drinking, I tried my best to do a bit of socializing as well, because as I said just one paragraph ago, it’s the people that made this event truly special. During the event we ran into Mr. and Mrs. Miracle Max, Pete LaVerghetta and his wife,  Ryan Hudak of the In Search of Beer blog who was there with his wife Leanne, Sean Mellody of Mellody Brewing, Ethan (thank you for not sporting the mankini!) of the Brewniversal blog, Dorrie of the Food Muses blog, Michele of the Stouts and Stilettos blog, and the Official Unofficial Photographer of all things Philly Beer, Stephen Lyford. It was a pleasure to share a drink with all of you!

#2 – Below are some photos that I took throughout the event. Hope you enjoy them!

Eclat Hop Wallop Chocolate Truffles

Aimee Olexy of Talula’s Garden

Hoppin John Orchestra

Stout Float

Vieux Carre Absinthe by Philadelphia Distilling

Weyerbacher

Cheese and Beer Pairing

Spanish Cured Ham Tease courtesy of Bar Ferdinand

Triumph Brewing

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Many thanks to the good people at Fair Food Philly for inviting us to this outstanding event!

An Evening At The American Spirits Bartender Competition

Event Emcee Kacie McDonnell with Stephen Diaz of 10 Arts and Ryan Lax of The Ritz Carlton Philadelphia

On Wednesday, February 27th (i.e. two nights ago), Limpd and I attended the American Spirits Bartender Competition at the Stratus Rooftop Lounge which is located on the top floor of the Hotel Monaco in Old City Philadelphia. This event was sponsored by the National Constitution Center as part of their current exhibition, American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, and featured 1920′s inspired cocktails made by four different bartenders from four different Center City Philadelphia hotels.

Much like in an Iron Chef competition, each bartender was required to incorporate one specific ingredient into each of their cocktail creations. For this particular competition, the required ingredient was Bluecoat Gin which just happens to be distilled in Philadelphia and which was also a sponsor of the event.

Below are the names of the host, judges, and bartenders that participated in this event:

Philly Event News Flash: Limited Time Only Promotional Code For Brewer’s Plate 2013!

On February 9th, we posted some information regarding this year’s Brewer’s Plate event which is scheduled for Sunday, March 10th at the National Constitution Center. For those of you that have not yet purchased your tickets, the organizers have sent us a promotional code that will get you 10% off of the admission price. This code will only be valid from Thursday, February 28th at 5PM to Sunday, March 3rd at Midnight. The promotional code is BP2013boozedancing. Click here to purchase your tickets at the Fair Food website.

If you’d like to read a bit more about the Brewer’s Plate and all that in entails, click here to read The Wookie’s review of last year’s event. Hope to see you there!

Sipping Saturday Gazette For February 9, 2013

FAIR FOOD PRESENTS THE NINTH ANNUAL BREWER’S PLATE 2013

More than 70 Local Restaurants, Breweries and Artisanal Producers Gather to Promote Sustainable Agriculture at the National Constitution Center

PHILADELPHIA (February 8, 2013) – Fair Food, a nonprofit organization uniting local farmers, business and consumers, presents The Brewers Plate. Now in its 9th year, this one-of-a-kind tasting event will be held at the National Constitution Center Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 5:30-9:00 PM. General admission tickets are available for $70 per person as well as $630 for groups of ten. Individual VIP tickets are $140 and also available in packs of ten. VIP tickets include, a 30-minute preview to the entire event, a “VIP Only” section, access to premiere star-studded demos and interactive tastings, and exclusive, private offerings only available to VIP ticket holders. Tickets are available at www.fairfoodphilly.org with all proceeds supporting Fair Food, a local non-profit that promotes a healthy local food system.

The VIP experience, Small Wonders – The BIG Taste of Small Scale, explores the world of homespun gourmet foods, small batch brews, artisan cheeses and specialty and niche farm products. Intimate tastings and demos designed to stimulate all the senses are available and a sampling of VIP featured guests include: Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Co., Aimee Olexy of Talula’s Table and Talula’s Garden, Choptank Oyster Company, Eclat Chocolate, Naked Brewing, The Bent Spoon Ice Cream, Lancaster Farm Fresh, Yellow Springs Farms, and many more.

