You’ve got a lot of drinking to do. First things first: Since we all know drinking and driving don’t mix, we—and the folks behind Philly Beer Week—want to get the word out about “Sip Safely with SEPTA.” Whether you have an all-day “Sip” train pass or a valid R5 ticket/pass, you can ride the train between several favorite Main Line beer stops: Gullifty’s in Rosemont, Teresa’s Next Door in Wayne, TJ’s Everyday in Paoli, and Flying Pig in Malvern. R5 riders also enjoy specials like $5 off your first beer at TJ’s and 20 percent off the beer price at Flying Pig.
Also on tap for the week is a special-release beer from Victory Brewing in Downingtown: WildDevil Ale, an amped-up version of the legendary HopDevil served in 750-milliliter corked bottles and on draft. A Brettanomyces fermented ale (aka a yeast strain thought to be closer to those found in the wild), this citrusy, piney, spicy and tangy brew can be savored at various locations. The official release will be at The Brewer’s Plate on March 8. It’ll also be available year-round.
Along with fabulous downtown events, we’ve got some great beer fun right on the Main Line and in the surrounding neighborhoods. We’ve listed the more imminent local events below to get you through the weekend and the early part of next week. Then on Wednesday, March 11, go to bocconcini for a midweek update on events occurring through March 15, plus a post-wrap of the Dogfish Head Lunch with Sam Calagione at Teresa’s Next Door.
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Philly Beer Week events outside the city limits (and straight from the sources’ mouths):
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Gullifty’s
1149 E. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 525-1851, gulliftys.com
Mix-Six and Mingle (daily 9-11 p.m.)
Put together your Mix-Six pack while you come together with single professionals and other like-minded brew lovers from the Main Line and beyond.
Beer Menu Madness (daily)
Gullifty’s brackets 64 of its 130 beers March 1-April 9. Support your favorite beer all the way to the championship.
Belgian Beer Night (Fridays 10 p.m.-midnight)
A showcase of Gullifty’s Belgian beer collection, with special pricing for Chimay Red, White and Blue, La Chouffe, Duvel, and Delirium Tremens.
Intro to Gullifty’s Mix-Six pack and Mix-Six Master Competition (all day Friday, March 6)
Check out Gullifty’s Mix-Six packs, try your hand at mixing your own, and compete for the Mix-Six Master title and local notoriety.
Beer, Cheese and Chocolate Tasting (Sunday, March 8, 7-9 p.m.)
Samuel Adams hosts.
Meet the Brewers: Weyerbacher (Monday, March 9, 7-9 p.m.)
With 27 beers—and counting—the Weyerbacher brewers have poured their passion into their beers. Come out and let them stoke (or incite) your passions.
Victory Brewing (Monday, March 9, 9-11 p.m.)
We’ll hear from one of multiple award-winning Victory representatives and have an opportunity to find out why they’ve experienced so many victories in the beer world.
Philly Beer Week Beer Dinner with Stone Brewers (Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m.)
Gullifty’s will serve four fine courses and five Stone beers. Reserve tickets at $60.
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Teresa’s Next Door
124-126 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne; (610) 293-9909, teresas-cafe.com
Meet the Brewer: Thomas Hooker Brewing Company (Friday, March 6)
Sample some tasty brews from this Connecticut brewery.
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One from the Vault: A Dinner of Library Beers (Sunday, March 8)
Enjoy aged specialty beers from New Holland Brewing Company’s High Gravity Series.
Meet the Brewer: Tröegs (Monday, March 9, 6 p.m.)
Featuring several beers on tap, including Nugget Nectar Cask and a special secret-release to be announced.
Dogfish Head Lunch with Sam Calagione (Tuesday, March 10, noon)
This multi-course pairing luncheon is a ticket-only event featuring many of Dogfish’s rare and extreme beers on draught: World Wide Stout, Palo Santo, Midas Touch, Theobroma, Pangea and more. This will be part of Sam’s Tuesday whirlwind tour from here to the Beer Yard, to Tria Happy Hour, to the Tria Fermentation School.
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Christopher’s
108 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne; (610) 687-6558, christophersaneighborhoodplace.com
Meet the Brewer Happy Hour (Tuesday, March 10, 7-8 p.m.) Â
Featuring Victory’s president and brewmaster, Bill Covaleski
Note: Victory will also host events in and around the city. To find out where you can catch up with Covaleski and sample the brewery’s tasty beers, go to victorybeer.com.
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TJ’s Everyday
35 Paoli Plaza, Paoli; (610) 725-0100, tjseveryday.com
Friday, March 6
The debut of Duvel Green draft, served up in 14-ounce tulip glasses for a full-blown Belgian tasting experience
Meet the Brewer Night (Monday, March 9, 7-9 p.m.)
Featuring New York’s Brewery Ommegang and the Belgian brewery Brasserie d’Achouffe
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General Lafayette Inn and Brewery
646 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill; (610) 941-0600, generallafayetteinn.com
Six-Course General Lafayette Inn and Green Flash Beer Dinner (Monday, March 9, 7 p.m.)
Join GLI brewmaster Christopher Leonard and Green Flash brewmaster Chuck Silva on a tasting adventure. At least six beers will be sampled, and Leonard guarantees some delicious surprises, entertaining stories, and plenty of beer education. Tickets cost $69 each, which includes tax and gratuity.
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The Drafting Room and Uno Chicago Grill
Drafting Room: 635 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton; (610) 363-0521, draftingroom.com
Uno Pizza Grill: 8 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton; (610) 280-4555, 3505.unotogo.com
These Exton beer stops will offer an ongoing Sly Fox Tasting featuring $4.50 draught pints of Phoenix Pale Ale and O’Reilly’s Stout.
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For more on your favorite local breweries, check out MLT’s March Epicure review, “For the Love of Suds,” as well as web-exclusive interviews with beer experts Lew Bryson and Brian O’Reilly.
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