George Hummel presents a homebrewing workshop tonight at the Free Library

TONIGHT: 7:30 From the Free Library's Website: George Hummel, award winning homebrewer, author of The Complete Homebrew Beer Book and co-proprietor of Home Sweet Homebrew on Sansom St.will show you how to make great beer in your own kitchen. You’ll be introduced to the ingredients that make beer and be shown every step it takes to make your own signature brew.  This event/workshop is Free and will take place in the Skyline Room on the 4th Floor.

A copy of George's informative  book "The Homebrew Beer Book" will also be raffled off!

Two Track: I Heard it Through the Grapevine

I try to make "Two Track Tuesdays" have some significance to the actual day.
The only person I know celebrating a birthday today is Lance Romance's bro-in-law Jim. And a Happy Birthday to him but I have no idea what music he likes.

The weather is beautiful- but I have already done a few songs about the Summer sun.

So- I will finally say personally what many of you have "heard through the grapevine"
Yes-after five great years, years of personal and professional growth, I am moving on from my favorite cannery to a new adventure in the industry.
Tomorrow will be my last day at Sly Fox.  You can look forward to another post recollecting my favorite Sly memories and another detailing "What's next" but for right now-let's get to the music.

Marvin Gaye


Gladys Knight and the Pips


Kaiser Chiefs 2005

Best Bite- Indecision Edition: English Muffins and Roman Raspberries

Photo: A.Kitchen Website David Fields

I can't decide!  This week there will be two best bites.

I finally made it to A.kitchen for the much-praised English Muffin. It was extraordinary- almost slightly undercooked -but I like baked goods likes that. The perfectly buttered breakfast delight cost $4.  You can pick from blueberry, strawberry, or orange jam.  I am going to get me some dry yeast and try to make them in my own kitchen.  A.kitchen was great. I enjoyed the vibe of the room AND they have craft beer. Sly Fox Pikeland Pils is on tap. I can't wait to go back for dinner

Then tonight my fellow and I were sorta slumming it for dinner with clam strips and White Castle burgers straight from Target's freezer. I'm not really proud of it- but Lance was as happy as if I had spent an hour making pasta.
We decided to class it up for dessert and buy some fancy Talenti gelato from Whole Foods. I had tried the Blood Orange sorbet from them a few weeks ago and was in love.  Tonight we got Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato (with Vanilla beans from Papua New Guinea) and Roman Rasbperry sorbet.  The sorbet was one of the best fat-free foods I have ever eaten.  It is $6 but you won't even care.

Hope your week is grand.

Two Track: Baby Edition

This Tuesday two track "Baby Face" comes to you on a Thursday- one day after Cameron Saunders (Shangys- The Beer Authority) and his wife Jessica had a little girl, Avery.

Congratulations to the whole family. I didn't get permission to post a pic of the lil angel. But if you're friends with Cam- they're on his facebook page.

Little Richard 1957 (Recorded live in Norway)

Paul McCartney 2007 London

IRON FISH surfaces this SATURDAY at ...Iron Hill in Maple Shade

Buddies Casey Hughes and Lance Romance have teamed up to bring you beer lovers "Iron Fish."
What is Iron Fish??

Everything people are clamoring for in the last couple years in one glass.
So you've got an Belgian Black Imperial IPA. There is some barrel-aged of course (probably not avail. this Saturday). And it was a collaboration to boot.

In addition to Iron Fish- there will be several IH IPAs on tap and a keg of Exit 16 from Flying Fish.
Tapping is at 2 pm
The POURS can be found at Lance's blog over here. Also remember you can follow Lance's adventures in brewing on twitter.  www.twitter.com/ironhillnj

Can of Wheat Dinner at Percy St. tomorrow night

The school supply aisle at Target is all filled up. The Oktoberfest displays are set up and the next thing you know we'll be talking Halloween costumes and I haven't even swam yet this summer season.

Percy St. barbecue is celebrating a seasonal favorite-Wheat beer- before September hits.

