Outdoor dining at the Swift Half

If you read the bottom of the cocktail menu at the Swift Half, you’ll spot an all too familiar quote. “There’s No Such Thing As Just One.” And you know what? They’re correct.

This new addition to The Piazza sits innocently in the corner and draws in an eclectic crowd of hipsters, preps, and small dog owners for what they assume will be a quick drink. Don’t let the name fool you—no visit to this Northern Liberties watering hole will be swift.

The menu serves up sophisticated bar food that compliments the long beer menu and innovative cocktail list. Being averse to beets, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed the beet-and-goat cheese sandwich, accompanied by perfectly crisp fries. The meal, while fantastic, was overshadowed by what turned into a day-drinking event with Swift Half’s incredible drinks menu.

Traditional bar food isn’t the only thing getting an upgrade at The Swift Half; classic cocktails have also been given an elegant (and potent) transformation. Take the Ghost of Mary, a drink that boasts the all the flavors of a classic Bloody Mary in a grapefruit juice-like liquid, accompanied by olives. This cocktail packs a punch; drink these wisely. The Dirty Tom on the Rocks puts the timeless dirty martini in a tumbler over ice, but don’t assume these changes reduce the potency of the drink. And if beers and wine are more to your liking, your only problem will be choosing one from the lengthy list that The Swift Half provides.

Whether it be for dinner, to watch the Phillies, or for some good weekend day-drinking, plan on visiting Swift Half this summer.

The Swift Half
1001 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

How do you like your (deviled) eggs?

On July 1st, to kick-off National Picnic Month, Supper Restaurant will get you egg-static with 12 different variations on the traditional Deviled Eggs!

From 5:00 to 8:00 PM, for $1 apiece (or $9 for all 12 varieties) you can try chef Mitch Prensky’s modern interpretations such as: Sriracha Deviled Egg with pickled daikon, carrot and coriander; Pistou Deviled Egg with ratatouille; Horseradish Deviled Egg with steak and Roquefort, and more… I recently tried the Black Truffle Deviled Egg, and let me tell you… they are evil. That egg will lure you in and make you want to try more.

And to help you get all those eggs down, add to you egg-feast, a can of Sly Fox Beer, such as Pikeland Pils, Phoenix Pale Ale or Royal Weisse Ale for only $3.00.

“I hope our guests will feel inspired by these easy-to-make goodies and perhaps create signature deviled eggs of their own at home,” says Prensky, who counts more than 20 varieties of deviled eggs in his repertoire. Anyone up for a throwdown?

If you miss the kick-off event, or if you’re up for more, through out July patrons will be able to enjoy Supper’s daily changing selection of four deviled egg halves and a can of Sly Fox for $6. What a fun way to get your daily dose of protein!

Supper Restaurant
926 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 592-8180
www.supperphilly.com

Mother’s day can be a tough holiday. After all, your mom does so much for you so, and you always feel like you can never do enough. And where to begin!? You can send her to get her nails done, make her breakfast in bed, buy her flowers. Dad, on the other hand, is a little simpler. And that’s why we love Father’s Day.

Give dad a few beers and free access to the TV remote all day, he is a happy man. But if you wanna give dad something he will really remember this Father’s Day, what is better than beer? The answer: really good beer.

City Food Tours is here to help with their Craft Beer and Artisanal Cheese Tasting. Treat dad to a tasting of 8 superior craft beers representing a vast range of styles, filled with fun facts about how they’re made and their unique histories. With just 15 minutes of walking, this relaxing tour was made for dear old dad.

Oh yeah, there is some cheese also.

A smattering of different gourmet cheeses is available along with a crash course in how the cheese is made and what to pair it with. You will have dad talking like a foodie in no time.

So give dad a memorable Father’s Day with this great tasting event and leave the Coors Original for another day.

City Food Tours’ Beer & Cheese Tasting
www.cityfoodtours.com/philadelphia-food-tours.cfm#4

Get your drink on… here?!

One of my favorite parts of the Delaware River are the huge ex-battleships that now call Philadelphia and Camden home. One of these massive ships is the Battleship New Jersey. Built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and launched on December 7th, 1942, it was redesigned into an educational museum and tribute to American sailors back in 2001.

Well, the historic and beautiful vessel will host the 13th Annual Garden State Craft Brewers Festival on Saturday, June 20th, and I am excited. This will be the fifth consecutive year that the Brewers Festival takes place onboard the ship. The event will be held on the fantail of the battleship, under large tents, providing much needed shade for the attendees.

