I P H I L A D E L P H I A W E E K L Y. C O M
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1 6 P H I L A D E L P H I A W E E K LY I F E B R U A R Y 5
Year of Beer
DRINK CITY
Refreshing the Faves From Belgians to porters and beyond, here are five cheery beers that each reinvigorate a beloved old classic.
OVER 260 AMERICAN MICROS & 500 IMPORTS Huge Selection at Great Prices!
THIS WEEK’S SPECIALS
buD -buD LT. 24/12 oZ cans SNaPPLe ICe Tea 24/16 oZ bottles COOrS LIGHT 24/12 oZ cans yueNGLING LaGer 12 oZ cans LONG TraIL 12 oZ bottles HeINeKeN & aMSTeL 12 oZ cans yarDS 12 oZ bottles LITe 7 oZ bottles MaGIC HaT 12 oZ bottles PerONI 12 oZ bottle MOLSON 12 oZ bottles SeaGraMS COOLerS 12 oZ bottles reDD’S aPPLe aLe 12 oZ bottles STeLLa arTOIS 12 oZ bottles
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upcoming beer sampling events
all events are from 4 - 6pm February 7
Bell’s Brewing Co.
February 14
susquehanna Brewing Co. text bellbev to 47201
to join our mobile club and receive news, specials, free samplings & more.
215-468-0222 2809 S. FRONT ST.
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Dupont Avec les Bon Voeux. Meaning “with the best wishes,” Dupont’s limited-run holiday beer was meant to be a thank-you to their loyal fans— and what a thank-you it is! Combining the prickly carbonation and zesty funk of a saison with the musty grains and assertive alcohol of a tripel, this is a beer that demands your attention. Some dried fruits mill about on the farm—pears, peaches and a touch of faint plum—but mostly it’s high-octane spring days and horse blankets soaked in booze, with just enough spice to add some intrigue. This saison on steroids is a must try for anyone who enjoys Belgian beers. Try it at The Belgian Café— and the 2012 vintage at Monk’s.
Anchor Porter. When Fred Maytag bought Anchor Brewing in 1965, he saved what was then one of the country’s last small breweries from closure. Anchor quickly became an important building block of what would become the modern craft beer movement, reintroducing styles most Americans had stopped drinking, including steam beers, barleywines, India pale ales, and porters. Bringing back the classic porter would be enough to earn a tip of the cap from modern day beer geeks, so it’s especially impressive that even today Anchor’s is still one of the best on the market. With heady notes of bitter black chocolate, roast coffee and licorice root, this beer packs a flavorful punch, made all the more impressive by its hop bite and surprisingly clean finish. Anyone who likes porters needs to try this one, currently on draft at Garrett Hill Ale House.
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Goose Island Matilda Lambicus. Goose Island’s Matilda is a dry, spicy Belgian style ale that offers up a blend of earthy yeast, pears, prickly hops and a slight touch of funk, so the idea of the Lambicus variation—Matilda fermented with brettanomyces, a strain of yeast that imparts heavy “barnyard” aromas and flavors—is an inspired choice. The original Matilda is still hiding somewhere in this brew, but now you have to find it beneath soft layers of musty hay, tart apple and the smell of a barn loft. If Matilda has a bit of prickliness, it’s all smoothed to subtle softness in this variation. Improvement over the original? Find out at Cook and Shaker.
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Samuel Adams Cold Snap. For four years running, Samuel Adams has released a new white ale annually, each under a different name. White Ale, White Lantern, White Christmas and now Cold Snap. You’re forgiven for suspecting that they are all the same beer rebranded, but Cold Snap makes clear that they are very different beers. This newest addition packs a big orange punch—a yummy, Creamsicle sweetness. Completely unexpectedly, it’s perfect for chilly evenings: Hints of spice and herbal hops balance things just enough so you don’t feel like you’re drinking candy, though those fruity overtones are the star of the show. Try Cold Snap at Flanigan’s Boathouse, Bar-ly Chinatown and Brick & Brew.
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Samuel Adams Escape Route. A few years back, Sam Adams introduced East West Kolsch, their take on the classic, easy-drinking kolsch style of beer popular in Germany. It quickly disappeared. This winter, they’re trying their hand at another kolsch with Escape Route, a somewhat more assertive take on the style. Like most kolsches, it combines the bright fruitiness of an ale with the soft drinkability of a lager. In this case, the bitterness is a little more forward than expected, giving it a dry bite in the finish that would remind you of a pale ale if it weren’t for the grainy, grassy smoothness that dominates each swallow. Go into it knowing what to expect and it won’t disappoint. Kolsches by their nature are meant to be unassuming and drinkable without being boring; Escape Route accomplishes exactly that. Try it wherever Sam’s seasonal beers are tapped. / ERIC SAN JUAN
FRONT & OREGON • PHILADELPHIA
www.bellbeverage.com
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