Tuesday, July 23, 2011
4 courses
$50

• 1st: Open faced Country Ham Sandwich with heirloom tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, paired with Sly Fox Royal Weiss

• 2nd: Rock Shrimp with Butter Beans, cantaloupe salad and crispy chicken skin, paired with 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

• 3rd: Mushroom stuffed Turkey Breast with creamed collards, sweet corn and field peas, paired with Wild Onion Summer Wit

• 4th: Kentucky Fried Peaches with black pepper ice cream and a sugar wafer, paired with Avery White Rascal.

Percy St. is located at 900 South St. Click here for Reservations.

HOP SCOTCH II at Khyber Pass Pub all day TOMORROW

The 2nd annual HOPSCOTCH event takes place tomorrow at the Khyber Pass Pub.
The old city beer bar will be pouring from 12 pm on.


Get some malt get-get some hops and get some pretty great cajun/creole cuisine.


THE POURS

Scotch                                                                HOPS

Oskar Blues Old Chub                                                                       Founders Devil Dancer                                        

Brouwkot Vlaskapelle                                                             Russian River Blind Pig

Belhaven Wee Heavy                                                                             Avery Maharaja

Bear Republic Heritage                                                  Flying Dog Centennial Imp IPA

Brasserie D’achouffe McChouffe                                            Cask Bear Republic Racer 5

Founders Dirty Bastard                                             Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel Corne Du Diable

                                                                                             Ballast Point Even Keel

.                                                                                            Russian River Pliny the Elder

                                                                             Cask Blue Point No Apologies Imperial IPA

All Hail King Kevin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM

Kevin Walter of Iron Hill Lancaster got to wear the crown home on Thursday night from Earth Bread +Brewery in Mt. Airy.  He won the spray painted plaster and m and m jeweled adornment with his English IPA. Regretfully, I didn't even get to sample it.

Tom "birthday boy" Baker shared that the Blackberry Saison from Wilmington and Lance Romance's Caprice were close seconds.

Flatbread was excellent as always. Ryan Michaels of McKenzies was in the house (It's actually his local) saying the crust was spot on that night.

Baker has also been dabbling in some ice cream crafting (In addition to house made sodas and kombucha).  Last night's flavor was honey basil.  He also used the local honey from "We Bee Brothers" for a flatbread and a brown Saison.

A special thanks to non beerlass.com reader Wendy Domurat for providing transportation.

BEST BITE of the week- Maple Pancake Cupcakes from Betty's Speakeasy

I can't recall the last time I bit into something and fell in love the way I did Monday afternoon with Betty's Speakeasy's maple pancake cupcake with sea salt butter cream frosting.

I never got into this whole cupcake craze.
I would watch the wars on Food Network on Sunday nights sometimes but I would barely ever eat them.

I bought a bunch at a Hoboken shop in April because honestly outside of Tunes record store- I didn't know what else to do up there. The beer scene barely extends beyond Stella Artois.

Biting into this confection- was like breakfast at 4 pm. I paired it was a few sips of Sly Fox Rauchbier and I was swooning.

Betty's Speakeasy is located on Greys Ferry Ave a few doors down from Grace Tavern.  They do farmhouse dinners once a month for a mere $45 and you can bring your own beer or wine. This month's dinner focuses on peppers.  They have a cafe that is open 12 till 7 Tuesday through Friday and opens 3 hours earlier on Saturday.  Get this cupcake as soon as you can ($2.50-$3). Buy one for someone you love. I plan on using it as my "get out of jail free card" with Lance Romance if need be.

It's National Lemon Meringue Day and National Rum day and this Two Track has nothing to do with either.

It's been raining and raining some more lately. So your Tuesday Two-track covers just that.
Rain- that of the Early Morning kind.

It was originally written by Gordon Lightfoot in 1966. Then covered by many artists including Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, and Eva Cassidy.  Here we look at live versions from  Lightfoot and the King.
Today is the 34th anniversary of the day the world checked themselves into heartbreak hotel. Elvis was dead.

