Did you know April 7 is National Beer Day? On this day in 1933, legal beer sales were reinstated for the first time since Prohibition began, marking the beginning of the end of the dry era.
Breweries are a part of Philly history, so much so that we have a neighborhood named after them. Curious how Philly’s finest brewers make their beer? Discover the secrets and taste it for yourself on these tours.
Yards Brewing Co.
Yards went from brewing beers from a small location in Manayunk in the 1990s to running its huge Northern Liberties facility today. Find out how all of it came to be! On a tour, you can get a look-through of the facility, a beer sample, a full beer, and a souvenir. Tours are $10 everyday of the week. Right now you can get half-off tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Dock Street Brewing Co.
Dock Street has locations in Point Breeze and Fishtown. If you want to take a tour, those are available in the South Philly brewery. For $10, you can sample a couple of beers and receive a pint glass and sticker. The tour runs for about 30 minutes and is available by appointment on Saturdays at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. Larger groups can be accommodated on different days of the week upon request.
Philadelphia Brewing Co.
Walk down Frankford Avenue and you’ll stumble upon several breweries, craft halls, and neighborhood bars. Operating from the nearly 150-year-old Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company facility, Philadelphia Brewing Co. is keeping the River Wards’ beer-making tradition alive. This brewery leads free tours every third Saturday of the month at noon and 2 p.m. Stop by and learn more about the building’s history and see where the beers are brewed and bottled. Keep your eyes peeled for Duke the Brewery Cat while looking around!
Two Locals Brewing Co.
Co-owned by brothers Richard and Mengistu, Two Locals Brewing is the first Black-owned brewery in Pennsylvania. The University City brewery offers tours Friday through Sunday between noon and 4:30 p.m. Guests receive a souvenir glass, a vinyl-branded sticker, $1 off all draft beer the same day, a coupon for a return visit, and a complimentary pour of Good Jawn (Pale Ale), Nubian (Brown Ale), or Clean Sweep (Pilsner). Tours are $30 per person.
City Brew Tours
City Brew offers two public tours. Philadelphia Hops and History Walking Tour narrows its focus to the Spring Garden section of the city. Attendees can sample up to 12 different beers from three stops while learning about Philly beer history. This walking tour is on Saturdays and is $75 per person. The Philly Signature Brew Tour is your crash course to the beer scene in Philadelphia and South Jersey. Round-trip transportation is provided. This tour is available Wednesday through Saturday and is $85 per person.