The tickets are $40 a piece and will include a self guided tour of the ship, a commemorative tasting glass, live entertainment by the band the Cabin Dogs and beer tasting samples from fourteen different breweries including Iron Hill, Ship Inn Triumph, Tun Tavern, Flying Fish, Cricket Hill, JJ Bitting, and Harvest Moon. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available as well.

If you also want to give your father a memorable gift for Father’s Day, the Battleship New Jersey is offering a special discounted Father’s Day Package which includes two Battleship tour tickets, two USS New Jersey hats and two vouchers to a Camden Riversharks Baseball game. For history loving dads, this would be far better than a tie. It would create memories to last a lifetime.

To purchase tickets and for more information please visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

Ah, the Foodery. I like to refer to the years I spent living across the street from the Foodery as the “lost years”, because of all the money I lost there, and all the time I lost staring into the bottom of a beer bottle. That being said, the lost years were some of the best of my life!

The Foodery is amazing. Any beer lover will be in sheer bliss, with over 800 domestic and imported varieties (although not all at the same time!) and a sweet, build-your-own-sixpack set-up. My boyfriend Matt likes IPAs – I like ales. At the Foodery, we can get a few of each, plus a Lager or two to boot. The staff are super-knowledgeable about all things beer, and have recommended me many a great brew. And the selection is always changing, which means more and more reasons to return!

I live in Center City, so I usually check out the flagship location, at 10th and Pine, but NoLibs folks can check out the bigger, brighter location at 2nd and Poplar, which also makes killer hoagies AND hosts free beer tastings every Thursday night. That’s right, 800 varieties of beer, killer hoagies, AND free beer tastings. Will your Thursday night ever be the same again?

The Foodery
324 S. 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-1111

837 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-6077
www.fooderybeer.com

Inside Local 44

Everybody loves great beer, but when you order a local beer, you support your local craft brews, decrease your carbon imprint, and quench that undying thirst. Local 44 loves beer, and they’re showing their love for our local breweries with a special Locals Only Beer Weekend.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, May 23-25, 2009 Local 44 is going all-local with 3 days of rare (and delicious) local drafts, with special prices and a changing rotations all weekend long. Want to plan your binge in advance? Check out the full beer list on their official website.

While you’re raising a (local) glass in celebration of summer, you can make a gratuitous toast to Local Happy Hour. All summer long, Local 44 will offer weekly (Monday –Friday) happy hours featuring specials on local beer. I’ll see you there, 5-7PM.

Local 44
4333 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 222-2337
www.local44beerbar.com

Dinner at Smith’s

According to the U.S. Census, Smith is the most popular name in America. As if that weren’t enough, the ubiquitous surname also takes the title in the U.K. and Australia. This fact leads one to inquire how an establishment in such an overcrowded hub like Rittenhouse Square could survive with such common nomenclature.

Well, it would have to be one hell of a bar, wouldn’t it?

As soon as you walk in the door and see the po-mo stone decor, you will realize this Smith is the one you will remember. While the grayish slate and dark wood may sound sterile or foreboding, you will soon find a homey feel to the place, like the family room of a modern-day castle.

First of all, the place is plugged in with the usual hi-def celluloid shining in every dull corner. But more than just TV light, big windows at the front, tea-light candles and generous overhead lighting give Smith’s the perfect mood; enough light to see your friend’s faces and read the check at the end of the night, but not so much you feel like you are drinking on a soundstage.

With 11 taps and another 20 or so bottles, the place is no slouch for you hopheads out there, including some offerings not found everywhere (Rogue Chocolate Stout on tap, three different types of Saranac). But since we know you like to get classy every now and again, the varied and highly affordable wine list will allow you to put that pinky in the air where it belongs.

Smith’s interesting take on pub cuisine will keep you coming back as well. With a vast array of gourmet sandwiches and flatbread pizzas you can get your fill of all the traditional favorites, without feeling like you just got drivethru on ceramic. And by the time you get through the entire menu section of crock-potted soups and stews, you will be in love.

As if you weren’t convinced already, the rotating daily specials include $3 Hop Devils, $2 Yuinglings every Saturday and the occasional $3 Jameson shot special, served in the signature Smith’s square shot glasses. That may sound like a small detail but, hey, you will remember it.

As you enjoy Smith’s far-from-ordinary charms, you will be asking what’s in a name? Check out www.smiths-restaurant.com for daily specials.

Smith’s
41 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA
(267) 546-2669
www.smiths-restaurant.com

Almost everyone enjoys tasting beer. The real aficionados are the ones who choose to critique the subtle flavors in a good beer – and make an effort to remember those flavors the next morning.

