summer recap: philly's forum of the (brewing) gods

While we have just sped into September 2012 (fall's a-coming—hallelujah), I'm itching to take a lil' breath and get reflective of what threw down these past warm-weathered months.

Perhaps I shall begin at when I caught some of the US of A's Brewing Gods file into a beer-savvy forum early June, as part of Philadelphia's Annual Beer Week celebration. Of course, I'd be giddy over catching any creditable brewmaster chit-chat about what he (or she) does best. But, at this particular forum, Greg Koch of Stone Brewing Co. was part of the festivities. (Did you know, he's an “it” advocate for better beer? Truth!) 

Click here to read the full skinny about what Greg and his brewing god-like comrades discussed during the summer beer talk. For the record, the mid-week round-table featured a role call of Colby Chandler of San Diego’s Ballast Point;  Mark Edelson of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant;  Rosemarie Certo of Philadelphia’s Dock Street;  Paul Kavulak of Nebraska Brewing Company;  and of course, Greg Koch of Stone Brewing Company.

Fair warning: There was a hilarious bit during the few hours about marijuana-infused brews. (Say, what?) 

philly beer week's collaborative ale and the brotherly suds

Brian O'Reilly, award-winning brewmaster of Sly Fox Brewery, paired up with the loved-and-local brewers Tom Kehoe of Yards' Brewing Co., Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Co., Brett Kintzer of Stoudt's Brewery and John Trogner of Troegs Brewery on Fri. morning, May 7 at SF's Royersford location to jumpstart the production of the Philly Beer Week's Collaboration Ale—a beer styled as an extra special bitter, an ESB.

As a concoction that represents the "heart of what beer week is about," said O'Reilly, there was, without a doubt, no way that I was going to miss rubbing 'bows with this five-some, even if it was only 8 a.m. (And, just so you know, by the time I left around 10 a.m., they had yet to pop up some beer bottles.)

The combined-effort brew will be first unveiled at Philly Beer Week's Opening Tap event, held Fri., June 4, at Independence Visitor's Center with the city's mayor, Michael Nutter, tapping the premier keg. (I joked that I should tap the keg—move over Nutter, it's my birthday weekend!) 

The brewing collaborative team, tentatively titled Brotherly Suds, took a bit of leg work, dividing two parts of the team to provide the malts, two to provide the hops and one stylized brewing setup, as seen at Sly Fox. The concept of Brotherly Suds is hoped to continue per each Philly Beer Week, too, replacing a new brewery with one that was represented the previous year.

The Opening Tap affair, the first celebratory event held during Philly's week-long, beer-infused festival, will host an impressive slew of lagers and ales besides the collaborative concoction. Samples from over thirty regional brewers will also be hand beside pub-styled foods, live music, and appearances from an adored Ben Franklin imposer and the notorious beer writer, Joe Sixpack.

Philly Beer Week, held Fri., June 4 to Sun., June 13 premieres with over a hundred pint-crazy celebrations sculpted around thousands of traditional-to-obscure beers. For more information, visit the 10-day, beer-glory bash here.