Phoenixville Pub Crawl 2010 – Saturday March 13

by Washington Washington

For those of you who haven’t seen that big ass banner on Bridge Street, the Phoenixville Pub Crawl is happening this Saturday March 13th from 1-5pm. Aside from the banner, there’s a website devoted to the event, a grassroots marketing campaign (postcards in bars), and various other attention grabbing mechanisms… So what does this all mean???

It means that Phoenixville knows how to party, dammit!

Where else is excessive mid-day drinking so heartily encouraged? I mean, other towns host pub crawls (such as Manayunk, etc), but they aren’t advertised and promoted like this one is… And they aren’t as organized either.

It’s a great thing that the local bars all came together on this, as they should all do a ton of business on this day. Each location will be will be offering a different micro brew(s)… here’s the rundown and my personal preferred crawl order:

Sly Fox Brewery – Sly Fox Beer

Epicurean – Ithaca, Lagunitas, Spring House

PJ Ryan’s – Longtrail

Bistro on Bridge – Heavy Seas, Rogue, Brooklyn Brewery

Molly Maguire’s – Victory, Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

Iron Hill Brewery – Iron Hill Beer

Baxter’s 101 Bridge – Stoudts Brewery

Pickering Creek Inn – Founders, Weyerbacher, Cigar City

Of course there are more bars in Phoenixville, the bars above are only the ones that chose to participate. These additional bars could easily be worked into your crawl (see our story, Pub Crawlin’ Comes a-Callin’ This Thanksgiving Eve).

Have fun, rock hard, and be safe!

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admin, March 7th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Craft Brew Night @ the Pick: Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Co. (2/25)

by Third Ave Hooligan

Cleveland was recently deemed the nation’s most miserable city (see http://tinyurl.com/yldp7oa), maybe it’s because they haven’t hosted MTV’s Real World yet. Personally, I don’t know why they could be so miserable, I mean, its got King James, Shaqtus (despite his new crappy Comcast commercials with the humungous head of Ben Stein) and Antwoin Jamison on the Cavs, who can make a serious run at the NBA crown, the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, the Drew Carey show and it was the birthplace of the Cleveland Steamer.  Regardless, the Pick will be featuring three brews from the Forest City’s finest Great Lakes Brewing Co. this Thursday night (2/25) starting at 6.

The featured trio seemingly runs the gamut with n lager, an IPA and a porter.  Great Lakes’ Dortmund Gold Lager is the brewery’s flag ship beer and is made in the same manner as beers in 19th Century Dortmund, Germany.  The beer’s name “reflects the unprecedented accolades and recognition it has earned in major worldwide beer tasting competitions” and is neither too hoppy nor too malty, according to the brewery.  More specifically, the company describes the 5.8 % ABV Dortmund Gold as “a smooth lager that strikes a delicate balance between sweet malt and dry hop flavors.” Ziggy zaggy ziggy zaggy oy oy oy!!!

The Commodore Perry IPA is described by Great Lakes as a pale ale that was exported to the multitude of British soldiers, colonial administrators and settlers in India. This pale ale style was a strong candidate for shipping due to the high potency and high level of attenuation.  With an ABV of 7.5 %, this sounds like a tasty brew if you’re a fan of IPAs.

Lastly, the dark selection is the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.  For those of you who don’t know about the Edmund Fitzgerald, the freighter sunk while in Lake Superior in November 1975 without first sending a distress signal.  According to Wikipedia, the vessel’s crew of 29 perished with no bodies being recovered and when the wreck was found, it was discovered that the ship had broken in two. The ship was also immortalized in a 1976 song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Canadian folkie Gordon Lightfoot. The Fitzgerald beer is a British-style porter with a 5.8 % ABV.

Well, depending on how Great Lakes’ selections taste, Cleveland could at least have good beer to drown their sorrows.  Hopefully the snow blizzard won’t interfere with this bi-monthly event.

