Ramsayings

Ah, spring. It’s so nice to be outside again. Nothing quite like running Charlie ragged in some nice parks. Thing about nice parks in Philadelphia is that most of them are in West Philly. Helen and I may be riverward  chauvinists, but, man, I wish Penn Treaty Park were as nice as Clark Park.

You know what else the riverwards don’t have? A brewery and pizza spot like Dock Street Brewing Co. Went with Mark and Erin before a Party Photographers’ show at Younglove’s last winter, but had no idea how great it was for lunch. Bought two pies — Flammenkuchen and Florentine — and got a growler of their Summer Session to go. Can’t beat it!

Helen, who tends to hate brewpubs because the food is often oh so bad, really loved it. Win-win! Beats having to convince her to haul out to Iron Hill or Victory for lunch and we can stroll down to Clark Park afterward.

Maybe we’ll be West Philly people yet…

My eyes rolled very hard when I read this bit from Michael Klein. Fishtown needs another fancy beer place like a hole in the head. I may be willing to give it a pass if the food isn’t just another run-of-the-mill gastropub as they say, but the thought of squeezing into Moe’s doesn’t really appeal either. It would be like setting up a restaurant in my skinny little home.

I know I complain about this all the time, but restauranteurs looking to take advantage of reasonable terms here in Fishtown and beyond: please understand that simply boasting a craft beer selection won’t be enough to lure customers away from their regular haunts. Even bars like Starboard Side offer some nice taps. Want to know how often I go to the Abbaye now that I’m around the corner from Memphis Taproom and Kraftwork? Hell, I don’t even venture as far as Johnny Brenda’s unless I’m going to see a band. Be more creative!

I know most local beer critics revel in this. It’s an embarrassment of riches, to be sure. But I can’t help but think that Philly could really use an enfant terrible in the beer scene. It’s soft and bloated and increasingly self-important. Who will set things straight?

Going to a great brewery and restaurant is better when your baby isn’t peeing through his diapers. What a difference a year makes, right?

Picked up a growler of Iron Hill’s Biere Noir out in West Chester yesterday. Had a few glasses last night. Delicious! Can’t wait to get back for a refill.

Discovery Channel really knows their demographic. “Deadliest Catch” may have run aground, but leave it to those geniuses to hit upon a subject nearer and dearer to me: craft beer. The kicker? Throw Dogfish Head beer guru Sam Calagione into the mix and you’re bound to attract an audience of literally dozens of beer geeks from around the U.S. A hit!

My main question is why didn’t I know about “Brew Masters” before catching a commercial during a Tottenham-Arsenal match on ESPN2? I’m not even that much of a soccer fan. And I follow @dogfishbeer on Twitter! Serendipity!

Not sure that I’ll be able to watch when it airs as it shares a time slot with a little show called “Boardwalk Empire,” but you better believe I’ll be DVR-ing it like a boss to watch Monday night while Helen checks out “Gossip Girl.”

UPDATE: I may have spoken to soon. Read this funny post over at A Good Beer Blog for the details. “Cake Boss” of beer sounds apt. Could be a turkey, but I still have love for local craft brewers. Go Sam!

It’s that time of year, people! Troegs Mad Elf has arrived!

Pretty sure winter seasonals are my favorite, but there’s a special place in my heart for Christmas brews. Goes back to my time in Denmark, where julebryg is a special event each year. They’re really something to look forward to.

This year I’m going the extra mile and I’m buying a two cases: one for drinking now and I’ll cellar the second for next year. Still have a bunch in my basement from last year, too. Can’t wait to sample those babies!