Notes from a year ago

This has been a wild year. As of tomorrow its been 1 year since we opened the doors and began tearing up the old brewery and building our new (old) brewery.

I actually wrote this a year ago while we were conceptualizing recipe's and designs for what would become Philadelphia's Brewing Company. I found this scribbled on an old pad in the bottom of my locker and thought it is interesting and more appropriate than ever on the eve of our first year officially in this business as Philadelphia's brand.

January 2008

The honeymoon is over. …for some.

This goes out to small brewers. The days of building a brewery and carving out your niche on uninteresting / uninspired beers just because they are 'craft' is over. Yesterdays success guarantees nothing tomorrow.

The fact is that even the smallest of us are in the business of manufacturing first and creativity second. We work in beer factories. Many days it feels like a trained monkey could do 95% of what we do. It’s the other 5% that counts the most –if you forget that and you’re just mailing it in everyday – well that makes you the monkey. Don’t get me wrong, the hard hard labor of simple everyday production – the shoveling of grain, the scrubbing of floors, the moving of kegs, and so on - is the large necessary price we all pay to have the occasional chance to create. As always it’s the smallest things that count the most. If in all the monotony of daily work you’ve forgotten that – I say wake up or move on. Its all about perspective – if you think like a factory grunt then that’s what you’ll be – think like a technically trained artist and well … you’ll make some damn good beers.

This is nothing more than a friendly reminder to all the brewers out there.


So keep the romance alive.

Beer Run this Saturday

Run for beer this Saturday! I will be in the Brewhouse making more Kenzinger (it goes so fast these days!) so I will have to catch the next one.

I've passed along the info below for those of you who are interested in a scenic autumn run or bike followed by a few good pints - what could be better!?

Organized by Bryan at The Brew Lounge:

>Saturday, November 8, 2008; meet @ 9:30am; leave @ 10:15am

> Start: General Lafayette Inn & Brewery; 646 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA

> End: Tiedhouse; 2001 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA

* One hydration station will be located roughly at the midpoint of the route

This is not a sanctioned or sponsored race event; you will run at your own risk. However, to get your first round free at the new Tiedhouse gastropub in Philly, you'll need to show up at The General Lafayette and run or bike 13.1 miles along one of the most scenic routes in the Philly area.

This coming Saturday, come meet in Lafayette Hill, PA at The General Lafayette at 9:30am for a prompt 10:15am departure down along Forbidden Drive, Wissahickon Creek, and Kelly Drive into the Fairmount Section of Philly and the new Tiedhouse restaurant.

For more information or with questions, contact Bryan@BrewLounge.com

Phillies WIN!

Phillies win tonight. I can't imagine any city that this would mean any more to. I've quickly become a converted Phillies fan since (growing up in the Northeast) moving here 8 years ago. I'm not sure I've experienced such dedicated fans anywhere else.

To me the turning point was watching the news before the game and seeing their coverage of the guys hired to literally grease down the public utility poles all around the city in anticipation of a win.

Thats when I knew the Phillies couldn't possibly lose in this town tonight. Good job fellas.

Philly's animals need our help

Put your beer down for just a minute.

I've just heard that the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has issued an open bid for animal control operations in the city to be effective Jan. 1st. The contract is defined by, "accepting and humanely disposing of up to 30,000 unwanted pets per year." There is no dedication to lifesaving (adoption) efforts. In the last 3 years under much public outcry PACCA has brought the shelter save rate from 11% to 60%. Now PACCA may be pushed aside for the lowest bidder who can do the dirtiest work for the cheapest. The focus is 'control' not 'care'. The contract has been described as "catch and kill". This makes animals disposable objects - and ignores their value as living breathing companions.

In an article written in the Daily News titled, 'Has Philadelphia signed a death sentence for innocent lost animals?', Stu Bykofsky describes the failure of the Health Department to make life saving a priority.

This is important. PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) has contacts to Mayor Nutter's Office and other local & city council representatives.

You might also visit: Citizens for a no Kill Philadelphia.


My two dogs are from Philadelphia shelters ~ the oldest from PACCA's Northeast Hunting Park Ave shelter. I cringe to imagine her life lost had we not happened to go to the shelter that day. If you've never been there I challenge anyone to find a sadder place to visit. Many great animals that will never get a chance at a good home.

A famous thinker once speculated that to judge the success and sophistication of a civilization one must only look at the way it cares for its animal companions.

This directly reflects on who we are. Do something, tell somebody, send an email, anything.

Organic Innovations

So it's been awhile but we've been busy dreaming up ways to shake things up and make our beer better. Hopefully if you've had the Walt Wit in the last month or two you've noticed an improved citrusy depth of character and a nice snappy acidity.

If you've passed it by since we first released it go get some and give him another shot.

Two months ago I decided to trust my instincts and try something different - whole organic ruby grapefruit. We had been using dried peel ( the kind you can get at the homebrew shop) because its economical, easy to store, easy to use, and the standard method of using citrus fruit peel in beer. All the brewing texts warn against using whole fruit - 'watch out for the pectins!' - whole fruit will destroy your beer, create a haze, harm the yeast, become harsh off-flavors! ... so they say.

Nonsense I figured - fresher must = better. And it is. I could tell you all about it using fancy descriptive words but you really have to taste it to see. I wouldn't be cutting and squeezing a whole case of grapefruit for every batch if it wasn't worth it.

It makes for a lot of work- but also some really tasty beer, especially during these hot late summer days.

~ Also, a huge thanks to Carolynn at Standard Tap for hooking me up with her supplier of organic produce who goes out of his way to supply us with relatively small quantities of fruit.

Running with beer

I'd like to call attention to http://fishtownbeerrunners.blogspot.com/

I just became aware of these folks and i think it's a great idea.

They seek to "combine responsible running with responsible drinking in the interest of science."

Their Mission: The primary mission is to test the results of a scientific research study conducted by Manuel J Castillo-Garzon, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, at the University of Granada. The study said it is better to drink beer rather than water after a long run. (FINE PRINT: until this is proven, we encourage proper water hydration while running)

Beyond this important work, other goals are:

1) to encourage people to exercise by running (or walking)

2) to provide friendly camaraderie for all who hate to exercise

3) to promote the responsible enjoyment of QUALITY beer

4) to support local tavern owners and breweries; and to promote a ban on spandex.

This is nothing new to Bryan over at the Brew Lounge who organized the Philly Beer Run during Philly Beer week.

Anyways I think its long overdue that we change the misconception that all beer drinkers (and brewers for that matter) are fat or unhealthy. In many cases the opposite is true.

I may have to join on a run or two. I frequently go running on the trails through Wissahickon Park and have found that after coming home and re-hydrating with a pint or two of water or gatorade the best way to cool down, recover, and relax is with a couple of Kenzinger's on my back porch. It drinks pretty good!

And if you're some sort of neo-prohibitionist weirdo who is also a runner and thinks I'm full of it ... I'll race ya.

Fleur de Lehigh released

Hello all. Just a quick note as promised ...

The Fleur de Lehigh as we've named the aforementioned brew has been delivered to the following fine establishments for your enjoyment. It won't be lasting long so get it while you can.

In no particular order: Standard Tap, Devil's Den, The Grey Lodge, Khyber, P.O.P.E., Memphis Taproom, Dive X2, London Grill, Abbaye, Lost Bar, Brownies, 700, McMenamin's, Good Dog, Bridgids, Teresa's Next Door.

If I missed any I apologize.

Also, I forgot to mention in the last post - This elaborate beer is brewed with a mixed yeast culture. This means you get two for the price of one! A clean American ale yeast and a funky Belgian yeast working together.