Our favorite moment of last year’s Beer Week had to be the Hitachino Nest tasting at Jose Pistola’s. The beers on draft were just outstanding and meeting brewer Mikio Kiuchi was pretty cool too. He seemed to genuinely appreciate our enthusiasm. An enthusiasm that included us begging everyone in our cell phone to come out and try some of these great beers.

Anyone spot Hitachino Nest on draft elsewhere?

A few weeks back we were told that Hitachino Nest was going to become available on draft. And it looks like it has happened. Today the Sidecar Bar & Grille tweets that Hitachino Nest XH Strong Ale will be pouring today.

An even bigger deal concerning the Sidecar, owner Adam Ritter has lined up a second bar, this one  at Girard and Montgomery in Fishtown. No name yet, but the “European bistro” is aiming for a first quarter of 2010 opening. [Meal Ticket]

Sidecar Bar and Grille [Official Site]

Tonight, if you’re going to cry in your beer, cry in a good beer. Check out what Sidecar Bar & Grille has on tap, some studly beers to try.

• Furthermore Fallen Apple Cream Ale
• Lefthand BlackJack Porter
• Bell’s Winter White
• Stoudt’s Fatdog Imperial Stout
• Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Doppelbock
• La Chouffe Belgian IPA
• Nodding Head Grog (cask)
• Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA

Sidecar Bar & Grille [Official Site]

Celebrate Guinness’ 250th birthday tonight . It’s poured in over 700 establishments in the Philadelphia area so finding it shouldn’t be tough. But where to find the most proper pint? Here’s where our readers say the best pints of Guinness can be found.

The Sidecar is doing another special event tonight, this one featuring five specialty hard ciders from Doc’s Hard Ciders on draft.

There’s nothing sadder than having your heart set on a bar and getting there and realizing it isn’t open on Mondays, or for lunch, or at 2:02am.

Well a couple of places are expanding their hours for fall. Starting Saturday, September 12th, both Tria Cafe locations are going to be open for weekend lunch . That means longer Sunday School! More hours of school and you’re actually happy about it.

The Sidecar Bar & Grille is adding Monday hours starting on September 14th and they’re celebrating the 7th day of work in fine fashion with a firkin of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale at 5pm.

A pie diner? Why that’s exactly what we’ll be getting with Sweetie’s Pie Diner at 1822 Spring Garden come October. Sweet and savory pies plus salads and soups. [Meal Ticket]

The signs are up at the Famous 4th Street Deli’s 19th Street location. Two weeks out is the best guess. [The Insider]

The Sidecar Bar & Grille gets nods of approval for its upstairs expansion. There will be a bar and dining area but no outdoor deck. [Meal Ticket]

Private opening of the Penthouse Club on Castor Avenue is set for August 7th. [Icepack, City Paper]

We do kind of recall hearing the American Pub was coming but like Meal Ticket, we totally missed its opening last month under the Clothespin. [Meal Ticket]

Coo’s Sports Bar on North Broad is promising a late August opening with 32 flat-screen TVs and 20 beers on tap.

Goodburger on Chestnut Street has closed. No more dance music and burger. [The Insider]

Foobooz isn’t just a blog, it’s also a calendar of events. Mark your calendar with these fun things that are coming up.

Tonight, the P.O.P.E. is hosting a New Holland Brewing night. Four New Holland beers including the tasty and devastating Dragon’s Milk.

Fork is hosting an Allagash Beer Dinner on Thursday, August 13th. $55 includes beer and dinner.

On Thursday, August 20th the Sidecar Bar & Grille hosts a funky reggae party sans Red Stripe but with plenty of Blue Point brews.

Also at Fork, owner Ellen Yin is hosting an Edible World excursion around Washington Avenue in South Philly on September 10th.

Don’t mess up and accept that invitation for the wedding you think is a total sham on October 3rd. You’d much rather send regrets and head out to the Midtown Village Fall Festival.

You can subscribe to the Foobooz calendar in any number of ways:

• Google Calendar
• RSS
• iCal

London Grill added a list of beer cocktails last month and suddenly beer cocktails seem to getting positive press from the most unlikely of sources. The Beer Lass, yes the BEER Lass enjoys the Curious Georgia, a $3 Happy Hour cocktail at Smokin Betty’s. It’s Allagash White, peach schnapps, garnished with a peach that’s been soaking in ginger infused simple syrup!

Noted beer scribe Lew Bryson admits he’s sold out to beer cocktails and says “they don’t taste bad, either.”

And just when you’re thinking what’s going on here you find out it goes much deeper. Self-proclaimed “beer purist” and Brooklyn Brewery brewer Garrett Oliver says some of them “are really delicious.”

Well it’s not like we didn’t see this coming. Xochitl’s michelada has been delicious since day one, the Sidecar’s beer mimosa goes down oh so well at Sunday brunch. So it’s time to embrace the beer cocktail. Full speed ahead!

Smokin Betty’s: Of beer AND beer cocktails [Beer Lass]
Beer Becomes a Cocktail [ Fine Cooking via Seen Through a Glass]
Q & A: Garrett Oliver [Delights & Prejudices]

 Center City Sips comes but once a week. Enjoy these happy hour deals the rest of the time.

For more of these types of deals check out our recession specials.

Sip every day this week [Metro Philadelphia]

The Sidecar Bar and Grille has a new monthly event that is sure to do some damage. It’s their High Gravity Wednesday featuring 8 beers that are 9% ABV or higher.

The first of these high octane nights is tonight, check out the full lineup after the jump. Even the fruity beer is 11%.

Read the rest of this entry »

With the stereotypes associated with neighborhood zoning hearings we’re certain we’d never want to go in front of such a group once, let alone twice.

But that’s exactly what the Sidecar Bar & Grille will have to do as they head back before the South of South Neighborhood Association next Wednesday, April 29th. Gone from the plans presented last week are the ambitious requests for live entertainment, a rear addition and rooftop deck.

Sidecar Special Zoning Hearing [SOSNA]
Sidecar Bar & Grille [Official Site]