Friday, May 31st is the official start of Philly Beer Week 2013, and I’m pleased to report that the organizers still can’t count! I don’t know about you, but in my world, a week equals 7 days. Not so in the Philly Beer Week Universe! One week equals 10 days in that alternate reality. FYI, this is not a complaint. Philly Beer Week is one of the best reasons why Philadelphia is one of the greatest Craft Beer loving cities in the world. Truth be told, in Philadelphia, EVERY week is Philly Beer Week!
Below are just a few of the events that will be happening in my hometown during Philly Beer Week 2013. Hope to see you at the taps!
Photo courtesy of http://beerbybart.com/
Philly Beer Week 2013 Hammer Of Glory Relay Route
PHILADELPHIA, PA – It’s almost time for Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2013, the nation’s largest celebration of beer (held Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 9), and the route of the annual Hammer of Glory (H.O.G.) Relay has been announced. Every year, the official keg mallet of PBW, affectionately nicknamed the H.O.G., travels across the city from bar to bar, tapping kegs and eventually making its way to the Opening Tap, where Mayor Michael Nutter wields the H.O.G. for the first official tap of PBW. At each location, the H.O.G. gets a different means of conveyance – from kinetic sculpture to wheelbarrow to the Philly Roller Girls.
“Ferrying the H.O.G. from place to place is one of my favorite PBW traditions, and every year, we find increasingly zanier styles of transportation,” says PBW Executive Director Don Russell. “I encourage all PBW fans – especially first- timers – to join the H.O.G. as it makes its way around town to the Opening Tap.”
The Route
- 9:30 am – arrives at Hop Angel Brauhaus (7980 Oxford Avenue); departs via Philly Roller Girls
- 10:55 am – arrives at Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford Avenue); Another Beer in the Wall. Grey LodgePub will recreate the bad old days of fizzy yellow lager as they build a wall of macro beer in front of the Grey Lodge. The Philly Roller girls will appear to smash those bad old days of beer away. HOG will depart via Bike Caravan
- 11:45 am – arrives at Philadelphia Brewing Company (2439 Amber Street); departs via Kinetic Sculpture
- 12:10 pm – arrives at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 Frankford Avenue); departs via Pedal Powered Cargo Bike; 12:30 p.m. – arrives at Bar Ferdinand and El Camino Real (1030 North 2nd Street); departs via TBA
- 12:50 pm – arrives at The Foodery (837 North 2nd Street); departs via Stoudtsmobile
- 1:00 pm – arrives at Standard Tap (901 North 2nd Street); departs via Love City Roller Girls and Imperial
Shuttle
- 1:30 pm – arrives at Yards Brewing Company (901 North Delaware Avenue); departs via The Widow Maker Kinetic Sculpture
- 1:45 pm – arrives at SugarHouse Casino (1001 North Delaware Avenue); departs via Double Decker bus with the SugarHouse Sweeties;
- 2:20 pm – arrives at Brauhaus Schmitz (718 South Street); departs via Horse-drawn Carriage
- 2:40 pm – arrives at 12 Steps Down (767 South 9th Street); departs via Rolling Staircase
- 3:00 pm – arrives at Varga Bar (941 Spruce Street); departs via Speed Walker
- 3:30 pm – arrives at Nodding Head (1516 Sansom Street); departs via the Blockley Pour House Brass Band Second Line with Nodding Head Mascot
- 4 pm – arrives at Fergie’s (1214 Sansom Street); departs via Wee Motorcycle
- 4:15 pm – arrives at Time (1315 Sansom Street); departs via Motorcycle Convoy
- 4:40 pm – arrives at the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901 Vine Street); will be wheeled through the Brewed in Philly display on the second floor via decorated book truck
- 5:00 pm – arrives at Kite and Key (1836 Callowhill Street); departs via Something Epic
- 5:20 pm – arrives at Belgian Cafe (601 North 21st Street); departs via The Reckoner
- 5:50 pm – arrives at The Institute (549 North 12th Street); departs via Wheelbarrow
- 6:30 pm – arrives at Opening Tap (Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Streets); will be used by Mayor Nutter for the ceremonial first tap of PBW 2013
At each location, as the H.O.G. is handed off to its next guide, the previous caretaker will offer a solemn toast: “Noble carrier, we entrust you with The Hammer of Glory, the omnipotent symbol of our beloved Philadelphia Beer Week. May our journey be safe. Work ye up a thirst, for there shall be a beer waiting for you at your destination. Godspeed!”
