Lehigh Valley Beer Week 2013: Black and Blue
carrie
Trappist Achel at Black and Blue, Easton.
Hey you! Like beer? Did you know about Lehigh Valley Beer Week? It's the first, but certainly not going to be the last. We are not New York or Philly, but we do have a great beer culture here and it's growing every year. Weyerbacher just busted out of its seams and expanded, Easton has a new brew pub called Two Rivers Brewing Company with fabulous food in an historic space, and Allentown is getting another brewery in the next year or so. On top of that, we've got restaurants such as Porters' Pub, The Trapp Door, the Mint, Black and Blue, Pearly Bakers', Maxim's 22, Allentown and Bethlehem Brew Works, Spinnerstown Hotel, and more, more more, all committed to excellent food and fine, fine beers (and other libations).
I'm wishing I had endless cash, endless babysitters, and endless time to take part in all of these activities, which run the gamut from tastings and pairings to special menus and rare releases. The festivities kick off on Monday with a ribbon cutting at Allentown Brew Works with Easton and Bethlehem mayors Panto and Callahan, respectively. Sample from the keg tapping of LVBW1, the winner of the "Brewer for a Day" competition." Zip back over to Easton for what promises to be a fantastic tasting dinner at nascent Two Rivers Brewing Company. On Tuesday, Kelly-Jo is reprising some old favorites from her days at the Weyerbacher pub, and the restaurant is hosting a trivia night. Meet the brewer of Left Hand at Keystone Pub in Whitehall on Wednesday, and on Valentine's day, enjoy beer-themed dinners at Trapp Door, Allentown and Bethlehem Brew Works, Sagra Bistro, and more. All week long, tap takeover madness will ensue: think Brew Works at Porters', Weyerbacher at P.J. Whelihan, and Stoudts at Bethlehem Brew Works, for starters.
In addition to wishing that I had more time and money and a second stomach, perhaps, I'm also wishing people in the Lehigh Valley would learn that it's Porters' Pub. It's plural possessive. There are three Porter brothers. Sorry. It's just epidemic, and these things make me nuts.
And with that, slainte!