Earlier this week we met with Gerri Trooskin, director of the Philadelphia Science Festival, to talk about some of the fun and interesting things that are happening for the fest this Spring. Phoodie might make an appearance in the line up, so stay tuned! For now, we wanted to bring your attention to their, now annual, naming of the official Science Festival Beer. They’re really trying to ramp up the intrigue amongst people like you who undoubtedly pay little attention to science in the city. So, what better way to do it than with beer, honestly. The Science Festival will once again include several drink-related events. Brewing is indeed the best biochemistry their is! Last year, Yards Brewing created a special beer for the fest, a Belgian strong ale called E=MC Beered. There was a vote last year to name this beer… but obviously lots of you didn’t know. That name is pretty pitiful. I think we can do better this year.

Yards is taking part again this year and will be brewing a larger batch of their special edition Sci Fest brew. This year, they’ll come in bottles too, with a fun custom label design. You only have until February 9th to vote for the 2012 Philadelphia Science Festival Beer, so get on it! Below are your 6 options. I wish we had had in on this earlier. We would’ve loved to create a “write in your recommendation” line and collect the responses. Feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments section!

Heisenberg’s Drunken Principle
Avogadro’s Numbeer
Bucky Ball Bock
German String Beer-y
Science FestivALE
Atom Blonde

Once again, you only have until 10am on February 9th to VOTE!

(Images via Philly.com and Philasciencefestival.org)

On a beautiful day like today, you may not think we need Punxsutawney Phil very much at all (especially with his paltry 39% accuracy rate). But nevertheless, Groundhog Day is exactly the kind of tradition that makes Pennsylvania so hilarious and weird, so why not join in on the celebration?

According to the people over at Drink Philly, the Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford Ave.) is holdng their traditional Groundhog Day Hawaiian Shirt Beer Breakfast tomorrow.

“Starting at 7 AM, proprietor Mike “Scoats” Scotese invites fans of rodent prognostication and great brew alike to assemble at the Northeast Pub to watch the 7:20 AM broadcast of Phil emerging from hibernation. In order to promote the warm weather vibe, bead necklaces and tropical shirts are the attire of choice, and in order to promote the warming of our insides, special beers will be on tap (some of which have been squirreled away for almost a year in anticipation of this event).

The Grey Lodge will also be hosting an 8AM Hawaiian shirt contest, a 9AM hula hoop contest, and more. The whole party rages on until 1PM, and it cash-only. Beers that have been pulled together for the event include: Founders Breakfast Stout, Flying Fish Exit 8, Ommegang Aphrodite, Russian River Temptation and Supplication, Sly Fox Coffee Porter, and Yards Old Bart.

So set that alarm for early, and take in a few brews waiting for Phil. After all, you won’t have another reason to drink some morning beers for a whole month.

Next Friday, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant Chestnut Hill (8400 Germantown Avenue) will debut their newest beer, and one of our favorite brew names of all time: Oompa Loompa Stout.

It will be Iron Hill Chestnut Hill’s first ever beer event, and employees will be dressed as Oompa Loompas (orange skin, green hair and all) offering guests complimentary truffles and tastes of the new beer. 16oz mugs off Oompa Loompa Stout will also be available for purchase. Iron Hill describes the beer as, “a medium-bodied chocolate stout aged for two weeks on Madagascar vanilla beans and cocoa nibs and served on nitro for a silky texture that compliments its flavor.”

We’re on board, as long as the employee’s don’t walk around sing-chanting creepy rhymes. That’s a dealbreaker.

Yesterday, we mentioned that City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown (or, BRB) has proposed allowing bars to stay open until 3AM and using the extra tax revenue to help the city’s struggling school system.

In the video above, from Fox29, she was posed a question about a possible uptick in crime, violence, and drunk driving that could come with an extra hour of drinking. “Absolutely it is a concern,” BRB said, while also noting that cities like New York, Miami, and Atlanta all have later last calls and have “figured it out.”

You know, we don’t always agree with BRB, but we’re with her on this one. We’re all adults, and if we can do a little something extra to help out (while really doing next to nothing) we’re all for it. For the most part, those people who would be causing trouble at 3AM are the same ones who are currently causing trouble at 2AM, so why can’t we just go the extra mile … er … hour. FOR THE CHILDREN!

The Grey Lodge Public House (6235 Frankford Avenue)
Eulogy Belgian Tavern (136 Chestnut Street)
Memphis Taproom (2331 East Cumberland Street)
Monk’s Cafe (264 South 16th Street)
Standard Tap (901 North 2nd Street)
and Tria (multiple locations)

In addition, the list also included The Farmhouse up in Berks County.

According to Newsworks, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown has introduced a bill that would, “allow bars to keep serving until 3AM and earmark the extra tax money generated to help Philadelphia’s struggling school system.” We mentioned this last summer over on the Philebs (and most of you supported the idea), but back then it was only an idea. Now, it is a possible reality.

The biggest problem, it seems, would be serving the unruly drinks for an extra hour before unleashing them on the neighborhoods. Northeast Philly resident Sandra Stewart spoke out against the bill, saying (as reported by Newsworks), “This bill if you do not allocate it specifically to the entertainment district you will wreak havoc not just in my district but in the family communities of Northeast Philadelphia where you do not need bars open until 3AM.” Reynolds-Brown said she could add restrictions so not all bars would qualify for the extra hour.

You know, we’re all for the idea of having an extra hour to put some back, and if we can feel like we’re helping out while doing it, then why not? But the idea does came with its setbacks.

According to senior vice president of U.S. Operations Clarice Turner, “the company wishes to create a ‘warm and inviting place” for customers to come and “unwind and connect with the people they care about.’” The plan is also to start selling “premium ” foods such as small plates, thereby morphing Starbucks into more or less a very busy, variable-quality, tapas place.

Only time will tell how far Starbucks will expand this idea, but we can pretty much count Pennslyvania out. We know all too well of our archaic liquor laws tendency to stop things that are legal in most states from happening here.

The Craft Can Variety Pack
Brooklyn Lager, Oskar Blues Little Yella Pils, Butternuts Porkslap Pale Ale, Wild Onion Jack Stout, Caldera Ashland Amber Ale and 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA
Sly Fox Six-Pack
Dunkel Lager, 113 IPA and two each of Pikeland Pils and Phoenix Pale Ale
Sixpoint Pounder Four-Pack,
16 oz “tall boys” including Crisp, Sweet Action, Righteous Ale and Bengali Tiger

Each six-pack is $15. You can see Percy Street’s full beer list here.

Winter isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and these are perfect for those few outdoor gatherings this year. Bonfires, tailgating parties, or camping trips? These magical cold weather beverage cozees keep your hands warm while enjoying your favorite brew. They are handmade and come in righty and lefty! We originally found these at The Island Of MisfitToys Craft Fair back in December, but went back to buy more at Elissa Kara‘s wonderful South Philly shop, Nice Things Handmade. User tested, Phoodie approved!

Oh… and we bought the last one, but we’re checking right now on their availability for ya.

Some of the participants and beers include:

Raison D’Etre from Dogfish Head
Exit 4 Hoppy Tripel from Flying Fish
Rodney’s Solera from Harpoon
Blue Sunday from New Holland Brewing
O-Tay from Nodding Head
Wild Walt Wit from Philadelphia Brewing Company
Saison Brune from Sly Fox Brewing Company
Dubbel from Stoudt’s Brewing Company
Unnamed Belgian from Troegs
Verboten from Weyerbacher
Yardbird from Yards Brewing Company
and more

Beers will be sold on a pay-as-you-go basis.