Old Breweries Need Love Too: Victory 15th coming up this month

Amidst all the fuss yesterday about Terry Hawbaker moving to a new boutique brewpub in Philly, I wouldn't want to overlook the significant local anniversary coming up this month: Victory turns 15. I was struck by this today, because it's looking like the first time I visited Victory, which was actually before it opened.

That was January 19th, 1996, the day the snow from Philly's biggest-ever snowfall -- all 30.7 inches of it -- all melted at once under the hammer of 60+ degree breezes and three inches of warm rain. I had scheduled a series of brewery visits -- including Ugly Dog, God help me -- that had me driving through lashing rainfall and deep run-off. A couple of times I drove through running water that by all rights should have killed my Jetta (the second one, the red one), but managed to keep going. Finding Victory that first time wasn't easy, particularly since the main roads to it were closed (I slipped around the back way, past Bishop Shanahan), and there was a foot of brown water running swiftly through the parking lot. Wonder what it's going to look like later today? Not nearly as much snow, and not nearly as warm; I'm still staying home.

Victory's celebrating with what I think is a more significant beer than the anniversary brews they've done in the past: Headwaters Pale Ale. It's a celebration of the Brandywine Creek, the source of their brewing water -- a lot of water at their birth, to be sure! -- and it's a drinkable pale ale, not a whack over the head. Cheers to that, Victory! I'll have to make plans to be there on February 15th to try some.

More snowy fun in Philly...sigh...

From the Tria/Biba family. This is getting annoying. If it snows out here, all I can do is pop open fantastic beers and whiskeys and watch the Corgis romp; fun, but not real social!



Michael's Got a Case of... Sexy Sparkling Sekt
Sekt is what Austrians call their méthode champenoise (Champagne-style) sparkling wines.  Tonight's rendition, crafted from Chardonnay blended with trendy Grüner Veltliner, comes from Terry Theise, the eccentric importer who put Austrian wines in American minds.  Our special price is worthy of celebration.  But remember: Sparkling wine is not just for special occasions.

The Case Sekt, Nigl, '07 (Kremstal, Austria)  $15   $7½
Location Biba Wine Bar
Date Tuesday, January 11 TONIGHT!
Hours 5-7pm

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Drink and Eat Your Oatmeal!
We generally pair beer with cheese, but tonight we're pairing Terrapin Wake 'N' Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout with oatmeal raisin cookies from The Famous 4th Street Cookie Co.  A delicious combo for your inner child and a special price.

The Combo Terrapin Wake 'N' Bake (10oz) plus large cookie   $5½
Location Tria Rittenhouse Square
Date Tuesday, January 11 TONIGHT!
Hours Starts at 4pm

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Big Weather Calls for Big Beer
We're tapping Dogfish Head's legendary Olde School Barleywine today at 4pm.  If this monster of a brew doesn't keep you warm, you'd better check your pulse.  Plus enjoy our 5 for 5. 5 to 7 happy hour - from 5 to 7, of course.

The Beer Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine (5oz)   $5
Location Tria Wash West
Date Tuesday, January 11 TONIGHT!
Hours  Starts at 4pm

Snow in/from the Sierras at Resurrection

Look...I know I've been gone. More about that later. I'm healthy, just busy. And I'm sorry.

But back to work. And that's letting Philadelphians know that once again I'm going to miss the snowy beer fun, but you don't have to. I'm sure there are numerous snowy fun things planned, but Resurrection Ale House got this to me, and it looks really good (I'm gritting my teeth at not going), so here you are:

Shovel? Check.
Salt? Check.
Day off of work tomorrow? Looking ever more likely.
We've got a plan to help you make the most of tomorrow's impending snow day! Join us all day (1/11/11) for a Sierra Nevada tap take over...ALL DRAFTS are just $4 from 4-6pm!

Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale
30th Anniversary - Fritz And Ken's Ale
30th Anniversary - Charlie, Fred And Ken's Ale
30th Anniversary - Jack & Ken's Ale
Estate Brewers Harvest Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Hoptimum (a Beer Camp Imperial IPA)

2425 Grays Ferry Avenue (Corner of Catharine + Grays Ferry)

Other snow treks are welcome to pile on in the comments. Be safe out there, folks: don't leave anyone behind. Have fun!

Yes, it snowed here

Looks like we wound up with about 18" of new stuff Tuesday night and Wednesday, on top of about 10" left from the weekend (we got about 15" in that storm and it melted and settled down about 5" since Saturday).
First snowfall was wet and heavy, about 6"; we shoveled that Wednesday morning, and then there was just some spitty sleet till about noon. I drove into Newtown, roads weren't too bad; looked around a bit, had a Pretty Things Baby Tree at Isaac Newton's, then went home and "avoided travel" as the State Police started to advise.

That's when the snow started again, and by about 3 we were getting almost 2" an hour. First branches broke off the pine trees around 4; I'd been shaking them, but couldn't keep up (I was getting out there using the paths Penderyn had made through the snow!). We lost power for about a minute around 6:00 and got nervous, but that was all that happened. (Over 100,000 are out of power in the area.) Cathy thinks it's because we live across the street from the hospital. The snow pretty much petered out around 9:00. About 10:00 there was a sound like a gunshot out back; I think that's when the big branch broke off the pine; there was a 6" one down this morning without much snow drifted over it.

We shoveled for about an hour this morning to get the driveway clear (our neighbor did the sidewalks with his snowblower; gotta get him a sixpack!), and I made the mistake of taking the Jetta out to get the snow off it out in the road...didn't I get it stuck just as the ambulance that had been sitting down the street for half an hour wanted to leave? Yes, I did.

Panic ensues, shovels fly, Cathy remembered a bag of sand in the garage, and I managed to get it up the street into a clear driveway I'd seen when I was out taking pictures at sunrise. I left it there, the ambulance left, we shoveled the driveway wider, and I got the Jetta back in without further problems. And Cathy never even said "I told you so," which she had.
Never did get the high winds, they stayed south. It's just sunny and pretty now, and the snow's falling off the trees. No school, of course, they're still plowing, and Cathy's working from home. I'm still writing the book, just taking a break.

$1 Pilsners in the Lehigh Valley today!

Hey, it snowed! That means dollar draft pilsners at BrewWorks on the Green (3400 W Tilghman St., by the Allentown Golf Course, (484) 223-2020)) all day. The "secret password" is "Pee Wee's Playhouse." Now go get some snowy pilsner delishishness!

Snowy? Scared to Drive? Drink instead!

More snowy day deals:

Snowy Day Specials Today Only at Tria!

Tria Rittenhouse: Give & Sip Gift Card Special -- For each $50 in Gift Cards purchased at Tria Rittenhouse today, you get a $15 Gift Card for you! And you can use your reward right then and there. That's what we call instant gratification - buy a gift, drink some wine (or beer).

Tria Wash West: Special 5 for 5 Happy Hour -- We're offering our new and wildly popular Tria-style happy hour all day and night at Tria Wash West. (This is usually available Monday through Thursday from 5 - 7 pm). 5 great fermented specialties (2 wines, 2 beers and a cheese plate) for $5 each. That leaves more money in your wallet for holiday shopping.

The Craft Ale House out in Limerick left a tempting post on Facebook: "Have you ever dreamed of being snowed in at a bar? Todays your chance, come on in." Indeed!

Bars in the Philly area: got more stuff going on today because of the weather? SEND IT!

No World Series tonight, I'm thinking

That's the view out my dining room window just now. Actually, in the five minutes since I took that, the deck is even whiter. It's coming down steadily and the temperature is dropping (it's currently 34F). Wherever you may be reading this, believe me: snow on October 28 is not normal around here.

Might be a good afternoon for whiskey in the coffee.