A Weekend Fit for a President - Part II: Gettin' Schwilly in Philly

Since Sunday was Valentine's Day, I felt it prudent to make a reservation for our first stop, the ever-popular Evil Genius. Coincidentally, neither Brewslut nor I had ever been to Evil Genius, so we were able to finally add it to our long list of breweries visits. 

I must admit that they've been somewhat hit or miss with me over the years, and I can never seem to decide if I like their beer names. On one end of the spectrum, you have the nonsensical (i.e. Purple Monkey Dishwasher). On the other side, there's the truly epic (i.e. Has Anybody Tried Turning 2020 Off & Back On Again?). Then there's a whole lot of hashtags, movie quotes, and cartoon references all squished in the middle. I've had some good beers as well as some not-so-good beers from this new-ish brewery. Upon turning to Google for some history on the brewery, it seems this particular taproom opened back in 2017. For some reason, though, Evil Genius seems to have been around longer than that.  

Welcome to Evil Genius.

As for the taproom, it's got an awesome old-school industrial warehouse vibe with lots of exposed brick and metal ceiling beams. The night before we visited, they hosted a Back to the Future-themed event that I must admit looked pretty amazing. The entire taproom was decorated with "Save the Clock Tower" fliers and other references to the movies, and the back area even featured a small stage complete with an "Enchantment under the Sea" banner. One can only hope that they were able to secure a Marvin Berry & the Starlighters tribute band to provide the entertainment. Nobody... and I mean NOBODY... would dare to say they were just too darn loud. 

"...we'll be back in a while, so don't nobody go nowhere."

In spite of all the breweries popping up across the country, Evil Genius (which, by the way is an awesome name for a brewery) seems to have carved out its own clever niche... certainly among its local competitors. It's refreshing to see a brewery not taking themselves so seriously (I mean, their "About" section on Facebook declares: "Very silly names for very serious beers. Our moms think we're cool." Of course, whose mom doesn't think her kid is cool?

Inside the Evil Genius tap room.

At any rate, let's get into the beer, shall we? 

Turns out my peach clause was in full effect, and I opted for #SORRYNOTSORRY. See? A hashtag! I told you! All kidding aside, this Peach IPA features a blend of Azacca, Mosaic and Simcoe hops to produce a fruity yet hoppy blast of juicy peach backed with tropical fruit and light citrus. I enjoyed this one quite a bit and made sure to grab a 4-pack of cans before we left. 

Pleeps is masked up and ready to go!

Meanwhile, Brewslut was enjoying a peach beer of her own with The Gang Gets Quarantined, a sour ale brewed with peach and mango. She was quite pleased with her decision to order this beer, and I concurred. Pleeps thought it was pretty tasty as well. 

Pleeps standing tall with the gang at Evil Genius.

I went into Evil Genius with no preconceived notions, and it turns out I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was great, the vibe was awesome, and the space was comfortable. I was also impressed with my beer, and our food (grilled cheese and tomato soup) was very good as well. I'd like to get back here post-COVID and park myself at one of these cozy-looking sofas. 

Can't wait for some couch time at Evil Genius!

All in all, it was a pleasant experience, and now that we visited I totally get what Evil Genius is all about. 

Our next stop was another new brewery for the Pour Travelers, Punch Buggy. Situated in the Kensington neighborhood of Philly, Punch Buggy is a tiny garage brewery with lots of rough-and-tumble charm. The brewery's name takes inspiration from an orange punch buggy (a name typically given to a Volkswagen Beetle) driven by one of the owners during his college days. Punch Buggy opened its doors in August 2019 with a 1 bbl brewhouse and eight taps, which they've kept constantly rotating since the beginning. 

When we arrived, the entire city block right outside the brewery's front door was closed due to construction. (Earlier in the day, we had one hell of a time getting into the city due to a massive construction project on the way to Evil Genius... but when isn't Philly under construction? They should look into expanding the dreaded Schuylkill Expressway, arguably my least favorite stretch of road in America.) 