Luckily, The Marketplace at East Falls and beerheads.com have got you covered. Every third Saturday of the month (including this Saturday, April 18th), they host SAWBUCK Saturday: An evening of craft beer tasting.

A $10 donation gets you a sampling of local, regional and national craft beers from breweries including Stoudt’s, Smuttynose, Gritty McDuff’s, Thomas Hooker and Riverhorse. As you sample, you’ll be able to wander around the market searching for the perfect dinner ingredients to compliment the brew you like best (You can check out a list of The Marketplace at East Falls’ vendors here). Chances are, as you sample more and more beers and take in the live music, you’ll find something to eat right there at the market.

Marketplace @ East Falls
www.marketplaceateastfalls.com

We have talked a lot about Philly Beer Week here on uwish, giving you tips for finding the best events, specials, tastings and contests America’s best beer city has to offer. But now, we would like to bring you a Beer Week event that totally blows.

The Hudson Beach Glass Studio in Olde City is offering you the chance to design your own pint glass and have it blown for you by owner Sean Gilvey. Guests can choose from tons of great designs.

First, select a color. Then, choose from any one of 4 signature badges. There is the Liberty Bell, an eagle, some barley or a waffle pattern. Once you have built the perfect pint, watch as Sean Gilvey brings your design to life.

You will also get a tour of the facility and see how Philadelphia’s best designer glasswear is made. The glasses need a day to cool so guests can come pick up the pints or Hudson Beach will have them shipped to you.

There is no better time to have a pint glass to call your own. Bring it out to the bars, show it off, and most importantly, fill it with your new favorite beer.

Hudson Beach Glass Studio
26 S. Strawberry St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 279-7118
www.hudsonbeachglass.com

Looking at Paul Bunyan, America’s most iconic lumberjack, you could tell he liked things big. His sidekick was equally as giant as he and if that weren’t enough to stand out, Babe the Blue Ox was bright blue. Paul carried the biggest axe in the forest and left massive boot prints in his wake. One imagines if Bunyan were a beer drinker, he would have gone for a big, bold taste to accommodate his character.

That’s why Left Hand Brewery is hosting Lumberjack Night to promote their new Big Mo series. This group of big ol’ beers only does things one way. Coming in 22oz bomber bottles, the flavors range from the big and bold to the downright irresponsible. Think Oak Aged Imperial Stout, Strong Spiced Ale and Widdershins Barleywine. Think 10+ ABV. Think of these beers as getting your tough guy on.

Don’t have the tolerance to drink like a woodsman? Fair enough, but you should still dress like one and take advantage of a Left Hand Brewery Tasting, a special lumberjack menu and $3 glasses.

And since this shindig goes down at the South Philly Tap Room, you will have no shortage of beer options. The Southwest’s jewel boasts 13 constantly revolving drafts and countless bottles.

So break out the flannel, dust off your best ax, leave your ox out in the snow til he turns blue and bring him along as well. And get ready to get your tough guy on.

South Philly Tap Room
1509 Mifflin St, Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 271-7787
www.southphiladelphiataproom.com

Monk’s Cafe - Photo by Jason Smith for GPTMC

Everyone knows that when it comes to beer, two heads are always better than one (get it?). That’s why Monks is offering a tasting of the best brewery collaborations. These are some of the greatest beer minds in the world. So when they collaborate, watch out.

The first beer offered is fittingly called Collaboration Not Litigation, from Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing and Adam Avery of Avery Brewing. This strong, dark Belgian, as its name suggests, is the result of a collaboration instead of a litigation. When the two brewers realized that they each had a beer called Salvation in their line-up, the showdown could have gone one of two ways. Lucky for us, these two were able to combine the flavors of their respective Salvations and create an even more complex libation.

Created, as the best collaborations usually are, completely out of mutual respect, the second beer of the night, Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse, is a mashup of tastes from Brooklyn’s East India Pale Ale and Schneider’s Weisse beer. Brewmasters Garrett Oliver and Hans-Peter Drexler decided to brew the same beer but swap breweries and use the hops inside…

More after the jump!

Tomme Arthur of Port Brewing and Lost Abbey fame is a brewer without a country. Currently, his beers can only be obtained by traveling to Texas. So if you want to try this highly lauded brewer’s work, you can head for the Lonestar State or just head around the corner to Monks. Because Tomme’s collaboration with Belgian masters De Proef, known simply as Signature Ale is also pouring this weekend. A fruity, well-hopped and complex Belgian-style ale, the Signature is sure to leave its mark.

If you are still hooked on Tomme Arthur, you can also try his collaboration with Hildegard van Ostaden of Urthel. The result is a California-style Saison.