The Rolling Stone has placed Presley as #3 in this year's "Greatest Artists of all Time" list.
U2's Bono was charged with the write up for it. He believed in Elvis- you had the blueprint of rock n roll.

 He writes, "Out of Tupelo, Mississippi, out of Memphis, Tennessee, came this green, sharkskin-suited girl chaser, wearing eye shadow — a trucker-dandy white boy who must have risked his hide to act so black and dress so gay. This wasn't New York or even New Orleans; this was Memphis in the Fifties. This was punk rock. This was revolt. Elvis changed everything — musically, sexually, politically. In Elvis, you had the whole lot; it's all there in that elastic voice and body. As he changed shape, so did the world: He was a Fifties-style icon who was what the Sixties were capable of, and then suddenly not. In the Seventies, he turned celebrity into a blood sport, but interestingly, the more he fell to Earth, the more godlike he became to his fans. His last performances showcase a voice even bigger than his gut, where you cry real tears as the music messiah sings his tired heart out, turning casino into temple.

Early Morning Rain

1971 ELVIS


1979 Gordon Lightfoot

King of the Iron Hill- THIS THURSDAY

This Thursday- the 2nd King of the Iron Hill takes place at EARTH bread + brewery.

One Iron Hill beer from each location of the regional brewpub group will be on tap.
The beers are below- and there's an obvious variation between them.
With all the chaps in attendance- I put this in the "rollicker" category.  See you there!

I think Bob Barrar took top honors last year....but I will have to double check on that.


 the POURS 

Iron Hill Newark – Justin Sproul, Head Brewer
Xtra Stout 
Full bodied stout with a balanced bitternes, and a distinct dark roasted malt flavor and aroma.

Iron Hill West Chester – Paul Rutherford, Head Brewer (soon to be Chestnut Hill Head Brewer)
Kryptonite Imperial IPA

Full-bodied, American style double IPA brewed with 5 pounds of hops per barrel. The result is enough
bitterness, hop flavor and aroma to challenge any man of steel.


Iron Hill Media- Bob Barrar

Yin Yang
Our traditional Belgian witbier brewed with chocolate wheat instead of white wheat. This beer has all
the character classic witbier character and distinct chocolate notes.

Iron Hill Wilmington – Brian Finn, Head Brewer
Blackberry Saison
Belgian-style farmhouse ale aged with real blackberry. The addition of fruit gives the beer a purple color
and a dry fruity finish.

Iron Hill North Wales – Vince Desrosiers, Head Brewer
Belgian IPA
Amber, Belgian-style IPA with full malt flavor, pronounced bitterness and overwhelming hop presence.
Classic Belgian yeast flavors add complexity.

Iron Hill Phoenixville – Tim Stumpf, Head Brewer
Schwarzbier
Traditional black German lager, medium-bodied with a slightly roasted flavor. A distinctive hop
bitterness that leads to a clean dry finish. Awards: 2009 GABF Gold Medal


Iron Hill Lancaster – Kevin Walter, Head Brewer
English IPA
An amber English-style IPA with distinct caramel malt character, hopped with classic English hops for a
floral aroma.

Iron Hill Maple Shade – Chris LaPierre, Head Brewer
Caprice
Golden American-Belgian ale made by using Belgian yeast and Cascade and Amarillo hops from the
Pacific Northwest. The result is classic yeast fruitiness mixed with the lively, herb notes from the hops.

Champs Defend and Keep their Title: Nodding Head wins 2nd annual Local Brewers Bocce Tournament

CHAMPS!

It was a long day of throwing balls in pouring rain-but a fun one. Curt Decker and Gordon Grubb of Nodding Head held on to their title after nearly seven hours of tournament play at Iron Hill Wilmington.

It came down to them and the undefeated (going into the finals) Dogfish Head team.  It's a  well-known fact the the DFHers have a Bocce court on -premise which makes Nodding Head almost the underdogs even though they were returning champions.

