Up to date on September 27, 2022
In a metropolis as passionate as Philadelphia, the place individuals bleed inexperienced and silver (fly, Eagles, fly) and Philly cheesesteaks and Cheez Whiz run by means of the streets, it ought to come as no shock to search out an equally vibrant and pulsing craft beer tradition. One thing Hop Tradition Founder Kenny Gould found first hand when he found the perfect breweries in Philadelphia for Untappd’s new YouTube journey present.
Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia, introduced by Untappd for Enterprise, simply dropped and you aren’t going to need to miss it!
In Philadelphia, Gould travels down a again alley to a rolled-up storage door with just a little inexperienced mild on to go to one in all Hop Tradition’s 12 Finest Breweries of 2021.
He additionally challenges the pinnacle brewer of a lager-loving-industry hidden gem to a foam chugging race.
And drinks at one of many prime 5 locations on this planet to have a beer.
Watch Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia
The Metropolis of Brotherly Love Exhibits Like to Beer
From a brewery marrying Russian literature and brewing to a European lager-focused star providing conventional Czech-style pours for a side-pull faucet to an award-winning craft beer bar, the Metropolis of Brotherly Love is exhibiting its true colours in the case of their ardour for craft beer.
Under you’ll discover our picks for the 9 finest breweries in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Watch Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia
Hop Tradition’s Favourite Breweries and Bars in Philadelphia
Crime & Punishment Brewing Co.
2711 W Girard Ave | (215) 235-2739
With a masters diploma in theological philosophy, Mike Wambolt based Crime & Punishment (C&P) mere blocks from the Rocky Steps to mix two of his loves—Russian Literature and brewing. “As a result of I couldn’t do something with that diploma,” laughs Wambolt in Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia.
A frequent Hop Tradition Juicy Brews participant and named one in all our previous favourite stops in Philly, Crime & Punishment continues to excel as a brewery with a perspective.
“We provide a singular tackle kinds which were forgotten,” says Wambolt, who refers back to the brewery’s takes on a gratzer, grodziskie, kvass, and gose. Nobody was making these kinds in Philly so Wambolt wished to aim sure beers that may make of us go, “Oh wow, what is that this factor that tastes like sausage lemonade I’m ingesting?”
However alongside the historic kinds, C&P dabbles with crowd pleasers, nonetheless placing their very own spin on them. Brewing imaginative beers from their Vistok Double IPA with Citra and Galaxy to their Shamanka Bitter Ale with pineapple, guava, and coconut, C&P showcases its distinctive beers with aptitude.
Crime & Punishment is a brewery not like some other within the nation.
Fermentery Type
1700 Palethorp St
Though we named Fermentery Type one of many finest new breweries of 2018 after which one in all “The 12 Finest Breweries of 2021,” the West Kensington brewery stays one thing of a hidden gem.
And perhaps that’s by design. The brewery is barely open sporadically on sure days by announcement solely.
If the inexperienced mild is on, beers are able to style.
It’s a convention taken from little chicarias or locations the place individuals made chica, a drink from corn.
Bodegas would make this product typically in somebody’s home. “You would want to steer them there by some means,” says Fermentery Type Proprietor Ethan Tripp in Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia, who notes that often a bouquet of flowers outdoors meant chica was prepared. “You may go in and have a pair glasses, however there may not be extra for one more week or two, so that you wouldn’t see something till the flowers went again up.”
It’s an idea Tripp actually pertains to as a result of “in my thoughts, with the sort of beer we’re making, it takes a very long time…there may very well be lags when we’ve no beer,” says Tripp. “That concept that it’s not this storefront, which suggests to individuals 9 to 5, it’s all the time open, all the time out there. We might by no means do this besides when one thing particular occurs. Then, , you may are available and get the good things.
Equally, discovering the small Fermentery Type taproom requires strolling down an alley to pattern a few of their elusive, evocative beers.
