Brewers Association Announces 2012 World Beer Cup® Sponsors

Boulder, CO • January 18, 2011—The Brewers Association announced today that Krones will be the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 World Beer Cup. Barth-Haas Group will return as a Partner Sponsor alongside Ball, Sahm, Siemens and Verallia, which have also confirmed as Partner Sponsors. The competition—referred to as "the Olympics of Beer"—has been hosted biannually by the Brewers Association, the U.S.-based trade association, since 1996.

Krones, Barth-Haas Group, Sahm and Siemens supported the World Beer Cup in 2010 as Partner Sponsors. The Brewers Association is pleased to welcome Ball and Verallia to their first World Beer Cup as a Partner Sponsors. Additional sponsors will be announced as they are confirmed in coming months.

"We are honored and delighted to welcome Krones as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 World Beer Cup," said Charlie Papazian, president of the Brewers Association. "And we are grateful for the ongoing support of Ball, Barth-Haas Group, Sahm, Siemens and Verallia at the Partner level. These companies' commitment to the recognition of excellence in international brewing is applauded."

The 2012 World Beer Cup promises to live up to its reputation as the most prestigious beer competition in the world. An international panel of 179 judges from 26 countries participated in the 2010 event—a 28 percent increase over 2008—and for good reason. The competition's awards philosophy is exacting. Judges do not automatically give awards to the top three entries in a given style category, but instead present a gold, silver and bronze award only when the category contains three excellent examples of the style.

The 2010 World Beer Cup was the largest commercial beer competition at the time, with 3,330 beers entered in 90 beer style categories, from 642 breweries from 44 countries and 47 U.S. states.

World Beer Cup Judging

To ensure the highest level of integrity and expertise in the judging process, World Beer Cup judges are required to have formal sensory training and experience on flavor panels or competitions. They are selected from an extensive list of internationally recognized brewers, consultants, industry suppliers and writers, with many judges drawing on experience in multiple World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival® competitions. The end result is an expert, international judging panel, with some 60 to 65 percent of judges coming from outside of the United States. For the brewers, the judges provide invaluable feedback and critique-positive and negative-available after judging concludes.

Registration for the 2012 World Beer Cup is October 10, 2011 through January 12, 2012.

The judging takes place May 1-2, 2012 in San Diego, California, with the winners announced on May 5, 2012 at the gala awards ceremony and dinner at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego. For more information, please visit WorldBeerCup.org or contact events@brewersassociation.org.

Chifa and Brooklyn Brewery

PHILADELPHIA, PA (click on links for photos and menu) – On Thursday, January 20, 2011, at 7 p.m., superstar Chef Jose Garcesand brewing legend Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery will come together to host the latest in the ongoing series of Craft Beer Dinners atChifa (707 Chestnut Street, 215-925-5555).  The dinner will feature six courses of Chef Garces’ inspired Latin-Asian cuisine paired with Oliver’s award-winning beers – and in a special twist, each course will feature a chocolate component, reminiscent of Chef Garces’ work as one of Food Network’s Iron Chefs.  The cost will be $85 per person, excluding tax and gratuity; and reservations are required. 

“I’m thrilled to work with Garrett for this event, and I hope guests will think of this as a very special night to remember,” says Chef Garces.

The exquisite menu created by Chef Garces and Chef de Cuisine Natalie Natalie Maronski will include: 

·         Hiramasa with white chocolate, peach, orange and lemon verbena, paired with Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, a cracklingly dry, hoppy, unfiltered golden farmhouse ale in the tradition of classic saisons made entirely with now-rare Sorachi Ace hops grown by a single farm in Oregon; 

·         Buffalo Tartare with cacao nibs, roasted baby beets, goat cheese and beet chip, paired with Brooklyn Local 2, a 100% bottle fermented beer with marvelous dry complexity from the combination of European malt and hops, Belgian dark sugar and raw wildflower honey from a New York family farm; 

·         Quail with chorizo, harissa mustard, potato and chanterelle escabeche and dark chocolate demi, paired with Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, a deep golden beer brewed from British malts that is dry hopped for a bright aroma of hops, lemongrass, pine and citrus fruit; 

·         Pork Ribs with chocolate barbecue sauce and gingered fennel-orange slaw, paired with Brooklyn Dark Matter, a robust brown ale aged for four months in bourbon and rye whiskey barrels with caramel and chocolate flavors heightened by vanilla-like oak notes; 

·         Chocolate-Crusted Venison with red chili tamale, mole and macerated figs, paired with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 2003, an award-winning version of Imperial stout with deep, dark chocolate flavor; 

·         Beer-Brushed Pound Cake with malted milk chocolate ice cream, chocolate-coated frozen baby bananas and waffle cone tuile, paired with Brooklyn Black Ops 2009, a robust stout that is aged for four months in bourbon barrels and re-fermented in the bottle with Champagne yeast for intense coffee and chocolate flavors.

“After the fantastic beer dinner we did last year at Amada, I’m so excited to be working with Chef Garces again.  Chifa is one of my favorite Philadelphia restaurants, and I’ve sent a lot of friends there.  I’m sure we’re going to have a great dinner,” says Oliver. 