Outside Punch Buggy's small garage brewery in Kensington.

Inside, the place was equal parts tasting room and storage area. We parked ourselves at a small plastic table adjacent to dozens of 50-pound sacks of malt. Perusing the beer menu, I was greeted with several hop-forward ales, a stout, and a raspberry hibiscus sour, among a one or two others. We decided to share a pair of half pours, so I opted for a "Smash" beer - "single malt and single hop" - called Bru-1 Smash. I inquired about the type of malt and hop varietal used in the beer, and unfortunately the bartender didn't know. However, one of the owners was on-hand and he told me. Of course, I'd since forgotten and I was unsuccessful in finding any information online. I'm fairly certain it was a simple recipe featuring Pilsen malt and Citra hops, so let's go with that. The beer certainly had a distinct citrusy character backed with some subtle malt tones reminiscent of honey and lightly toasted grains. Quite drinkable, if I may say so.

Pleeps makin' friends with the fuzz.

Brewslut went with the humorously named Stout Flavored Stout. Slightly dry and roasty with a hint of coffee and chocolate notes, this stout sits somewhere between Export and American. Body-wise, it was perhaps a tad thin for my preference but otherwise this one captured the roasty character of the style nicely with just a slight slap of earthy hops on the palate. 

Pleeps loving life!

We were satisfied with our first impression, so we decided to share a pour of Zip Zap Hazy IPA, one of Punch Buggy's most popular offerings. This NE-influenced IPA is hopped with Azacca, Simcoe and Vic Secret for a well-rounded hop profile boasting citrus, tropical fruit, creamsicle and a hint of pine. This may have been my favorite of the three beers we tasted during our visit. 

Pleeps helps us with our pour of Zip Zap IPA.

While we were chatting with the owner of Punch Buggy, he asked about other breweries we were planning to visit, and I threw out a few names from our agenda. He suggested a nearby place called Human Robot, mentioning terms such as "world-class pilsners" and "award-winning lagers," which piqued my attention not unlike dangling a piece of meat in front of a dog's face. Actually, I'd heard about this brewery in passing but couldn't remember when or where. Despite being on the Philly beer scene for a little over a year, this brewery failed to pop up on the beer mapping website I typically use. Well, it sounds like I need to find an updated beer mapping web site, because this place blew my mind! 

Like Punch Buggy, Human Robot is situated in the Kensington neighborhood, having set up shop at the previous site of St. Benjamin Brewing Company, a brewery we hadn't had the chance to visit while they were open. Although we sat outside on the sidewalk at a tiny two-person table, I did get to scope out the place when I visited the men's room. The food component of Human Robot comes courtesy of Poe's Sandwich Joint, and while we didn't eat, the food we saw others enjoying looked great. 

The brewery takes its name from the two ends of the spectrum to which its beers extend. The "human" side of the brewery refers to its penchant for classic, European-styles such as traditional lagers and pilsners, while the "robot" side is a reference to out-of-the-box styles that blend more trendy American styles and unusual ingredients. So to categorize our visit, I delved into the "human" side, while Brewslut opted for the "robot" side. (However, we debated this little fact about Human Robot; Brewslut suggested that the "human" side should pertain to the experimental end of the brewing spectrum because human beings are perpetually curious. The "robots," on the other hand, are cold in nature and are effective at mimicking a specific task for which it was created to perform... in this case, brew traditional beers exactly like Europeans do.) I love when we have these types of discussions rather than spend too much time on our "devices." After thirty years, it's refreshing to know that we still have stuff to talk about. But enough of my yackin'. 

Human Robot, located in Philly's Kensington neighborhood.

