June 29–July 6, 2000

critic pick

American Beer Month

American beer is a much-maligned beast, long considered an oxymoron among funny-talking Europeans. If your idea of an American beer is a case of The Beast, then you’re part of the problem. Here’s how you can be the solution: Learn that you can drink really good beer, made in America, because it tastes good, not just because some guys say "Whasssup!" Celebrate American Beer Month — a whole party ball full of delicious and nutritious events brought to you in part by Jim Anderson’s Beer Philadelphia magazine. Get your buzz on at the American Brewers’ Reception (Fri., June 30) at Stoudt’s Brewery in Adamstown, PA. Some of the jiggiest brewers in the country will converge on the fine little brewery for food, music and, of course, suds. It’ll be kinda like the Republican Convention, minus the nauseating rhetoric and ass-grabbing. Saturday starts with a pub crawl beginning at noonat McGillin’s where a purchase of beer made in America will score you free eats. What a country. At 2 p.m., you can hike up to the Art Museum for the American Brewers’ Rally (where there will BE NO BEER) or you can sidle down to the Irish Pub (1123 Walnut St.) for The Great American Blind Taste Test (participants need not be blind). It’s like a Pepsi challenge for American beers and their European counterparts. Tasters will be given scorecards, so it’s kind of like golf, too. At 4 p.m. the crawl moves to Monk’s (263 S. 16th St.) for a tribute to some of the country’s rarest microbrews. The after-party begins at 6 p.m. at Standard Tap (Second and Poplar Sts.) where special casks will be on the titular taps.

Events continue through the month as well. Nodding Head (1516 Sansom St.) will hold a Royal Stumble (July 23) where 12 East Coast breweries match their proudest brews (must be between 5.5 and 7 percent alcohol) in a free-for-all smackdown. The Khyber (56 S. Second St.) will hold a cook-off featuring chili made with local brews (July 24).

And for the entire month, several local bars and retailers will become tasting rooms for specific beer styles: Dock Street Terminal Brewpub (brown ale), Nodding Head (Scottish-style ale), General Lafayette Inn (strong ale), Cuvèe Notredame (wheat beer), The Khyber (pils), The Beverage Store (PA-brewed beers), McMenamin’s (ESB), O’Neals (India pale ale), London Grill (American pale ale), The Drafting Room (Belgian-style ale), Standard Tap (cask-conditioned ale), The Grey Lodge Pub (hefe-weizen), Dock Street Brasserie (imperial stout) and McGillin’s (Irish-style ale).

Now you have your excuse. You’re drinking for your country.

—Brian Howard

American Beer Month, July 1-31, visit www.beerphiladelphia.com for details.