Brooklyn Brewery is one of America’s most exciting breweries.  Founder Steve Hindy began brewing in upstate New York in 1988 and is now the proprietor of the first successful commercial brewery in New York City since Schaefer & Rheingold closed their doors in 1976.  Brewmaster Garrett Oliver joined the team in 1994; since then, his beers have accumulated a host of national and international medals and his book, The Brewmaster’s Table, has become a favorite among beer connoisseurs and food enthusiasts alike.

Since March 2010, Chef Jose Garces has invited regional breweries to pair their brews alongside Chifa’s Latin-Asian cuisine.  Invited breweries have included Victory Brewing Company, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Dogfish Head, Iron Hill, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewery, Yards Brewing Company and Weyerbacher Brewing Company. 

Chifa is open for dinner seven days a week beginning at 5 p.m.; dinner is served until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday.  Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  For more information about their upcoming beer dinners, or to make a reservation, please visit www.chifarestaurant.com, or call (215) 925-5555. 

Iron Hill and Flying Fish

MAPLE SHADE, NJ – On Saturday, January 15, at 12 noon, two of New Jersey’s top brewers, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant andFlying Fish Brewing Company, will host a special Jersey’s Finest Beer Tasting at Iron Hill Maple Shade (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300).  Featuring exciting new beers from each brewery, the event will be one of the only opportunities for guests to experience these two powerhouses side by side.  Head brewers Chris LaPierre of Iron Hill and Casey Hughes of Flying Fish will also be on hand to discuss the beers and interact with their guests, making it a must-go-to-event for New Jersey beer lovers.

“We’re proud to be from New Jersey, and our colleagues at Flying Fish feel the same way,” says LaPierre.  “This event is both a fun way to debut our latest beers and also a great opportunity to work alongside like-minded brewers to create a more vibrant brewing culture here in our home state.”

Featured beers will include:  Flying Fish Exit 13 Chocolate Stout, the latest in their big-bottle “Exit Series” of beers inspired by the exits of the New Jersey turnpike, a rich chocolate stout ideal for sharing with friends in cool weather;  Flying Fish Grand Cru, a Belgian-style strong golden ale fermented at a higher temperature which adds an undercurrent of fruitiness and clove hop presence;  Iron Hill Luca Brasi, a recipe formulated by the winners of their “Iron Brewer” competition that blends rich stout with 43 pounds of whole and ground Sumatran coffee beans;  Iron Hill Cask-Conditioned Half-Caff, Luca Brasi’s base beer aged on whole coffee beans;  and Jersey’s Finest, a collaborative brew that combines Exit 13 and Luca Brasi, then is aged on whole vanilla beans and cocoa nibs for what Hughes and LaPierre playfully call a “South Jersey Mocha.” All beers will be offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, so guests can sample them all and then enjoy more of their favorite.

Flying Fish Brewing Company (1940 Olney Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ) was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995.  That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996.  Today, founder Gene Muller, head brewer Hughes and their team oversee four full-time styles, as well as a variety of seasonal beers. 

Founded by home brewers Mark Edelson and Kevin Finn and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is the region’s fastest-growing restaurant group, blossoming from one restaurant and brewery to eight locations across the mid-Atlantic.  Each is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.  Their acclaimed beers have accumulated a wealth of awards from the nation’s top beer festivals, and their restaurants have earned more than 100 “Best of” nods from local and national publications. 

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant please visit them on www.ironhillbrewery.com or follow them on twitter @ironhillbrewery or the Maple Shade location @IronhillNJ. 

Flying Fish Exit 13 Chocolate Stout

FLYING FISH BREWING COMPANY ANNOUNCES EXIT 13 CHOCOLATE STOUT

CHERRY HILL, NJ (click links for images) – New Jersey’s largest craft brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company (1940 Olney Avenue, 856-489-0061), is proud to debut their new Exit 13 Chocolate Stout, the latest entry in their “Exit Series” of big-bottle beers honoring their home state of New Jersey.


“We’re calling this an “import/export stout, combining a fuller-bodied, traditional export stout and adding Belgian chocolate that’s imported through the port of Newark located at Exit 13,” says owner Gene Muller.

On Tuesday, December 7 at 7 p.m., head brewer Casey Hughes will introduce Exit 13 to the public with a special launch party at Pub On Passyunk East (P.O.P.E.) (1501 East Passyunk Avenue, 215-755-5125). This will be the only opportunity to try the beer on draft until later in December when the final Exit 13 batch is available.

Created by Hughes, Exit 13 Chocolate Stout is named for the exit that provides access to Newark International Airport and the Port of Newark. Brewed with a mix of imported and domestic malts, as well as dark wheat, the stout gets floral, fruity and citrus notes from Irish ale yeast and Pacific Northwest hops. In total, Hughes and his team added 580 lbs. of Belcolade Dark Chocolate, then aged the beer with 200 lbs. of cocoa nibs and 12 lbs. of vanilla beans. Hughes recommends it as a dessert beer, and also describes it as perfect for sharing with friends as a winter warmer.

