From Philly Beer Week:
PHILADELPHIA, PA – It’s almost time for Philly Beer Week™ (PBW) 2014, the nation’s largest celebration of beer held Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 8. This year marks the first PBW with the official slogan of “America’s Best Beer Drinking City,”™ a long-time descriptor of the 10-day event that was recently acknowledged as the official moniker of, “Philly Beer Week”™, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The countdown has begun to the official kick-off event, Opening Tap, the most anticipated date on the PBW 2014 calendar, as it moves to a new venue at the 23rd Street Armory, with tickets set to go on sale very soon. Bars, restaurants and breweries are in the planning stages and will be ready to announce many new and exciting additions to the finalized schedule in the coming weeks. Confirmed highlights of the 10-day celebration of beer include classic favorites: Beerlesque: Tastings and Tassles, Throwdown in Franklintown, London Grill’s Dunk Tank and The Fishtown FestivALE, as well as the return of the Philly Beer Week app for iPhone and Android.
“I am extremely excited and honored to present Philly Beer Week 2014, my first at the helm,” says PBW Executive Director Kristine Kennedy, who took the PBW reins in January. “It starts with Opening Tap, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Opening Tap
On Friday, May 30, Opening Tap ceremonies will commence at 7 p.m. with the traditional ‘first tap’ by Mayor Michael Nutter, held in a brand new home at the 23rd Street Armory (22 S 23rd Street), home to the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, America’s oldest mounted military unit. Composed of shipmen, importers, traders and other important professional men of the 1700s, the original members fought for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness throughout the American Revolution as part of the Continental Army under the guidance of General George Washington. The Troop is still in existence today, calling the 23rd Street Armory home, and members have served in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, as well as tours in Bosnia and Iraq. “We see that we now, as we have since November of 1774, two hundred thirty one years ago, proudly serve our nation with excellence and style,” states the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.
This year, more than 30 craft breweries and 1,300 thirsty patrons are expected to take over the vast space inside the Armory, allowing beer lovers to stretch out, enjoy all the festivities and sneak a peek at the PBW keg mallet (affectionately known as the Hammer of Glory, or HOG). In addition to being one of the marquee events of PBW 2014, Opening Tap is the leading fundraiser for the 10-day celebration. It is also the only place to taste the first drops of Philly Tripel, the local collaborative beer of PBW 2014 brewed by Dock Street master brewer Justin Low and Belgian brewer Anne-Catherine Dilewyns of Brouwerji Dilweyns in Dendermonde, Belgium, in conjunction with PBW 2014 Raffle Winner Daniel Neuner.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. for general admission tickets and cost $45 per person. VIP tickets ($90 per person) will include early entry, starting at 6 p.m., along with beer sampling, tasty food and access to VIP restrooms. Designated driver tickets will be available for $25.
Throwdown in Franklintown V
On Sunday, June 1, the fifth annual Throwdown in Franklintown, an all-out war between Yards head brewer and presidentTom Kehoe and Kite & Key owner Jim Kirk, will be held at the Kite & Key (1836 Callowhill Street) from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.
The pay-as-you-go event brings out the best and brightest in the business. Notable beer luminaries, such as Greg Lehman of Victory, Nick Johnson of Troegs, Wendy Domurat of Dogfish Head and Suzy Woods of Allagash, will be on hand to compete in a variety of challenges and competitions (sumo wrestling, boxing, chariot wars, etc). The streets around the Kite & Key will be shut down and the taps will be flowing for the ultimate battle for beer bragging rights. Featured breweries are: Allagash Brewing Company, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Troegs Brewing Company and Yards Brewing Company.
Beerlesque: Tastings and Tassels
On Monday, June 2, Oregon brewery Deschutes will host a night of lavender and lace from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at Boot & Saddle (1131 S Broad Street) when they combine their cutting edge craft beers with the lovely ladies of the Peekaboo Revue. Deschutes will be bringing Mirror Pond Ale, Black Butte Porter, Chainbreaker White IPA, Fresh Squeezed IPA, Twilight Summer Ale, as well as a special guest beer. There is a $5 admission fee and the event is pay as you go.
Dunk Tank
On Tuesday, June 3, London Grill (2301 Fairmount Avenue) will roll out its infamous Dunk Tank from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. in a beer-themed charity event that benefits the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Each purchased ticket is good for one throw on a lineup of usual suspects in the Philly beer scene, including Tom Buonanno of Muller; Jim Meiers of Origlio; Chef Evan Seplow of Belgian Café; and Kellyann Beene of Urban Saloon.
Hops @ Greensgrow
On Thursday, June 5, Nancy and George Rigby, the familiar and friendly faces behind Home Sweet Homebrew, will join forces with Tom Peters of Monk’s Café from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. for a total beer learning experience at Greensgrow Farms (2501 E Cumberland Street). A $16 door fee will get guests a lesson on how to grow hops and turn them into fresh beer. Delectable finger foods, courtesy of Monk’s Café, and locally made beer by Philadelphia Brewing Company, the official beer-maker of Greensgrow Farms, will be offered for tasting. Take away some recipes for cooking with hop shoots.
Fishtown FestivALE
On Saturday, June 7, three Fishtown bars – Johnny Brenda’s, Fette Sau and Frankford Hall – will pool their resources and host the third annual Fishtown FestivALE from 12 noon until 8 p.m. on Frankford Avenue in between Girard and Shackamaxon. The outdoor street festival will feature live music, a special appearance by the HOG and plenty of ice cold beer.
Confirmed breweries include:
· Allagash Brewing
· Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery
· Boston Beer Company
· Conshohocken Brewing Company
· Deschutes
· Dock Street Brewery
· Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
· Fegley’s Brew Works
· Founder’s Brewing Company
· Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
· Neshaminy Creek
· Rock Bottom
· Saint Benjamin Brewing
· Shipyard
· Sly Fox
· Spring House Brewing
· Stoudt’s Brewing
· Susquehanna Brewing
· Troegs Brewing
· Weyerbacher Brewing
· Yards Brewing
Philly Beer Week 2013 will be held from Friday, May 30 until Sunday, June 8. 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) (#PBW2014) and like them on Facebook.
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