Nodding Head beat out Flying Fish to advance to the finals. Competitor Casey Hughes said that Decker was a fantastic player, but believes Grubb was cheating. He also expressed content that he defeated YARDS to advance. "I'm happy that I took a Mashington down."

Decker thought all his opponents were a challenge. "It's almost like work. It's been a struggle all day. I thought Stewarts was going to take us in the first game."  Grubb is contemplating retiring before the annual matchup next year-a similar move to Tim Roberts after he won the Royal Stumble a couple years back.....

The day also provided my first sips of anything from Evolution Brewing Co based out of Southern Delaware. I only had about 2 oz of their Lot 6 IPA but I enjoyed it.

A big thanks to Iron Hill for hosting.  It may have rained on our bocce parade- but it certainly didn't stop the good times. The balls and them kept on rolling.

Drenched- for the love of the game

Tommy and Randy of Evolution Brewing Co.

Bocce doesn't stop at dusk

Refreshing Vegetarian at Resurrection

Saffron  Fettuccini

I was starving tonight. I had to pick up a few Sly Fox empty kegs from my buddy who lives a block away from Resurrection- perfect. I thought it had been a while since I ate at the Greys Ferry ale house and I couldn't wait to feed my famished self there.

I invited my vegetarian sister to be my dining companion.  Lance was working late- and would catch up with us in a bit.  The menu reflected  the season. The late day sun was pouring in from Catherine St. We were quite content.  I went company girl and got a Rt 113 IPA. Sis got a Dogfish Head 60 minute.

Summer Squash and Faro Salad

We started with a summer squash and faro salad. Mint and dill scent the grain and crumbles of feta cheese add a  creamy texture.  I loved it. And was grateful that I shared it so I had plenty of room for the Saffron fettuccine that was up next. I try to not order pasta anymore when I go out....mainly because its the same bite over and over again.  But this was an exception.  Vibrant roasted heirloom tomatoes and shredded parmesan added dimension to the dish. I was nervous that the saffron would be too intense...but that was not the case.  It was summer by the spoonful and it was delicious.  Lance eventually came and got the pan con tomate- which I get every time I visit. Homemade bread, tomatoes, manchego and chorizo.  Smokey, spicy with just a bit of bitter from the garnish of greens.  He loved pairing it with the Port Mongo double IPA.

 I'm a tad jealous of my friend that lives a mere block away.  Resurrection's Joey Chimko continues to turn out awesome food. Fresh, flavorful seasonal dishes that complement the great beer list.

We had 6 beers, a cheese plate, and four other dishes for under $100. Now that's a great night out.

Two Track: Happy Birthday Jennie Hatton edition

I know that Jennie likes Stevie Wonder- and I know she likes some Springsteen.  I don't know is she likes this little tune Dylan wrote in ten minutes.  But here you go anyway.
Happy Birthday to one of the most marvelous ladies walking.

Stevie Wonder- at 16!



BRUCE!


and Bob (1971- a significant year;)

3rd Annual Pucker Up Sour Fest at Devils Den

Find traditional Flemish Sours, Guezes, Fruit Blended Lambics, American Wild Ales & a few special collaborative beers at 11th and Ellsworth this weekend.


The Devil's Den chef has put together a special a la carte menu with suggested beer pairings.  
There will be special bottles as well including:
Stillwater Chardonnay Barrel Aged Stateside Saison with Brett, Cascade Kriek, Rodenbach Vintage & Cantillon.


THE POURS


Russian River Sanctification Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic
Petrus Pale Ale
Allagash Confluence
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Mikkeller USAlive
Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernage

They will kick it off but stop back during the week to try the rest of the lineup which include – Russian River Consecration, Allagash Vrienden, Oud Berseel Framboise, DeProef Collaborations with Allagash & Sly Fox & Cuvee des Jacobins along with many others.

Discovery: SPIEDIES!