Flying Fish’s Exit Series beers are a playful tribute to the various exits of the New Jersey Turnpike, and began with Exit 4 American Tripel, a Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner that Men’s Journal magazine named “Best Belgian-Style Beer in America” in 2009. The Exit Series will continue with three or four beers a year to eventually encompass all turnpike exits; other entries have included: Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout, an export-style stout brewed with oysters that The Atlantic called “a real crowd-pleaser”; Exit 6 Wallonian Rye, a saffron-colored Belgian-style ale brewed with Sorachi Ace hops and local rye in collaboration with Nodding Head and Stewart’s for Philly Beer Week 2010; Exit 11 Hoppy American Wheat, a fresh, citrus-y summer beer with aromas of tangerines and apricots, voted “Best Local Beer” by Philadelphia Weekly; and Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA, brewed with local wild rice in partnership with environmental efforts to revitalize the Meadowlands.

Flying Fish was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995. That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996. Today, Muller and his team oversee four full-time styles, as well as a variety of seasonal beers. Their brews have been featured at the Great British Beer Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival and Canada’s Biere de Mondial Festival. They have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival, Real Ale Festival and the World Beer Championships, and are the only New Jersey brewery featured in Best American Beers. Flying Fish was also named “Local Hero: Beverage Artisan of 2009” by Edible Jersey magazine. For more information about Exit 13 or any of Flying Fish’s beers, please visit them online at http://www.flyingfish.com/ and http://www.exitseries.com/, or call (856) 489-0061.

Home Brew Club Meets @ Cork (Westmont, NJ)

I'm definitely going to check out the Barley Legal club. Before anybody calls the cops, check the spelling... Barley Legal. That's the name of a cool homebrew club that met this weekend at Cork in Westmont, NJ. Folks were cookin' up batches of beer right there in the parking lot, with tastes available for visitors and brewers alike.

Brett Mullin of Brew Your Own Bottle and Kevin Meeker of Cork joined forces to host the Barley Legal club at Cork this past Saturday, with more meetings to follow! Some of the brewers had built their own brewing equipment and tap systems, while others just tweaked the stuff they had to add a custom flavor to the brew:

Another pair of brewers had won a contest at Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade, NJ and had their coffee stout put on tap at the microbrew/restaurant! The coffee stout included a ton of coffee beans as well as some cold-press coffee magic. The "Decaf" variety was made without the cold-press and came out as a nice dry stout with just a breath of coffee... Mild enough for an Iron Hill house stout? You never know. Here are these guys incognito:

And here they are with their true identities revealed: Ah-HA!!!

The B.O.M.B. (Brotherhood of Merchantville Brewers) made their presence known as well, and presented a nifty IPA for tasting. Rick and crew have fun things in store as well, but they won't be revealed until the next meeting, apparently.

Da B.O.M.B was enjoying the event and will hopefully have their website up and running soon.

So thanks to Brett and Kevin for organizing the event. Hopefully the next one will be far enough away to feature the beers that were brewed up in the Cork parking lot. There's nothing like a triumphant return to kick off a party!

Cheers!

Tonight @ Iron Hill (West Chester, PA)

 WILMINGTON, DE – On Friday, November 19, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant will celebrate the release of their latest Bottle Reserve Beer, Winter Wheat Wine-Oh!, with a festive Holiday Party at their West Chester location. All eight area locations will sell the cork-finished 750 ml bottles for $19.50 and the Winter Wheat Wine-Oh! Gift Package, one bottle, two 18 oz signature glasses and a beer tote for $30.


“Our Bottled Reserve series is an opportunity for our brewers to flex their muscles a bit and create some really special bottle-conditioned beers,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson. “Winter Wheat Wine-Oh! is a terrific addition to our line-up of bottle reserve beers and a thoughtful holiday gift for beer lovers.”

Winter Wheat Wine-Oh! is a winter wheat wine ale, a hybridization of barleywine and American wheat ale with strong, rich, malty flavors balanced by subtle sweetness. The bottle’s retro-cool label design comes from gifted local artist and frequent Iron Hill collaborator Jeff Schaller of PinkCow Studio. Schaller also created the signature wall murals at all the Iron Hill locations, as well as the labels for many of the Bottled Reserve beers. He creates art pieces that incorporate representational form with the printed word, merging visual and written symbols into a provocative and whimsical aesthetic language. For more on Schaller and his art, please visit www.jeffschaller.com.

The West Chester Holiday Release Party will include complimentary snacks, such as popcorn, cookies and other seasonal goodies, as well as 12-ounce exclusive draughts of Winter Wheat Wine-Oh! Guests who purchase a Bottle Reserve Beer during the event will be entered in a raffle for fun Iron Hill prizes, such as a Jeroboam of Winter Wheat Wine-Oh!, membership in Iron Hill’s Mug Club, gift cards good at any of their eight locations and more. Complimentary gift wrapping of holiday bottles will also be offered, and an ugly sweater contest will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m., with prizes awarded for the worst seasonal attire.