The organization’s largest, most popular and well-established fundraiser is truly a unique event uniting more than 50 local culinary outlets with an expected thousand attendees. Brewers Plate participants include: Alla Spina, Beer Cakes, Dad’s Hat Whiskey, Good Spoon Soups, Night Kitchen Bakery, South Philly Tap Room and White Dog Café to name just a few. Sponsors for this year’s event include Chipotle, whose corporate vision of serving fresh, sustainable Food With Integrity is in perfect alignment with Fair Food and The Brewers Plate fete and Save Some Green, LLC, a local provider of earth-friendly products and services who has generously agreed to serve as the exclusive provider of compostable forks, plates, cups, and napkins for Fair Food’s Brewer’s Plate 2013.

“Fair Food continues to grow its Brewers Plate event every year as a means to educate consumers about the importance of eating local and supporting farmers”, explains Ann Karlen, Executive Director, Fair Food. “Our premiere fundraising event, The Brewer’s Plate, supports our daily objectives by celebrating our local culinary heroes through showcasing the best our area has to offer in terms of eating, drinking and having fun.”

About Fair Food

Founded in 2001 by Philadelphia entrepreneur Judy Wicks, Fair Food brings locally grown food to the marketplace. Through uniting local farmers with businesses and consumers, supporting the importance of family farms and creating a year-round marketplace for fresh, local and humane food products, Fair Food is promoting a humane, sustainable agriculture system for the Greater Philadelphia region.

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BOTTOMS UP! PHILLY’S FAVORITE MIXOLOGISTS COMPETE FOR THE HONOR OF “BEST ’20s-INSPIRED COCKTAIL” AT THE STRATUS ROOFTOP LOUNGE

 Competition held in connection with the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition

Philadelphia, PA (February 8, 2013) – From the big screen to the small screen to the explosion of bars and restaurants attempting to recapture the mystique of a speakeasy, there is no denying that nostalgia for the 1920s is sweeping the nation.  In the “spirit” of the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition, American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, bartenders from Stratus Rooftop Lounge at the Hotel Monaco, Square 1682 at the Hotel Palomar, XIX at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, Amuse Bar at the Le Meridien, and 10 Arts Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia will compete for the honor of “Best ’20s-inspired cocktail” during a special competition on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Stratus Rooftop Lounge.  This event is open to members of the media and invited guests only.  For more information or to RSVP, email Marketing@constitutioncenter.org.  A limited number of tickets to the general public will be given away on the Stratus and National Constitution Center Facebook pages the week of February18^th.

During the Prohibition era, bartenders often created cocktails with gin, which was quick and easy to make.  During the American Spirits Bartender Competition, each bartender will be required to create their signature ’20s cocktail using locally distilled Bluecoat Gin, hand crafted by Philadelphia Distilling, the first craft distillery in Pennsylvania since Prohibition.  Popular Philadelphia personalities will judge the creations: Laura Burkhardt, WHERE Magazine Publisher; Marisa Magnatta, Associate Producer of WMMR’s Preston and Steve Morning Show; Maria Papadakis, Emmy award-winning media personality and spokeswoman; and Brian Sims, Pennsylvania State Representative.  FOX 29 traffic reporter Kacie McDonnell will serve as emcee.

Prizes will be awarded in two categories – Judge Favorite and Guest Favorite.  Winners will receive an annual membership to the National Constitution Center; a one night’s stay at the Hotel Monaco; a With Love gift basket, courtesy of VisitPhilly.com and the Greater Philadelphia Marketing and Tourism Corporation; and a feature on the National Constitution Center’s website.

Now through April 28, 2013, the era of flappers and suffragists, bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al Capone and Carry Nation vividly come to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup.  

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Following its debut at the Center, the exhibition will embark on a nationwide tour.

Admission to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is $17.50 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 4-12.  Group rates also are available.  Admission to the Center’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theatrical production Freedom Rising, is included.  For ticket information, call215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

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#LoveBowmore

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time for flowers and chocolate. This year, however, we would like to change that. We would like to invite you to a very special pre-Valentine’s ‘whisky date’ with our own Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, and a selection of the great and the good from the world of whisky.

Our lucky winners will receive a very special Valentine’s whisky bouquet and an invite to a special Twitter tasting with Rachel. The bouquet will include four mystery Bowmore whiskies including a special work in progress Bowmore that has not been released. On the night, Rachel will guide you through tasting each of these lovely drams as well as answer some of your questions.

For your chance to win one of two places up for grabs, simply enter your details on the Bowmore Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bowmore.

