American Beer Blogger: the latest

We had the pilot episode of American Beer Blogger in the can Thursday, or so we thought. I went to Green Leaf Studios in Easton, watched the show with the guys, and took a copy home; watched it again, and then watched it again with Cathy and Nora...and, okay, it maybe dragged a leetle bit in spots, but I was reasonably happy with it. Then just before I went for dinner with Cathy -- to Farm and Fisherman in Philly, and it was totally excellent: best damned egg I've ever eaten -- Rudy calls from the studio: PBS saw the pilot, and wanted "more beer in it."

Huh. We'd worked on having it not just be about the beer, because Stoudt's excels at making it about everything: the restaurant, the entertainment, bread baking, cheese making, their Stoudtburg village next door...it's all pretty cool (and the cheese is fricking awesome). But PBS is calling the shots at this point, and I could hardly argue with them wanting more beer in it, so I crammed an email full of as much info as I could get down in five minutes about what makes Stoudt's beers work, and what makes them different, and yeast, and hops, and malt; told Rudy that if he needed it, I could do voiceover work at the studio on Saturday, and ran out the door.

And I wound up doing voiceover this morning. It went well; I did my familiar take on the difference between ales and lagers (a hot jungle vs. a cold pine forest), the different malts in three of Stoudt's ales, and talked some more about hops. Meanwhile, John had re-edited the show, and there was now a LOT more beer in it, including some stuff from the first shooting we did back in May talking to Eddie Stoudt about bitterness in beer which was some of my favorite footage we did, and I was glad to see it back in. I actually like it better now: it's tighter, more focused on beer, and doesn't drag at all. Thanks, PBS.

This Thursday, at 10 PM (Eastern) and again at 10:30 PM, the show will air on WLVT. The station wants to know if people are interested in the show, and the only way to do that is to call them during or shortly after the show at 800.360.0039, or email them after the show. Tell them you liked American Beer Blogger, thank them for running it, and add something different of your own: why you love beer, where you live, your favorite craft brewer, that you're not my cousin, or something like that so they know you're not just reading from a script. Because I only want you to do this if you really like the show. If you don't, for some reason, don't call just to be a good person!


Okay. Here we go. The little beer show that could...no major sponsor, no contest or challenge, no big commercial network, no stars...just beer, the Stoudts, me, and you. Cross your fingers.

Second Chance, Pittsburgh Area...

Last round: here are some bars that I was thinking about putting in PA Breweries 4th edition that, for one reason or another, I didn't put in the manuscript. If you think some of them really deserve to be in, let me know, and tell me why.
Again: if you don't see a bar here, chances are it's already in the book!

Kazansky's Deli, Pittsburgh
Amel's Restaurant, Pittsburgh
The Library, Pittsburgh
Harris Grill, Pittsburgh
Claddagh Irish Pub, Pittsburgh
Hemingway's Cafe, Pittsburgh
Union Grill, Pittsburgh
Apple Inn, Pittsburgh
The Map Room, Swissvale
Bar 1311, Pittsburgh
The Hop House (Noblestown Rd.), Pittsburgh
Club Cafe, Pittsburgh
The Hop House (Babcock Blvd.), Pittsburgh
Bites & Brews, Pittsburgh
Birmingham Bridge Tavern, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Deli Company, Pittsburgh
Barley's & Hop's Bottle Shop, Bethel Park
Mr Smalls Funhouse, Millvale
Bado's Pizza Grill And Ale House, Mt. Lebanon
Burgh's Pizza And Wing Pub, Bridgeville

Thanks for all your help. All decisions are mine in the end, of course. I'm going to try to get to as many of the second rounders as I can in the next couple weeks to form my own opinion; that won't be easy in Pittsburgh, but I am a resourceful man...

Second Chance, Round 3...

Two more rounds, actually.  Again: if you don't see a bar here, chances are it's already in the book!

Here are some I may have missed in the Lehigh Valley...

• Tally Ho, Bethlehem
• Starter's Pub, Bethlehem
• Volpe's Sports Bar, Allentown
• The Tavern on Liberty, Allentown
• Hops Fogelsville Hotel, Fogelsville
• Dunderbak's Market Cafe, Whitehall
• Blue Monkey, Catasauqua
• Summit Bar & Grille, Macungie
• Basin Street Hotel, Kutztown

And in the Harrisburg/Gettysburg area...

