Leigh Maida and Brendan Hartranft are working hard on opening Resurrection Ale House but that doesn’t mean things aren’t happening at their other two bars.

Tonight at Local 44 they’ve got 4 special firkins from SlyFox.  Stop by after 6pm and enjoy Robbie Burns Scottish Export and Phoenix Pale Ale pouring off the edge of the bar for just $3. The Palisades Pale Ale and Rt. 113 IPA will pour from the beer engines for just $4 a glass.

And tomorrow there will be Ommegang Adoration at Memphis Taproom. Share this strong Belgian-style ale brewed with spices with the folk of Ommegang from 5 to 7pm this Wednesday.

And don’t forget, the second Mystery Beer Weekend will be this Labor Day weekend (September 4th through 6th).

Mystery Beer Weekend [Memphis Taproom]

Dollar beer? Good beer for a dollar? Yeah, that’s worth this obnoxious animated gif.

Local 44 wants to tap their keg of Russian River’s Pliny the Elder. Just one problem, they’ve got to finish the Oskar Blues Gordon first. So in order to make that happen they’re offering the strong ale (”somewhere between an Imperial Red and a Double IPA”) for a buck until it’s gone. Then stick around becaust that Pliny the Elder will be flowing.

Note, if the flashing light becomes too much, just pres Esc on your keyboard. It’ll stop the silliness.

Starting tonight at 6pm Local 44 will be pouring rare Allagash beers. The fine folk up there in West Philly have been holding on to some of their favorite Belgian style brews from the Maine brewery and are sharing them tonight. No special occasion. No beer rep in town. They’re just pulling them out tonight.

Allagash Hugh Malone, Confluence, Fedelta, Victor Ale Abbey Double and Four Ale will all be on draft.

Local 44 [Official Site]
Allagash Beers [Official Site]

If you like computer renderings of restaurants as much as we do, you’ll be checking out Meal Ticket’s shots of the upcoming P.Y.T. at the Plaza at Schmidt’s. [Meal Ticket]

Table Talk says Capogiro isn’t done yet. After opening their third and fourth stores they’re planning a production facility and cafe in East Falls. And check out the University City location, it will be the model as they head to other cities. [Table Talk, Philadelphia  Inquirer]

Aladeen snuck open a few weeks back. Meal Ticket has the Middle Eastern menu. [Meal Ticket]

Azie on Main will be the name of the new restaurant taking over the upstairs at Maia in Villanova. Azie on Main will be the latest from Win Signature Restaurants. Win’s other restaurants include Teikoku, Mikado, Thai Pepper and Flavor. Zaie will be serving Asian fusion with a global twist by mid-summer.

Draft Magazine features the five best new gastropubs around the country and rightfully highlights our own Local 44. [Draft Magazine]

Max Brenner has been hiring for their 15th Street location and now their web site has the menus for soon to open Philadelphia location. [Max Brenner via PhillyMag.com]

Bish Bish Cafe, we hardly knew you. OK, we didn’t know you at all. Gone after just a couple months. [Meal Ticket]

Haha, union picketers of Susan Schlisman’s Smokin Betty’s actually brought in more business when they were stationed in front of her Devil’s Alley. [Table Talk, Philadelphia  Inquirer]

Check out how little has changed at the corner of 44th and Spruce between 1951 and today. Now the home of Local 44, the bar will be pouring rare and wonderful Russian River beers this Sunday.

4329-4331 Spruce Street [PhillyHistory.org]
Local 44 [Official Site]

I’ll Eat You reviews Stephen Starr’s Butcher & Singer and provides the lowdown on the steak as well as a few chuckles. [I'll Eat You]

Philly Food and Drink gets to go to a press tasting at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House.  [Philly Food and Drink]

Sometimes it’s good to be reminded that little hole-in-the-wall pizza shops can do up a good pizza. La Rosa Pizza also delivers halfway across the city. [Drawing for Food]

If the taste of the mole burger at Snackbar can match its looks, they’ve got a winner. [Unbreaded]

Plenty of vegetarian options and a Lady and the Tramp goes to Italy vibe at Mr. Martino’s. [Veggicurious]

Mac & Cheese finds has some suggestions for ordering the mushroom po’boy at Local 44. [Mac & Cheese]

Fidel Gastro listifies the reasons he’ll be going back to Iron Hill North Wales. [Fidel Gastro]

Messy and Picky finds a good but pricey bagel at the Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen.  [Messy & Picky]

Can you believe it? Pitchers and catchers report today for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Opening day and business persons specials will be here before you know it.

Local 44 knows it and have come up with a great way to celebrate it.

On Friday, February 20th, they’ll be celebrating 44 days to opening days with a special 44-Days-Until-The-Phils-Home-Opener-Happy-Hour.

Starting at 1:35 you’ll be able to come down to Local 44 for the first business persons special of the year. There will be $3 local drafts, dollar dogs and a replay of the deciding game of the World Series.

After all, you need to practice cutting out of work just like the players have to get their reps in.

Local 44 [Official Site]

We think Local 44 is pretty darn special as is. But darned if they aren’t making it more enticing.

They’ve got some fine winter beers coming up. First is Slaapmutske Triple Nightcap, described as “a sweet, slightly fruity triple with a dry finish” we’ll be up promptly to check it out.

There are also happy hours for the mommas and the cubicle dodgers coming. See the details after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Sixpack checks out a couple of Philadelphia’s newest gastropubs, West Philly’s Local 44 and East Passyunk’s Lucky 13. 

You’d be lucky to be local to either. 

New pubs just a few hops from Center City [Philadelphia Daily News]

Liberties Walk expert Foodaphilia checks out El Camino Real. Buttermilk onion rings and crazy spicy jalapeno poppers are among the highlights. [Foodaphilia]

Fries with that Shake also visit El Camino Real. It’s the mac n’ cheese that has her singing though. [Fries with that Shake]

Not to be left out, the Beer Lass has a photographic post of yummies from El Camino. [Beer Lass]

There is a problem with Local 44, it isn’t local to everyone. [Femme Fermental]

Living on the Vedge recommends the oyster mushroom po’boy at Local 44. [Living on the Vedge]

Friday night was Italian wines with tricky names at Tria and some delicious looking photos of truffled egg toast, bruchetta and white bean dip. [Veggicurious]

With highs in the mid-twenties later this week, see if warming up by the fire at Devil’s Den is worth your while. [Foodzings]