Spreading the Joys of Homebrewing Throughout Philadelphia and Its Suburbs

All Blog Posts (47)

Pliny the Younger Charity Event Blue Dog Tavern Sunday - March 14, 2010 @ 11:30AM / ends @ 11:30PM

Hey guys I have two tickets that I am trying to sell if anyone wants to buy them shoot me an email -

johnjohn8042@msn.com ..... I had a friend pick up a couple extra tickets before they disappeared.

… Continue

Added by Gianpiero Lo Piccolo on March 8, 2010 at 2:09pm — No Comments

Just a damn shame

I'm sure many of you have heard about the raid on Resurrection Ale House, Local 44, and Memphis Taproom late last week. Here is some updated info from philly.com.

"Citizen complaint". Hmmm . . .

And this part:

"Among the brands that the State Police reportedly sought during its raid was Pliny the Younger (emphasis added), recently named the No. 1 beer in the world by Beer Advocate, a popular online beer-rating site. The ale is made once a year

… Continue

Added by Mike Sodano on March 8, 2010 at 8:36am — 10 Comments

Building an Airlock to Ferment in a Corny Keg

I was lucky enough to take part in a small group that obtained a Bourbon Barrel for the use of aging beer. For our first batch, we brewed an Abbey Dubbel and I contributed 10 gallons to fill the 55 Gallon Barrel. The beer aged in the barrel for about 4 months until we pulled the Dubbel and replaced it with a Russian Imperial Stout. This left me with 2 5gallon corny kegs full of Abbey Dubbel.

Since I had 2 kegs of the same beer, I wanted to do something different in one of them. I decid… Continue

Added by Jeff Louella on March 6, 2010 at 10:30pm — 5 Comments

Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational! Who's going?

Sunday, March 21, 2010
- Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational
  
  1:00 PM - 5:30 PM
  
  The 3rd annual Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational is returning to Yards Brewing Company for the second consecutive year. This incredible event features the nations finest cask ale producers and offers attendees the oppurtunity to try a

… Continue

Added by john b on March 4, 2010 at 1:34pm — 2 Comments

Just picked up 20qt stainless kettle for $14!

Family Dollar on Aramingo ave has stainless kettles in various sizes, with lids, wicked cheap.
Continue

Added by john b on March 3, 2010 at 2:45pm — No Comments

Beer Wars added to Netflix Watch Instantly que

Not sure when it got added, but if you have Netflix and wanted to watch the Beer Wars film that was in the theater last year, now you can stream it.

Continue

Added by Erik D on February 22, 2010 at 2:12pm — No Comments

Natalie's suspended steeping bag

Thanks, Natalie for sharing this idea with me. Worked great! Now I want to share it further.

It's simple and inexpensive. I think I spent $12 altogether, and that included two each 1 and 5 gallon mesh bags. The pics show it over a 10 gallon pot using the 5 gallon bag.

Mesh bags (in paint sprayer aisle)

Collar

Clamp

Length of PVC

I use it to both steep my grains and to add hops to boil. Shown brewing a partial mash Rye IPA. Once grains steeped I sparge

… Continue

Added by Mike Sodano on February 16, 2010 at 10:29am — No Comments

Visit to Nodding Head and McGillin's

Had the occasion to visit Nodding Head Brewery at 1516 Sansom and McGillin's Olde Ale House last Friday while in… Continue

Added by Mike Sodano on January 25, 2010 at 1:58pm — No Comments

Yards tasting room officially open

Been tto Yards a time or two. Nice space! Now serving some food, too. If you get down there, let Tom know you're an ALEien! And take the brewery tour if it's available. For some reason the link I've posted is not showing. Sorry . . . Continue

Added by Mike Sodano on January 23, 2010 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment

