Sixpack Sez
PHILADELPHIA HOSTS its first major beer festival in about 10 years on Saturday, and I'm worried that some of you are a bit out of shape.
Now, I know that many of you have been flexing those elbows at the excellent festivals surrounding the city, in Kennett Square, Adamstown, even Harrisburg. And Philly continues to host many smaller fests, including the annual Penn Museum tasting with Michael Jackson and Sippin' by the River at Penn's Landing.
But the Philly Craft Beer Festival is the big time in the big city, folks.
We're talking 60 breweries underneath the 50-foot-high ceiling of the cavernous Cruise Terminal at the old Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
It'll be a clamorous carnival where you'll be confronted with more than 150 beers from Philly and beyond. Even if you're a pro, you'll find varieties you've never sampled. And if you're a newbie to this whole wonderful world of craft beer, it's your chance to discover what everyone else has been talking about: classic styles, Belgian ale, cooking with beer, homebrewing, extreme beer and, yeah, the joy of waiting for a vacant port-o-john.
Yes, you'll get a buzz on (so read on about transportation). But instead of drinking everything you see, have a plan and you'll have more fun.
And if you've got a question, stop by the special Brewers Roundtable that I'll be moderating during the first session, at 2 p.m. Tom Kehoe from Yards, Brian O'Reilly from Sly Fox, Bill Covaleski from Victory, Mark Edelson from Iron Hill and Gene Muller from Flying Fish will be on hand with the latest on the local beer scene.
Getting ready
• Figure out your transportation. Bring a designated driver ($10 ticket) or public transportation. (Note: The Route 71 Navy Yard Shuttle does not run on Saturdays. You'll have to walk about a mile from the Pattison Avenue stop on the Broad Street Subway - a sobering trudge.) SEE BELOW.
• Wear comfortable shoes, sneakers. It's a cement floor.
• Wear a beer T-shirt, the more obscure the better. It's guaranteed to spark conversation.
• Bring a notepad. Guaranteed you will not remember the name of that hoppy ale you fell in love with.
• Leave your kids at home.
Drinking tactics
• Have a plan. Try comparing a specific style - say, pilsener - from different breweries.
• Generally, work your way from lighter beers to strong. If you dip into the barleywines first, you may not even taste the lager.
• Drink water. It'll slow your pace and clear your palate.
• Locate the bathrooms before you need 'em. There are port-o-johns outside on the south end and lavatories midway along the hall on the west side of the building.
• Eat something. The concessions look decent with prices in the Wachovia Center range.
• Don't be greedy. When you get your pour, step to the side so others can get a taste. You can always come back for seconds.
• Talk with strangers. Beer-drinkers are friendly sorts and they'll point you in the direction of the best beers.
• Wash out your glass with a swirl of clean water whenever you have a chance. There are water jugs and spill-buckets throughout the festival.
• Pace yourself. It's four hours of drinking, don't peak before it's time.
Savor, don't chug
• Note your beer's color and clarity. Is it dark? Is it muddy? It'll give you a clue to its flavor and style.
• Take a whiff. Is it fruity? Is it grassy? A strong hops presence may have a garden-like or grapefruit aroma.
• Sip. Is it sweet? Is it bitter? There are so many varieties of beer, you'll discover a host of complex flavors.
• Swallow, don't spit. This is beer, not wine.
Make sure you try...
• Dock Street Illuminator. Yes, the old double bock lost when Dock Street closed down a few years ago is back. A full-bodied, malty lager.
• Independence Imperial Stout. Huge, dark and full-flavored, this is one of brewer Tim Roberts' best ales.
• Southampton Double White. Long Island brewer Phil Markowski takes an aromatic wheat beer and gives it the Floyd Landis treatment.
• Stewart's Highlander Stout. Every time this tiny Bear, Del., brewery shows up in Philly, it astounds everyone with its unusual flavors.
• Rodenbach Grand Cru. A tart red ale aged in oak. Make sure your snobby wine-sipping friend gets a taste of this one.
• And there are a few brews from breweries we don't see much of around here. Check out: Baltimore-Washington Beer Works (Raven), Climax Brewing, Flying Bison, Rock Art, Blue Point, Clipper City.
Don't Forget...
The local scoop
Even if you're familiar with all the local breweries, make sure you stop by to see if they're pouring something special. Often hometown breweries show off for the crowd with a one-off, a special ale made just for the festival. And chat up whoever's pouring for the lowdown on the latest gossip at the brewery.
Brussels, U.S.A.
A special Belgium lounge will feature the beers of Duvel Moortgat, Rodenbach and New York's Ommegang breweries. Meanwhile, look for local versions of these full-flavored ales from the likes of Flying Fish, which will pour its Abbey Dubbel.
The big cheer
It's traditional at beer fests to let out a huge holler when someone drops his or her glass. This fest's glasses are heavy- grade plastic, so they'll bounce, not shatter.
Do it yourself
Keystone Homebrew Supply will demonstrate the basics of making your own beer. Learn about ingredients, equipment and techniques.
Eat it
Beer is food, after all, and you'll see how well it goes with your favorite dishes at a cooking demonstration by the chef at Victory Brewing. Get a taste of his mussels cooked in Sunrise Weiss-bier.
Souvenirs
T-shirts, trinkets, glassware - you name it, it's for sale. Make sure you bring some extra cash for that excellent baseball cap.
Nonalcoholic beer
I hate that stuff - unless we're talking about root beer. Try handmade varieties from Saranac Brewing and Ithaca Beer.
Work it off
When it's time to take a break, wander over to the stage where the blues/rock band Bullets will be performing all day.
IF YOU GO
Time: Saturday, March 3, two sessions: Noon-4 p.m., 6-10 p.m.
Location: Cruise Terminal, Naval Ship Yard. Enter yard at base of south Broad Street. Park at designated lots.
Tix: $35 online/$40 door. A portion of ticket sales goes to the Committee to Benefit Children.
Parking: $10.
SEPTA: Take the Broad Street Subway to Pattison Avenue and catach a free shuttle to the Cruise Terminal. Shuttles run 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. for Session 1., and 5- 8 p.m. for Session 2. The return shuttles back to the Subway run 3 - 4:30 p.m. for Session 1 and again from 9 - 10:30 p.m. for Session 2.
Info: www.phillycraftbeerfest.com
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