The Grey Lodge Turns 16
On Saturday, August 11, from the scant hours of 5-10pm, the Grey Lodge, one of Philadelphia’s favorite craft beer bars, will be celebrating its 16th birthday in epic fashion. The event, labeled the “Sweet and Sour 16,” will feature a stunning lineup of all sour beers, as well as their greatest hits of canned beer.
The draft list will have rare and hard-to-find offerings such as Vrienden, the Allagash/New Belgium collaboration from 2011, Stoudts‘ 5025, and the delicious Vicaris Tripel Gueuze. There will also be sour stand-bys like Petrus Aged Pale Ale from Bavik and Ithaca White Gold – both of which Scoats says have been aging for around a year, as well as Jolly Pumpkin’s Luciernaga, Goose Island’s Sophie, and Dogfish Head’s Festina Peche. Throw in Wild Eyes #2 and #3 from Round Guys, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a draft list.
In addition to the impressive draft list and solid collection of canned beers, there will be live music from Huge Jackman, free cake from Haegel’s Bakery, and contests and prizes. One of the contests will award whoever wears the oldest Grey Lodge t-shirt, so look at the bottom of your closets as far back as you can.
Scoats is easily one of Philadelphia’s favorite beer personalities, and despite his bar being quite a haul from the usual South Philly/Center City/Northern Liberties/Fishtown beer-centric neighborhoods, it has still managed to attract a rabid following of die-hard beer lovers that will stop at nothing to attend every event Scoats puts on—and there are plenty. Many of the events are on any must-attend list for the beer crowd in the area, especially Friday the Firkinteeth and Groundhog’s Day, and this one is sure to live up to the level of Scoats’ other endeavors.
Head to North Philly on Saturday and wish a happy birthday to one of the city’s favorite bars and most well-loved proprietors. The city’s beer scene owes both of them a great debt, and what better way to pay it than by celebrating with them on this most special of birthdays?
Photos courtesy of Stephen Lyford.