Fermentery Type focuses on mixed-fermentation choices which can be delicate and nuanced. “We’re actually massive followers of all the old-school saison,” says Tripp. “We’re attempting to deliver again a few of these flavors and take into consideration what these beers have been really like.”
And, whereas there isn’t an oz of bombast to this brewery, you’ll discover beer followers eagerly posting “ISO” (looking for) on most of Fermentery Type’s Instagram posts. It’s the identical motive that people are so passionately drawn to breweries like The Referend, The Ale Apothecary, or Floodland. These breweries are unabashedly themselves and produce such particular, partaking beers that followers desperately need to be part of their world.
In the event you’re visiting Philadelphia, we extremely advocate a go to to the world of Fermentery Type.
Human Robotic
1710 N fifth St | (215) 978-4000
By some means in a crowded metropolis and beer scene like that in Philadelphia, Human Robotic manages to face out from the pack.
And that’s saying so much. Particularly as a result of the complete native {industry} appears to really feel the identical means about Human Robotic.
“Philadelphia and the encircling 4 counties are residence to ninety breweries, however there’s one I hold listening to about many times, particularly from {industry} individuals,” says Gould. “And if you hear a couple of brewery from different individuals who work within the beer {industry}, it’s often fairly good—that brewery is Human Robotic.”
With a heavy concentrate on European lagers because of its 3-vessel German brewhouse, Human Robotic contains old-world touches throughout the taproom, however with a up to date strategy.
“We oddly attempt to push the boundaries of traditions,” says Human Robotic Head Brewer Andrew Foss in Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia. “If we have been a bagel store, we’d be attempting to make the perfect rattling plain bagel you’ve ever had in your life.”
However fortunate for us, on this case meaning Foss showcasing Weyermann malts, a few of the finest on this planet, in beers like Hallertau Pils German-style pilsner, or Sylt, a Northern German-style pils.
Or the Czech Lukr side-pull faucet that enables Foss to leverage distinctive Czech-based pours just like the mlíko or “milk pour,” which fills the complete glass with solely moist foam. Though Human Robotic places its new-world spin on the old-world traditional. Right here, you may get a Milktube, basically a tall glass full of froth. “A Milktube is a enjoyable tackle a convention for us,” says Foss. “It’s very very similar to doing a shot!”
That is an industry-respected and industry-vetted brewery. Which suggests it’s good to completely make a cease right here. Whether or not for an genuine European ale or lager or simply to shoot a glass of froth.
Monk’s Cafe
264 S sixteenth St | (215) 545-7005
Fairly merely: Monk’s Cafe is likely one of the finest locations to drink beer on this planet. No actually, “All About Beer Journal” named the long-lasting bar one of many “Prime 5 Locations within the World to Have a Beer.”
However in actuality, that’s solely one in all a laundry checklist of awards the Belgian-leaning bar has racked up over time.
Began by Tom Peters and Fergus Carey, Monk’s Cafe is “on an limitless mission to deliver the perfect beers on this planet to our bar for the individuals of Philadelphia,” says Felicia D’Ambroiso, director of communications for Monk’s Cafe, in Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia.
And if Monk’s can’t get it, nicely, then co-founder Peters will most likely exit and see if he can get it. “It’s a tricky job, however somebody has to do it!” says D’Ambroiso.
It’s a labor of affection. One which has led to Monk’s notorious “Beer Bible,” which incorporates web page after web page of beer bangers highlighting a few of the nice beers of Belgium and now more and more a few of the finest in America as nicely.
This yr, Monk’s Cafe celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary. And in fairly stellar trend they collabed with Vinnie Cilurzo at Russian River to brew Monk’s Cafe twenty fifth Anniversary fruited bitter.
After two-plus a long time in Philadelphia, Monk’s Cafe has grow to be as important to town as Rocky or the Liberty Bell.
And we’re not even kidding.
“Beer could be very democratic,” says D’Ambroiso. “There isn’t any pretention in Philadelphia; it doesn’t fly right here, so the realness of beer and the realness of Philadelphia undoubtedly makes Monk’s what it’s.”