We will notify winners by Monday 11th February. And for those who want to follow the tasting, it will take place on Wednesday 13th February at 7pm GMT.  To join in, just use the hashtag #LoveBowmore. Hope to see lots of you there sharing the Bowmore love.

Boozing And Schmoozing Sentinel For Tuesday, January 29, 2013

A Vintage Valentine’s Day Soiree That’s The Cat’s Meow At The National Constitution Center

Moonshine and Valentines party to feature live musical performances, cocktails, and afterhours access to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition 

Philadelphia, PA (January 24, 2013) – Sweethearts and singles alike will enjoy a sinfully decadent menu, exquisite whiskey cocktails, cabaret performances, and more during the National Constitution Center’s sassy and swanky Moonshine and Valentines soiree on Thursday, February 14, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Much like a moody ’20s cabaret club, the Center’s Grand Hall Lobby will feature dim lighting and plenty of fringe and red satin.  Admission to the Moonshine and Valentines party is $30 for museum members and $35 for non-members (ages 21+) and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and after-hours access to the exhibition everyone is “jazzed” about –American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Reservations can be made by calling 215.409.6700 or at www.constitutioncenter.org.

Guests are welcome but not required to attend in their best Roaring ’20s attire!  Men – don your best suit and fedora.  Ladies – get all dolled up and accessorize with headbands with feathers, cloche hats, long pearl necklaces, feather boas, cigarette holders, and seamed stockings.

Partygoers will shimmy the night away to the sounds of the Boilermaker Jazz Band, who will set the mood withpopular jazz numbers of the ’20s and ’30s.  The evening’s musical offerings also include special cabaret theatre performances featuring sultry selections from the smash hit musical Chicago.  Led by music director John Daniels, the cast includes award-winning Philadelphia actors, Ben Dibble, Mike Dees, Jamison Foreman, Rachel Camp, Alex Keiper, and Melissa Joy Hart.  The talented ensemble will perform toe-tapping standards from the musical including “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” “Razzle Dazzle,” and more.  For a memorable keepsake, guests can grab some props and strike a pose in front of a ’20s era backdrop and have their photo taken by Peter van Beever Photography.

It wouldn’t be a Prohibition party without the hooch – guests will enjoy specialty whiskey cocktails served discreetly in coffee mugs and made with Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Canadian Club Dock No. 57, as well as brew from Philly’s own Yards Brewing Company, including the sought-after Love Stout.  Beverages will be paired with a decadent menu prepared by Brûlée Catering including Chicago-style mini hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.  The Chicago themed items will be paired with more traditional Valentine’s Day fare such as chicken and roasted red potatoes followed by mouthwatering desserts like red velvet cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, and chocolate tart.

Throughout the evening, guests can watch as the era of flappers and suffragists, bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al Capone and Carry Nation come vividly to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup.  

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Following its debut at the Center, the exhibition will embark on a nationwide tour.

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The Big, The Bold & The Barrel Aged at Old Eagle Tavern Featuring Boulder Beer Company

Philadelphia, PA—Old Eagle Tavern features January’s Brewery of the Month, Boulder Beer Co., on Thursday, January 31st at 7pm with The Big, The Bold & The Barrel Aged, a beer-centric event in which the Old Eagle crew will tap a selection of high alcohol and barrel-aged beers from Boulder Beer Company.

All Boulder Beers are $1 off after 7pm and beer enthusiasts will have the selection of Honey of a Saison—a new limited-edition 11.5%ABV offering brewed with wildflower honey; Killer Penguin—an extremely limited winter barleywine ale; Hazed & Infused—an unfiltered ale infused with hops; as well as Mojo Risin’ Imperial IPA and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cold Hop.

Chef Morgan Malachi will prepare dishes to complement these high alcohol and barrel-aged beers from Colorado’s first microbrewery, Boulder Beer Company. Specials from the kitchen include a half pound Bison Burger grilled to order with a blueberry sauce, onions caramelized in Boulder IPA and goat cheese, served with specially seasoned fries; and Mexican Corn on the Cob topped with Habanero Aioli and Queso Fresco. Stay tuned for more dishes to come.

Old Eagle Tavern features a Brewery of the Month with $1 off select drafts every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. February’s Brewery of the Month is Lancaster Brewing Company, so expect an exceptional event next month as well.

