Atlanta’s wildly successful SweetWater Brewing Company is coming November 2 to the Philadelphia area.
The 18-year-old brewery has made a name for itself with a hippy-brand aesthetic, flagship brews like the 420 Extra Pale Ale and rare releases known as their “Dank Tank Series.” In fact, despite the brewery’s limited geographic presence, SweetWater now ranks among the top 50 craft breweries in terms of sales volume, after selling almost 200,000 barrels of beer last year. Before expanding their reach into the city of brotherly love, SweetWater hosted a beer-pairing lunch at South Philly’s airy, welcoming Devil’s Den to test the waters.
SweetWater’s Bob Berman presented and discussed a few of their mainstay beers, namely the 420 Extra Pale Ale, IPA, Georgia Brown and Hop Hash Double IPA, as well as their newest seasonal release, “Hash Brown.” The Pale Ale went well with a sweet butternut squash soup, and overall provided balanced, easy drinking with a piney hop kick, showcasing why the brew is a best seller. Next up was their India Pale Ale, which came off as a smooth, juicy citrus punch especially compared to the bitterness of the 420. The IPA is very drinkable, with a 6.3% ABV and a dry finish that left me wanting more. Accompanying that brew was a hearty entrée of mussels served with honey crisp apples, pork belly, apple cider and thyme cream, which was a perfect meal for a brisk fall day. A delicious slice of cheesecake with blueberry compote rounded out the meal, and was rightfully paired with SweetWater’s Georgia Brown. The smooth, malty brown ale, which the bottle claims is “smoother than a Bill Clinton apology,” contained tastes of chocolate and caramel that made it a perfect pairing for dessert.
SweetWater’s core brews are solid, and are sure to work their way into the Philadelphia craft beer lexicon after a few weeks. What might speed up their acceptance in the city are the brewery’s more aggressive beers, which are brewed with the use of hop hash, or the oily residue that hops leave behind when they are pulverized and pelletized. The Hop Hash Double IPA weighs in at 100 IBUs 7.8% ABV, while the big hop flavor comes through in wholesome, sticky, pungent fashion. SweetWater’s fall seasonal release, “Hash Brown,” was reserved for last and showcased a different method for using hop hash. The complex India style brown ale contained creamy flavors of chocolate you would expect from a brown ale while also packing in an absurd amount of juicy hop flavor.
With their playful aesthetic and luscious brews, SweetWater is sure to make a pleasant entrance into the Philadelphia craft beer world. Their approachable beers will be found all over the city in various packages, from kegs to 12-oz. cans, inviting you to share in their “Don’t float the mainstream” mindset. With the local craft beer scene becoming as saturated as ever, the southern powerhouse will be throwing their hat in the ring and surely spur on even more competition in one of the country’s best craft beer cities.
Follow SweetWater Brewing Company on Facebook and on their Pennsylvania-specific page.
Devil’s Den serves up great food and an ever-changing assortment of craft beer. Check them out at 1148 S. 11th St. in Philadelphia.
- Photos: Jay Breslin