Allagash -- Gotta Have That Funk

Last month I headed into the city to the Tria Fermentation School to attend a "class" led by Rob Tod - Head Brewer of Allagash Brewing Company. I signed up for the class late, so I was expecting standing room only, however, after mistiming the Philly traffic, I was the first to arrive a half-hour early. The "principal" Erin told me she had a cancellation, so I could pick any seat I wanted. Sweet. I decided to do something I never did in the normal school of my childhood -- sit up front, closest… Continue

Added by Dan Noon on January 16, 2010 at 9:53pm — 6 Comments

Snow brew

Hey, ALEiens. Good day to blow off holiday prep and brew 'em if you got 'em. Otherwise, a great day to kick back with some good home brews. Stay safe, all! Continue

Added by Mike Sodano on December 19, 2009 at 11:33am — 1 Comment

A Beer Twirp in Antwerpen!

Greetings one and all! This time, with the help and suggestions from our fellow ALEien - Johnny B - I am going back to Belgium, Antwerpen to be specific. As usual, with Cologne as my starting point, the drive shouldn't be too bad (but winters here have a familiar quality to them that I just don't enjoy much...)

… Continue

Added by Eivind Sandstrand on December 6, 2009 at 10:29am — 2 Comments

Best English Beers, In My Opinion.....

I compiled a list for Jeff (Hulmeville owner Jeff) some weeks ago of what I consider to be the best English beers and thought I would reproduce it for this site. If you can get hold of any of the beers I mention, you'll enjoy them! … Continue

Added by Dan Gillings on October 28, 2009 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment

Carboy and Keg Washer

Yes... yet another version of a keg and carboy washer... The first time I heard of a "keg washer" was listening to Dr. Scott describing his brewing gadgets on The Brewing Network's Homebrew Gadget Show (clip is about 105 minutes in) back in December 2005. I also came upon a cool post by Dave @… Continue

Added by Sam Scott on October 18, 2009 at 8:30pm — 4 Comments

Historisches Heidelberg

Greetings fellow Bierliebhaber! Another trip to Germany, and another opportunity to educate my mind and palate - this time in historical Heidelberg in the southwestern part of the country. Originally, I had set my sights on Frankfurt, but the overwhelming recommendations from my colleagues swayed me from that and moved me an additional 50km or so further south. My brother-in-law was also stationed near… Continue

Added by Eivind Sandstrand on October 10, 2009 at 12:00pm — 3 Comments

The Brew On Decou

In a combined spirit of "Big Brew Day" and "Teach a Friend to Brew" I have invited some friends to my house on Saturday for a full day of home brewing.

In two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, my friends, mostly novices but one brewing veteran from years ago, will endeavor… Continue

Added by Eivind Sandstrand on September 18, 2009 at 11:21pm — 5 Comments

Kölsch in Köln

Hello again, Last post for a while, but I wanted to share with you another wonderful experience of touring a few of Köln's sources of traditional, excellent Kölsch. As you probably know, Kölsch, is a top-fermented, light (almost lager-like) ale. It can only be called "Kölsch" if it's from Cologne, otherwise it's simpy "Kölsch style"… Continue

Added by Eivind Sandstrand on September 4, 2009 at 4:29pm — No Comments

Altbier in Düsseldorf's Altstadt

Hello again! On Wednesday, a colleague had volunteered to take me on a tour of good places for Altbier in Dusseldorf. Since you can't get Altbier in Cologne (more on that later), the trip went into the city of arts and high society. Our planned route was simple, given that this was a school night, but what a trip it would turn out to be!

… Continue

Added by Eivind Sandstrand on September 4, 2009 at 6:30am — 4 Comments

Belgian Beers in Brussels, Belgium

Bonjour, Goedemorgen, and Gute Morgen! I'm back in Cologne, Germany for work, and it's Saturday morning over here. Time to take a trip to Brussels, Belgium to see what the Belgians know about beer. I suspect it may be a thing or two... The drive should take about 2.5 hours, and I will again be flying at low altitude on the Autobahn:… Continue

Added by Eivind Sandstrand on August 29, 2009 at 4:53am — 6 Comments