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FAMED AMERICAN WHISKEY BRAND RELEASES SOON-TO-BE COVETED BULLEIT® 10

Tom Bulleit’s First-Ever Selected Reserve Aged 10 Years to Deliver Elevated Bourbon

LAWRENCEBURG, KY (January 23, 2013) – As the renaissance of American whiskey endures, the category continues to expand and diversify. Perhaps no other bourbon has captured the palates of whiskey enthusiasts and the imagination of mixologists quite like Bulleit® Bourbon. With an undeterred passion for excellent whiskey, Tom Bulleit, founder of one of America’s fastest growing small batch whiskies, officially announced today the availability of his selected reserve – Bulleit® 10 Years Old.

Aged in charred American white oak, a select number of Bulleit® Bourbon barrels were set aside to age for ten years to see how the already award-winning bourbon would develop. Bulleit® distillers were thrilled to find that the additional years resulted in a special expression of Bulleit® Bourbon that provides a rich, deep, incredibly smooth sipping experience that maintains the inherent character and high rye content for which the Bulleit® brand is best known.

“I may be biased, but I think Bulleit® Bourbon is incredible at its traditional age of five to eight years,” said Tom Bulleit, “but it’s exciting to see what happened to a select number of barrels aged a little longer. The result was a special expression of our family’s bourbon that exceeded our expectations and we knew we had to bottle it and share it with our loyal fans.”

Balanced, rich and complex with delicate floral notes which have been rounded through the extra years within the barrels, Bulleit® 10 is russet in color with rich oaky aromas and hints of vanilla and dried fruit. At 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV), the newest addition to the brand’s portfolio of products possesses an exceptionally smoky and smooth finish.

Much like Bulleit® Bourbon and Rye, Bulleit 10 is showcased in the iconic frontier-inspired bottle with a beige label that prominently showcases the liquid’s age. In addition, Bulleit® 10 is housed within a premium box display that creatively outlines the Bulleit family story and Tom’s inspiration for fine bourbon.

“Bulleit® 10 is a very limited and special opportunity to responsibly enjoy the bourbon in a refined expression,” Bulleit continued. “We are eager to see its receptivity and are making it available for as long as the supply lasts.”

Bulleit® 10 is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $44.99 for a 750 ml bottle. Please visit www.BulleitBourbon.com or www.Facebook.com/Bulleit to learn more and remember to always drink responsibly.

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Introducing: The Balvenie 12-Year-Old Single Barrel

An email from The Balvenie…

Dear G-LO,

As someone who likes to explore new, exciting and rare single malts, we know you’ll share our excitement about the launch of David Stewart’s latest creation – The Balvenie 12-Year-Old Single Barrel.

Non chill-filtered and bottled at a higher strength of 47.8% ABV, this unique spirit spends 12 years in first-fill Bourbon barrels before being filled into no more than 300 hand-numbered bottles per cask. Each as precious as the last. And while no two casks are quite the same, David personally selects only those with the distinct honey, oak and vanilla notes characteristic of The Balvenie Single Barrel.

Like each of our expressions, the exceptional quality of the 12-Year-Old Single Barrel begins with the unparalleled craftsmanship retained by our distillery. We proudly still grow and malt our own barley, employ a coppersmith and our own team of coopers to tend to our casks and have in our service the longest serving Malt Master in the industry.

We’re proud to share a rare piece of our collection with you. And we hope that you’ll make it a part of yours.

Slainte Mhath!

- The Balvenie

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Super Bowl Cocktails Courtesy Of Wild Turkey

Give em the Bird Blitz

• 1 tablespoon fig jam
• 1½ oz. Wild Turkey 81
• ¼ oz. Orange liqueur
• ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
• Ice

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice.

Fourth and Long

• 1 oz. Wild Turkey 101
• 3/4 oz. Wild Turkey 81
• 1/2 oz. Lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. Aperol
• 1/2 oz. Maple Syrup

Combine all ingredients, shake vigorously and serve in a high ball glass. Garnish with a wedge of lemon.

All The News That’s Fit to Drink For The Week Ending 11/24/2012!

The Guy On The Right Has a Thing for J-LO. As opposed to G-LO.

The Glenmorangie Company Is Named World’s Best Distiller

Iconic Scottish whisky is crowned 2012 Distiller of the Year at the ‘Oscars’ of the wines and spirits industry

The Glenmorangie Company is also named UK Spirits Producer of the Year for second year running

The Glenmorangie Company was the toast of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) this week after being named 2012 Distiller of the Year.

Glenmorangie was first named UK Spirits Producer of the Year and then went head to head with some of the biggest global distillers. The iconic Scotch Whisky distiller then emerged with the biggest prize of the night: 2012 Distiller of the Year.

