Tonight after getting home late, I am reaching for something carbonated and alcoholic in the fridge, but not desperate enough for the MGD left over from the last party (am I getting geeky?) So I am left with the selection of the week from my beer geek husband, a Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot – a barley-wine style ale. My beer geek (I’m calling him BG from here on) even made me put it in a proper glass, although I read that a wine glass or snifter might be even more appropriate. I will embarrassingly admit that I usually (always) put my beers in a hot pink plastic mug that we keep in the freezer so my beer is super cold. Sort of related note to self – BG needs more fancy beer glasses – idea for his birthday!
I am actually enjoying this brew. I gave it a sniff and slowly tasted it like a beer geek might, and sarcastically called it woody because I was afraid I was wrong to think it a little fruity. Imagine my surprise when I saw the description a fruity aroma posted on the Weyerbacher website. Spot on!
I popped open a second bottle after I read that it is brewed in Easton, PA, which is fairly local to where we live. I try to be a bit of a locavore in some of my food choices, getting our fresh organic veggies every summer from Pennypack Farm. So I am thrilled to start supporting these local breweries, getting my buzz from a beer made less than 2 hours away. The local brewery list below is right off the top of my BG’s head, and I do not commit to it’s validity at this late hour. So I’m excited and thirsty to start trying any and all of their beers.
Local Breweries to the Philadelphia, PA area
- Weyerbacher – Easton, PA
- Troegs – Harrisburg, PA
- Yards – Philly, PA
- DogFish Head – Rehoboth, DE
- Flying Fish – Cherry Hill, NJ
- Victory – Downingtown, PA
- Sly Fox – Chester County, PA
- Dock Street – Philly, PA
- River Horse Brewing, Lambertville, PA
Don’t forget about the amazing Iron Hill Brewpub/Breweries around Philly. You don’t win so many awards and World Beer Cup Pub brewers of the year without creating some amazing beers! Try some of their wild barrel-aged beers next time they release them!
Thanks for the reminder Chad! I have been to Iron Hill and have enjoyed their brews.
I also came upon a post about supporting local breweries, and thought it was worth sharing.
http://carlacompanion.hoppress.com/2010/01/10/what-it-really-means-to-go-local/
[...] Tavern Spruce Ale, and Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale. As I posted previously about liking local brews, Yards is brewed in Philadelphia so I am proud to keep supporting the breweries in my general area. [...]