Philly Beer Week 2012
Top Picks and Events

Philadelphia shows its adoration for great beer over 10-days of dinners, festivals, tastings and pub crawls during Philly Beer Week (June 1-10).

Established in 2008, Philly Beer Week is the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of events and serving up countless pints of beer throughout Greater Philadelphia.

This year, Philly Beer Week features five major festivals and more than 600 events.

We’ve collected some of the biggest and best events Philly Beer Week has to offer, below:

With Love Beer Garden

June 4-8
5- 9 p.m.

Returning to the Four Seasons Hotel courtyard, the With Love Beer Garden is your unofficial headquarters for Philly Beer Week. Each day, a different local brewery will be on tap, including the re-release of Victory’s Summer Love Ale. Enjoy light bites in between brews each day from 5 – 9 p.m.

Philly Beer Week Opening Tap

Friday, June 1
7:30 p.m.
Independence Visitor Center

This is the official opening festival of the week, taking place within a few steps of America’s birthplace, at the Independence Visitor Center. Witness the arrival of the legendary Hammer of Glory; raise a toast with your favorite beer from one of 30+ local breweries; rub elbows with special guests including Mayor Nutter, Ben Franklin and Joe Sixpack; all to the tune of live music. $40 ($25 designated drivers)

4th Annual Great Beer Expo

Saturday, June 2
VIP session at 12:30 p.m.; general admission at 1:30 p.m.
Event goes until 5 p.m.
Philadelphia Navy Yard

More than 50 breweries from across the globe (Belgium, Germany, Japan and more) return to the Navy Yard for the 4th Annual International Great Beer Expo. The event will be held (rain or shine) outdoors under tents on the Marine Parade Grounds at the Navy Yard. There will be plenty of water and food available for purchase as well. $75 for VIP, $46 for G.A., $10 for designated drivers.

Craft Beer Day On East Passyunk

Sunday, June 3
11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
East Passyunk Avenue

East Passyunk in South Philly is kicking off Philly Beer Week with a full 15-hour day of craft beer events. Try new eats, meet brewers and quench your thirst for craft beer. Nine East Passyunk bars are hosting events all day, from beer brunch to home brew demos to beer-bucket-and-pizza-deals to “Meet the Brewer” happy hours. Pay as you go.

Forum of the Gods

Wednesday, June 6
2 p.m.
Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant, 120 Market Street.

Philly Beer Week’s signature roundtable features beer world luminaries, moderated by beer reporter and Beer Week executive director Joe Sixpack. Ticket includes seating and samples of extraordinary, extremely hard-to-find ales and lagers from select breweries. $25.

Sansom Street Block Party in University City

Thursday, June 7
3 p.m.-12 midnight
34th and Sansom Streets

New Deck Tavern, White Dog and Baby Blues BBQ shut down Sansom for live music (reggae, blues and rock) on a big stage, local craft beers served from beer trucks and dancing in the street. They will be serving beers and food outside from 3 p.m.-midnight. Part of the proceeds will be going to Philadelphia Police and Fire Survivors Fund, Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and Fair Foods. Pay as you go.

Pizzeria Stella’s Italian Beer Garden

Thursday, June 7
5-10 p.m.
2nd and Lombard Streets.

Stephen Starr’s Stella gets in on the Beer Week action with an outdoor Beer Garden under the Headhouse Square Shambles. Try a sausage sandwich, home-made meatballs or a porchetta panini with Italian zeppoles or gelato for dessert. Choose from Italian craft beers, or stick with our favorite local beer, Victory Summer Love. There’s also Victory root beer and fresh lemonade for the kids. Plus a live accordion player, face-painter, balloon artist and bocce ball tournament. Pay as you go.

Fishtown FestivALE

Saturday, June 9
12 noon-8 p.m.
N. Frankford Avenue

Johnny Brenda’s and Frankford Hall are teaming up to bring you a outdoor beer party with DJs, dunk tank and more. Can you say “epic”? We can. Pay as you go.

2nd Annual Fried Chicken Run at American Sardine Bar

Saturday, June 9
3-8 p.m.
1800 Federal Street.

Join the Fishtown Beer Runners for a run from Philly Brewing Company to the American Sardine Bar in South Philly. Price of the run include a T-Shirt, 3 PBC beers and a fried chicken all-you-can-gorge-yourself-on buffet. (Rest assured, there will be a vegetarian option.) Call or visit American Sardine Bar to purchase tickets. $35.

Dock Street Philly Beer Run & Music Fest

Saturday, June 9
2-7 p.m.
701 S. 50th Street

Entry to music festival is free. Bryan Kolesar of The Brew Lounge returns as Race Director for a 5-K B-Tag timed race beginning and ending at Dock Street Brewing Company and looping through University City. All runners receive a token limited-edition pint glass, refreshments from Vita Coco, fruit, snacks and pizza/beer coupons. Plus, a free Dock Street Philly Beer Run t-shirt to the first 100 registered runners. The run ends at the Annual Free Dock Street Music Festival featuring amazing local music including O’Death and headliner Hoots & Hellmouth. Pre-registration $35, on-site registration $40.

Varga Bar’s 3rd Annual Pints and Pinups Block Party

Saturday, June 2
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
10th and Spruce Streets.

Varga shuts down Spruce Street once again for the Pints and Pinups Block Party. They will BBQ-ing outside, and hosting hot dog and wing eating contests with great prizes awarded. It’s also the first day of the 2013 Varga Bar Calendar Girl Search. Great domestic craft beers will, of course, be tapped; about 22 total. Don’t get dunked in the dunk tank…utdoor annual festival. Pay as you go.

For more Philly Beer Week coverage, events and brewer information, head to visitphilly.com/beer