I know, I know, my Philly Beer week recap is a little late. My memories are more like flashbacks so it took a little time to piece the week together. Better late than never right?
THE HIGHS:
– Nodding Head’s Mole Grog; s/b “Holy Mole”- the freaking perfect accompaniment to taco night (fish and plantain anyone?)
– Victory / Dogfish Head / Stone food ‘n drink gastro-event, ending with the 6.8% Belgian style collaboration Saison du Buff. I’ve heard it described as medicinal; not like CA ballot medicinal (though certain IPA’s do have that trait) but more like Tom’s toothpaste. That baking soda chalk dreadlocked, unshaven hippies chew on- and occasionally mistake for deodorant, to keep that fresh and clean… Personally, I really liked the strong sage nose and herbal flavor. After Greg ponied up what the collaboration beer (you heard it here first) would be spiced with, I jokingly tried convincing Sam a few months ago to call it Herb Bouquet. He said something like the LCB would have to be drunk to OK that name!
Best story heard during PBW- Bill’s (Victory) first trip to GABF in 1988. The 80 or so craft brewers in attendance shared conference space with the Junior Miss USA pageant. After a day of “research and development”, he had to come up with a mantra on the way back to his room to keep him out of trouble. It went something like “Look at the floor, just look at the floor, just look at the fucking floor.” Somebody asked what age the Junior Miss competition consists of to which he replied “Dangerous.” 5-10 years making beer in jail…
BUFF (Brewers United for Freedom of Flavor) is a name these guys coined in 2003. They attempted to hold a press conference in an aisle at a Boston liquor store to discuss the crappy flavors of mass produced yellow, fizzy beer. It was highly successful- just 1 person showed up.
– Huevos Rancheros at Resurrection Ale House; the grub was awesome, Unibroue was in the house, futbol (the real one) was on TV, and there were still leftovers from the wood event (hehe)
– $5 glasses of Russian River Registration Ale at Local 44 (yep, just $5!); also Supplication, Consecration, Port 4th anniversary, all great choices.
– The train going home Sunday. The couch that afternoon. My bed that night. My desk at work Monday- I kid, I kid! Pretty much any place I could catch some zzz’s. Guess I’m just not as much of a “professional” to last up until TUD.
THE LOWS:
– The end… not that it matters much. Philly is a beer week 52 weeks out of the year. Find yourself a draft!