Birthday Beer List

Sign for Shawnee Craft Brewing Brewpub

Shawnee Craft Brewing: Bourban Barrel Porter
Shawnee Craft Brewing: Double Pale Ale
Saint Somewhere: Lectivo Devinia
Allagash Brewing Co: Curieux
Farmers Cabinet: American Nightmare
Stillwater Artisan: Existent
Saint Somewhere: Saison Anthene
Ithica Brewing Co: Flower Power
Clown Shoes: Supa Hero Double IPA
Flying Dog: Cujo
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan: Maracaibo Especial
Stillwater Artisan: As Follows
St. Fuellien: Blonde
Dark Horse: Double Crooked Tree
Goose Island: Matilda
Monks Cafe: Flemish Red
Earth, Bread and Brewery: Amerella
Earth, Bread and Brewery: Pale Ale
Brooklyn Brewing Co. The Companion
Stillwater Artisan: Debutant (Bottle)

My birthday was a few weeks ago. I treat that week like a vacation. I like to go to my favorite places and hit up some new ones as well. This year's list included an old hometown brewpub, Shawnee Craft, as well as my around the corner and through the woods spot, Earth, Bread and Brew and includes tap lists from Bookstore Speakeasy, Boilermaker, Union Jacks on the Manatawny, Barcade, Kraftworks, Belgian Cafe, and Old Eagle. I even made time to brew and hit up Yards for a brew tour.

Every beer on this list stands out to me so I am not picking a favorite. Stillwater's As Follows was pretty amazing and was a huge influence on my last brew session. I have read about five different discriptions of this beer and I will throw it in the ring to contend as a Strong Belgian American Pale. It weighed in around 9% and that is where that description throws a monkey wrench in wording of, American Pale.

Bookstore Speakeasy in Bethlehem should be a trip for every beer lover in and around Philly. Brought to you by the people at Farmer's Cabinet and Boilermaker, it was around before defunct Fork and Barrel and paired nicely with Tap and Table's Emmaus farmhouse atmosphere. Yes, Tap and Table, defunct as well. Bookstore is on a side street behind a metal door stamped with the establishments name. Walk in through the doorway and there you have books galore in a tiny room with a podium and hostess. You'll find yourself led through velvet curtains into a tiny ceiling space with jazz bouncing across the room. The tap list is small. I believe 6 at most, but for my visit included Saint Somewhere, a few Mikkeller's, a rare to find Hitachino and a Darkhorse. Think Fork and Barrel more than Farmer's Cabinet. It is delightful.

Happy Belated to me.
Cheers.