As a stay at home dude that takes care of two kids and works a full time job, I naturally found myself with far too much time on my hands. Trying to fill the empty void of my days, I decided to go through every single Philly Beer Week event advertised to this point and figure out the best of the best. These are the ones that will rouse me off the couch to give-up my meaningless days soaking up bon-bons and day time soaps (my condolences if your old enough to understand the stereotypes I’m referencing).

My methodology was to focus on uncommon, rare or fantastical beers that aren’t your everyday drinkers. While taps taken over by Tröegs, Victory, Tired Hands and the avalanche of other great local brewers have their place, that stuff is practically flowing from the faucets around Philly.

This list is what I have up to May 24th and will continue to evolve. While I limited my search to publicly announced events, I’m sure plenty of the best beer bars in town will hold back details in an effort to reward the regulars and surprise those lucky enough to stop in. Hopefully, I’ll be adding some of the missing biggies soon (my thirsty beer eyes are on YOU Capone’s, TJ’s and Strangeloves).

If you know of an event I missed, give me a heads-up and I’ll add it. Also, if you like your beer bourbon-barreled and don’t mind heading out of the city proper, it looks like June 10th is your best bet. Sour drinkers have a bunch of worthy events, but June 3rd and June 8th are made for you. Happy hunting!

June 3rd

IPA Day – 12:00pm Taproom on 19th (2400 South 19 th St) – Another so very vague event, but the lack of advertised high profile Philly Beer Week IPAs has forced me into including this hail mary. Not sure if there is a precedent for this event, but could be worth stopping by. Beers: IPAs of some sort

– 12:00pm

Barrel-Aged and Big Beer – 12:00pm Bainbridge Street Barrel House (625 South 6 th St) – A mix of regular and eclectic breweries might make this an event worth attending. I’m reaching here. Beers: Anderson Valley / Hardywood / Lakefront / Weird Beard / Cloudwater

– 12:00pm

June 12th

Nothing new of note, but most of the events from the 10th and 11th continue.

New Additions

All Day Wood – June 11th- 11:00am Strangelove’s (216 South 11th St) – The list of Strangelove’s is up, but the draft list is still pending. Chances are this is going to be a quality event. Beers: Wood aged and sour beers

– June 11th- 11:00am

KBS Draft Vertical ’12-’16 – June 4th- 12:00pm Capone’s (224 E Germantown Pike) – If you like KBS, well here ya go. Beers: KBS 2012 / KBS 2013 / KBS 2014 / KBS 2015 / KBS 2016

– June 4th- 12:00pm

IPA Draft War – June 9th- 12:00pm Capone’s (224 E Germantown Pike) – Nothing specifically stellar (Elder?), but sometimes sheer quantity should be celebrated. Beers: Port – Citrus & Piney / Green Flash – Imperial IPA / Alpine – Hoppy Birthday / Alpine – Nelson / Sixpoint – Puff / RR – Blind Pig / RR – Pliny the Elder / Dogfish – Alternate Take / Sierra Nevada – Hoptimum / Great Lakes – Chill Wave / Firestone Walker – Double Jack / Heavy Seas – Double Cannon / Port – Glenn Pain in the Ass / Stone – Delicious / Drakes – Hopocolpyse Blood Orange / Epic – Mosaic / Bear Republic – Mach 10 / Bear Republic – Hop Shovel / Left Coast – Hop Juice / Funk – Citrus / Captain Lawrence – Cutting Glass / Free Will – Kragle / Gigantic IPA / Avery – Maharaja

– June 9th- 12:00pm

Sour Draft Event – June 10th- 12:00pm Capone’s (224 E Germantown Pike) – A couple goodies and semi-rare sours here. Beers: RR – Supplication / RR – Consecration / Lost Abbey – Cuvee De Tomme / Lost Abbey – Red Poppy / Boon – Oude Kriek / Bear Republic – Cuvee De Bubba / Goose Island – Halai / Mikkeller – Spotan Watermeleon / Wakefield – Stush Pineapple Habenaro / Wicked Weed – La Bonte Fig / Free Will – Beer Week (When Doves Cry)

– June 10th- 12:00pm

Bourbon Barrel – June 11th- 12:00pm Capone’s (224 E Germantown Pike) – Rather less than great, especially for Capone’s. Given the brevity of this list, I’m guessing that there may be a few surprises. Beers: Allagash – Curiex / Deschutes – Abyss / Boaks – Wooden Beanie / Breckenridge 25th – Rum Barrel / Founders – KBS 2016 / Laughing Dog – Dog Father / Flying Dog – Gonzo Barrel Aged / Hoppin Frog – Colorado Whiskey Aged Boris / Port – Older Viscosity 2014

– June 11th- 12:00pm