Glenmorangie’s 25 Year Old was also the winner in the category for Best Single Malt over 15 years Old.

Since its foundation in 1969, the IWSC and its panel of judges have rewarded excellence in wines and spirits with entrants drawn from nearly 90 countries. London’s historic Guildhall played host to a banquet which drew over 450 aficionados from across the globe.

Paul Skipworth, President and Managing Director at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “Being crowned the Distiller of the Year is the icing on the cake in what has been a highly successful 2012 for Glenmorangie. This is the top prize for the whole international spirits industry.

“This award recognises the extra mile that Glenmorangie goes to deliver an exceptional quality of whisky. The IWSC judges have recognised the efforts made by everyone in our team and we are absolutely delighted”.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling & Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “This accolade makes me very proud to be a part of such a highly regarded whisky company and its contribution to such a vibrant Scotch whisky industry.

“The superb quality of our whiskies has always been my top priority together with my team, and it is great to receive independent validation from the highly respected IWSC.

“Our attention to detail from the selection of raw materials, through careful distillation to the use of the finest quality oak casks for maturation, helps to ensure that all our whiskies provide an unparalleled taste experience”.

Allen Gibbons, IWSC Chief Executive, said: “2012 has been another very strong year for the whisky industry and the quality of products entered was particularly high. Glenmorangie’s success against such tough competition is a testament to the quality of their products.”

Glenmorangie Company whiskies have now won a remarkable total of 32 Best in Class and Outstanding Gold medals over the past six years at the IWSC – the most internationally recognised awards body.

This is more than any other single malt Scotch whisky, making Glenmorangie the ‘best of the best’.

About Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie single malt Scotch whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create Unnecessarily Well Made single malt whiskies.

About The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC)

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Each year the competition received entries from nearly 90 countries worldwide.

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Iron Hill Brewery Bottled Reserve Gift Packs Make Great Holiday Presents!

WILMINGTON, DE – For the holidays, all nine Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations will offer Holiday Bottled Reserves Gift Packs, a perfect way to share craft beer with friends and loved ones. The gift packs will showcase Iron Hill’s Bottled Reserves series of award-winning and seasonal beers, brewed in small batches and available only in large-format, cork-finished 750 mL bottles.

“Our Bottled Reserves make a terrific gift. Whether purchasing three Belgian-style beers to sample side by side or our latest beer, Señor Chocolatoro, they’re great gifts for any beer lover,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson.

Gift packs all feature complimentary beer tote gift packaging, and include:

• Señor Chocolatoro ($40), (pictured above) featuring a bottle of the limited-release chocolate stout and two etches Rastal glasses. Señor Chocolatoro is an English sweet stout with an irresistible chocolate character.
• Winter Wheat Wine Ale ($35), featuring a bottle of winter wheat wine and two etched 18-oz. Iron Hill wine glasses. Winter Wheat Wine Ale is a hybridization of barleywine and American wheat ale with strong, rich, malty flavors balanced by subtle sweetness.
• Belgian Abbey ($50), featuring one bottle each of Abbey Dubbel, a mahogany ale with the sweetness of dark Belgian candi sugar and a distinct aroma of plum and pears; Belgian Tripel, a traditional Belgian-style golden ale with complex aroma and flavor of plums, spice and bananas; and Belgian Quadrupel, rich, dark, malt-y and very complex.
• Gold Medal ($65), featuring one bottle each of The Cannibal, a Belgian-style golden ale with a complex, dry sweetness, balancing bitterness and a spicy finish; Russial Imperial Stout, a full-bodied stout with a complex, malt-y sweet and high-roasted character balanced by citrus-y American hops; Saison, a classic Belgian-style farmhouse ale that is unfiltered, bright and light-bodied; and Wee Heavy, a full-bodied Scotch-style ale with distinct Malt-y sweet and fruity aroma and flavor. All are among Iron Hill’s most award-winning beers.

Another great gift idea for an Iron Hill lover is a King of the Hill rewards club membership. For $25, recipients will receive a one-year membership and perks that include: a $25 credit for every 250 points earned; 150 free points at sign-up (and at each annual renewal); 1 point per dollar spent, excluding alcohol, tax, tip and the purchase of gift cards; 10 points for each visit to Iron Hill; 25 additional points for every five visits in a single month; a hand-made mug; a free birthday gift; invitations to exclusive King of the Hill events; and direct email contact with head brewers about upcoming releases and events. To purchase a membership, visit any Iron Hill restaurant. King of the Hill rewards cards are valid at all Iron Hill locations.