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admin, February 24th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Saints, Sinners and Voodoo: Iron Hill Celebratin’ Mardi Gras with Voodoo Brew and Gator Gumbo

by Third Ave Hooligan

N’Awlins is by far my favorite city in the U.S…great food, great atmosphere and great music.  Though I’ve never been there for actual Mardi Gras I could only imagine the debauchery and good times, especially combined with the Saints’ Super Bowl victory.

In celebration of Mardi Gras and the tastes of the Crescent City (no mention of the Saints’ win, though), Iron Hill is offerin’ up some gator gumbo and a schwarzbier (black beer) named Voodoo in honor of New Orleans’ own Dixie Brewing Company.

According to Iron Hill Head Brewer Tim Stumpf, Dixie “produced a very dark beer as their core product in a time that all other American beers were of the fizzy, yellow variety. This beer revived their brewery in hard times, but then they were ravished by Hurricane Katrina.”

The gator gumbo features authentic Creole seasonings and has hints of subtle herbal notes from German Hopes.  Stumpf explains that the darkness of the Voodoo brew mixes nicely with the soup’s dark buttery roux. The gumbo should be ready by tomorrow (Weds.) and free samples of the beer and soup will be given out then as well.

Recovery from Mardi Gras never sounded so delicious.

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admin, February 16th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Painted Blue Returns To Pickering Creek Inn (2/5)

By Washington Washington

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Painted Blue will return to the Pickering Creek Inn with a whole new lineup this Friday, February 5th. OneNineSixFourZero was unable to acquire details on these changes, so we’ll just have to go to the show to find out (we would have anyway).

Painted Blue’s skilled brand of folk and bluegrass (or “newgrass” as those in that genre call it) is a nice change of pace, making them a much welcomed monthly musical addition to the acts playing around town.

Tim Dodson (guitar and vocals) leads the group through songs about old-timey topics, train travel, and a myriad of emotions. As the master mood maker, Dodson’s gentle demeanor lends itself well to the overall vibe of the band. His guitarmanship is mega-legit and establishes the professionalism of the band.19460

As strings set the tone, Nichole Campanale definitely delivers on the fiddle. Not to be outshined, Mike Spillane makes magic on the mandolin, and Jerome McCaffrey is bangin’ on the upright bass. The chemistry between them is charming… It’s heartwarming drinking music.

Painted Blue conjures up images of fun in autumn. Even their songs with a more somber aesthetic seem to feel comfortable and warming. It’s the kind of thing that never gets old, even if it’s not modern.

Their first release Time Rolls On (2007) displays their skills wonderfully, but they’ve progressed as a band since then. Hopefully, they’ll record and release a new record soon.

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admin, February 4th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Thirsty Thursday: Renew your vows to Iron Hill’s Mug Club (2/4)

by Emmett Otter

Calling all Iron Hill Mug Clubbers:  have you gotten tired of lookin at that same old 2009 mug, with its’ black and blue façade? Well, get ready because now’s the time to renew your membership.  Next Thursday, Feb. 4, Iron Hill is hosting its Mug Club Renewal Party from 6 to 8 p.m.

For those of you who  don’t know about the Mug Club, it’s $35 beans per year and your account is instantly credited with 200 points.  Upon reaching 300 you earn a $25 gift card.  How are points accrued, you ask? Simple, by enjoying Iron Hill beers and food (both of which are quite tasty).  You earn a point for each dollar spent (tax, tip and purchase of gift cards not included).   On top of that, you get to keep your mug, which is a 24 oz bomber, at the time you sign up, and every time you flash your card you get your mug filled while paying the price of a pint, depending on the alcohol content of the beer (trust me, you may not be able to handle 24 oz of some of their Belgians).  That’s an extra 8 oz of beer people!!  What’s more, you also get an invite to Members-only (not the jacket) events where you can get a taste of new and specialty brews before Joe Schmoe.

Take it from me, if you regularly visit Iron Hill, this Mug Club card is a deal.

The Hill is currently featuring its Belgian Pale Ale, a light and refreshing brewski with the complexity of an Abbey ale.

More deets are available at the Web site:  http://www.ironhillbrewery.com/phoenixville/.

