Philadelphia’s Breweries and Beer Gardens
Nestled just north of Center City is a Philadelphia neighborhood named “Brewerytown,” and as far back as the 1860s, this place was a hub for brewing. This section of Philly once had 700 breweries in the space of 10 city blocks! Unfortunately, after some trying times, including that pesky era known as Prohibition, none of Brewerytown’s original breweries exist today. Currently, the only active brewery in Brewerytown is Crime & Punishment Brewing, which opened in 2015. Its delicious beer and friendly staff make it a neighborhood treasure!
Resilient and full of grit, Philadelphians did their best to evade the rules of Prohibition, as the c ity reportedly hosted about 16,000 speakeasies during that dark time. Despite the closures in Brewerytown and other beer-making neighborhoods, Philly still boasts a rich brewing and beer history that continues to make headlines today. With more than 100 craft breweries in the city limits, we definitely have a beer for you.
F.A. Poth Brewing Co., 1891 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:General_View_of_F.A._Poth_Brewing_Company,_Philadelphia,_(ca._1891)_(4680054196).jpg)
Explore classic brews from Philly’s first micro-brewery, Dock Street, or taste the many beer styles of a larger Philly-crowd pleaser like Yards Brewing. As history buffs, we recommend their “Beers of the Revolution” which are based on the recipes of some of our Founding Fathers. Also worth a stop is the up-and-coming star, ARS Brewery. And we definitely suggest you take a trip to the small and delicious artisanal brewery, Fermentary Form.
Be sure to take advantage of nice weather at one of the City of Brotherly Love’s many beer gardens. With the arrival of the kinder and gentler seasons, your options for drinking al fresco increase dramatically, as restaurants open their outside spaces so you can soak up the sun with your suds.
Most beer gardens are family-friendly and feature great local grub. You can bring your own food to some beer gardens, while others offer on-site vendors and food trucks.
In addition to the dozens of stationary beer gardens that open each spring in every section of the city, Parks on Tap is a traveling beer garden that pops up at various city-owned parks for a few weeks at a time. All spring and summer long, proceeds from Parks on Tap benefit the Fairmount Park Conservancy in their quest to foster well-kept outdoor spaces where friends and families can meet up for fun in a natural green space. What’s better than drinking for a good cause?
You can also feel good about drinking at one of the PHS Pop-Up Beer Gardens. Each summer, the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Schemm Brewery, c. 1887 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schemm_brewery.jpg)
Society sponsors beer gardens at various locations throughout the city. Everyone can agree that tippling to advance the horticultural health and well-being of the greater Philadelphia region is not a bad idea!
Don’t worry if you’re not outdoorsy. You can always visit one of our award-winning, beer-centric restaurants like Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen. Besides delicious house-made food, Glory has a beer list longer than your arm! And no beer-lover’s trip to Philly is complete without a stop at “the best beer bar in the world,” Monk’s Cafe. We suggest getting some mussels to accompany your beverages.
We could go on and on with recommendations, but there are too many to list. So, you just need to come and enjoy the beer in Philly this spring and summer (or anytime, really), where you are sure to find a new favorite cold-hops-based beverage.
Written by Jenna, a local expert guide for Philly Crawling. A recent escapee from the corporate world, she enjoys volunteering and spending time with family. She’s a pet lover, self-proclaimed beer geek, travel enthusiast, and aspiring foodie. Join Jenna for history and beer on Philly Crawling’s Liberty Pub Crawl.