• Coakley's Restaurant & Irish Pub, New Cumberland
• The Coliseum, Camp Hill
• Bourbon Street Saloon, Harrisburg
• Molly Brannigans, Harrisburg
• The Village Inn, West Fairview
• The Pub & Restaurant, Gettysburg

 Thanks. One more round...Pittsburgh.

Second Chance, Round 2...

Okay, here we go again: I have most of the good ones in the Philly 'burbs, but again: haven't been to some of these, or haven't been recently. Are any of these must-haves?
 
Fatty's, Wyndmoor
Drake Tavern, Jenkintown
Dominick's Side Door Pub, Chalfont
Blue Dog Tavern, Chalfont
Ron's Original Bar & Grille, Exton
America Bar & Grill, Chester Springs
The Note, West Chester
Blue Pear Bistro, West Chester
Baggatway Tavern, West Conshohocken
Gypsy Saloon, West Conshohocken
Blue Dog Pub, Lansdale

Getting into PA Breweries 4: a second chance

As I said, I sent the completed manuscript for Pennsylvania Breweries 4 in last week. But...since then, I noticed that I'd screwed up and missed a few bars in Philly, and I've been reconsidering. Can you give me a little help? I've made my choices, and a few of the definite adds (like Beneluxx, which was simply a brainfart on my part). But these...I either haven't been to them (like Devil's Alley), haven't been to them recently (like Union Jack) or I'm on the fence (like Mad Mex). So do me a favor: take a look at this list, and pick your TOP FIVE that you can't believe I haven't put in...and I'll think about it some more. Looking for a little advice, folks; thanks!

(Remember: I've already got most of the good ones in. If you don't see a bar on this list, assume it's already in there. If some of these seem odd to you, I judge a bar on more than just how many craft beer taps it has! And this is just Philly, not the suburbs.)


Devil's Alley
O'Neals Pub
St. Stephen's Green
Old Eagle Tavern
North Star Bar
Mad Mex Philadelphia
Philadelphia Bar and Grille
Rembrandt's
Kildare's
Lyons Den
The Ugly Moose
Downey's
New Deck Tavern
Locust Bar
Dr. Watson's Pub
Dirty Frank's
Drinker's Tavern
Doobie's
Misconduct Tavern
The Irish Pol
New Wave Cafe
Devil's Den
Ten Stone
Union Jack's
TIME
Brownie's Pub
Society Hill Hotel and Bar Restaurant
Tir Na Nog

Got it!

Thanks for everyone who offered help: I got the answer. It was a 7 bbl. Newlands system. Thanks, folks!

Does anyone know what system Red Bell used in their ill-fated Manayunk brewpub that was open for one stinking week back in 2004? I need to know ASAP. I think it was a Newlands system, but I don't know what size. I'm guessing a 7 bbl., but I don't know. HELP!

Thanks!

Is This Unique?

Full Pint Brewing is getting closer to opening -- being allowed to open -- by going over the local zoning board's heads to get the zoning interpretation changed, rather than getting an individual variance. So I'm going to go ahead and put them in PA Breweries 4...the only non-open brewery that's going in. Not an easy decision, but these guys have the money, the brewery, the building, and most importantly, four experienced brewers who have also run successful businesses (and they were still smart enough to bring in an experienced business partner, Mark Kegg -- and if you can't see the Sign From God in that name, give it up).

Full Pint is, I believe, unique. You have four brewers who are currently brewing beers at two different brewpubs (40 miles apart) that are also two completely separate businesses, joining together to form a production brewery -- a third independent business -- that will keg and bottle 8 beers: four new ones and two from each of the the two brewpubs (with the full cooperation of the owners of the two brewpubs, of course). The brewers who made -- and still make! -- the beers at the brewpubs will be brewing them at Full Pint.

So...here's my question. Is that unique? I mean, this takes collaboration to a new level. This isn't contract brewing, per se. Do you know of any breweries where the partners are brewers at other breweries, and the beers they're making are beers from those other breweries? I can barely parse it! The closest thing I can think of is Port/Lost Abbey, but that's one brewery and one (brand of) brewpub. Anyone know of anything like this?

A Little Help with PA Breweries 4?

