Following the shout-out by the Chestnut Hill Dish, I swung by Chestnut 7 in Chestnut Hill for their Allagash Tap Takeover with two fellow craft beer enthusiasts. Chestnut 7 has been open since the end of 2011, and, in six months, the restaurant has established itself among local suburbanites as the place to go for an after-work beverage with a neighbor, a delectable dinner for two, or a relaxed gathering with eight of your closest friends.
With an attentive and accommodating staff, Chestnut 7 has an open, homey, yet modern décor reminiscent of a beer lodge in the Poconos, though with a lower roof and no antlers on the walls. Their menu is unique, and the 1800-era photos of prominent locals, cars, and industries adds to the comfortable ambiance. But we were there to sample the takeover.
Round 1 (featured right in photo shown) consisted of the Victor, the Victoria, and the Tripel Reserve. With an alcohol content of 9 percent and a unique, aromatic flavor, the Tripel Reserve came out on top with two out of three diners. I leaned towards the Victoria as a welcome variation for wine enthusiasts at beer events or those looking for a less hoppy, but equally unique, beverage with a kick. Round 2 (featured in photo to right as the flight on left) consisted of the Black Stout, the Curieux, and the Blond. Earning two out of three votes, the chocolaty caramel Black Stout was delicious enough to earn itself a full-sized round. The bourbon barrel aged Curieux won the grand prize of our third tasters.
It wasn’t just the taps that were taken over; the Allagash had replaced any ale ingredients on the menu as well, including the Buffalo Shrimp. We tried some of these along with three other top appetizer picks. The diners were all spilt. The Buffalo Shrimp were the size of half a fist; that and the batter made them my premier selection. The mound of tender, flavorful pulled pork covered in peppered cheese sauce on Ty’s Memphis Nachos made the house top pick the top choice for Diner #2. The delicious andouille sausage made the Cozy Little Pigs Diner # 3’s favorite.
I know I’ll be keeping my eye out for Allagash Black Stout on tap. I would also watch this space for future tap takeovers at Chestnut 7 as their event planners assured us of takeovers from other breweries in the future and they put on a top spread. I intend another visit just to investigate their regular craft beers and maybe try their Cheese Steak Spring Rolls or Bridget’s Burger with the Sake-Shiitake Sauce? May I also recommend a swing by Hipster Home. We stopped in this niche little shop on the corner and found it full of unique home, kitchen, and leisure gifts that I’ve never seen anywhere else, many of which are produced by local artists; whether you’ve never heard of it before or know it from its former location in Phoenixville, it is well worth the drop-in if you are in the area.
Find Chestnut 7 at 8201 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill or online at chestnut7.com.
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