First up was a beer called Polotmavy, described as a Czech Garnet Lager. The word "polotmavy" actually translates from Slovak to "half-dark" meaning "amber." A distant cousin of the Vienna lager, this style boasts a nutty, bready and caramel-like malt flavor without a sweet, cloying finish. This particular beer utilizes "decoction," a traditional and intensive method of mashing. The gist of decoction is basically this: you remove part of the mash, boil it, and return it to the main mash, which is held at a constant temperature. I'd actually heard of this term about a year or so earlier, when we did some R&D tests at Tröegs with a few Scratch lagers using this method. In earlier brewing times, most breweries used this method. Many traditional (i.e. German) brewers claim that it helps develop malt character, depth, and superior foam. After drinking this beer, I wholeheartedly agree!

Brewing lesson aside, this dark amber-colored lager boasts a slight roast flavor courtesy of Vienna and chocolate malts. This beer was so delicious and fresh with a rich, full-flavored malt character and creamy, foamy head. This was also the first time I became privy to the traditional side-pull draft beer faucet (aka Czech beer faucet). Essentially, this way of dispensing beer controls the flow of beer to create a creamy head whereby the faucet is submerged into the mug (in this case, a traditional dimpled mug) to create a silky, sweet head of foam. When all of these pieces come into place, it creates a world-class beer like Polotmavy. Seriously, people. This beer was stunning. It turns out I was just getting started, because they were all this good. 

Up next was a traditional Czech pale lager called Czech 10°. I find that Czech-style beers have a bit more flavor and complexity than its German counterparts. This lightly hopped lager offers an exquisite bready malt character balanced with a hint of floral spice. The quintessential noble hop Saaz complemented by German Pils and Munich malts is a match made in heaven. This was one of the best lagers I've ever had in my life, and I was immediately transported to Europe despite the fact that I was freezing my ass off on a small metal table a few feet from a Philadelphia gutter. Sometimes beer works its magic, and let me tell you... this beer was magical! 

How about some Peach Mango Splash?

While I was enjoying the "human" aspects of the brewery, Brewslut was dipping her toes into "robot" territory with a pair of equally stunning beers. She kicked off with Peach Mango Splash, yet another peach beer we encountered this weekend. She followed it up with another tasty beer called TastyRoboCake Coffee Crumb Stout, a stout brewed with a few cases of (presumably) Tastykake coffee cakes. I'm usually skeptical about beers brewed with ingredients like cookies, cake, etc. but I had a few sips of this and it was pretty damn amazing. By this point, I was sure there was nothing this brewery couldn't do. Most breweries have their forte, but Human Robot seems to have all of the bases covered. Seriously folks, I can't say enough good things about the beers here. Case in point, stay tuned for more commentary coming up. I just couldn't stay away from this place! 

After an amazing first impression at Human Robot, it was time to traverse uncharted territory and head into the historic Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia to check out Attic Brewing Company. The first craft brewery in this section of Philly, the impetus for Attic took shape back in 2010 like most other small breweries... as a homebrewing experiment. When owners Todd and Laura Lacy weren't brewing, they were traveling all over the country to visit breweries for inspiration. After falling in love with everything Germantown had to offer, the couple knew it was the perfect place to open their dream brewery: a 6,000 sq. ft. facility with a 10 bbl brewhouse. 

Outside Germantown's Attic Brewing Company.

Shortly before deciding to visit Attic, I learned that one of our ex-Tröegs brewers, Bogdan, had been working there for a bit. After Tröegs, he had brief stints at Forest and Main as well as Trillium as its Head of Mixed Fermentation before joining Attic as its head brewer. I'm not sure of all the details, but I was excited that Tröegs alumnus was at least in part responsible for the beers at Attic. 

Attic's taproom definitely has a lot of character. When we arrived, I was immediately reminded of an antique complex. We snagged a small two-person table pushed up against the bar (no bar seating in PA... thanks 'Rona) and began to have a look around. The far wall to the left of the 1920's style wooden bar features a montage of portraits and other photos of regular Attic customers. Brewslut actually recognized one of them as our friend (and past FOJ Drunkie McGee recipient) Charles. Colorful Tiffany-style lamps decorated the ceilings, and a mix of exposed brick and weathered wood provided a rustic ambiance. 