Finally, Iron Hill Gift Cards make a thoughtful present and can be purchased online. Gift cards will be shipped either to the recipient directly or to the purchaser, meaning that friends and family across the country can give each other the gift of Iron Hill, in any denomination (minimum $10), all season long.

Founded by home brewers Mark Edelson and Kevin Finn and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has blossomed from one restaurant and brewery to nine locations across the mid-Atlantic. Each is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Their acclaimed beers have accumulated a wealth of awards from the nation’s top beer festivals, and their restaurants have earned more than 100 “Best of” nods from local and national publications.

Locations include: Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000); Wilmington, DE (710 South Madison Street, 302-472-2739); Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000); West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600); North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000); Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333); Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800); Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300); and Chestnut Hill, PA (8400 Germantown Avenue, 215-948-5600). A tenth location, in Voorhees, NJ is scheduled to open in 2013.

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com, follow them on Twitter (@ironhillbrewery) and like them on Facebook.

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Prohibition Ends With Repeal Day Celebration At Xfinity Live! Philadelphia On December 5

Tickets Available Now At xfinitylive.com/repealday

Philadelphia, PA – Toast the 21st Amendment! In celebration of Prohibition coming to an end, a 1933-themed Repeal Day party will take place at XFINITY LIVE! Philadelphia on Wednesday, December 5 beginning at 8 p.m. Created in partnership with the National Constitution Center’s world premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, the Repeal Day party is a soiree fit for bootleggers and flappers alike.

A general admission ticket ($40) to the event includes food, cocktails and free parking (after 8 p.m.). VIP tickets ($60) additionally allow early entry at 7 p.m., valet parking and a special menu tasting from the Chef.

Pre-Prohibition style lager served up by Batch-19 will be served to the sounds of a live jazz band. Period attire is encouraged.

XFINITY Live! Philadelphia is a dining and entertainment district centered in the heart of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The one-of-a-kind venue features over a dozen restaurant and entertainment choices, including six main venues: Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar & Grill (Professional Bull Riders), Philly MarketPlace, Spectrum Grill, Victory Beer Hall and the first-ever NBC Sports Arena. XFINITY Live! is a joint partnership between Philadelphia-based Comcast-Spectacor and Baltimore-based The Cordish Companies.

Like Xfinity Live! on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @xfinitylive

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Through April 28, 2013, the era of flappers and suffragists, bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al Capone and Carry Nation come vividly to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup. For more information and to buy tickets, visit prohibition.constitutioncenter.org.

 

Booze and Brew News for the Week Ending 10/4/2012

Hendrick’s Gin Brings “Voyages Into the Unusual” to Philadelphia

World’s Most Unusual Gin Promises Journey Filled with Awe-Inspiring Scenes and People of Peculiar Passions

Philadelphia, PA (October 4, 2012)—The delightfully peculiar Hendrick’s Gin invites Philadelphians to open their minds, unfasten their senses and join “Voyages Into the Unusual” for two nights of extraordinary experiences from Wednesday, Oct. 17 – Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012.  Hendrick’s Gin and fellow journeyers will bid farewell to the humdrum and venture beyond what is known at the events to take place at Trust, 249 Arch St. (corner of 3^rd and Arch St.) The curious and cavalier can RSVP for the event at:hendricksgin.com/unusual.

This awe-inspiring consumer experience allows guests the opportunity to interact with the world as it is seen by Hendrick’s Gin, featuring creative cocktail libations and a scintillating cast of Hendrick’s Gin characters all in a setting complete with a grand Explorer’s Lounge, a frenzied Botanist’s Den and a full scale Apothecary Shop.

The voyage takes place the evenings of Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Thursday, Oct. 17, when Hendrick’s Gin Brand Ambassador Jim Ryan, and the entire cast of Hendrick’s Gin characters welcomes droves of fellow travelers to sample peculiar libations and entertainment that’s sure to err on the side of the unusual.

Libations to be sampled will include the Hendrick’s Voyages Into the Unusual Traveling Punch, modified ever so slightly to include the best local and seasonal ingredients that Philadelphia has to offer. Other tipples to be enjoyed will include a range of creations, from the signature Hendrick’s Gin & Tonicto the more complex Carawayfarer with Hendrick’s Gin, lemon juice, fennel juice, raspberries and framboise lambic, in addition to nearly ten other peculiar concoctions.

