Had dinner at the Southwark last night. It was my favorite kind of meal. Lots of great localbeer, a bit of wine, bacon as an entree and good company. Southwark has an old school feel to it. In addition to the local beer selection they stock TONS of Gin and Burbon. I’ve got a soft spot for drinks that look like a Manhattan.

 The evening started out with a couple of pints at the now completed Yards Brewing Company tasting room. Get on over there to Delaware Ave and see the place if you are anywhere downtown. I’m stoked ’cause Yards is right across the street from Penns Landing which means I’ve got a place to have a real beer before or after riverside shows. Nice. Old School Victory employee Bill Heaton happened to be in town too and it was a pleasure to share a pint with him. He and his wife now own a small brewpub in Western Mass called the Pittsfield Brew Works.

Happy hour finished and we trucked it down the Southwark. A few times a year a large group of local brewers get together for one reason or another. there actually used to be a regular ‘Rubber Boots Society’ meeting at a bar in Fairmont called Bridgid’s. This convo was a little less formal: new Presidend and CEO of Hop Union was in town and had been tasked to buy us dinner. Super nice!  There’s always a little business at these gatherings, but mostly we exchanged beers, adolescent jokes, and stories of late nights, early mornings and lately KIDS! Seems like everyone around has progeny anymore. I really thought we were in for a long night of consumption but I had knee surgery last week and I just ran out of steam when my belly filled up. Long story short, it was great to see everyone, and get thyself to the Southwark!