The 7th Annual Valley Forge Beer & Cider Festival was held last Saturday, November 4th at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
With nearly 100 beers and ciders for sampling, this was another great event for the beer lovers in the area.
With popular local, national, and even some international breweries and cideries on hand, visitors were able to try a plethora of beer styles and flavors.
With VIP entry, you even had access to special collaborative and limited release beers that few in the country ever get to buy, let alone try.
VIP entry also included a tasting upgrade, with an absolutely gorgeous glass instead of the plastic that comes with general admission. Between that and the special access beers, VIP tickets definitely seem worthwhile.
Since it’s first year, the Valley Forge Beer & Cider Festival has been partnered with the local Committee to Benefit the Children (CBC), supporting them in their efforts to improve the quality of life for children and families who face cancer, leukemia and other serious disorders and illnesses.
Makes that beer festival ticket price easier to stomach, knowing the good that comes from it.
Tons of fantastic breweries on hand, including usual favorites, and even a few local breweries I never heard of before. On top of that, Stoney Creek Homebrewers were on hand with just under a dozen limited release homebrews made by their members.
Some stellar examples of craft beer, hopefully a few of them decide to start producing in bigger quantities.
Beer Standouts
I usually try to avoid shouting out beers that I’ve reviewed before, but I’ve been getting to so many beer festivals in the last few months in the same general area that there is bound to be overlap.
Cape May Brewing Company
Cape May IPA
Cape May Brewing Company is always a standout for me, at every single festival they’ve been to. This one was special though, as I finally got to meet another of the three co-owners of the brewery, Bob Krill.
Had a very pleasant chat with him while putting back some of Cape May Brewing Company’s flagship beer, the Cape May IPA.
If you want to learn more about this stellar beer, be sure to check out our full review of Cape May Brewing Company’s Cape May IPA.
The American IPA named for America’s Oldest Seaside Resort, Cape May IPA is loaded with floral and citrus notes, slightly bitter with a zesty finish. A West Coast-style IPA brewed at the heart of the East Coast, it’s the beer that’s Crafted on the Cape.
Sly Fox Brewing Company
360 IPA
Pours a rustic orange amber color with generous, slightly off-white head, solid retention and lacing. Citrus, pineapple and pine hops take center stage in the aroma.
As I taste, I’m hit first with the bright bitter grapefruit and pine hops over a solid caramel and bready malt backbone, giving way to herbal notes and earthy hops.
A medium bodied beer with gentle carbonation, the 360 first feels oily, but finishes dry and crisp. Overall a solid IPA from Sly Fox Brewing Company, one that is, admittedly, already part of my home rotation, being that they have a brewpub so close to my house.
Sly Fox Brewing Company celebrates India Pale Ale tallboy-style, with an exciting fusion of Bravo, Cascade, Centennial and Lemondrop hops that’ll enliven the senses! Wide open flavor and aroma sing out in this dry-hopped IPA creatively packaged in the innovative “360” can.
Evil Genius Beer Company
#ADULTING
With a golden-amber pour, the thin white head slowly recedes, leaving behind solid lacing. The aroma was pure guava to me, little else I could discern off the bat.
This is an IPA with a strong bitter hops pedigree, but never comes off as overwhelming with the sweet guava backbone.
How am I just now hearing about this beer? A guava IPA, #ADULTING from Evil Genius Beer Company is a stroke of… well… genius. This is definitely not an ordinary IPA, but it still seems within the style boundaries.
I recommend everyone try to find one. I plan on stocking a few of these at home for sure.
Pale and crystal malts marry perfectly with Citra & Cascade hops, creating an easy drinking, creamy, medium-bodied, clean, smooth IPA. It is then infused with all-natural guava, turning this already delicious IPA into something truly unique. Big, bold hop notes of tropical fruit, watermelon, and lemon, balanced perfectly by a slightly sweet malt backbone and juicy, refreshing guava.
Crowded Castle Brewing Company
C&C Witbier
Pictured above is the C&C Witbier from Crowded Castle Brewing Company in Phoenixville, PA.
The Witbier is an excellent example of the style, and at 4.1% ABV, this is a delicious session beer for any time of year. I definitely want to give this one another try and get a more in-depth review for the site.
I had a wonderful talk with two of the owners (Ellen and Mark Gray) who were at the festival to represent their brand in person, and look forward to learning more about this brewery during an upcoming visit.
Our witbier is served in the traditional unfiltered Belgian style and had been brewed with orange peel, ginger, and coriander. Crisp and cloudy, this witbier is a very refreshing brew.
Feeding Time
PhilaDILLphia Pickling Company
A special shoutout to PhilaDILLphia Pickling Company, who really do make a delicious pickle. I had the hot & spicy variety, and I can’t wait to come across them in one of the local grocery stores near me.
Food Trucks on Hand
I ended up going with a trio of BBQ Pork Tacos from Oink & Moo BBQ. Oink and Moo BBQ has been turning heads since they first arrived on the food truck scene, and was recently chosen as the second best food truck in the country on The Daily Meal’s 101 Best Food Trucks in America list.
They weren’t the only truck on hand, with Humpty’s Dumplings, Kono Pizza and El Guaco Loco also serving their specialties to the crowd.
Photo Gallery
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