
A weekly look at the draft selection at beer-friendly bars across the country.
For years now, Philadelphia has been making its case as the best beer drinking city in America. And I have to admit, as a former Philadelphian, I'm certainly biased. However, I'd also have to agree: Philly's really been on the cutting edge with beer for quite some time.
Case in point is a bar like Race Street Cafe: Not the most recognized beer bar in all of Philadelphia (that would probably be Monk's) or the one with the most extensive selection (which is perhaps Eulogy), but a bar that I constantly reference in conversation. Why? Well, it's indicative of a larger attitude towards beer that Philadelphia bars embrace.
Tucked away on what is more or less a side street near an I-95 on-ramp in the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Race Street Cafe isn't drawing any people in with location. Instead, they pride themselves on having a truly "hand-selected" draft list. At 15 taps, it's an efficient size, and there's not a Budweiser or Heineken in the bunch. Every time you step into Race Street, you know you'll be presented with a carefully selected variety of drafts, specifically picked by the staff themselves and lovingly hand-printed in chalk on the blackboard.
Sometimes less is more, and knowing that every draft was chosen with care makes a somewhat more limited list that much more appealing because you know anything you try will be excellent. It's a trend that's been growing in bars across the Philadelphia area and the nation as a whole, but not many bars I've been to do it as well as Race Street.
Let's take a look at what is on draft today at the Race Street Cafe in Philadelphia...
- Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse
- Sly Fox Stout
- Spaten Optimator
- Stoudt's Brett's Organic Kolsch
- Flying Dog IPA
- Southampton Altbier
- Boulder Hazed & Infused Dry-Hopped Ale
- Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale
- Sierra Nevada Stout
- Allagash Tripel
- Weihenstephaner Vitus
- Breckenridge Autumn Ale
- Weyerbacher Bravo Red Wheat
- Elysian ESB
- Yards ESA hand-pumped
You see what I mean? When beers like Spaten Optimator and Sierra Nevada Stout are the most conventional of the group, you know you're in for a treat. The entire list is making me salivate, but if you've never had a chance to try a hand-pumped Yards ESA (a beer of local legend in Philly) that is certainly a good place to start.
Race Street Cafe is located at 208 Race St. in Philadelphia, PA. www.racestreetcafe.net.
[Photo Credit: racestreetcafe.net]

Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die











