Why Philadelphia Should Be Your Next Craft Beer Destination

Our 48-Hour Adventure in the City of Brotherly Love

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash

As I sat in the airport, shoveling forkfuls of salad into my mouth in a futile attempt to undo the indulgence of the past two days—cheesesteaks, bar food, and so much beer—I caught the tail end of an announcement echoing through the terminal:

“Come for Philadelphia. Stay for Philly,”

I couldn’t help but nod along. It’s true. Philadelphia, the nation’s first capital, draws you in with its rich history, but it’s something deeper—an intangible energy—that keeps you coming back.

Since my first visit in college, Philly has become a city I eagerly return to every time. Its food, drinks, historical sites, and culture seem never-ending.

Each trip feels like it’s themed. My first visit was a crash course in Philly 101. I devoured the city’s signature bites—soft pretzels, Tastykakes, water ice, and, of course, a cheesesteak from the source. I climbed the Rocky Steps, posed with the Rocky Statue, and visited landmarks like the Clothespin and Love Park.

Subsequent trips deepened my love for the city. A coworker-turned-friend introduced me to places like Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown, and City Tavern, a hotspot in the 17th century that still served up colonial-era drinks and bites (which sadly closed its doors in 2021). Each visit left me eager for more.

So, when Visit Philly invited me to explore the city’s beer scene, I didn’t hesitate.

Day One

We arrived in Philadelphia bracing our southern skin against the chilly weather. After dropping our bags at Yowie, a Black woman-owned invisible-service hotel recently named one of Travel + Leisure’s Best New Hotels in the World, we hit the ground running.

Our first stop: Human Robot Brewery, a favorite among both local and the beer industry. We visited their 5th Street location, also home to Poe’s Sandwich Joint. The taproom was buzzing, filled with more people than I expected for a Monday afternoon.

I was most excited to visit Human Robot because of their focus on Czech beers. So, of course, I started with Tmavý 13°, their double-decocted Czech Dark Lager. It was sublime—possibly the best I’ve ever had. The rich and vibrant, malty backbone convinced me that decoction mashing is worth the effort. Dominick, my husband, had Rauchschloss, a Bamberg-style Smoked Amber Lager with just the right hint of smoke and a dry, enticing finish.

Lunch was Uncle Tony, a cheesesteak drenched in homemade orange American whiz sauce that was so good I wanted to eat it by the spoonful. We ended our visit with a Milktube, a 10oz stange glass of dense, wet Tmavý foam. The pour is a play on the Mlíko, which originated in the Czech Republic. One shot, and it’s an experience you won’t forget.

Stuffed with cheesesteaks and beer, we headed over to the Barnes Foundation to see Michalene Thomas: All About Love. Her glittering, rhinestone-studded works celebrate Black women as subjects of their own sexuality and power. It was a stunning exhibit.

Back at Yowie, we checked into our beautifully designed room, bursting with color and thoughtful, well-sourced decor. Despite the invisible service model (a self-service approach), we felt cared for every step of the way.

For dinner, we visited Victory Brewing’s new Center City location. My husband and I have long been fans of Golden Monkey, the brewery’s Belgian-Style Tripel, which goes down so smoothly. It’s gotten me into trouble a few times. I also tried one of their exclusive Philly beers, Dream House, a Black IPA that perfectly married hops with malt.

Then, we wandered through the Holiday Market at Christmas Village in Love Park and City Hall. The air was filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, while festive lights twinkled around us. After chatting with a local vendor, we scored a bag of pizza-flavored popcorn—a delicious combination of umami flavors from the cheese and tomato flavors and a kiss of garlic.

But my favorite part of the festival was of course the beer. Brewery Techne and Mainstay Brewing brewed four beers for the occasion. I had a delicious Bock beer, but my favorite beer of the night had to be their bright, bitter lemon meringue beer that tastes more like a West Coast IPA than a pie, it was the perfect end to the night.

Day Two

The morning began with history. We walked to the Liberty Bell, where I was struck by the juxtaposition of liberty’s ideals and the reality of those excluded from it. The site doesn’t shy away from this contradiction, highlighting the perspectives of enslaved Africans and Native Americans. Standing before the bell, I felt the weight of its history and the enduring power of its symbolism.

Next, we headed to Yards Brewing Company, a Philly staple since 1994. Their 70,000-square-foot brewery and taproom in Northern Liberties opened in 2017, and though it was pretty empty when we visited, I could imagine the energy of the space on a high-volume day. We sampled beers like Brawler (an English Mild), Long Jawns (a Winter Lager), and the super-crushable Philadelphia Pale Ale. Since we had a little time to spare, we signed up for the tour, and I’m so glad we did. The brewery tour was nerdy and in-depth—just the way I like it!

Our final stop: Two Locals Brewing, Philadelphia’s first Black-owned brewery. The space was warm and inviting, and I could see myself becoming a regular if I lived in the area. I started with their Mexican Dark Lager, which was this beautiful amber color and had a delicious malt forward note while still maintaining that crisp finish, followed by Nubian, their flagship Brown Ale. I’m not sure I know of another brewery that has released a Brown Ale as their flagship beer, so I had to try it despite not being a huge fan of the style, but Nubian won me over with its caramel and chocolate notes balanced by a dry finish.

Forty-eight hours isn’t nearly enough time to explore all of Philly’s incredible breweries like Crime & Punishment, Triple Bottom Brewing, and Love City Brewing, but that just means I have a reason to return. With its passionate people, deep history, and vibrant beer scene, Philadelphia is a city I’ll visit again and again.

Thank you for reading!

Until next time,

Stephanie

About me: I'm Stephanie Grant, a born-and-bred ATLien and the writer behind this newsletter. I’m also a content creator for the food and beverage industry. In 2023, I launched The Share Community, a digital space for women and non-binary people of color who want to advance their career in the beer industry. You can also find more of my work on YouTube and Instagram.