Founded by home brewers Edelson and Kevin Finn and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is the region’s fastest-growing restaurant group, blossoming from one restaurant and brewery to eight locations across the mid-Atlantic. Each is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Their acclaimed beers have accumulated a wealth of awards from the nation’s top beer festivals, and their restaurants have earned more than 100 “Best of” nods from local and national publications.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant’s eight locations include: Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000); Wilmington, DE (710 South Madison Street, 302-472-2739); Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000); West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600); North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000); Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333); Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800); and Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300).

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com.

2nd Annual Oktoberfest @ The Blue Monkey (Merchantville, NJ)

From the Blue Monkey Tavern website:

2nd Annual Oktoberfest

10/02/2010 - 5:00pm - 9:00pm

$30 Per Person. 60 Craft Beers. Tickets on sale at The Blue Monkey Tavern. Wine will also be served. Food will be available at an additional cost.

Can't wait to check this out!  To check out more of what The Blue Monkey Tavern has to offer, click HERE. Or go to http://www.bluemonkeytavern.com.

Haddon Pub Fest Octoberfest

From HaddonPubFest.com:

On September 18th, Cork, treno, Taproom & Grill, P.J Whelihan’s, Pour House, Brewer’s Towne Tavern and Tom Fischer’s Tavern will spotlight a particular craft beer and host its brewer or distributor from noon to 6:00 PM with drink specials, tastings and conversation. A free trolley service will run continuously betweenhttp://www.haddonpubfest.com all of the pubs plus a stop at the Westmont Patco station. Pub Fest T-shirts are on sale now at the eight participating establishments for $10. Wear one on September 18th for special deals, door prizes and other perks.

Caricatures Wanted at the High Street Grill

From the High Street Grill Website:

Caricature Night and the IPA Challenge II! Join us on Friday, July 23rd for the 2nd IPA challenge- where you blind taste the IPA's and decide which is which! Prizes will be awarded...and while you are there, get your Caricature drawn for our 6th Anniversary Caricature Contest! 3 winners will have their faces immortalized on the walls of the bar....it's going to be a fun night and joining us with live Irish tunes are the famous Kennedy's - Paul and Paul Jr.! See details by clicking Caricatures Wanted

This sounds fun! Check out their website @ http://www.highstreetgrill.net/

CHIFA GETS SLY IN JULY

June 28, 2010 Profile Public Relations
CONTACT: Jennie Hatton or James Narog
(215) 985-2106 / www.profilepr.com

CHIFA GETS SLY IN JULY

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, July 22 at 7 pm, Chef Jose Garces will continue his ongoing series of Craft Beer Dinners at Chifa (707 Chestnut Street, 215-925-5555) when he hosts Brewer Brian O’Reilly from Sly Fox Brewing Company. The event will feature four-courses of Chifa’s inspired Latin-Asian cuisine paired with O’Reilly award-winning beers. The cost will be $65 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Space is limited, and reservations are required.

“Chifa’s food is particularly well-suited to pairing with full-flavored craft beers, and these beer dinners are a fun way to enjoy some excellent local offerings alongside innovative dishes,” says Chef Garces.

The Sly Fox menu will include: Citrus Marinated Kajiki (Pacific Blue Marlin) with 5-spice crumble and baby vegetables paired with Royal Weisse Ale a medium-bodied Bavarian style wheat beer; Summer Curry Prawns paired with Saison VOS, a Belgian style farmhouse ale; Braised Short Ribs served with Peruvian succotash paired with 113 IPA a bold and spicy hoppy beer; and for dessert Malted Pound Cake with strawberries and Incubus syrup paired with Incubus, Sly Fox’s golden triple. To make a reservation for the Sly Fox dinner, call Chifa at (215) 925-5555.

The Craft Beer at Chifa Dinner Series will continue on Thursday, August 5 with Brewmaster Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewing Company and on Thursday, September 30 with Founder Tom Kehoe of Yards Brewing Co.

Sly Fox Brewing Company was formed in 1995 as a brewpub in Phoenixville. Today that brewpub and a production brewery and restaurant in Royersford have helped make Sly Fox one of the best known names on the Pennsylvania beer scene; it became the first brewery in the Mid-Atlantic region to can its beers in 2006, making it one of the early advocates of a trend which is now being embraced by craft brewers around the county.

Chifa opened in early 2009 to critical acclaim; The New York Times praised the restaurant’s unusual ability to “kill two cravings [Asian and Latin] with one dish,” while Philadelphia magazine called Chef Garces’ innovative interpretations of Peruvian cuisine “a cross-cultural thrill ride…A meal at Chifa is a night out, a form of entertainment, an infusion of world culture, a culinary education, something to brag about the following day.”

Chifa is open for dinner seven days a week beginning at 5 p.m.; dinner is served until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about their upcoming beer dinners, or to make a reservation, please visit www.chifarestaurant.com, or call (215) 925-5555.

Beers on a Battleship!

From the ticket website:

"The Garden State Craft Brewer's Guild will hold their 14th Annual Beer Sampling Event on the Battleship New Jersey. This is a rain or shine event held on the Fantail under tents. Food & Specialty Vendors will be present along with entertainment from 1:00-5:00. Festival ticket also offers a logoed sampling glass and a self-guided tour of the most decorated Battleship in U.S. History."

Check it out! Only 11 days left!