For people who would like to follow the Hammer of Glory, the SugarHouse Double Decker bus will be following the H.O.G. on May 31 throughout the day and providing free transportation to each stop. Throughout PBW, people can also follow #HOG on social media and visit the Philly Beer Week website under the “Hammer Tour” event category.
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.” 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 and Instagram (@PhillyBeerWeek) (#PBW2013) and like them on Facebook.
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Opening Tap 2013
On Friday, May 31, Opening Tap ceremonies will commence at 7 p.m. with the traditional ‘first tap’ by Mayor Michael Nutter, held outside, on Independence Mall, adjacent to the Independence Visitor Center (1 North Independence Mall West.) The ceremony is free and those waiting to enter the main affair will be in prime position to watch the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Brew-vitational awards as well as see Mayor Nutter slinging the PBW keg mallet (affectionately known as the Hammer of Glory, or HOG) to release PBW’s first drops of Brotherly Suds 4, the local collaborative beer of PBW 2013.
Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for a strolling beer tasting of more than 30 regional breweries on two levels. General admission costs $45 per person and will include a souvenir tasting glass. VIP tickets costs $90 per person and will include some of the region’s most unique beers from its very best breweries, a tasty food buffet and other surprises. Both tickets can be purchased online (click to buy). The event sold out last year, and tickets will not be available at the door.
Beer drinkers will get a first taste of Brotherly Suds 4, an English summer ale with a zesty citrus hop. The collaboration beer will be brewed this year at Yards by Tom Kehoe, Bill Covaleski of Victory, Gordon Grubb of Nodding Head, Mark Edelson of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant and Gene Muller of Flying Fish.
Beer friendly food will be available for purchase on site from Max & Me Catering. There will also be live music by The Flathead Gang. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age, and no children will be admitted. Those who will be acting as designated drivers can attend the Opening Tap for $15 per person, including complimentary soft drinks and a PBW DD t-shirt.
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Photo courtesy of http://southstreet.com/
Philly Beer Week Garden – Local Brews and Brewers, Live Music, Tasty Food and More!
PHILADELPHIA, PA – With a move this year to beautiful and historic The Shambles at Headhouse Square, the beer garden is sure to be one of the top places to enjoy beer during PBW. Beer drinkers will enjoy special one-offs and rare beer treats, some of them available exclusively at the beer garden, as well as food from South Street District restaurants and live bands. The Philly Beer Week Garden will be open nightly, from Monday, June 3 through Friday, June 7 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is free, beer and food will be pay-as-you-go.
“There’s very little that we love more than a cold beer on a warm day – especially enjoyed outside,” says PBW Executive Director Don Russell. “The Philly Beer Week Garden is a perfect place to get into the spirit of PBW and enjoy some truly one-of-a-kind beers from the area’s most talented and creative brewers.”
Visitors to the the Philly Beer Week Garden will be able to drink great beers while playing “lawn games” run by Major League Bocce. Games will include: two bocce courts, corn hole and Bear Pong (not to be confused with beer pong). The Philly Beer Week Garden will be held rain or shine. The Philly Beer Week Garden is being held with Rolling Barrel Events in conjunction with the South Street Headhouse District and the area’s fine restaurants.
- Monday, June 3: Weyerbacher will feature their just-for-PBW Manneken-Penn, brewed in Belgium over the winter by ‘Win a Trip to Belgium’ raffle winner Matt Hohorst, head brewer Chris Wilson and Brasserie de la Senne’s Yvan De Baets. Manneken-Penn is a Belgo-American Dubbel made with oats, molasses and – appropriately – a combination of American and European hops. Philly-based rockers Cold Fronts will perform.
- Tuesday, June 4: Local favorites Troegs and Sly Fox will bring some of their top summer times brews including Sunshine Pils (Troegs) and Helles and Phoenix Pale Ale (Sly Fox). Seven-piece funk ensemble Swift Technique will play.
- Wednesday, June 5: Philadelphia Brewing Company and Dock Street will man the taps, with a performance from soulful singer Ali Wadsworth.
- Thursday, June 6: Yards and Flying Fish will bring their award-winning beers and live music from indie folk rockers New Sweden.
- Friday, June 7: A foursome of breweries will close out the garden, with Free Will, Lancaster, Rock Bottom and Triumph bringing their favorite beers and a performance by infectious American rockers The Lawsuits.
