Philad'ale'phia

Bryan Kolesar from Brew Lounge  dropped me a line saying he was making it back to the Bay (just in time to miss the National Homebrewers Conference that blew my mind non-stop June 18-20). He asked "is there a venue that could work for bringing in some beers to sample...I've got a box full of local beer to bring."

Those who knew this was an offer too good to pass up: Jay Hinman, Chris Cohen (nascent homebrewer), Steve Shapiro, Jay Brooks, myself (no need to hyperlink to my blog. You're soaking in it.) Bryan Kolesar, and Damian Fagan. That's a lotta beer bloggers.

Bryan wasn't kidding:

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA
Victory Baltic Thunder

Stoudt's Heifer in Wheat
Sly Fox Saison Vos

Sly Fox Black Raspberry Reserve 

Victory Hop Devil IPA (actually offered by Steve)

Victory Wild Devil (Hop Devil funkified by Brettanomyces)

Other beers consumed (not shown):

Stone's unreleased 13th Anniversary (hop bomb)

Sam Adams Longshot Double IPA by Mike McDole (hop bomb)

Skyscraper Honeyweizen

Four Peaks Kiltlifter Scotch Ale

A few homebrews

In the spirit of bi-coastal relations, I decided to offer homemade Philly cheesesteaks (three cheers to Half Pint for slaving over a hot stove).

Not exactly a beer-pairing event, more of a get-together over beers I won't see until I make it to PA again, though the chocolate raspberry whatnot in the box of pastries that Damian brought went perfectly with the Black Raspberry Reserve.
No talk of tulip glasses or stemware, no talk of lacing or mouthfeel, just a flood of beer-related banter about beer trips past and future, ideas about the ultimate beer dinners, and beer buds looking forward to the next session.