Brew Your Own Bottle to Open in Westmont, NJ

From a Facebook posting:

"Brew Your Own Bottle opening June 18th at 162 Haddon Ave., Haddon Twp. NJ.! Local one stop brew shop offering a wide range of grains, extracts, yeast, hops, wine kits, equipment and more! Wine & Beermaking Courses with on-site facilities and storage!"

For more information, contact BrettMullin@comcast.net or visit http://www.brewyourownbottle.com/.

This is good news for all your South Jersey Home Brewing Enthusiasts!

Blues and Brews at Cork (Westmont, NJ)

BLUES & BREWS FEST in the CORK Parking Lot

When: Sunday, June 13 / Noon - 6:00pm

Where: Cork (Westmont, NJ)

What: Live Blues by Bluesbox Delux, Roasted Pig, BBQ, Ribs, plus 10 Craft Brews on Tap. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at The Door). For more information please call Kevin Meeker @ Cork Restaurant: 856 833 9800

HeadHouse in Philly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2010
Profile Public Relations
CONTACT: Clare Pelino or Jennie Hatton
(215) 985-2106 / http://www.profilepr.com/

THE HEADHOUSE CRAFT BEER CAFE TO OPEN IN SOCIETY HILL,

SERVING “BEER FRIENDLY CUISINE” AND 100+ BEERS

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, June 10 at 4:30 pm, Philly Beer Week founder and Museum Catering owner Bruce Nichols and established restaurateur Madame Saito will partner to debut The HeadHouse (122 Lombard Street, 215-625-0122), a stylish craft beer cafe in historic Society Hill. Featuring more than 100 bottled beers, as well as another 20 on draught, the restaurant will serve “beer-friendly cuisine,” designed to complement the bar’s extensive selection of ales and lagers.

“Beer is truly one of my great passions, and I am thrilled to open The HeadHouse to share that passion with our guests,” says Nichols. “We hope that food lovers, as well as beer lovers, will come to think of The HeadHouse as ‘their place’.”

Nichols first fell in love with beer while hosting tutored tastings with Michael Jackson, the world’s most respected beer authority. He hosted those tastings for 18 years, until Jackson’s passing in 2007. This connection led him to be one of three founders of the wildly successful Philly Beer Week. Drawing from his deep personal knowledge and top-level industry sources, Nichols created The HeadHouse’s list, with a core focus on the great craft beers that are brewed in the Philadelphia region and a variety of other selections from around the world.

“Our knowledgeable staff will assist guests and help lead them to interesting and unusual choices that complement our food,” says Nichols. “We are even introducing beer-based cocktails and Sangria on draft, a first in Philadelphia, as well as a full list of classic cocktails and wines.”

Menu items, ideal for pairing with a pint, will include: Spicy Pork Carnitas with pineapple, cilantro and lime; Fontina Fritters with tomato crème fraiche; Chicken Shwarma with cucumber, tomato and spiced dill yogurt, served with pita pockets and mixed green salad; Beer-Battered Fish with HeadHouse fries; and Seared HeadHouse Gourmet Crab Cakes with bacon-vegetable stew. Prices will range from $5 for HeadHouse Fresh Cut French Fries with Vietnamese curry mayo or ginger mayo to $23 for Boneless Braised Beef Short Ribs with brown ale jus and roasted potato wedges.

The HeadHouse will feature design elements such as exposed brick walls and ten-foot high wood paneling, giving the space a gracious, familiar feel. Custom black and white photographs of antique British ale glasses by Miami photographer William Stites anchor the sleek, black-accented color scheme. A distressed copper bar and rust-colored tiling add to the old-is-new feel and make the entire space a modern tribute to Society Hill’s storied drinking heritage. The second floor will include a versatile private event venue that can accommodate 150 people for a cocktail reception or 120 for a seated dinner, including an additional 12-tap bar that makes it one of the city’s premier spaces for beer-centric events.

Nichols’ catering company, Museum Catering, has been creating memories for every occasion since its inception in 1989, both at the Penn Museum and in other exclusive venues across the region, including events with Bono, Hillary Clinton and Chinese Premier Zhao Zhemin. His partner at The HeadHouse, Madame Saito, is a recognized master of Japanese, Thai and French culinary techniques. For nearly 30 years, she has owned Le Champignon de Tokio, which features both French and Japanese cuisine. She also owns the building next door to Le Champignon, which will become The HeadHouse.

“The HeadHouse is a natural project for me because so much of the food that I prepare comes from beer-loving cultures, and Philadelphians love that combination, as well,” says Saito.

Executive Chef Jimmy Chiu has worked with Nichols at Museum Catering for more than 11 years, and will continue to design and execute menus for them in addition to his work at The HeadHouse. Food and Beverage Director Tom Pittakis, formerly of Alison Two in Fort Washington, will lead the management team.

The HeadHouse will serve the Dinner and Bar menus Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 to 10:00 pm; Friday and Saturday from 5:30 pm to 1:00 am; Lunch will begin on June 21 and will be served Monday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; Sunday Brunch will begin on June 27 from 11 am to 2:30 pm. For more information, please visit www.headhousephilly.com or call (215) 625-0122.