Welcome to Attic Brewing Company!

Outside, Attic also boasts a makeshift beer garden thanks in part to its large parking lot area. While it was chilly outside, the weather didn't stop a motley bunch of locals from enjoying a beer outdoors. Across the lot, a local food truck beckoned me, as we had already started to feel the pangs of hunger set in. Upon perusing the small menu, I was delighted to find what we coal crackers call "Pot Pie" on the menu (essentially baked pulled chicken mixed with boiled potatoes and squares of scratch-made dough in a light chicken-based broth). I forget what the guy in the food truck called it, but to Brewslut and I, it was classic pot pie as we both know it... and it was freakin' delicious! 

Beer-wise, they had a few draft features for Valentine's Day weekend, so I opted for Love Bird Oatmeal Stout, a roasty, toasty, dry stout brewed with lots of flaked oats. It's not a style to which I typically gravitate, but it was only 5% ABV and on special. Brewslut apparently failed to check in her beer on Untappd, but if I remember correctly, it was a Mexican Lager (or was it?). Who knows? It's hard enough keeping track of my own beers... and Pleepleus. Pleepin' ain't easy, you know!

Pleeps is just a love bird at heart!

We decided to swing by Crime & Punishment on our way back into the city, but it turned out to be a quick stop. They were only open for pick-up and take-out, so we figured we'd grab a few crowlers to enjoy at the hotel and/or home. During our short visit, Tröegs came up so I shared a few beers with the guys who were working, and they reciprocated with a complimentary crowler. Here are the two beers we decided to take with us:

Big Swifty - This is the first IPA from C&P to utilize Incognito hop extract in the kettle. Since the name is derived from a killer Frank Zappa tune (I'm a huge fan), this one is dry-hopped with Galaxy and new varietal Zappa. The C&P guys say it tastes like 2 a.m. Fruit Loops, and it definitely has that vibe, boasting flavors of lemon-lime, citrus zest and tropical fruit. 

Tender Bender - IPA hopped with Citra and double dry-hopped with another newer hop called Strata. If Name of the beer notwithstanding, I preferred this one a bit more. This hop combo coaxed juicy notes of mango, sugar-coated grapefruit and "dank winter nugs" as the C&P boys say. Gotta love them nugs!

Since we couldn't hang at Crime & Punishment, we had some free time. We intended to stop at Yards on our way home on Monday around opening time, but with a bit of extra time on our hands, we decided to end our Sunday night there. Yards is a Philly institution and needs no introduction. We've enjoyed its beers for years. Love Stout and Philly Pale Ale are two beers most Pennsylvanians seem to take for granted, but they have a longstanding track record for a reason... they are damn fine beers. Upon arriving, I wasn't sure if we'd have to sit outside under the pop tent affair or if we could wrangle seats indoors. Turns out the tasting room was only sprinkled with patrons, so we had no trouble getting in. 

I started off with a pour of something from Yards' First Draft small-batch series called Winter Lager. Described as a Dunkel Lager with a complex roasted malt character, this full-flavored lager is aged on Saxby’s whole coffee beans to coax additional notes of cocoa and hazelnut. It's hard for me to pass up a beer with coffee in it, and this one did not disappoint. 

Speaking of coffee beers, I decided to "go big or go home" with my next beer. OK, so perhaps I should say "go big AND go home," because this was my last beer of the day... and man, was it a doozie! BA Cold Brew Tripel is a lovely whiskey barrel-aged Belgian-style Tripel with cold brew coffee. This beer was really enjoyable and put a cap on a fine day in Philadelphia. I always like visiting Yards, and this particular occasion was extremely chill in comparison to other part visits (especially during loud soccer games). After that Tripel, it was definitely time to retire for the evening and make our way back to the hotel to recharge our batteries. 

