Hot Fun in the Wintertime

By Pat Tanner

OK, so we all can’t head to a tropical resort this time of year. The next best thing? Revel in the cold weather, which the folks in two adjacent Delaware River towns have been doing every January for years now. Activities at the Lambertville – New Hope Winter Festival, which runs from January 27th through the 31st, span both sides of the bridge between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Among the impressively long list of proceedings are a jazz concert, cabaret, and many other musical performances; a parade complete with Mummers; ice sculpting demos; and children’s activities.

All fun and interesting, but let’s cut to the chase: the food and drink.

Each town is blessed with its own brewery - Lambertville has the award-winning River Horse; New Hope has one of the popular Triumph Brewing locations. Both will be featured at one of the festival’s premiere events: the Sunday chili cook-off. Eleven eateries are competing this year, and ticket holders get to cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award. If chili is too hot to handle, head over to Triumph the previous day for the Rotary’s hot roast beef sandwiches, accompanied by brews and live music. Better yet, do both!

Kids will enjoy the puppet theater, the Little Rockers concert, and their own obstacle course, while adults (and more sedate children) may prefer to take in the beauty of these two historic towns via several house, museum, and walking tours.

The full schedule of happenings – and there are many more – as well as prices and ticket information are all at winterfestival.net.

Back to School Brew

By Maureen C. Petrosky

True, I’m a sommelier and wine writer, but like most who toast I started out with suds instead of swirling Chardonnay. Every year as the air turns the slightest bit brisk, I crave the bite of Pale Ale. It’s something about back to school. In fact, at the Culinary Institute of America I did my Fellowship thesis on “Beer Appreciation”. That was quite a big step from the beers of my college days. Speaking of college, the other day my cousin stopped by to pick up her graduation gift before heading off to her first year at college. Her excitement was contagious as she chattered about decorating her dorm room and how she’d met her roommate on Facebook. I thought of all the beer in her very near future.

Inevitably, the change of seasons conjures up nostalgic moments in each of our lives and for me the fall is about digging out my favorite jeans and enjoying a beer or two while I reminisce about my college crew. Luckily for me and other beer lovers, we have tons of great brews to choose from right here in the Garden State!

Local Jersey breweries have been pouring up delicious drinks for decades now. Whether you like yours light, high octane, with a touch of sweetness, or perhaps on the bitter side, you can find a New Jersey-made brew to please your palate. If you are a die-hard wine drinker, try a wine-like ale from Belgium or look for a Lambic style. These sips are usually higher in alcohol and have a bit more finesse than fizz.

Every beer falls into one of two basic categories: Ale or Lager. Basically, the difference is in the type of yeast used and the fermentation. Unless you want to brew your own there’s no need to get too technical. For love of your home state and in celebration of the season I suggest this weekend you pick up a six pack and sip your way through to find your fave. For information on a brewfest near you and to find your closest craft brewer go to

One of my faves for fall-

Flying Fish Brewing Company-Extra Pale Ale

This brew is a little party in your mouth, with bursts of bitterness and plenty of flavor—it’s great at a tailgate!>

Philly Beer Week

By Pat Tanner

Philly Beer “Week” is in reality a ten-day extravaganza with events to delight every kind of beer drinker in and around what is arguably the nation’s “best beer drinking” city. Over 500 events at dozens of venues are planned from Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 15, among them five major festivals, an awards ceremony, beer and food dinners at restaurants, and, of course, walk-around tastings.

Eastern Pennsylvania really is a hub of excellent beer making, although at last count the 58 breweries slated to participate hail from all around the country and the world – including four Garden State representatives: Cricket Hill (Fairfield) Flying Fish (Cherry Hill), Riverhorse (Lambertville), and Triumph (Princeton, as well as New Hope and Philadelphia).

Beer Week kicks off with Opening Tap, a celebration and awards ceremony honoring 30-some regional breweries (including our own).

Each event over the ten days has its own ticketing and prices. The Craft Beer Fest is already sold out but here are highlights of others:

BREWER’S PLATE: This walk-around at the U PENN Museum on Sunday, 3/8 includes unlimited tastings of gourmet food and beverages proffered by some of the region’s most well known chefs and brewers. Proceeds support the nonprofit Fair Foods.

REAL ALE INVITATIONAL: Both Sundays at Yards Brewing Company, ale lovers will enjoy light food, music, and incredible beers. Co-sponsored by Triumph.

ZYTHOS AMERICA: Belgium’s premiere beer festival comes to America with 8 brewers from Belgium and Italy at the U PENN Museum on 3/15.
RESTAURANT BEER-PAIRING MEALS: Among the hundreds are a collaboration between Jose Garces’ Amada and rare brews from Sly Fox (Saturday, 3/14) and on both Saturdays at City Tavern, “Revolution Was Brewing! Ales and Recipes of Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin.

SEPTA is offering special “Sip Safely” passes and some events include discounts for designated drivers. For information on these and ever-expanding info on Philly Beer Week visit phillybeerweek.org.