Hadon Pub Fest 2010 (This Saturday!)

In conjunction-junction with Philly Beer Week 2010, South Jersey is getting in on the mix, having their very own Westmont/Haddon Township Pub Crawl! My complaint is that up until a couple days ago, this was a mysterious event with no real web presence. On the Philly Beer Week site, details were sketchy, but it seems like its happening. And now they have a full-fledged website: Haddonpubfest.com. This graphic here came from The Pour House's e-mail newsletter. If you go to Cork's website, they say you can buy a t-shirt and get a discount on beers while on the crawl. Sound fun to me.

Check out HaddonPubFest.com

Flying Fish Dinner @ The Pour House (Westmont, NJ)

The Pour House (Westmont, NJ) is having a 4-Course Beer Pairing Flying Fish Brewery Dinner Wednesday June 9th, 2010. Sounds yummy.

[BUY TICKETS!]

Today's Burger @ Iron Hill

Thursday, May 27

Chesapeake Burger: creamy crab salad, Swiss cheese

[Check out their website!]

10th Annual Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival

IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT
ANNOUNCES 10th ANNUAL
BRANDYWINE VALLEY CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL

MEDIA, PA – On Saturday, May 15, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., the region’s most celebrated brewery and dining destination, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000), will host the 10th annual Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival. This exciting event showcases the latest offerings from 25 regional breweries, with all proceeds donated to Media Youth Center. Tickets are $40 online and $45 at the door; advance ticket purchase is advised, as this event often sells out early.

Invited breweries include: Appalachian Brewing Company, Bethlehem Brew Works, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Lancaster Brewing Company, McKenzie Brew House, Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Riverhorse Brewing Company, Rock Bottom Brewery, Sly Fox Brewery, Stewart’s Brewing Company, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Troegs Brewery, Victory Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company and Yards Brewing Company.

“We have some great memories of this event from the past 10 years, lots of fun times with many amazing beers having been poured and all for a worthy cause. We’ve been holding this event in May because it coincides with American Craft Beer Week. It’s our way of celebrating the culture and contributions of craft beer while also giving back to our community,” says Mark Edelson, Iron Hill Director of Brewing Operations.

The Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival will include unlimited beer tastings and live music; food will be provided by Iron Hill and available for purchase. The event will be held rain or shine. Tickets are available online at www.ironhillbrewery.com.
All proceeds will be donated to the Media Youth Center. Since its inception, the Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival has generated more than $75,000 for the Center.
Since 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has consistently been recognized for its outstanding beers and cuisine, accruing over 100 “Best of” awards from regional magazines. Their hand-crafted beers have also won acclaim and in total, they have received 46 medals/awards from the two most prestigious beer events, the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has eight locations, in Newark, DE; Wilmington, DE; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; North Wales, PA; Phoenixville, PA; Lancaster, PA; and Maple Shade, NJ. All eight locations are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

For more information on the Brandywine Valley Brewers Festival, please call Iron Hill Media at (610) 627-9000 or purchase a ticket online at http://www.ironhillbrewery.com/.

--Republished from a press release from www.profilepr.com

Burger Month of May? I Love It!

A-BURGER-A-DAY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY:

ALL EIGHT IRON HILL LOCATIONS

TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HAMBURGER MONTH

WILMINGTON, DE – To celebrate National Hamburger Month this May, the region’s fastest-growing collection of brewpubs, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant will offer A-Burger-A-Day, with 31 distinct offerings available at all eight of their locations. Each special burger will be available for one day only.

“Our special A Burger A Day menu is our tribute to the great American hamburger, and a perfect way for our guests to satisfy their burger cravings any day during National Hamburger Month,” says Iron Hill Director of Culinary Operations Kevin Davies.

Burger offerings will change daily, and are available during both lunch and dinner. Daily offerings will include:

Saturday, May 1

Triple “B” Burger: burger, bacon and boursin cheese with red onion jam

Sunday, May 2

New England Burger: lettuce, tomato, bacon, Muenster cheese, maple mayonnaise

Monday, May 3

Tijuana Burger: guacamole, tomato, bacon, pepper-jack cheese, ancho-honey mayonnaise

Tuesday, May 4

Reuben Burger: coleslaw, bacon, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing

Wednesday, May 5

For Cinco de Mayo, the South of the Border Burger: fajita-spiced meat, red onion jam, bacon, Swiss cheese

Thursday, May 6

Foodie Burger: truffled mushrooms, tomato, boursin cheese

Friday, May 7

Saltimbocca Burger: sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, prosciutto, provolone

Saturday, May 8

“M&M” Burger: roasted exotic mushrooms & stone-ground mustard sauce, smoked Gouda cheese, bacon

Sunday, May 9

Mediterranean Burger: hummus, cucumber, tomato, arugula, mozzarella cheese, balsamic syrup

Monday, May 10

Hoagie Burger: tomato, sautéed peppers and onions, goat cheese

Tuesday, May 11

Neapolitan Burger: sautéed garlicky greens, provolone cheese, Caesar dressing

Wednesday, May 12

Hang Ten Burger: Maui onion marmalade, bacon, smoked Gouda cheese

Thursday, May 13

Picnic Burger: coleslaw, fried onions, bacon, Muenster cheese, stone-ground mustard sauce