De Proef has also not stopped with Tomme. They also collaborated with Jason Perkins of Allagash to create Les Deux Brasseurs (The Two Brewers), a strong Belgian Pale Ale with a lot of fruit notes and a little hoppy bitterness.

This event is chock full of rare and limited edition beers you are not likely to see anywhere else this week. So come out and see why two heads are always better than one.

Monks Belgian Cafe
264 S 16th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 545-7005
www.monkscafe.com

Beer week is almost over, and there are still plenty of chance to try new brews from all over the world. This year, get a taste of French beer at Le Bec Fin. Wine may be king in France, but beer is just as much, if not more, the every day alcoholic beverage of the French.

The famous restaurant is breaking out, specifically for the occasion, 3 of the best boutique breweries in France. For $15 each, you’ll be able to taste the 100% certified organic Orge du Bouffay (Brasserie du Bouffay), the Au Sapin (Bieres Mandrin) or the Grand Cru Triple (Brasserie Saint-Rieul).

And to complete the experience, tonight Le Bec Fin has invited Jocelyn Cambier, the famous importer to lead a beer discussion. That evening the restaurant will feature a special tasting, for $35 per person, from 7-9pm.

Le Bec Fin
1523 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 567-1000
www.lebecfin.com

Carnivorous as I am, I would have to be drunk to eat from a vegan menu. Good thing the folks at the Belgian Café have been pairing beer and vegan foods for years now. And on Wednesday, March 11th, their skills will be on display as the Belgian presents the Vegan Beer Dinner.

As a Philly Beer Week Special Event, High and Mighty Brewing Company will be hosting a beer tasting and discussion, informing attendees about the full High and Mighty lineup. And as an added bonus, Chef Evan will be creating a vegan menu to go along with this craft collection.

The Belgian Café, sister bar to famous beer bar Monks, is known for its well-versed staff, versatile beer selection and great food pairings.

High and Mighty brewer Will Shelton, formerly of Shelton Brothers, will be on hand showing off his prolific selection of beers from all over the spectrum. While this is the Belgian Café, High and Mighty are not usually known for their Belgian style brews. More, they produce a lot of different American takes on foreign recipes.

Beer Advocate recommends their Sono Distrutto (American stout), their Boot Knockin’ Sock Rocker (flanders dark ale) and their Coffee Two- Headed Beast (foreign stout). These complex, smokey brews will create a lot of interesting pairings, especially for meat-eaters like myself used to beer-and-burger combinations.

This should be an eye-opening event for both veg-heads and meat-lovers alike. Because although our diets differ, we can all agree that there is nothing like a great beer.

The Belgian Cafe
2047 Green St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 235-3500
www.thebelgiancafe.com

You know what. There is so much going on at the Devil’s Den in South Philly for Philly Beer Week, that I decided to hightlight ‘em. Have a look, and enjoy one of South Philly’s best pubs.

1. Bella Vista Beer Bash - A local hophead’s dream, this crazy South Philly party comes with over 13 brewers and some rare bottles you won’t find anywhere. Come in from the cold, grab a seat by the fireplace and chat it up with brewers from Voodoo, Bruery, 12% Imports, Dark Horse and many more.

And best of all, no cover on March 6th! Just pay for what you drink!

2. Bell’s for Boobs - No this is not a strip joint event, all lousy with chicken wings, perfume and, worst of all Miller Light on tap (blech). This clever charity event brings together Larry Bell of Bell’s Brewery and all the well-meaning folks looking to get drunk for a cause. And who can’t get behind saving some boobs?

Bell’s for Boobs will donate $1 from every Bell’s beer sold to breast cancer research. Bell’s HopSlam will be on draft along with a special Bell’s firkin tapped that day. So come support great beers and great breasts on Saturday, March 7th.

More picks after the jump!

3. Celebrity Murals & Meals Tour with Joe Sixpack - Join Daily News Beer Reporter Joe Sixpack for a two-hour tour on wheels of spectacular Philadelphia murals painted by nationally renowned artists. Discover hidden gems, learn the story behind the beauty and discover why Philly has a worldwide reputation as America’s leading mural town.

The tour concludes with lunch at standout neighborhood pub Devil’s Den, one of the fine taverns that makes Philly America’s Best-Beer Drinking City. Reservations are required and space is limited. This tour will sell out fast! Call 215-685-0754 to book today.

Devil’s Den
1148 S. 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19147
(215) 338-0855
www.devilsdenphilly.com

Bonus Pick: South Philly Beer Bus Tour - I know some of you scardy-cats in your Center City bubble think that there is nothing south of Washington but Mexican grocery stores and Cheesesteaks. But we also have some of the best bars in Philadelphia. The South Philly Tap Room, The P.O.P.E., For Pete’s Sake, and, of course, the Devil’s Den are all worth traveling a bit south for.

