Is Amada becoming a beer bar? Before you completely scoff, check out these developments.

Amada is bringing Inedit beer to Pennsylvania. The Spanish beer is a lager and Belgian style wheat beer blend with hints of orange and spice.

Not convinced, look what tapas restaurant has going on for Philly Beer Week. On Tuesday, March 10th, Chef Jose Garces and Brooklyn Brewing’s Garret Oliver, a pioneer in beer and food pairings will be hosting a special dinner. Thursday, March 12th Amada will have a Spanish beer happy hour. And each night of the 10-day beer week the restaurant will feature rare brews from Sly Fox paired with tapas.

Full Inedit beer release after the jump.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chef Jose Garces’ Spanish tapas bar and restaurant, Amada (217-219 Chestnut Street, 215-625-2450), will be the first location in Pennsylvania to serve Inedit, a exceptional beer created by Spanish brewery Estrella Damm in collaboration with famed El Bulli chef Ferran Adria.  Inedit, which means “never been done before,” is a lager and Belgian wheat beer blend with hints of orange and spice, and will be available by the glass or bottle starting Friday, February 13.

“Whether it’s jamon Iberico, the prized cured ham, or this very special brew, I’ve always been committed to bringing the best of Spain to Philadelphia at Amada,” says Chef Garces.  “We are so proud to debut this delicious beer in the Pennsylvania; it is an ideal pairing with many of our authentic tapas and a opportunity for our guests to experience one of the world’s most sought-after beers.”

Inedit will be available for $30 for a 750 mL bottle or $7 for a 5 oz. glass, perfect for those who prefer to sample without committing to a whole bottle.  An opaque golden ale, it is has a creamy mouthfeel with notes of citrus and coriander on the nose and palate and low 4.8% alcohol by volume, meaning it is a lighter alternative to saison-style ales and a perfect complement to a meal of Chef Garces’ signature small plates.

Praise for Amada has been universal; Garces, who the prestigious James Beard Foundation nominated for its “Best Chef Mid-Atlantic” award in 2007 and 2008, has long been an ambassador of contemporary Latin cuisine, appearing regularly alongside his restaurants in the New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Esquire, Conde Nast Traveler, Philadelphia Magazine, Travel Channel’s Epicurious TV, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Wall Street Journal and Philadelphia Inquirer.

In just four years, Chef Jose Garces has changed the face of Philadelphia’s dining scene and gained national recognition for his inspiring ability to elevate regional specialties to true delicacies.  Beginning with Amada, he has since ventured into other Latin specialties, opening Tinto, a wine bar and restaurant inspired by the Basque region of Northern Spain and Southern France and Distrito, a spirited celebration of the vibrant culture and cuisine of Mexico City.  This year, he will debut his fourth and fifth Philadelphia restaurants, Chifa, a stunning Peruvian-Cantonese restaurant named for the one-of-a-kind cuisine found in Peru, and Village Whiskey, an intimate spot celebrating the classic spirit with innovative cocktails.

Chef Garces is also the executive chef at Chicago’s much-praised Catalan restaurant Mercat a la Planxa, where he worked in collaboration with Sage Restaurant Group.   In 2008, his first cookbook, the stunning Latin Evolution, was published by Lake Isle Press.  Chef Garces has also appeared as a challenger on Food Network’s hit show Iron Chef America, where he defeated Iron Chef Bobby Flay.  Garces’ three Philadelphia restaurants form his eponymous Garces Restaurant Group.  He is the owner and executive chef of all three, and each is counted among the city’s most acclaimed.

Amada is open for dinner seven nights a week, and serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  For more information, or to make a reservation, please call (215) 625-2450 or visit www.amadarestaurant.com.

Amada [Official Site]