Interesting article on Philly.com that mentions TJs, The Drafting Room and more.

Some neat news for WC folks — the folks at Kreutz Creek are opening a tasting room in the heart of downtown West Chester. According to the folks over at WC Dish, it is opening this weekend!

Great news for winos like us…

Details here

Dock Street Brewery is now open in West Philadelphia, a short ride down Haverford Ave. for those of you on the Eastern Main Line. Aside from the beer, rumors abound about how great the wood-fired pizzas are.

701 S. 50th St.
215-726-2337

Just a few years ago, having Lager and Guinness on draft in this area was considered to be a solid beer selection. Now, however, the Main Line boasts three of the best beer bars we’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.

The great beer bars are, in no particular order: Teresa’s Next Door (TND) in Wayne, The Flying Pig in Malvern and TJ’s Everyday in Paoli. We started this post with the intention of crowning one the “best area beer bar”, but as we write we wonder what purpose this would serve. If you love the Belgians and other imports, TND is the place for you… but “The Pig” probably represents the American craft brewers a bit better. TJ’s, on the other hand, uses craft and specialty beers to cook virtually everything on the menu. Does this make one better than the other? Who cares! Any visit to one of these bars will result in the enjoyment of great, varied beer, and, perhaps more importantly, something new on each visit.

Get out and enjoy!

P.S. The Drafting Room in Exton deserves mention here as well; though perhaps not “on the Main Line”, it is a short drive away and boasts a phenomenal variety of brews.

The annual Main Line Brew Festival will take place on Saturday March 3, 2007 at the Desmond Hotel in Great Valley from noon to 3:45 pm. It will feature Beer Tasting, Tutored Beer Tastings, Food and other special events.

Breweries include: Appalachian, Bethlehem, Dogfish Head, Legacy, McKenzie Brew House, Sly Fox, Spaten & Franziskaner, Triumph, Victory and Weyerbacher.

A free shuttle will run from the Paoli Train Station to the hotel for those who wish to take AMTRAK.

Purchase tickets here.

I’ve been digging stouts more and more recently, and this one from local boys Dogfish Head is no exception. The Chicory Stoudt, described as “A dark beer made with a touch of roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John’s Wort, and licorice root. Brewed with whole-leaf Cascade and Fuggles hops, the grains include pale, wheat, roasted & oatmeal.” It is a dry, heavy stoudt (much heavier than Guinness) but also quite drinkable. Its coffee and cocoa flavors make it a great beer to drink with chocolate.