For our one year anniversary, we returned to Yards, the location of our first editorial feature in 2009. Since then, Yards has opened its tap room where you can grab a bite, sample many of their brews and purchase cases or kegs of fresh beer.

McGillin’s Olde Ale House, one of our favorite beer drinking destinations and all too appropriate for St. Patty’s Day, was the home of this issue’s Tasting Room. McGillin’s, Philadelphia’s oldest bar, is now celebrating its 150th anniversary.

This issue’s Tasting Room brought us to one of the most legendary Belgian bars in the Philadelphia and the country. Monks Café in Center City, is one the most respected bars in the country not only for their unparalleled beer selection but also for their award winning variety of incredible moules frites. A Philadelphia landmark for years now, Monks is a must try for anyone who appreciates fine beer and food.

This month, we decided to take the Tasting Room to one of the classic Philadelphia bars: the South Philadelphia Tap Room (SPTR). Located on Mifflin St. between 15th and 16th, SPTR is home to one of the best beer selections in the city and an outstanding food menu. SPTR is also one of the very few homes to limited one-off beers from Founders Brewery, which made a big hit in this Tasting Room. It should also be noted that Brew from a “Brewtiful Thing” (page 30) is located directly across the street.

At the last minute, Scott, due to unforeseen circumstances, couldn’t make the tasting. Quickly rushing to fill his very large shoes this issue was Melissa, Philly Beer Scene’s Art Director and beer lover in training.

This month’s Tasting Room took place at Raw Dawgs Saloon (www.rawdawgssaloon.com), a new up and coming beer bar on Second and Morris Streets in South Philly. Raw Dawgs Saloon is an awesome Irish Sports bar featuring 10 flat screens TVs, over 50 craft beers with more on the way, and great daily specials. Also, it is worth mentioning that Raw Dawgs Saloon is managed by Philly Beer’s Scene own Mat Falco.

When you think of a good night to go out and drink a ton of great craft beers, you probably aren’t thinking of a Sunday. At Philly Beer Scene, we’ll go out any night of the week to get the job done. For this particular session of The Tasting Room, we sampled 20 different beers, including the Samuel Adams Sample A and Sample B (pg. 9). Of the 18 beers facing compliments and criticism by 6 young beer lovers, these are the 12 that we felt were the best examples of craft beers found throughout the area.

On a lovely hot afternoon in Philadelphia, four young men came together to enjoy some fine beverages and fine conversation with our city's most celebrated personality, Benjamin Franklin. Known nation-wide for his work in printing, science and politics, Ben was also quite the beer lover. While rum, whiskey, and cider were common in Franklin's time, beer was the drink of the people. In the city of Philadelphia there were, by some counts, as many as 117 taverns and 14 churches and beers constantly needed tasting as consistency was very difficult to achieve. In the first of our Roundtable Reviews, Ben Franklin gave us his opinion on some fine craft beers.