Friday, May 14

California Burger: avocado, red onion, cucumber, shallot-dill mayonnaise

Saturday, May 15

Sumo Burger: wasabi vinaigrette-dressed greens, roasted red pepper, sesame-soy glaze

Sunday, May 16

Onion Lover’s Burger: red onion jam, Swiss cheese, scallion sauce

Monday, May 17

Ham Burger: shaved ham, roasted exotic mushrooms, Muenster cheese

Tuesday, May 18

Luau Burger: grilled golden pineapple, shaved ham, Swiss cheese

Wednesday, May 19

Salad Burger: avocado, red onion, arugula, Swiss cheese

Thursday, May 20

Cheese Lover’s Burger: triple stack of cheddar, Swiss and American cheeses, lettuce, tomato

Friday, May 21

Vidalia Burger: fried sweet onion rings, Muenster cheese, horseradish sauce

Saturday, May 22

Surf & Turf Burger: grilled Gulf shrimp, remoulade sauce

Sunday, May 23

“Whiz Wit” Burger: fried onions, cheese whiz

Monday, May 24

Florentine Burger: sautéed spinach, tomato, gruyere cheese

Tuesday, May 25

Cordon Bleu Burger: mustard sauce, Swiss cheese, sautéed spinach, shaved ham, red onion

Wednesday, May 26

Vermont Burger: Cabot cheddar cheese, maple glaze, smoked bacon

Thursday, May 27

Chesapeake Burger: creamy crab salad, Swiss cheese

Friday, May 28

Kennett Square Burger: herb-roasted exotic mushrooms, smoked mozzarella cheese, shallot aioli

Saturday, May 29

Chevre Burger: goat cheese, roasted peppers, garlic-rosemary mayonnaise

Sunday, May 30

Black & Blue Burger: Cajun-spiced meat, gorgonzola cheese, mushroom-red onion relish

Monday, May 31

BBQ Burger: fried onion rings, provolone cheese, honey-barbecue sauce

What goes better with a burger than a nice cold beer? Diners can choose from any of Iron Hill’s much-lauded lagers and ales to make a perfect burger pairing including: Vienna Red Lager, an amber Austrian lager with distinct bready malt aroma and flavor and a crisp, clean finish; Pig Iron Porter, a roasted, chocolate-y porter that is well balanced with a slight bitterness; and Raspberry Wheat, a summertime favorite among Iron Hill brewers for its refreshing natural fruit notes and smooth character.

Founded by home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is the region’s fastest-growing restaurant group, blossoming from one restaurant and brewery to eight locations across the mid-Atlantic. Each is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Their acclaimed beers have accumulated a wealth of awards from the nation’s top beer festivals, and their restaurants have earned more than 100 “Best of” nods from local and national publications. Five to seven more locations across the mid-Atlantic are planned for the next five years.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant’s eight locations include: Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000); Wilmington, DE(710 South Madison Street, 302-472-2739); Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000); West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600); North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000); Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333); Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800); and Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300).

For more information about National Hamburger Month at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com.

--Republished from a www.profilepr.com press release

Flying Fish Releases Farmhouse Summer Ale!

From The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild email newsletter:

"Flying Fish Releases 14th Edition Of The Perfect Summer Beer-Farmhouse Summer Ale

Hard to believe this tasty stuff is now entering its 14th summer. That's good for all of us! Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale is on its way out to your favorite retailer and tavern as you read this. The perfect summer beer, Farmhouse Ale is brewed with pale malt, a small percentage of wheat and single-hopped with imported Styrian Golding hops. It's a tribute to the "everyday" Farmhouse beers of Belgium (but it's not a Saison - no fruit, herbs or spices). A sour mash gives this beer its signature dryness and great drinkability."

Sign up for The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild email newsletter [Click HERE]

Philly Beer Week is Coming!

‘OPENING TAP’ TO KICK OFF PHILLY BEER WEEK 2010 FOR AMERICA’S LARGEST BEER CELEBRATION

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The third-annual Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2010 will kickoff on Friday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m., in the spectacular Independence Visitors Center (6th and Market Streets) with the Opening Tap, a celebration honoring over 25 regional breweries whose beer helps make Philadelphia “the best beer-drinking city in America.” The Opening Tap will begin with Mayor Nutter and the ceremonial ‘first tap’ using the official Philly Beer Week keg mallet (affectionately known as the Hammer of Glory) followed by a strolling beer tasting on two levels. Opening Tap tickets cost $40 and can be purchased online at www.phillybeerweek.org, no tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

“The Opening Tap is a one-of-a-kind event featuring our local breweries and their beers, as well as the men and women who create them,” says Don Russell, Executive Director of PBW. "It's only fitting that we kick off a celebration of America's best beer-drinking city in the shadow of the birthplace of America."

