October/November 2011

Corked & Forked

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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By Neil Harner

The Variety Pack

A delicious series of seasonal recipes and libations to pair.

Most cookbooks are the type that sit on a shelf and collect dust until a recipe you once skimmed over when you first got the book comes to mind, and you quickly pull it down for that one meal. When the evening is over, the book goes back on the shelf for months or years before you pull it out once again.

Corked and Forked, by Philadelphia’s Wine School Founder & Director and Drexel University Professor, Keith Wallace, is anything but one of these traditional cookbooks. Keith offers up a selection of awesome, unintimidating recipes that anyone can make, using common ingredients found in your own pantry or your local grocery store. Read more…

Prostbusters II

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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By Mat Falco

Features

There’s something strange in your local bars… who you gonna call?

Have you ever been sitting at your local watering hole and something weird happens to you, but you just assume it was the alcohol working its magic? Like something brushed against you or played with your hair, but no one is actually around? Maybe you thought you saw a shadow go by or heard some strange noises, maybe even voices? Chances are, you were probably just a little drunk, but there might be more to it. Maybe, that bar stool you were sitting on was the same one that sat a patron 50 years back who lost their life in that very bar. Perhaps one of the old owners is still hanging out behind the bar refusing to pass on to the afterlife? There’s a chance you just may have had a bit of a paranormal experience. Read more…

Weird Beer #15: Ghost Face Killah

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The Variety Pack | Weird Beer

When your brewery has the word “twisted” in the name, it’s expected that you would have some strange and unique offerings. Twisted Pine Brewery out of Boulder, CO, doesn’t disappoint. They have taken a style growing in popularity and brought it to a new, twisted level. Most people have seen a chili beer by now, but most of those beers are “drinkable,” Twisted Pine’s version… well, this one might just burn like a mother f***er. Read more…

Touchdowns, Taps and ‘Tots

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By Mat Falco

Bar & Restaurant Reviews

Cav’s Rittenhouse is one of the best spots in Center City for good beer and sports.

With football season upon us, it’s only fitting to look for some quality bars to catch the games. With sports on the brain, there are few craft-beer destinations that really go all-out for the games (a bunch of the bars don’t even have TVs). There are some good ones though: Misconduct Tavern, the Hulmeville Inn, Jamison Pour House, McGillin’s and the Iron Abbey, to name a few. Another good one worth a deeper look is Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse. Read more…

Burgers To Die For, Beer In Abundance

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By Mat Falco

Bar & Restaurant Reviews

Chelsea Tavern puts Wilmington on the beer map.

There is no question that the beer culture of Wilmington, DE is on the rise. Bars are popping up all over the city and everyone is starting to offer up at least a craft beer or two. The power of Philadelphia’s beer scene is definitely starting to rub off on our southern neighbor. In the heart of this scene, located right downtown, is one of the premier spots to grab a pint in Wilmington: The Chelsea Tavern. Read more…

The Struggle to Sell Good Beer

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By Mat Falco

Features

How Dan Shelton changed the beer world, one opinion at a time.

“I have no doubt about it! Beer geeks always think it’s subjective and you’re always biased when you say something about a beer because you own the business and are just trying to sell it. It’s the hugest portfolio, we oughta have a few in it you would think.” Ask Dan Shelton his opinion on the quality of his beer portfolio and this is what he’ll say. Filled with passion and opinions, Dan has built what he honestly believes to be the greatest portfolio of beer in existence. With the likes of Cantillon and Mikkeller in it, it’s hard to argue the quality of such a portfolio, but sometimes you have to be willing to leave your foxhole and take some heat to prove what you truly believe to be yours. Read more…

Know Your Roots

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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By Bobby Clark

Features

From apples to pint glasses, cider is a beverage rich with history.

Pennsylvania is said to get the best of all four seasons, particularly with the hue of leaves morphing from rich shades of green to crimson, burnt orange, gold and brown – the same colors you’ll find of apples as autumn comes upon us. The nights get cooler and longer, hoodies become mandatory, märzens and pumpkin beers flow freely, and we toast our friends and loved ones at holiday dinners. Read more…

Supermarket Beer Sales

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By Senator Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery)

Beer Laws

Beer sales in supermarkets would hurt small breweries, reduce consumer options.

Pennsylvania’s alcohol sales laws have come under fire in recent years from large supermarkets and chain stores who would like to sell beer in their stores. While this significant change would likely generate more sales for these corporations and provide added convenience for consumers who only drink beer from the largest producers such as Miller or Coors, allowing supermarket beer sales under the state’s current three tiered system would have an adverse effect on local microbrewers, family-owned distributors and consumers who enjoy a variety of different beers. Read more…

Oct/ Nov 2011 I on Beer

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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By Joe Gunn

I on Beer | The Variety Pack

How to continue a healthy beer drinking habit as a new dad.

Life changes quite a bit when you have offspring, especially if you stick around to raise them. Less room for all of your cool stuff, less money for all of your cool secret stuff, and less time for all of your everything are all direct byproducts of sowing your seed.

Many guys throw in the towel. Not me, I decided I wasn’t going to let some zero year old kid, who can’t even stand up on his own, boss me around. I never thought much of it until dads from all over the land would ask me how I get away with enjoying beverages as much as I do, having children. I decided to throw a couple pointers out there that should help all of you new dads and soon-to-be dads.
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Evolution of BigFoot

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By Steve Hawk

From the Cellar

Seldom seen, almost mythical and downright awesome.

I’m not talking about tracking down Sasquatch (or spotting Beer Scene’s Mat Falco). I’m referring to vertically tasting 14 consecutive years of one of the best American strong ales, Sierra Nevada’s BigFoot. BigFoot is a barley-wine style ale, usually released in January and February. Barley-wines are one of the strongest ales, ranging from 8% to 12% ABV or more. A brew of this strength and complexity can be a challenge to the novice palate. They are usually very sweet and have fruit-like flavors due to an overpowering maltiness, especially the American styles, which tend to be even more extreme in both, malt complexity and hop character. They are also one of the few styles of beer that respond positively to aging, given the proper conditions. Read more…

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