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admin, February 1st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Pickering Creek Inn Craft Brew Night With Rogue Ales (1/28)

by Washington Washington

This Thursday Pickering Creek Inn will host their popular Craft Brew Night at 6pm, this time featuring Rogue Ales. There will be pint specials and giveaways as always.

The Pick will pour three different brews…

Double Dead Guy Ale (9.00% abv) – Deep amber copper color. Buttery peanut brittle, orange blossom tea aromas follow through to a rich chewy and fruity full body with nice notes of caramel drizzled dried apricot and roasted grains and spice. Finishes with a long, tangy grilled grapefruit and chocolate fade.

Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout (6.00% abv) - Ebony in color with a rich creamy head, earthy flavor and a mellow, chocolate finish.

Mogul Madness (6.25% abv) - Hoppy, caramel aroma, dark burgundy in color with an off white head. Intense flavors of citrus hops, and complex notes of nuts, berries and mocha. It finishes long and lingers for at least 15 seconds.

In case you forgot, karaoke starts at 9pm,  so be sure to put down a few Double Dead Guys and perform the perfect tribute to your new favorite beer…

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admin, January 26th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Haitian Relief Benefit Show – 1/20 – PJ Ryan’s underground

by Washington Washington

This Wednesday, January 20th, a benefit show supporting the Red Cross Haitiain relief efforts will take place at the newly-refurbished PJ Ryan’s underground (231-233 Bridge Street – formerly Lojo’s). The show (21+) starts at 10pm and a $5 (minimum) donation is required. Performers include: McReadyRock, Blanko Dave, Elissa Sapp (of Karma Bat), Everybody’s Favorite Band, and Si Senorita.

McReadyRock is an up-and-coming Phoenixville / Philadelphia alt hip hop collective. DJ Joey O of YRock on XPN said the following of the band:”The versatile McReadyRock defy classification with their ability to tackle almost any genre…call them electronic-rap-indi-rock if you must, but they’re the only band around with the testicular fortitude to cover both Jesus Christ Superstar and Run DMC.”

Blanko Dave is a singer / songwriter who plays guitar, both electric and acoustic, but also baritone, slide, 12-string, and electric sitar. He’s a talented local guy that creates some really solid Americana music.

Elissa Sapp (of Karma Bat) is also a singer / songwriter who plays acoustic guitar and piano. Her bandmate Jim Marchione recalls the first time he heard her perform at an open mic night: “She was this tiny little girl with an acoustic guitar that was bigger than she was, but her voice was so huge and spot-on… I don’t know when I’ve heard a better rock vocalist, I just knew we had to work together.”

Everybody’s Favorite Band performs a mix of Irish music and classic rock. Their Irish music selections include traditional and rebel songs, as well as some of their original Irish compositions, such as “Kill ‘em Again”. They play songs from great artists such as the Chieftains, Dubliners, Van Morrison, Flogging Molly, The Proclaimers, The Saw Doctors, U2, Dropkick Murphy’s, and more.

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admin, January 17th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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The British are coming to Iron Hill this Saturday

by Third Ave Hooligan

A’right there mates and mods, prepare yourself for a lesson all things related to across-the-pond brewskis this Saturday during Iron Hill’s British Invasion from 12 until 5 p.m. which will feature EIGHT English-style beers ranging from nut brown ale (think Newcastle) , regular and cask-conditioned, to ESBs (think Fullers).  The first team squad includes the aforementioned nut brown ale and ESB as well as an oatmeal stout, anvil ale, barleywine, pig iron porter and English strong ale.  There will also be some guest appearance beers, according to the Web site.

English fare will be featured on the menu, too, so grab some fish n’ chips or a meat pie and wash it down with some tasty beers.

Maybe the Hill will put some soccer on the telly so we can all get pissed and fight over which Premie team has the better squad (look out Man U supporters) or which band is the best to come out of England.  Play up Pompey!!

Oh, and to get us in the mood to be a hooligan, the Hill is giving away pint glasses to the first 50 mug clubbers!  Who doesn’t love limited quantity giveaways!?