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

On Monday, we didn't have much of an agenda since the majority of the breweries in the area were closed. We'd planned on hitting Yards before leaving Philly, but with Crime & Punishment only open for to-go beer, we called an audible. Not a problem, as I immediately made the executive decision to return to Human Robot for another few rounds. Although we sat outside in a makeshift wooden patio with a few heat lamps, we got to chat with one of the owners/brewers for quite a while. He was struggling with some electrical work and was trying to avoid a trip to Home Depot for parts. So I was able to pick his brain and learn a lot about the brewery (most of which was already provided to you earlier in this installment). After our amazing initial experience on Sunday, I simply had to go back for seconds. Lucky for us, Human Robot is open 7 days a week, which is a rarity in the craft beer world these days. Being open on a Monday definitely makes planning an itinerary so much easier. 

Pleeps says, "Look at the head on that mug!"

For this visit, I enjoyed a pair of excellent pilsners. First up was Il Cielo (translates from Italian to "the sky"), a rustic Italian-style pilsner that's dry-hopped exclusively with Tettnang. So, what's the difference between an Italian pilsner and, let's say, a German pilsner? Essentially, an Italian pilsner is simply a German-style pilsner that's been dry-hopped with European hops for maximum aroma. Now that's a style I can get on board with! Similar to the noble Saaz hop, Tettnang imparts subtle fruity and citrus notes with a pinch of earthy, herbaceous tones. 

Similar to Il Cielo, my next beer was a Polish-style pilsner called Niebo, which by design also happens to translate to "the sky," but in Polish. Niebo is delicately hopped and dry-hopped entirely with Lubelski, the oldest and most traditional noble hop of Poland. This was indeed a uniquely flavored pilsner with a bouquet of lavender and assorted wildflowers. 

I'll sit anywhere for a beer from Human Robot!

We decided to hit up the relatively new Sly Fox Malvern site, as we hadn't been there before. I always enjoy their beers, especially traditional styles like the ones we drink during the Bock Fest and Goat Races (i.e. the best beer festival of all time by a single brewery... sorry Dark Lord Day fanboys). Unfortunately, by this time of the trip I was kind of already checked out and wanting to be home on my couch. 

Pleeps, our trusty co-pilot.

Since we were back in PA, we needed to comply with the "gotta eat" policy, but luckily Sly Fox had some cool mini-apps for Happy Hour. So we noshed on some tasty soft pretzel bites and chips and salsa while we enjoyed our last beers of the weekend (well, until we got home, anyway). I opted for something light since I was pretty fatigued from a long weekend of drinking, so I went with Reality Czech Pilsner, a 3.9% ABV Czech-style pilsner. As much as I love Sly Fox (especially its German-style lagers and bocks), I just couldn't help comparing this to the beers I'd just had at Human Robot. While Reality Czech was enjoyable, it just didn't compare to Human Robot's lagers.  

Meanwhile, Brewslut went with a 16-ounce can of a double dry-hopped IPA called Baby Sparkles. Sly Fox referrs to this beer as a "Pottstown-style IPA" in lieu of what it actually is... a NEIPA. This occasional release features a healthy dose of oats and double dry-hopping courtesy of El Dorado, Simcoe, and Citra for a juicy hop experience. This was one of the more enjoyable IPAs I've had from Sly Fox, whose forte is typically the aforementioned German styles. Nicely done! 

Pleeps gettin' his sparkle on at Sly Fox.

It turned out to be a quick one-and-done stop, as Pleeps - like me - was ready to get back on the couch with his family. Pleeps is a well-traveled superstar celebrity, but even he needs a rest every once in a while. Of course, come the following weekend he's raring to go and do it all over again. What a warrior!

Pleeps is already packed for the next trip.

Well, that's a wrap, folks. Stay tuned for another all-new blog, which follows us on another long weekend to uncharted Pour Travelers territory: Falls Church, VA, and the surrounding area as well as Silver Spring, MD, and our nation's capital. Thanks for reading, kids. Until next time...