In February 2010, the founders of Philly Beer Scene released a poll across the web to find out what bars, breweries, beers and people made up the best of the craft beer culture we have come to know and love in the City of Brotherly Love.
This poll consisted of 35 key categories the founders felt were necessary for recognizing and included four nominees, each one representing a single nomination from each of the four original magazine founders. And lastly, because we didn’t want to keep people from making their own decision, a space was left for open voting other than the four original suggestions. The polls closed on May 1st and with several thousand votes, we are proud to announce the winners of the 2010 Best of the Philly Beer Scene Awards.
Victory Brewing Company
Best Area Brewery
Victory Brewing Co.
Best Pilsner
Victory Prima Pils
Best Porter
Victory Baltic Thunder
Downingtown’s Victory is a heavy hitter in the Philadelphia area for sure. Started in 1996, this brewery’s beers can be found dominantly throughout the Philadelphia region and with beers like the very approachable, multiple award winning, Prima Pils, it’s no wonder why people are kicking the Coors and switching to craft beer. If you happen to be visiting Philadelphia, checking out the brewery is only a short drive, and the limited edition beers on tap and the fantastic food makes the trip worthwhile.
Also, be on the lookout for the collaboration beer, Saison du BUFF, a beer brewed by Victory’s Bill Covaleski, another Best of winner, Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head, and California’s Greg Koch from Stone Brewing Co.
Tröegs Brewing Co.
Best High Octane Brew
Tröegs Mad Elf
Best Winter Seasonal
Tröegs Nugget Nectar
Best Summer Seasonal
Tröegs Sunshine Pils
Tröegs is one of those breweries which can make both an award winning common, everyday drinking beer and a true ass-kicker. Perhaps kicking our ass this year is Tröegs Sunshine Pils, a beer we reviewed poorly in our first issue (We’re sorry, we were wrong!). On the other hand there is the Nugget Nectar and Mad Elf, two high ABV beers that although unique from one another, both explode across your palette. Rumor has it, Fingers Wings and Other Things has been hanging on to a keg of the Nugget Nectar to tap during Philly Beer Week.
Dogfish Head Brewery
Best IPA
Dogfish Head 90 Minute
Best Spring Seasonal
Dogfish Head Aprihop
Best Autumn Seasonal
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
Best Label Art
Dogfish Head Life & Limb
Best Tap Handle
Dogfish Head Pimp Cane
Although from our neighboring state to the South, Dogfish Head has an undeniable presence in the Philly beer scene and across the country. Their intense beers are often coveted by beer geeks so it’s no wonder why three of their beers and their over-the-top trophy-like tap handle are being honored in Philly!
Flying Fish Brewing Co.
Best Area Brewmaster
Casey Hughes
Best Specialty Beer
Flying Fish Exit 11
This year, Flying Fish released an innovative and extreme series of beers that not only have individually been fabulous but have raised quite of bit of controversy, putting all eyes on Flying Fish and their head brewer, Casey Hughes. We are of course, referring the Exit Series. Along with the award winning Exit 11, the Hoppy American Wheat, Casey has also released 3 other Exits: Exit 1 which is a Bayshore Oyster Stout, Exit 4 which is an American Trippel, and the Exit 16 which is a Wild Rice Double IPA.
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Best Belgian Style
Weyerbacher Merry Monks
Best Fruit/Spice Beer
Weyerbacher Riserva
Amazingly, the Best Fruit/Spice beer was a tie between Weyerbacher Riserva and Lancaster Strawberry Wheat. To break the tie, we did a 48 hour additional poll where these two fantastically fruity beers faced off. With approximately 25% more votes than Lancaster, Weyerbacher took the award.
Brauhaus Schmitz
Best New Bar
Brauhaus Schmitz
Best German Spot
Brauhaus Schmitz
Best Classic Bar (Philly)
Standard Tap
Best Classic Bar (Burbs)
Hulmeville Inn
Best Classic Bar (NJ/DE)
High Street Grill
Best Bar Food
Monk’s Café
Best Happy Hour
Manny Browns
Best Brewpub
Nodding Head
Best Stout
Lancaster Milk Stout
Most Anticipated Limited Beer
Founders KBS
Best Beer Distributor (Philly)
Bella Vista
Best Beer Distributor (Burbs)
Beer Yard
Best Bottle Shop (Philly)
The Foodery
Best Bottle Shop (Burbs)
Capone’s
Best Beer Event
Friday the Firkinteenth
The Grey Lodge’s Friday the Firkinteenth may be a highlight even in the Northeast that every craft beer lover looks forward to (Mark down, Friday, August 13th on your calendar), but we have to give props to the second place winner, Brews For Boobies. Yes, this is Philly Beer Scene’s annual Philadelphia pub crawl (We know, nominating our own event is cheating…) held the first Saturday of every October supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Check out information about our next crawl by visiting www.brewsforboobies.com.
Best Festival
The Winter Beer Festival
Best Beer Blogger
Don Russell
Best Entertainment Venue
World Café Live
World Café Live is a great spot to check out some indie music and have a few craft beers. But, our second place winner, losing the award by only 2 votes is an undeniable Philly staple: Citizen’s Bank Park. Be sure to check out a Phils game this summer and kick back with one of the park’s great selection of craft beers. And lastly, we have to note, this category received more fill-in votes for any one nominee than any other category. This notable feat goes to Johnny Brenda’s on Frankford Ave.
Best Homebrew Shop
Home Sweet Homebrew
Best Brewery to be Petitioned to Distribute to Philly
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Although New Belgium may be the beer of choice to be petitioned to distribute in the Philadelphia are, being a supporter of everything local, we do have to quote one of the random fill-ins from our voters answering this poll question, “Fuck off, drink local!”