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admin, January 15th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Thirsty Thursday – Craft Brew Night at the Pick – Michigan’s New Holland Brewery (12/17)

by Third Ave Hooligan

Well, it’s the holidays, and if you’re anything like me, you’d rather be at the pub with some tasty suds than dealin with the battles over parking spots at the KOP mall and throw-downs over the last Zhu-Zhu pet.  Fortunately for us who prefer the former, the Pick is hosting another Craft Brew Night this Thursday starting at 6 and will be featuring three beers from Michigan’s New Holland Brewing.  The New Holland beers featured will be:

Mad Hatter — An I.P.A. made using a dry-hopping process that results in an explosion of hop flavors and provides a nice hoppy aroma.  The Hatter has a 5.7 % ABV, so you can probably enjoy a few of these before some of the lovely ladies at the Pick start lookin’ like Alice in Wonderland.  The brew is one of New Holland’s regular offerings, while the next two selections are seasonal varieties.

Cabin Fever — A nut brown ale that is “a hearty, comforting companion for long, mind-bending winters,” according to the brewery.  Like most beers in its genre, it has a sweet side with notes of caramel, and also has a hint of rye and raisin.  Cabin Fever has an ABV of 6 %.

Dragon’s Milk Ale – A selection from New Holland’s high gravity series that boasts a 10 % ABV and is the “crown jewel” of the brewery’s beers.  New Holland says on its Web site that that the brewing process for the ale, which includes aging it in oak barrels, is “painstaking and creative” and that the term “dragon’s milk” has quite a rich history in the beer world.  Who knew?  What does it taste like then, you ask? Well, the brewery describes it as a “complex ale with a soft, rich caramel-malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.”  I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure how dancing in an oak bath will make you taste like that, but I’ll give it a try.

They sound like some tasty presents to me.  As usual, you get to keep your glass and there will be giveaways.  And since I’ve already used two bad puns in this piece (at least), I won’t make any comments about enjoying enough of the beers as a warm up for karaoke.

FYE…the best gift for the lady in your life:

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admin, December 16th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , ,
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Thirsty Thursday: Craft Brew Night with Troegs Brewing at Pickering Creek Inn (12/3)

by Washington Washington

Tonight, Tröegs Brewing of Harrisburg will be the featured Craft Brewery at the Pickering Creek Inn. The event starts at 6:00pm and there will be a great line-up of locally crafted brews on tap (and hopefully some giveaways).

Troegs means alot to native Harrisburgians, especially Aaron Margolis, Director of Game Entertainment for the Harrisburg Senators Baseball Club…

“Despite Troegs early entry to the state capital’s craft brew landscape, it remains at the head of an ever-growing pack,” said Margolis.  “In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a bar in South-Central Pennsylvania that didn’t have Troegs on tap.  But don’t think this is a cater to the masses, run-of-the-mill beer, Troegs can go toe-to-toe with the best the nation can offer (and if you’re not careful, the seductive taste of their Mad Elf will happily send you under the table).”

The Pick will be pouring three different Tröegs treats:

The Mad Elf (11% abv) – The Mad Elf, a cheerful creation to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. The combination of Cherries, Honey, and Chocolate Malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious Ale. The Mad Elf, a jolly and delicious beer for the Holidays.

Dead Reckoning Porter (5.8% abv) – Dead Reckoning is unfiltered and weighs in at 5.8% abv and 53 IBU’s. It features Pilsner, Caramel, Chocolate and Roasted malts along with Chinook and Vanguard hops.

Dreamweaver Wheat Ale (5.4% abv) – Combining four wheat types with Munich and Pils malts, noble Saaz hops, and a yeast strain that imparts a spicy, peppery, clove taste with a slight hint of bananas, Dreamweaver Wheat is an unfiltered blast of spicy, mouthwatering joy.

So pipe down a few Mad Elfs, and by the time Karaoke is all set (8pm), you can bust out your favorite mad elf’s hit song! Mine is Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up”…

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admin, December 3rd 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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