Yesterday- Lance and I once again traveled North. This time to clean out my 1997 Teal Subaru Legacy Outback and say goodbye. There was more water coming out of the clouds than my eyes. The weather was so bad- I didn't even have time for a "moment" or reflection on my four years with the car.  There should be a post this week that recalls all the trips to my mechanics, South Philly Mike, Chinese Don, and Pinto Eddie. But this one is about a sandwich near and dear to the Southern tier's hearts.

We really wanted to find some stellar food while we were on this jaunt. Six hours in a car- just to drop off a title, and grab a tent mandates some first-rate chow.
I put something out to the twitterverse- and two gents Johnny and Rich both steered me towards a Spiedie, a sandwich with cubed marinated meat on a soft roll popular in the Binghamton/Endicott area of New York.
Things got a li'l depressing there. There's not a lot of industry. So when times are tough, it's nice to know the town can rely on a lil sub- so popular that it landed on the Food Network's "Unwrapped," the behind-the-scenes show with Marc Summers ( will someone please take his job already).  They marinate (lemon, olive oil, garlic, mint) a variety of meats (originally lamb- now mostly chicken and pork because $$, grill it on spits over a charcoal pit- then take a soft bun and slide them off the spit skewers with the roll. You can a bunload of meat for $3.45.

It was good. Lance preferred the chicken- I chose the pork. Fries were shoestring- nothing special.  Place was pretty bare bones- but defnitely hopping on a rainy Sunday afternoon.  If you're ever in the area- you gotta do it.  Then there's "Smarty's "Ice cream about a mile East for dessert.

MONKS MAD MONDAY-= Cantillon Edition

Tommy P has been saving some of this stuff for years folks- YEARS!
Here's the lineup kicking off at 11:30 am this sunny Monday Morning.
Pay as you go.

THE POURS

Cuvee de Champions (dry-hopped lambic)

Fou' Foune 2008

Fou' Foune 2007

Iris 2007 (all barley lambic)

Iris 2004

Kriek

Lou Peper Kriek

Monk’s Café Cuvee Gueuze

St. Lamvinous 2008

St. Lamvinous 2006

Vigneronne

Zwanze 2010

My Beer Friends-We've Only Just Begun...

A random BYO hibachi experience on Friday reminded me that

we've only just begun. 

I was having a chat recently about craft beer at large.  We see new beer after new beer released, more and more cans all the time, so many beer dinners- you sometimes have to wonder- or honestly- at least I do- is this going to get old?  I mean it doesn't ever get old for me- but for others? Will we hit a ceiling?

My Friday night dinner at Ooka in Willow Grove illustrated that no we have not hit a ceiling- we might even still be on the ground floor, still at the beginning of our crusade.

I met up with my friend Megan after her Ommegang sampling at Wegmans in Warrington. She grabbed a 750 ml of Hennepin and we headed to byo "Ooka" for sushi.  The dining room was full with a forty-five minute wait. I had zero patience and Megs was starving. The host offered two seats for Hibachi instead in the adjacent dining room.

Barbecued Squid

We went for it. I haven't been entertained by a Hibachi chef for sometime- maybe about 7-8 years? We sit at the community table next to a Huntingdon Valley couple (my guess is mid-60s). The woman must have had a $%# ton of work done to her face. The husband was nice enough but mild-mannered while the wife kept talking about just getting back from two months in Ventnor.

I was thinking to myself- I don't know how I'm going to enjoy dinner with her next to me.

Then they noticed our bottle. And the questions started "What IS that?" "That's beer?"

Then the young couple to our right asked the same thing.

Here we are flanked by two different generations, with a disposable income, that enjoy eating out- and they had no idea that beer could come in big bottles.  They told us that we enlightened them and they might seek it out in the future. I told her that there's a lot of holiday beers available in big btls and they're a nice switch up on the hostess gift for open houses during the season. She listened intently. Yes! They ate the whole thing up.

We ate a bunch too. We stayed with a seafood theme. And ordered barbecued squid and soft-shelled crab as first courses (which we probably didn't need in hindsight) and scallops, lobster, and shrimp to be cooked on the Teppanyaki grill. This style of cooking started in Japan in 1945 focusing on "western foods."  The Terppanyaki experience became increasingly popular through the years with tourists. Benihana launched the first one in the States in 1964. 

