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

I spoke with Roberta, a bartender/waitress at Race Street, who was more than happy to inform me of today's drafts. She also claimed to be impartial towards the Sly Fox Stout. "I like a dark, sweet beer," she said.

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]