Craig LaBan takes a look at Philadelphia’s rich beer culture in his Sunday Inquirer writeup.

“Philly really is a great beer town,” says Vinnie Cilurzo of the widely respected Russian River Brewing Co. in Sonoma County, Calif. His much sought-after barrel-aged Belgian-style brews, such as Pliny the Elder, are available only in California and Philadelphia.

“Having our beers available at Monk’s was a really big deal,” he said, putting them in one of the foremost Belgian bars in America.

A toast to a city of brews [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The Brew Lounge makes us jealous that we didn’t make it out to the Holiday Beer Dinner at Monk’s Cafe on Tuesday. Check out the menu and the beers.

Holiday Beer Dinner at Monk’s Cafe 12/11/07 [The Brew Lounge]
Monk’s Cafe [Official Site]

In another of Monk’s Cafe’s “Meet The Belgian Brewer” series tonight you can meet and greet Alain DeLaet of Delirium Tremon.

The event runs from 5 to 7 PM with a cash bar.

Monk’s Cafe [Official Site]

Rick Nichols finds that you can get fine craft beer in a can, even at Monk’s Cafe.

Expectations were raised. Style was elevated. Thus, when you belly up to the venerable bar and order a featured Pikeland Pils, the exquisite, German-style pilsner from Sly Fox, the Phoenixville brewer, there is one thing you are not in any way conditioned for: The stuff, my friend, comes in a can.

You heard that right: Craft beer(s) in a can.

Felicia, the backroom bartender at Monk’s, has seen the reaction: “You slap it down on the bar, and they look surprised.” Like the first time you order fine wine at a white-tablecloth place, and the waiter unscrews the cap at the table.

Can do – craft-beer makers kicking glass, going metal [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Joe Sixpack lays out his favorite “extreme beers” for summer. Extreme in this case meaning a “beer that’s made either with excessive amounts of traditional ingredients (malt and hops) or well-crafted with nontraditional ingredients.”

• Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse – Nodding Head
• Monkey Knife Fight – Nodding Head
• Festina Peche – Dogfish Head
• Apricot Coriander – Bethlehem Beer Works
• Strawberry Wheat – Lancaster Brewing
• Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale – Monk’s Cafe
• Triple H – Legacy Brewing

For your summer brew, it’s OK to go to extremes [Philadelphia Daily News]
Joe Sixpack [Official Site]

Tonight’s your chance to experience some vintage beers from Stone Brewing Co. at Monk’s. There will be 15 cases of interesting beer to try.

In Downingtown tonight Victory Brewing is hosting a Caribbean inspired beer dinner. 5 courses for $50.

Expect huddling hipsters to descend on 18th and Callowhill awaiting brunch at the second Sabrina’s Cafe. Opening is about four weeks out. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney of Lolita/Grocery/Open House fame are considering an Indian restaurant. And not just for dinner but to own! [Food and Wine via TheIlladelph]

The paperwork is squared away for Tavern on Green to become Tom Peter’s second Monk’s. But don’t expect it to be just Monk’s when it opens, expect the name “to tie in the nearby Art Museum and avoid confusion with Monk’s on 16th Street.” [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The Misconduct Tavern on Locust has re-opened. the new Misconduct will feature more plasma TVs and some interesting dishes from chef Christopher Lee. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

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Kirsten Henri’s piece in today’s Philadelphia Weekly is chock full of goodies for everyone looking forward to the next big opening.

• 707 is promising no entree over $20. The “classic American” cuisine will feature pigs-in-a-blanket, hanger steak with tempura onion rings and reuben spring rolls.
• Fairmount’s Monk’s is still tied up in paperwork with those sticks in the mud, the PLCB.
• Look for the Spruce Street Tria to open in June.
• Can oil-poached Copper River salmon with lemongrass and shiitake risotto get people to go to the Penthouse Lounge and Grille?
• And it still sounds like the end of March for Triumph Brewing Company’s Old City location.

Hops Spring Eternal [Philadelphia Weekly]

The second Monks Cafe location is out of the rumor stage. This spring you can expect Tom Peters’ Belgian Beer Emporium to open at the site of Tavern on Green. Expect as many good beers and similar menu “but with smaller portion plates and some additional items to make it easy for local residents to come in on a daily basis. Nothing over $20, in other words.”[Mid-Atlantic Brewing News via The Beer Yard]

Academia del Caffe is looking to open an 1800-square foot high end coffee shop at 1 Penn Square by April.

Sonsie at the Pier At Caesars will be hosting a chef series. The series kicks off Tuesday March 6 with Marc Murphy, chef/owner of Manhattan’s Landmarc and Ditch Plains restaurants preparing a seven course menu with the help of Sonsie executive chef Martin Doyle. [Sonsie Atlantic City]

Joe Sixpack gets behind the label of house brands of beer finds many of those private labels aren’t that private.

For instance Inn Flight Steak and Seafood Grilles number two selling beer, Wingwalker Ale, is really just Yards Extra Special Ale. Willie Sutton Lager at Fairmount’s London Grill is really Stoudt’s Fest.

The bars look at the private label as a way to differentiate themselves, often with a fancy label and interesting back story. For breweries, it’s a way to sell more beer.

Now not all house brews are just gussied up local beers, both Monk’s Cafe and Eulogy have had special beers brewed for them to their own specifications.

That House Beer Is Something Else [Joe Sixpack]