Summer Session at Dock Street Brewery & Restaurant
Posted by Samantha Lazar on August 10, 2009
If you live in West Philly, you know Dock Street. If you live anywhere else in Philly, you’ve probably heard of it - and if you haven’t been there yet, you should get to the brewery/restaurant ASAP to check out their awesome food and indulge in some award-winning suds.
Dock Street is a microbrewery that’s at the forefront of America’s craft-brewing renaissance. And it’s Philly born and bred: founded over 20 years ago, it was named after Old City’s Dock St., which was the revolutionary-era brewing centre of the city. It recently moved into its awesome space in the old firehouse at 50th and Baltimore, and has been drawing in the locals as fast as its 10 tanks can transform fermenting ingredients into liquid gold. I stopped by on a Tuesday evening and was told it was a quiet night, but you’d never know it from the crowd that was spilled out along the sidewalk lounging at the outdoor tables, many tipplers with dogs in tow.
I had to eat before sampling too many beers. Almost everything on their menu looks great and a friend of mine waxes poetic about their burgers, but I had to have some of their famed pizza, made fresh in their wood-burning oven. There’s a long list of interesting pizzas (all priced extremely reasonably, with all the smalls under than $9), as well as all the classics. The BBQ chicken pizza was delicious, with hearty chunks of meat and delicate flavors that weren’t drowned out by too much sauce. I also tried the Flammenkuche pizza, which was topped with caramelized onions, apple smoked bacon, gruyere, crème fraiche, and fresh thyme. This gourmet pie was unlike any pizza I’ve ever had; I can’t wait to go back and try the rest of them (next on my list: the “Fig Jam” and classic Sicilian).
Now onto the beers! I’m no beer connoisseur (I brought my boyfriend along for that), but I certainly found plenty to like here. My favorite beer was the Summer Session, which was light and summery (go figure) with hints of ginger. It was tangy and thirst-quenching - definitely my kind of brew. The Hefeweizen is another nice option if you’re not a big beer drinker. I also liked the Amarillo Pale Ale, which tasted oddly (and awesomely!) like grapefruit. Though way too hoppy for my beerily-unsophisticated palate, Dock Street’s most popular brew is the Rye IPA. A staple of their beer list, it’s 6.8% ABV and is beloved by Philly’s beer community. It’s a taste-driven beer with an interesting finish, which my boyfriend could only describe it as “like a novel,” because of its many layers, flavors, and (apparently) stories. Dock Street’s beers change often, so check out their website to see what’s currently on tap. If you can’t decide, go for the sampler - for just $7.25 you can get mini glasses of six different ales and lagers. And once you’ve found your favorite? Grab a growler for the road! The 2-liter take-out jugs seal tightly, legally qualifying as “closed containers.”
Dock Street Brewery & Restaurant
701 S. 50th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19143
(215) 726-2337
www.dockstreetbeer.com
Related Destination: Dock Street Brewery and Restaurant »
Related Categories: Dining + Food, Nightlife + Bars
Related Comments
by Bob on August 18, 2009
Im so glad to continue to see good reviews of this place!Dock Street is making some of the best beers in Philadelphia, and still remains the most unpretentious and attainable - you dont have to be a "beer snob" or a scenester to enjoy the great, quality beers and great food, which is why the place is always full with a really cool mix of people at any given time. Kudos Rosemarie and Ben!
by Katie H. on August 10, 2009
I love the description of the Rye I.P.A. as a "novel." So true!
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by Emily on August 20, 2009
It's so great to have this place across the street from our store. Such a temptation... seems like we're due for another visit!