Philadelphia was recently declared the best beer-drinking city in America, and the whole tri-state region has brewpubs where you can enjoy seasonal products that couldn't be any fresher.
Iron Hill Brewery has locations throughout the region, and, this time of year, they offer special gift options for any beer fan on your list.
You can buy a single bottle with a gift glass or two. There are beers packed to go in gift boxes. You might choose a selection of their gold medal winners, or a set with labels custom-designed by a local artist. There's also a set of Belgian-style beers. But that's just the beginning.
Iron Hill has its "Mug Club" and a membership is the gift that keeps on giving. There's a mug in the box, along with a membership card. Flash that card at any location and you get 24 ounces of the beer you choose from the on-tap selection for the 16-ounce price. You also get membership rewards.
Every $300.00 a Mug Club member spends yields a $25.00 gift card. Obviously, beer on tap is as fresh as you can get. But don't be concerned about their bottled beers not keeping well.
Their bottled beers are "bottle-conditioned", which means there's some live yeast in every bottle. Yeast consumes oxygen, an enemy of fresh beer, and yields carbon dioxide, which acts as a natural and harmless preservative. So the bottled beers keep for years and actually grow more refined with time...like wine.
Iron Hill has locations in Newark and Wilmington, Delaware; in Maple Shade, New Jersey; and in Lancaster, Media, North Wales, Phoenixville and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Also coming soon to Chestnut Hill, their first Philadelphia location.
For more information, visit Iron Hill Brewery.