Pennsylvania Breweries 3rd edition came out in 2005. I'm working on the 4th edition now, writing the sad section I call The Boneyard: what happened to all the breweries that were in the 3rd edition that didn't make it to the 4th: the John Harvard's, Iron City (still can't believe that), Johnstown, Independence and Red Bell, and -- woohoo! -- Gettysbrew!

What I'm looking for some help on are the breweries that opened after the 3rd edition came out, but didn't stay open long enough to make it in, like Destiny, Hereford & Hops...and who else? There HAD to be others. Didn't there?

Anybody think of other Pennsylvania breweries that opened after September 2005 and closed before, well, today?

Philly's Bars: where would you go?

As I told you, I'm working on the next edition of Pennsylvania Breweries. There's been an explosion of good bars in the state, and I want to get the best of them in the book. So I'm asking for help.

Here's the first list: Philadelphia. I'm not looking for arguments: these are potential entries. Please don't take this as voting for your faves, or slamming bars you hate. All I'm looking for are bars I might have missed. I'm looking for places with good drink (not necessarily beer) and good atmosphere. And folks: NOT brewpubs! I've got them covered, believe me. I'm just looking for bars. (And just Philadelphia County for now; we'll get to the rest of the state.)

If you see any I've missed, please leave a comment, or drop me a line. Thanks!
(I've added some from your suggestions, and some that I did have on my original list but somehow dropped while getting them here. Keep 'em coming, and thanks again.)

The Abbaye
Atlantis (The Lost Bar)
The Bards
The Belgian Café
Beneluxx Tasting Room
Bishops Collar
Black Sheep
The Blue Ox Bistro
Brauhaus Schmitz
Bridget Foy’s
Bridgewater's Pub
Bridgid's
Brownie's Pub
Cantina Los Caballitos
Chick's Cafe
City Tavern
Dark Horse
Dawson Street Pub
Devil's Alley
Devil's Den
Dirty Frank's
The Dive
Doobie's
Drinker's Pub
Drinker's Tavern
Druids Keep
Eulogy Belgian Tavern
Fado Irish Pub
Fergie's Pub
Flat Rock Saloon
For Pete's Sake
Good Dog
Grace Tavern
Grey Lodge Pub
The Institute
Irish Pol
Irish Pub (Walnut Street)
Johnny Brenda's
Jose Pistolas
Khyber Pub
Kildare’s
Kite And Key
Local 44
London Grill Bar And Restaurant
Mad Mex Philadelphia
McGillin’s Old Ale House
McGlinchey's Bar and Grill
McMenamin's Tavern
Memphis Taproom
Misconduct Tavern
Monk's Café
Moriarty's Pub
National Mechanics
New Deck Tavern
North 3rd
O'Neals Pub
Old Eagle Tavern
The Plough and The Stars
Prohibition Taproom
Pub & Kitchen
Pub On Passyunk East
Race Street Cafe
Rembrandt's
Royal Tavern
Sidecar
Society Hill Hotel and Bar Restaurant
South Philadelphia Taproom
Southwark
St. Stephens
Standard Tap
Sugar Mom's Church Street Lounge
Swift Half
Tangier
Tattoo Moms
Ten Stone
TIME
Tir Na Nog
Tria
Tria Washington Square
Union Jack's
Whisky Kitchen
White Dog Cafe
World Cafe Live
Yell O'Bar
Zot

Bad news at Selin's Grove

Selin's Grove's website has announced an end to growler fills for the foreseeable future. "Due to a serious production equipment failure, we must preserve our beer supply for restaurant use only."

What's up? One usually reliable source of mine tells me that Selin's Grove has experienced "the structural collapse of their direct-fired kettle" on January 1st. It "shattered like glass" while water was being heated in it. Terrible thing to happen on the first day of the new year.

If anyone knows of a brewer with a replacement kettle -- I think 7 barrel -- please ask them to contact Selin's Grove ASAP. Fabricating a new one will take weeks...time Selin's Grove does not have. They have about two weeks of beer left, and I'm pretty sure that they don't have a liquor license; all they'll be able to serve, oddly, is PA wine and cider.

Support for Heather and Steve from the beer making and drinking community of PA would be great at this time!

Update already: I hear (same grapevine) that a new kettle has been found, a bigger one. Don't know if it will fit in the garage; remodeling in the works? And in the meantime, alternate brewing solutions may be in the works. Cross your fingers, folks; clap your hands.