And while this event is a bit of a misnomer (participants Grace Tavern and the Sidecar are not south of Washington), this bus tour does give you a sample of some bars you may have never visited. And with free bus service until 1:00AM, you don’t have to be afraid of…whatever it is you are afraid of south of Washington.

6 Bars South of Washington
South Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Johnny Brenda’s in Fishtown, Photo by G Widman for GPTMC

Ah, Beer Week. My lists continue. Today, I’ve highlighted some of the best events going down in Northern Libs and Fishtown. Don’t forget, there are over 300 events going on all over Philadelphia. If you know a better event in No Libs and Fishtown, well, leave it in the comments. Your tips and suggestions are more than welcome.

1. Le Philly Tour de Brew - Yeah, Lance Armstrong won the real one 7 times. But when he raced the Tour De France, did he stop to drink a beer and eat a meal every few miles? This event takes a different kind of stamina. Not for the faint of heart comes La Philly Tour De Brew, a strenuous yet scenic 60 mile ride through Philadelphia, Fairmount Park and Montgomery County to several breweries.

The fun starts bright and early, leaving NoLibs’ Yards Brewery by 10am sharp. With stops at General Lafayette Inn & Brewery, Iron Hill North Wales (lunch) and Manayunk Brewery, you will get your fill of different beers and cuisine options as you try to keep up. Helmets are required, please bring cash for lunch and a spare tube. Be prepared to ride 60 miles at a steady 14-15 mph pace with some rolling hills.

For more details and reservations, contact ride leader Jeff Appeltans: bicycleja@yahoo.com. Ride is limited to 25 riders. Takes place on Saturday, March 7th at 10AM. Rain date Sunday, 3/8.

Yards Brewing Company
901 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 634-2600
www.yardsbrewing.com

—

2. King Pin of the Week - No one usually cares about the King Pin, with the exception of bowlers and comic book enthusiasts. But when it relates to beer, every brewer wants to wear the crown. So come help the Standard Tap crown the King Pin of Philly Beer Week! Pouring begins at 6:00pm, with all beers at the same price to make it fair.

The first brewery to kick their pin will be crowed the King Pin of Philly Beer Week. So far vying for the crown are Troegs, Yards, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Flying Fish, Sly Fox, Tun Tavern, and Southampton. Not sure how many will enter but one thing is for sure: heavy is the head who doesn’t wear this crown! Good luck brewers. Takes place on Saturday, March 7th.

Standard Tap
901 N. Second St, Philadelphia, Pa 19123
(215) 238-0630
www.standardtap.com

Check out the rest after the jump!

—

3. No Repeat Beer Week - You gotta respect Fishtowners for keeping it simple. While everyone else is rushing around, dressing up their bars for beer week, running races or trivia contests, Fishtown’s Memphis Tap Room remembers that this is Philly Beer Week, not Philly Beer Game Week. Their offer is this: we will always have a new beer on tap, for the entire week.

Like any good radio station, Memphis offers Fishtowners and the rest of Philadelphia NO REPEATS! So try them early and try them often. And when you are done, try something else. Its what Philly Beer Week is all about.

Memphis Taproom
2331 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19125
(215) 425-4460
www.memphistaproom.com

—

4. Rogue Sampling - Every beer lover in Philadelphia should know about the Foodery. It’s got the best beer selection of any distributor in the city, and they have a make-your-own-six-pack carryout option that no hophead can live without. Now one of the best beers around, Rogue, is giving its loyal Foodery customers a treat.

Brewer John Maier will be on hand to answer any fan questions and, of course, give out plenty of free samples. The event is free and is a great stop on your NoLibs beer week tour. Stop in on your way to happy hour, a beer dinner or your next event destination. Takes place on Monday, March 9th at 3PM.

The Foodery
837 N. 2nd St, Philadelphia, Pa 19123
www.fooderybeer.com

—

5. PBC’s Kenzinger Presents: Black Landlord’s CD Release - Out of all the great pairings on display this week, nothing goes with a beer better than some good music. Black Landlord is a musical collective started by MAxx from The Goats.

This party-time hip-hop/rock crossover is sure to get you dancing as you guzzle brews from Philadelphia Brewing Company on March 14th at 9PM. $12 to get in, add an extra $3 to score a CD from the band.

Johnny Brenda’s
1201 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pa 19125
(215) 739-9684
www.johnnybrendas.com