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As it enters its ninth year of serving up cold beers, readers have solidified the South Philadelphia Tap Room, 1509 Mifflin St., as the top local spot for craft beer selection.
Owner John Longacre attributes its success to his employees, who receive training on beer flavor profiles in order to be able to provide customers with suggestions based on their preferences.
“We have the best staff in the city,” Longacre said. “We have a bunch of people that are truly passionate about beer working for us, particularly Kathryn [Wiggins] does a fantastic job for us.”
Wiggins, a native of 13th Street and Snyder Avenue, is the beer manager at the bar, in addition to Brew, 1901 S. 15th St., a take-out beer shop.
“We try to run a selection of America’s best craft beer,” Longacre said of the rotating 14 beers on tap and 75 to 100 bottles. “We’re not a Belgian bar. We’re not an import-type place. … Kathryn is very in tuned with the better breweries in the country and who has the best beers.”
While Philadelphia Brewing Co.’s Kenzinger is always on tap, the draft list usually also contains other Philadelphia Brewing Co. favorites, as well as Michigan’s Founders, Hershey-based Troegs, and Russian River and Firestone Walker brewing companies, both from California.
The Newbold bar offers a variety of ways to taste new kinds of craft beers with an annual wheat beer festival in May, participation in June’s Philly Beer Week and a monthly tasting at Brew, which will feature Sierra Nevada 5 to 7 p.m. tomorrow.
“I think it’s a great honor,” Longacre said. “There’s a lot of great craft beer places in South Philly now. It’s an honor that the readers would have chosen us.”
Chickie’s & Pete’s brewed at second while Stogie Joe’s Tavern hopped in third.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
2012 Readers’ Choice Award winners
Cuisine
Fuel: Soup; Hummus; Lunch menu (sit down); and healthiest menu
Geno’s Steaks: Cheesesteak
PrimoHoagies: Hoagie
John’s Roast Pork: Pork sandwich
SliCE: Specialty pizza
Penrose Diner: Diner
Ippolito’s Seafood: Seafood selection
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant: BYOB; Italian Restaurant; Dessert menu; Chef
Cantina Los Caballitos: Ethnic restaurant (non-Italian)
Birra: New restaurant
Night on the Town
Popi’s Italian Restaurant: Celebrate a special occasion
Chickie’s & Pete’s: Friday happy hour; Bar menu; French fries
Sweet Tooth
Termini Bros.: Cannoli; Cookies
Italiano’s Water Ice: Water ice
Caffe Chicco: Iced coffee
People
Barbara Capozzi: Civic leader
Dr. Steven Moskowitz and Dr. William Mestichelli: Dentist
Johnny Looch: DJ
D. Olivieri Jewelers: Jeweler
Rev. Joseph Kelley: Priest/minister
Dr. Gail Avicolli: Principal
Sports
Carl Arrigale: High school coach
Neumann-Goretti Saints: High school team
St. Monica: CYO program
Mike Schmidt: All-time pro athlete
Antonio "Scoop" Jardine: Local current college athlete
And the Rest …
Mummers Parade: South Philadelphia tradition
East Passyunk Avenue: Shopping center/district
Headhunters Hair Design: Salon
Roast beef sandwich: Category not on this list
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