Invited breweries for the Opening Tap include: Appalachian Brewing Company, The Brew Works of Allentown and Bethlehem, Dock Street Brewing Co., Dogfish Head, Earth Bread + Brewery, Erie Brewing Company, Flying Fish Brewing Company, General Lafayette Inn, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Lancaster Brewing Company, The Lion Brewery, Manayunk Brewpub, McKenzie’s Brew House, Nodding Head, Philadelphia Brewing Company, River Horse Brewing Company, Rock Bottom, Roy Pitz Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewery, Sam Adams, Stewart’s, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Triumph, Troegs Brewing Co, Twin Lakes Brewing Company, Victory Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Yards Brewing Company and Yuengling.

Beer friendly food will be available for purchase on site from Max & Me Catering and there will be live music by the Flathead Gang. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age, and no children will be admitted.

To purchase tickets for the Opening Tap or find general information including the ever-expanding schedule of events and list of participants, please visit http://www.phillybeerweek.org/.

Latest Flying Fish Beer

From the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Email Newsletter for March 2010:

Flying Fish to Introduce Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA on March 15

Although usually identified with landfills and pipelines, the Hackensack Meadowlands is an amazingly diverse ecosystem providing vital animal and plant habitat. In a nod to a once common food plant here, Flying Fish has brewed this beer with wild rice. Flying Fish also added organic brown and white rice, as well as pils and pale malts.

Rice helps the beer ferment dry to better showcase the five different hops added. Lots and lots of them. Flying Fish then dry-hopped this Double IPA with even more--generous additions of Chinook and Citra hops to create a nose that hints at tangerine, mango, papaya and pine. This beer pairs extremely well with spicy foods and all kinds of seafood. And of course, it's quite enjoyable all by itself.

If you want to learn more about the restoration of the Meadowlands, visit
http://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/

You are invited to "Exit 16 Release Party... Jersey Style". The event takes place on Monday, March 8 at 6:00pm. The event takes place at Coppermine Pub in North Arlington, NJ. More details are available on Facebook.

Oyster Fest @ Stewart's Brewing Co. (Bear, DE)

OK, this is not quite South Jersey, but it's right across the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and Stewart's Brewing Co. has one of the best micro-brew selections in the Delaware Valley and beyond. Here's what Shawn wrote in his e-mail update:

First up, this weekend, January 22 & 23, we're having an OysterFest! We're getting in six different kinds of fresh oysters to eat raw or steamed: Beavertails, Blue Points, Great Jerseys, Gold Bands, Dlaware Bays and Canada Cups. Additionally, our kitchen is preparing a variety of cooked oyster dishes, including oyster stew, oysters rockefeller, oysters creole and oysters crab au gratin. Ric is insisting on oyster shooters, as well, so brace yourselves. Come on in and slurp with us!

Also, they have their most awesome beer on tap:

Stumblin' Monk- Our award winning Belgian-style golden ale is fruity and complex, and deceptively strong at 9.0% ABV. Come see what the fuss is all about!

Check it out. Here is a review of Stewart's from The Ferment Nation [click here].

BELGIUM COMES TO WEST CHESTER

BELGIUM COMES TO WEST CHESTER

WEST CHESTER, PA – On Saturday, February 6, beginning at 2 p.m., head brewer Larry Horwitz will bring together a host of the East Coast’s finest craft brewers at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600) for their annual Belgium Comes to West Chester event celebrating Belgian beers. Guests will meet the brewers and discover new Belgian styles on a pay-as-you-go basis; samplers will be offered and t-shirts will be available for sale.

“This is a great opportunity for beer fans to sample the incredible Belgian-style beers that are being brewed across the region, all in one place,” says Horwitz, who will join brewers from at least six other Iron Hill locations in bringing their finest Belgian-style beers to the event. The list of Iron Hill beers that will be pouring include: Framboise, Cassis, Cherry Dubbel, Farmer Chuck, Oak Quad, Heywood, Peppercorn Tripel and Nocturnum.

Other guest breweries and beers will include: Dogfish Head - Red and White, Cambridge Brewing Company - Weekapaug Gruit and Tripel Threat, Flying Fish Brewing Company - Exit 4, Harpoon Brewery - Jed’s Donkey, Manayunk Brewery - Yunkers Nocturnem, McKenzie’s Brewhouse – Vatour de Bois, Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant – Rudy’s Kung Fu Grip, Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant – Grand Cru, Sly Fox Brewery – Dale’s 10K, Stewart’s Brewing Company - Obscurum, Troegs Brewing Company – Mad Elf, Victory Brewing Company – Abbey 5, Weyerbacher Brewing Company - Fourteen and Yards Brewing Company – Old Bartholomew. The event will go until the beer runs out.

Founded by home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is the region’s fastest-growing restaurant group, blossoming from one restaurant and brewery to eight locations across the mid-Atlantic. Each is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Their acclaimed beers have accumulated a wealth of awards from the nation’s top beer festivals, and their restaurants have earned more than 100 “Best of” nods from local and national publications. Five to seven more locations across the mid-Atlantic are planned for the next five years.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant’s eight locations include: Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000); Wilmington, DE (710 South Madison Street, 302-472-2739); Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000); West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600); North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000); Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333); Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800); and Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300).

For more information about Belgium Comes to West Chester, please call (610) 738-9600. For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit http://www.ironhillbrewery.com/.