Philadelphia’s local beers: Where they’re made and where to drink them

Food and DrinkNorth AmericaPhiladelphia

Philadelphia residents have no use for mass-manufactured beers. Outstanding breweries and brewpubs are scattered about the city’s neighborhoods, waiting for you to discover them. The next time you’re visiting Philadelphia, make sure to raise your glass at one of these seven top breweries and brewpubs, which you can find near several IHG® hotels in Philadelphia which you can book online.

Here are details on seven of Philadelphia’s best boutique beers.

Local Pioneer: Yards Brewing Company

When Yards Brewing Company opened its doors in 1988, the establishment led a craft beer revolution in Philadelphia. The brewery produces 24,000 barrels of beer each year, and the staff shares liquid treasures with visitors in the tasting room. Make sure to try the Philadelphia Pale Ale, named “one of the best pale ales in the country” by The New York Times.

Yards Brewing Company is located at 901 N. Delaware Ave., an easy walk from waterfront hotels, including the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia – Penn’s Landing.

Experimental: Dock Street Brewing Co.

Dock Street Brewing Co. doesn’t play by the rules. While traditional ales and lagers are in its arsenal, more experimental brews like Summer in Berlin a German-style Weissbeer brewed with ginger and lemongrass, are available to sample. The brewery sits in a restored, century-old firehouse, where beers travel straight from conditioning tanks to an attached brewpub, to be served alongside burgers and wood-fired pizzas.

Dock Street Brewing Co. is located at 701 S. 50th St., across from Cedar Park.

Historic: Philadelphia Brewing Co.

The Philadelphia Brewing Co. makes use of a facility originally constructed for the Weisbrod & Hess Brewing Co. Taste the heritage of delicious beers like Kenzinger, a hoppy Pilsner that pays tribute to German beer-brewing traditions. Visit on Saturday for a free tour and tasting session.

Philadelphia Brewing Co. is located at 2440 Frankford Ave., in the Kensington neighborhood.

Handcrafted Home Brews: Earth Bread + Brewery

A husband-and-wife team, who until 2006 ran a small brewing operation in New Jersey called Heavyweight Brewing Co. turned their attention to Philadelphia’s Earth Bread + Brewery in 2008. The couple handcrafts a small selection of beers on-site, and offers a regularly changing drink menu that keeps visitors surprised. Current offerings include their Smasher strong ale, and an Altbier called Crop Triangle.

Earth Bread + Brewery is located at 7136 Germantown Ave. in the Mount Airy neighborhood.

Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant: Family-Friendly Brewery

If you’re visiting with kids, try Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant, a brewery and family-friendly eatery. Children will love the quesadillas and crispy chicken littles, which, for adults, pair perfectly with on-site craft beers like McYunk’s Scottish Ale and their Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Porter.

Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant is located at 4120 Main St., a short drive from suburban hotels like Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West.

2nd Story Brewing Co.: Fun Brewpub in the Old City

2nd Story Brewing Co. is an excellent place to enjoy a pint in Philadelphia’s Old City. House beers include the Viennese-style Fritzie’s Lager, and Belgian-inspired Tilted Barn Saison. The tanks are in a glass enclosure above the bar, so if you visit at the right time you can watch brews being made.

The 2nd Story Brewing Co. is located at 117 Chestnut St., close to Penn’s Landing attractions including Independence Seaport Museum and Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing.

Forest & Main Brewing Co.: Suburban Brewery

Forest & Main is a charming brewery and pub in the north Philadelphia suburb of Ambler. Its British beers are lovely, but the Belgian-inspired drafts, fermented with foraged Ambler yeast, will satisfy anyone that prefers beer with extra bite. The Bébé Gris, a light, Belgian-style grisette fermented in French oak puncheons, drinks beautifully.

Forest & Main Brewing Co. is located at 61 N. Main Street in Ambler, roughly 34 minutes from Philadelphia’s city center.

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