Guests will be entertained all night as they voyage into the unusual with a cast of characters to include: a botanist that will demystify the eleven botanicals that are within the Hendrick’s bottle, a chemist that will take you into the apothecary shop and music interspersed throughout by the eclectic band, White Ghost Shivers, among other circus acts, stations and unusual surprises.

“Hendrick’s ‘Voyages into the Unusual’ provides a haven from the mundane while introducing people to the wonders of Hendrick’s Gin,” said Joanne Birkitt, Hendrick’s Gin Senior Brand Manager. “Travelers will get a peek inside our unusual world by learning about the history of our peculiar spirit, tasting specially created libations and meeting entertaining and talented people who think about the world just a little bit differently. We can’t wait to see who we’ll get to know during our stay in Philadelphia.”

Philadelphia is the fourth stop in the year-long “Voyages Into The Unusual” series which previously docked in Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL and will conclude in New York, NY (Nov. 6 – Nov. 8).

For more information and to receive an invitation*, RSVP for the event at hendricksgin.com/unusual.

*Invitations subject to availability.

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Hollywood On Tap at Paramount Studios

Please join The Blank Theatre (a non-profit arts organization, Noah Wyle, Chairman) as we present our fundraiser Hollywood On Tap at Paramount Studios (Streets of New York) on Saturday October 20th. We have 40 breweries (and growing) and 10 food trucks, plus 2 stages of entertainment.

Here are just a few of the breweries that will be in attendance:

Abita, Belmont Brewing Company, Firestone Walker, Hangar 24, Lagunitas, Rogue Ales, Sierra Nevada, Stone Brewing Company, Full Sail, Session, and many many more!

If you’d like more information about this event, visit their website, follow them on Twitter, or Like them on Facebook.

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Kick Up Your Heels at the National Constitution Center’s Bootleggers Ball!

Philadelphia, PA – Flappers, put on your favorite beaded silk chiffon dress, make sure your hair is perfectly bobbed, and slip on your best dancing shoes. Fellas, don your white tie and tails, grab your top hats, and don’t forget your password. In connection with American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition – the world-premiere exhibition everyone is “jazzed” about – the National Constitution Center will transform into a swinging speakeasy, complete with Jazz Age music, Lindy Hop and Charleston lessons, and themed photo opportunities. The Bootleggers Ball will take place in the Center’s Grand Hall Lobby on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Admission to the ball is $35 for museum members and $40 for non-members (ages 21+) and includes advanced access to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition before it makes its world debut. Reservations can be made by calling 215.409.6700 or at www.constitutioncenter.org. Guests are encouraged to come in their best Roaring ’20s attire!

After learning some new moves from Mixed Pickles Vintage Dance Co., who will provide free dance lessons and performances throughout the evening, partygoers can shimmy the night away to the sounds of the Ben Mauger Orchestra, who will perform popular jazz numbers of the 1920s and 30s…

Click the following link to read the complete press release:

Bootleggers Ball Press Release

If you’d like more information about the National Constitution Center, visit their website, follow them on Twitter, or Like them on Facebook.

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Tippler’s Tour: Ghosts & Toasts

Spooky Colonial tales and seasonal beers highlight this tour of Colonial & modern day watering holes, which begins at the grave of Betsy Ross and continues through the Christ Church Burial Ground and beyond.  With drinks and snacks at National Mechanics, Triumph Brewing Company and the historical City Tavern, the tour guide entertains guests with spine tingling true tales, along with stories of the drinking traditions from Colonial times.  Learn about the tradition of beer drinking in Philadelphia while doing some imbibing of your own along the way!

• Tour-goers will sample Poor Richard’s Spruce Ale, Strongbow Cider, Pumpkin Ale and more.
• Departs from the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street.  Tickets are $40; $35 seniors/students/military.
• Must be 21 with valid ID.
• Call (215) 629-4026 or visit historicphiladelphia.org for tickets.

If you’d like more information about Historic Philadelphia, visit their website, follow them on Twitter, Like them on Facebook, and check out their videos on YouTube.

Monday Morning Craft Beer and Whiskey News!

Laphroaig Live 2012!

“There’s no smoke without Laphroaig”

Join us in Germany for this year’s Laphroaig Live, as we explore the impact that smoking has on Laphroaig; be it beer, Islay peat or German sausage meat…

Show date: Thursday 27th September

Show time: 21:00 CET (GMT +1)

Laphroaig Live 2012 will be broadcast live from Germany, during this year’s Oktoberfest – the World’s largest fair! This celebration of Bavarian beer dates back to 1810, making it just 5 years older than Laphroaig itself.