It's a great outing for families as children would enjoy the "show" put on by the hibachi chef.  Our chef tossed eggs in his hat, created  flaming onion volcanoes, squirted water at us and even threw zucchini at us seeing if we could catch them in our mouths. I got it on the second try;)

It was a great meal. Satisfying in more ways that one. We walked out of there - knowing that we have so much more potential.  I don't think we'll ever reach a ceiling.  It's so exciting. Think about it- in a bad economy craft beer is an industry in the gain all the time. As I read on the tagged wall every time I enter  the POPE's ladies room, "I have all the hope in the world."

Music you can Eat Eggs to this Saturday at VARGA

I will be djing brunch at Varga Bar this Saturday.
11 am till 1:30 pm or so.

I will be joined by Joel Armato of New Holland Brewing.

We'll be playing all sorts of stuff. I have picked up a bunch of new records in my travels to New England.
If I have time I might even assemble a "request" list. Or you can just look through them yourself. You want a li'l Scandal? I got it. Everything from classic Etta James to
brand-new Beasties.

It's Lance Romance's Birthday ALL WEEK- so come by and have a beer with him.

There will be a few different Sly Fox and New Holland on tap.

Hope to see you there.

House-made Hotness: Santucci's opens at 10th and Christian

Santuccis finally opened their doors to a room sure to make your nose happy.  We had seen the tan paper on the windows for a tad too long.  But the day has come.

The family had to close down their original Juniata location.  They weren't comfortable with the neighborhood anymore. So all their efforts are focused on their new Italian Market locale.  

Frank Santucci -the gent that built the original with his father is in the kitchen "working harder than he ever has," shares his daughter and biz partner, Alicia.  Alicia was most hospitable and went out of her way to make sure we enjoyed ourselves -way out of her way- she called Italy while we were there to figure out how to use the espresso machine.

They key words here are FRESH and HOUSEMADE.  They aren't cheatin' with anything. They're slicing house-cured meats to order for sandwiches. Making the pasta for the spaghetti and meatballs every morning.  The meatballs have boar as one of the three meats- and they're awesome. You can get four hearty meatballs and spaghetti for just $10.  We had their hand-cut fries with house-made provolone sauce, spaghetti and meatballs and a signature personal pizza (fresh mushrooms), two cokes, two cappuccinos, and a chocolate torte for $33.  

Lance took a break from his pizza at one point to look up and say, "This is exceptional."

So give it a whirl.

Technically they are a byo -so you can bring your own booze- but the atmosphere doesn't really say "romantic" "cozy" or "stay a while."  It's definitely kicked-up from a typical pizzeria ambiance.  Light buttery yellow covers the walls.  There's a rack for wine glasses, and a few plants.  The food is the stand-out here.  And it's nice seeing the owners have such a hands-on approach.

They are also serving brunch on Sundays with Italian-style omelets (gotta see for yourself). Breakfast sandwiches are available every day and they are open for lunch. I think they're going to do a ton of take out too. 

So now Lance and I have one more meatball to fight over. Who makes the best ball?

 Is it Mine? His mom's? Or Santuccis....

Two Track Tuesday-Happy Birthday Lance Romance Edition

Today is Lance Romance's big day.
He's handling the next decade well.
He handles everything well.
He's got the nicest way about him
Sometimes I kid that there should be a show "Everybody Loves Lance," instead of "Everybody loves Raymond."

The show would consist of him working a LOT, eating bad chinese food, begging for back scratches, wanting to rent red box movies, having dance-offs with Steve Mashington, drinking Sly Fox Rt 113 IPA, making fun of our friend Wendy, and making me happy day in and day out.







Yes-Everybody loves Lance and "Everybody Knows this is Nowhere" -Your two track this Birthday Tuesday


Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs (of the Bangles)





Neil Young