When Philly Beer Week first kicked off with the Craft Beer Fest at the Navy Yard, I remember thinking, “WOW!  This has got to be one of the greatest things ever!  There should be beer week every month!”  But just as Tom Hanks learned in Big, be careful what you wish for, because it just might happen.  Don’t get me wrong: if the event sells out every time, why not offer it more frequently?  But now that we’re up to what—4 festivals a year?—it’s getting a little tiresome and EXPENSIVE.  Ticket prices have gone up (not much), and the novelty has gone down.  There’s now the Winter Beer Fest, the Craft Beer Fest (in March, which is no longer Beer Week), another Fest for Beer Week in June, the various Oktoberfest events, etc, there’s just too much to drink and too little time to appreciate it.

Bryan at the Brew Lounge quotes Jennie Hatton’s prediction for more than 1000 events at this year’s Beer Week.  Yes, it’s great that people are excited about good beer.  But with Beer Week turning into your standard chug-and-run-to-the-next-event format (like the Erin Express, but with better beer), it’s hard to get as excited about it.

How to remedy this situation?  Plan events outside of beer week!  Such as…

The Home Brew Brunch
Hawthornes Cafe (11th and Fitzwater) @ Noon, January 23rd

We’ve set up a brunch with the new beer café, Hawthornes.  If you haven’t been there yet, Chris (of Bella Vista Beer Dist. fame) and his fiancée Heather have opened a cozy tasting room complete with food, huge bottle selection, and a growler station (with an impressive list of options).  Come join us on Saturday, January 23rd at noon to share and sample home brews.  Space is limited, so leave a comment if you’re coming.  Feel free to stop by to taste a few sips and say hi if you don’t have anything brewed.  Feel free to send this info to any other home brewers you know.