2013 Philly Beer Week Cheat Sheet

Philly Beer Week, the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, starts Friday, May 31 and runs through Sunday, June 9.

22nd & Philly is here to help you with our 3rd annual Philly Beer Week Cheat Sheet. This list is a good start if you don't want to spend hours (like we did) researching the endless number of events to attend. We picked a variety of events with brewers and venues that we enjoy, plus some others that just sounded like fun.

You can find more info about each event on the Philly Beer Week Event Page. Follow Beer Week on Twitter or like it on Facebook for updates throughout the week. Even more details can be found via the official smartphone apps.



If we missed events that you recommend, let us know in the comment section. In Search of Beer has good posts on collaborations, dinners, brunches and more, while MyPhillyAlive has a list of other events to consider.

Have fun, drink safely and strike up a conversation with the other beer lovers around you. You're bound to meet people from all over the world.

All Week Long

Free Library of Philadelphia: Brewed in Philly: A History of Brewing
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Collections to provide a glimpse into the history of beer making in Philadelphia.

The Shambles at Headhouse Square: Philly Beer Week Garden 
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (Mon-Fri)
A week long extravaganza featuring games, music and of course different breweries each day.

Friday, May 31

All over Philly: Hammer of Glory Relay
All day
Follow the official symbol of Philly Beer Week from bar to bar until the opening keg is officially tapped.

The Victoria Freehouse: British Beer Tasting
4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Explore the UK’s iconic beer styles: Bitters and ESB (check their website for styles to try on other days).

Prohibition Taproom: 3rd Annual Yards Firkin Faceoff
6:00 pm - 2:00 am
Two one-time-only firkins from Yards. First one to kick, wins.

Independence Visitor Center: Opening Tap 2013
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sample beers from all over the world and watch Mayor Nutter open the first official keg of the week: Brotherly Suds 4.

Saturday, June 1

Varga Bar: 4th Annual Pin Up Block Party and BBQ
11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Neighborhood block party and 2014 Varga Calendar Girl Search.

Johnny Brenda's: iT'S A FiRKiN RiOT!
12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Check out a custom welded rack that holds six firkins. Sample Standard Pale, a collaboration between Standard Tap owner William Reed and Sly Fox.

Philadelphia Navy Yard: The 5th Annual International Great Beer Expo 
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Charity event that features more than 50 U.S. and international breweries.

The Piazza at Schmidt's: Catalina Beer Mixer 
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Outdoor festival featuring more than 50 beers, a dunk tank and live music.

Sunday, June 2

East Passyunk Avenue: Craft Beer Day on East Passyunk
11:00 am - 2:00 am
Restaurants and bars along East Passyunk hold a variety of events. Double your fun by checking out the nearby Italian National Day Street Festival.

Alla Spina: Christian DeBenedetti Book Dinner with Sal Vetri
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Meet author and Italian-American Christian DeBenedetti, while Sal Vetri, Marc's father, cooks a Sunday Supper.

Khyber Pass Pub: Prism Naked ParTea
9:00 pm - 2:00 am
Prism takes over two floors of the Khyber. Sample Brewvolution #2 collaboration between Prism, Boxcar and Evil Genius. Upstairs will feature go-go dancers if that's your thing.

Monday, June 3

Pub On Passyunk East: Saucony Creek BMX Bike Show 
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sample brews from Saucony Creek while X Games athlete Matt Lindenmuth performs stunts.

a.kitchen: Sixpoint Brewing Collaboration with David Katz
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Chef David Katz, formerly of Meme, will pair food with Brooklyn's Sixpoint Brewing.

Jose Pistola's: EXtreme Homebrew Challenge
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Homebrew competition includes samples of current winners and past qualifiers. Go support the little guys just trying trying to make something good out of their basements and garages.

Christ Church Burial Ground: Ancient Beers with Dr. Patrick McGovern
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dr. McGovern speaks about his research and aid in the creation of Dogfish Head's Ancient Ale series. Includes samples and a limited number of commemorative Philly Homebrew glasses.

Tuesday, June 4

Resurrection Ale House: Dogfish Head + Wells & Young's
4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Join Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione and Wells & Young's Head Brewer Jim Robertson. Includes DNA, their Pale Ale collaboration.

Monk's Cafe: Brouwerij Dilewyns
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Meet 26-year old Anne-Cathérine Dilewyns, one of the very few female Belgian brewers. Features $75 all-inclusive five-course dinner.

Eulogy: Barrel-ly Legal 2.. even more wood!
5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Big selection of barrel-aged beer.

Wednesday, June 5

Prohibition Taproom: Sweet 16 With Sixpoint
5:00 pm - 2:00 am
Eight draft and canned brews from Sixpoint, some of which have rarely been seen in Philly.

Monk's Cafe: Meet Master Brewer Yvan de Baets
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Meet the brewmaster at Brasserie de la Senne (Brussels). Samples include Manneken Penn, a Philly Beer Week collaboration.

Free Library of Philadelphia: Browse & Brews
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sample a selection of locally brewed beers with George Hummel and Nancy Rigberg of Home Sweet Homebrew and beer historian and author Rich Wagner.

Thursday, June 6

The Bishop's Collar: Tailgate Party with Jim Koch & Sam Adams
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tailgate with Jim Koch in the parking lot. Includes grilling, games, beer truck and more.

Prohibition Taproom: Goose Island Brewing Co. vs Goose Island Brewing Co.
4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Four normal Good Island beers on tap compete side by side with four “tricked out” versions of themselves.

Brauhaus Schmitz: Meet Sebastien LeToux
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Meet Sebastien LeToux of the Philadelphia Union and try Konig Ludwig Dunkel Weiss for the first-time.

Doobies Bar: Sly Fox/Standard Tap Event
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
5th Annual Sly Fox/Standard Tap event. Includes brewers and Standard Pale Ale collaboration.

Friday, June 7

Resurrection Ale House: All Weekend Wood at Resurrection Ale House
11:30 am - 2:00 am
An entire weekend of wood-aged beer.

Standard Tap: Weyerbacher/De La Senne
4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Meet the brewers and sample special drafts from both Weyerbacher and De La Senne including Manneken-Penn collaboration.

Khyber Pass Pub: The Art of Brewing  
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Homebrew experts George Hummel and Sean Mellody demonstrate how to make beer from start to finish.

Saturday, June 8

Triumph Brewing Company: 3rd Annual Homebrew Competition  
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Local homebrewers compete to win $500 cash and a spot on Triumph's draft list.

Philadelphia History Museum: Conversations: Breweriana, Collecting Beer Memorabilia  
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Conversation on Breweriana, view beer memorabilia and see live demonstration of colonial beer making.

The Belgian Cafe: Beer Tea with Nancy Rigberg  
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Ladies Only event. Bring your hat and tea garb for High Tea with beer instead of tea with each course.

Doobies Bar: Celebrate VE Day with Victory
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Veterans, teachers, firemen, policemen, Coast Guard get a free Victory beer.

Sunday, June 9
 
Monk's Cafe: Who The Hell Let Tom Peters into The Brewery
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Tom Peters, owner of Monk's, will tap a few beers he helped brew at breweries around the country.

The Blockley: Magic Hat Presents Brews with New Sound Brass Band  
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
An afternoon of beer, jazz and New Orleans food. We just went to NOLA in December so there's a special place in our hearts for the local music and amazing eats.

Dock Street Brewery: 5th Annual Free Music Fest
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Beer, music, good, games and much more.