Despite the very different end results, those familiar with the whisky making process will know that prior to distillation, whisky is essentially beer. We’ll be exploring the similarities between them, and sampling some local beer that has been matured in a Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

A traditional accompaniment of German sausages will act as the perfect companion for our Laphroaig beer. These lucky sausages will also be given a Laphroaig infusion as we’ll be smoking them over wood chips taken from one of our barrels.

Known as the most richly flavoured of all scotch whiskies, Laphroaig’s smoky profile comes from the peat that we use to smoke our malt. We’ll be examining the influence that this special smoky peat has on some of our most popular expressions, the Laphroaig 10 year old, the beloved Laphroaig Quarter Cask and this year’s Cáirdeas.

In comparison with our Islay peated malts, we’ll also be tasting a Highland peated malt from our sister distillery, Ardmore, and an Irish peated malt, Connemara, from our sister distillery in Ireland. These three peated malts all have their own very different but distinct qualities and we’ll be exploring those with our whisky experts during the show.

As always, we will be joined by Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell. He will be accompanied by master blender Robert Hicks, the revered Bernhard Schäfer, whisky writer and Master of the Quaich and Pierre Thiebaut, founder of whisky fan site Connosr.com. A studio audience of Friends of Laphroaig will join the tens of thousands of Laphroaig fans Worldwide that tune in to our live show every year.

John Campbell, Robert Hicks, Bernhard Schäfer and Pierre Thiebaut join us live online at www.laphroaig.com/live to take part in this live tasting session on Thursday 27th September 2012 at 21:00 CET (UK – 9pm)

To find out more about Laphroaig, visit their website, worldwide Facebook page, USA Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

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Counting The Days Till Philly Beer Week 2013? Bridge The Gap With The Bathtub Beer Fest, A Fundraiser And Prohibition-Era Beer-Drinking Party

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, November 15 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., top craft brewers will come together at the National Constitution Center (5^th and Arch Streets) for Bathtub Beer Fest, a Prohibition-era beer-drinking party and fundraiser for Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2013. Tickets are available online (click to purchase) for $40 per person ($45 per person after October 12), and include samples of both old-fashioned beers and modern favorites from 20 top craft breweries, plus free admission to the Center’s new exhibit, “American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition”(normally $17).

“Waiting for Philly Beer Week to roll around every year is exciting – but sometimes, we need a great beer event to tide us over,” says Executive Director Don Russell. “The Bathtub Beer Fest is it: a suds-filled celebration of beer and beer drinking with some of the best in the business bringing special and unusual brews that we’ll serve out of sixtels chilled in bathtubs full of ice, in a fun homage to Prohibition-era home brewing.”

The event will include beers from PBW brewery participants including: Boston Beer; Dock Street; Dogfish Head; Evil Genius; Fegley’s Brew Works; Fifth & Blake, featuring its pre-Prohibition-style Batch 19 Lager; Flying Fish; Free Will; Great Lakes, featuring their era-appropriate Eliot Ness amber lager; Harpoon; Neshaminy Creek; Nodding Head; Prism; Saranac; Shawnee Craft; Sly Fox; Victory; Weyerbacher; and Yards. Guests are encouraged to don Prohibition-era duds, including fedoras and flapper attire.

While sampling beers from top breweries, attendees will be able to observe an on-site “bathtub brew” that will utilize an open fermentation style of brewing, an homage to the way beer was made (illegally) during Prohibition. The beer will be available exclusively during PBW 2013.

Also on hand for the event: author Daniel Okrent, whose Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition (Scribner, May 2012) is the inspiration for the exhibit and was featured in Ken Burns’ comprehensive PBS documentary.

Philly Beer Week 2013 will be held from Friday, May 31 until Sunday, June 9. PBW is a 10-day celebration of “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City,” and kicks off on the first Friday in June annually. Established in 2008, it’s the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights throughout greater Philadelphia. PBW highlights the region’s diverse beer scene – its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants and rich beer culture and history.

For more information about Philly Beer Week, including the ever-expanding schedule of events both during PBW and throughout the year, a list of participants and other details, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and follow them on Twitter (@PhillyBeerWeek). PBW tweets should include the hashtag #PBW. You can also like them on Facebook.