Philly Beer Week: Classy vs. Casual – Part 2

Courtesy of Bar Ferdinand

Philly Beer Week is in full swing (read chefs' suggestions for beer pairings from the Opening Tap event), and there’s still a super-saturated schedule of happenings waiting to go down. Here’s the second half of our daily picks for high-end highlights and laid-back blowouts.

Wednesday, June 8

Classy: The South Philadelphia Tap Room tells no lie when it claims its annual Founders Beer Dinner is the stuff of legends. Chef Scott Schroeder whips up multiple courses (think eight or nine) of over-the-top meat and veggie decadence to pair with rare gets like Kaiser-Curmudgeon and Kentucky Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Company (tickets; $90 per person; 215-271-7787).

Casual: The hills of the Northeast will be alive with music as Ed, Carol, Eddi and Jodi Stoudt form the Von Stoudt Family Singers for a night of karaoke and Stoudt’s Brewing Company lagers and ales at German-American Hop Angel Brauhaus in Fox Chase (8–11 PM; 215-437-1939).

Thursday, June 9

Classy: Northern Liberties tapas house Bar Ferdinand is embracing creations from Roy Pitz Brewing Company with Spanish flair during a five-course tasting dinner and beer pairing. Think oysters dolled up with Mangalitsa pork and more (6–10 PM; $55 per person; 215-923-1313).

Casual: Do a tasting island-style with an all-you-can-eat Trinidadian buffet cooked up by the owner’s husband at Fitler Square’s Doobies. Wash down authentic curry chicken, saltfish fritters, aloo pies and more with a selection of Caribbean ales ($17 per person; 215-546-0316).

Friday, June 10

Classy: The chef and brewmaster have teamed up at the West Chester outpost of Iron Hill Brewery to create a tasting of five courses that highlight spring flavors. Think seared scallop with a tropical fruit carpaccio paired with a crisp saison; $65 per person includes both food and beer (610-938-9600).

Casual: Join Philadelphia Urban Adventures for a walking happy hour that starts at city hall and winds through the heart of the vibrant bar scene, selecting three pubs to dip into for a local brew and a snack (included in the $30 price tag; 5–7 PM; 215-280-3746).

Saturday, June 11

Classy: For the third year running, Belgium’s biggest beer festival is holding down in Philly. Zythos America 2011 will take place in the Starlight Ballroom, where booths will feature comfortable seating and plenty of space to enjoy over 75 Belgian-style brews from Europe and the U.S. (tickets; $60 per person; noon–3 PM).

Casual: Rittenhouse’s pseudo-dive Good Dog, home of the Roquefort-stuffed burger, is commemorating the last days of Beer Week with “sloppy seconds”: everything the kitchen brought in for the weeklong celebration will be on special at crazy-low prices. Hair of the dog was never so affordable (215-985-9600).

Sunday, June 12

Classy: Pairing dinners sometimes feature one extra food course, but the brew-fiends at Hawthornes in Bella Vista have their priorities straight: this evening’s tasting menu showcases four Scandinavian-inspired dishes (seared pollock with lingonberry jam, anyone?) and five unique Shelton Bros. imports ($65 per person; 6:30 PM; 215-627-3012).

Casual: Old City watering hole Irish Pol has your exit strategy: finish the week right with a late-night happy hour featuring $3 pours from its 40 taps. After all, it won’t be Beer Week again until next year (267-761-9532).