No frills, nothing fancy. Only a place to drink the perfect beer on this planet. Might you ask for extra?
Watch Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia
Brewery ARS
1927-29 W Passyunk Ave | (215) 960-5173
Cease us once we’ve mentioned one thing you don’t like right here: A ten-BBL brewery in a South Philly storage is cranking out European lagers and American hazies.
Yeah, that every one sounds nice to us.
Impressed by his travels round Europe, Brewery ARS co-founder Sean Arsenault initially centered on Belgian-style beers however has branched out into different European ales and uber fashionable New England-style IPAs, amongst different kinds.
Since opening in the direction of the tip of 2016, Brewery ARS has cultivated a cult-like following, launching a second location in Fishtown within the spring of 2022.
Each areas are fairly small, so if you go, count on to get cozy whilst you sip on implausible pints.
Separatist Beer Mission – South Philly
1646 S twelfth St | (267) 534-4879
“In the event you ask us what we’re all about at Separatist Beer Mission, the reply is straightforward: hops, lagerbier, and spontaneous fermentation,” writes the brewery on its web site.
We predict that sums issues up fairly nicely at Separatist Beer Mission, which leverages foraged elements to nail all the things from humble cream ales to hoppy IPAs and crisp lagers.
That is rustic brewing at its finest. However now you will discover it within the metropolis. Initially based in Easton, PA, Separatist opened a brand new location in South Philly in 2019.
Now amongst the city streets and buildings you’ll discover a attractive taproom doling out equally attractive beers.
As a lot as native Philadelphians could contemplate themselves gritty, Separatist provides the parents of this blue-collar city very nuanced, pitch-perfect beers from the earth.
Different Half Brewing Co. – Philadelphia
1002 Canal St | (215) 497-0640
Simply this yr, Different Half introduced the opening of a 150-seat taproom and brewery in Philly.
On the Philly taproom, you may count on a lot of what made Different Half well-known—top-notch, award-winning IPAs of all classes.
However you’ll get a bit extra right here too. Alongside twenty draft traces you’ll discover a checklist of cocktails, small-batch distilled spirits, and wine.
All the things might be loved within the brewery’s seasonal outside beer backyard.
Once we see Different Half open a taproom in a brand new state, we’re most likely going so as to add them to a city-specific lists. They’ve simply garnered that sort of fame.
Dock Avenue Brewing Co.
701 S fiftieth St | (215) 726-2337
As a metropolis, Philadelphia has a wealthy historical past.
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams signed the Declaration of Independence on this metropolis.
Benjamin Franklin tempted destiny with lightning by attaching a key to a kite in a storm.
And, after all, the Eagles ended a historic NFL drought by successful the Tremendous Bowl in 2018.
Equally, Dock Avenue Brewery has a storied historical past.
Hailed as Philadelphia’s first microbrewery, Dock Avenue proudly claims to be the courageous sailor in a “proverbial sea of watered-down and adjunct-plagued lagers.”
Years of expertise have helped Dock Avenue hone their lager recipes (no straightforward job). Their thirty-five-year-old Czech-style Pilsner is a testomony to the brewery’s robust fame in Philly. Whereas their Futuro Italian Pilsner means they’re not afraid of innovation.
The revered brewery even opened a second location, Dock Avenue South, in August of 2019.
Go right here for impeccably made historic lagers.
Second District Brewing
1939 S Bancroft St | (215) 575-5900
Considered one of our Ten Finest Brewpubs of 2017, this three-year-old South Philly taproom locations an emphasis on quirky elements.
Head Brewer Ben Potts counts Dogfish Head and Drained Arms on his previous resume. Now he helms the mash tun at Second District, cranking out a few of the most inventive beers in Philly.
Beers like Chadwick on Brett, an OG Philly-style porter spiked with a little bit of brett.
And Parabolic Cost, a new-age IPA hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Idaho 7.
These are the beers that show Second District isn’t afraid to play with flavors.
