Philly Beer Week 2009 demonstrated to America that Philadelphia is, indeed, the best beer drinking city in America. With over 670 events scheduled during the 10-day week, there was something to please every style. Every major event sold out to capacity crowds. Mayor Michael Nutter noted the positive effect Philly Beer Week has given to the economy of the city…at a time when the rest of the country is speaking doom-and-gloom, Philadelphia was celebrating joy. Out-of-town observers were duly impressed with the courtesy afforded them during pub crawls, beer dinners, competitions, and meet-the-brewer events, and were fired-up by the enthusiasm that was carried throughout the city.

This gallery of photographs is a small sampling of the events of Philly Beer Week 2009, meant to illustrate the broad scope of events created by the enthusiastic beer lovers in the Philadelphia metro and suburban areas.
The Eight Apostles of Beer

From left to right: Bruce Nichols – co-founder of Philly Beer Week; George Hummel and Nancy Rigberg – Owners of Home Sweet Homebrew; Tom Peters and Fergus Carey, Owners of Monk’s Café – Peters is also co-founder of Philly Beer Week; Brian Morin – Proprietor, Author, and Beer Chef of beerbistro in Toronto, Canada; Beer Fox Carolyn Smagalski; and Garrett Oliver – Brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewing and author of Brewmaster’s Table - Zythos America, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology.


Tomme Arthur of the Lost Abbey with Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing

Tomme Arthur of the Lost Abbey, San Marcos, California with Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company of Portland, Maine collaborate at the Brett Pack Dinner at Monk’s Café and Belgian Beer Emporium


Jim “Beer Island” Weber

Philly Beer Geek Finalist Jim “Beer Island” Weber takes a break at the end of a grueling round that measured beer knowledge, balanced with enthusiasm and passion.


Beer Fox Carolyn Smagalski , Beer Chef Brian Morin, and Cornelia Corey

The Beer Fox from BellaOnline and former Beerdrinker of the Year Cornelia Corey flank Brian Morin, Beer Chef of beerbistro in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and co-author of The beerbistro Cookbook, published by Key Porter Books Ltd.


The Brett Pack and beerbistro luminaries at Monk’s

Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware, sits across from Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing and (the invisible) Tomme Arthur of the Lost Abbey (behind Tod), along with the luminous crew from beerbistro of Toronto


Scenes from the Brewers Plate

The Penn Museum served as the venue for the Brewers Plate in 2009. Brewers and Restaurants paired up gustatory delights that highlighted the supreme level of sumptuous pairings between craft beer and fine fare.


Fergus Carey during T.T.U.D. at Fergie’s Pub

Fergie displays his zest for the crowd at the T.T.U.D. (That Totally Unnecessary Drink) Party at Fergie’s Pub - a final celebration of Philly Beer Week, Sunday, March 15, 2009


2-Dimensional Vinnie Cirluzo appears with Tomme Arthur and Sam Calagione at Monk’s

Who says guys don’t play with cut-out dolls? Full-sized 2-D Vinnie Cirluzo of Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa California is brought to center stage with Tomme Arthur of Lost Abbey and Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery while Ray McCoy, former Beerdrinker of the Year, looks on.


Philly Craft Beer Fest at the Navy Yard

A crowd of 5,000 beer fest enthusiasts packed the hall at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in two sessions on Saturday, March 7, 2009.


Daniel Bradford and Rosemarie Certo

Daniel Bradford of All About Beer magazine shares a brew with Rosemarie Certo of Old Dock Street Beer


Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia hoists the Hammer of Glory

As Mayor Michael Nutter stands onstage with Don Russell, co-founder of Philly Beer Week and Ben Franklin, he wields the infamous Hammer moments before tapping the first keg of Yard's ESA at the Opening Tap at the Comcast Center, Philadelphia.


Phil Farrell and the Most Photographed Chicken in the Beer World

Phil Farrell makes sure his beer chick has a drink at the Philly Craft Beer Festival at the Navy Yard. As the most photographed chicken in the World of Beer, she will soon have the honor of being bronzed when her younger replacement is fully trained in the art of modeling with beer geeks.


Nodding Head Brewer Mike Fava

Nodding Head Brewer Mike Fava takes a long view of life at the T.T.U.D. party at Fergie’s Pub on that “final Sunday,” the 10th day of Philly Beer Week.


Chris Firey of Manayunk Brewery and Whitney Thompson of Victory Brewing assess contestants

Chris Firey of Manayunk Brewery and Whitney Thompson of Victory Brewing look with skepticism at Philly Beer Geek Contestants as they attempt to Stump the Chumps at the Philly Beer Geek Finals.


Food and Beer at the Brewers Plate

’A picture is worth a thousand words,’ so says the wise man. Canapes and cheese blend well with the right beer style, and the Brewers Plate endeavored to illustrate this principal in every tasty morsel and sensuous gulp.


The Beer Fox and Bobo of Chimay

Carolyn Smagalski, Beer Fox from BellaOnline, shares conversation at the Penn Museum with Bobo of Chimay.
Cheers!