Photo courtesy Dock Street Brewery.

For years my father talked about the case of beer I bought him for Christmas in 1990. This was still mostly yellow beer days and my Dad was a devoted yellow beer drinker. But this was a case of Dock Street Amber Ale, the beer that for many in Philly back then provided our first taste of a locally brewed craft beer.

Twenty five years later Dock Street is back in the bottled beer business, just in time for the holidays. Between them, the new home brew place on Woodland Avenue and Local 44, there are plenty of opportunities to buy local for the beer lover on your list or to transform yourself into a good and proper beer snob.

Dock Street is bottling its Rye IPA, a 50th and Baltimore favorite, and is available by the case (about $40) or the 6-pack ($10) now in a number of shops and restaurants. 

Photo: Philly Homebrew Outlet’s Facebook page.

Here’s some good news for those who like to make their own. The Northern Liberties-based Philly Homebrew Outlet has recently opened a West Philly shop at 1314 S. 47th St (near the West Philly Tool Library, off Woodland). They have everything you need to get started, including gift cards, classes, etc. The shop’s hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.;  Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last but not least, West Philly’s best bottle shop – the one at Local 44 – has a ton of stuff for beer connoisseur. And we’re not talking about just beer here. They have a fancy, strappy thing that allows you to attach a six-pack to your bike; rings (like the kind you wear on your finger) that double as openers; and beer socks.

So eat, drink, be merry and buy local!

– Mike Lyons