We’re really big saison fans around here so this event at Alla Spina is right in our wheelhouse. Tonight marks the kickoff of Alla Spina’s annual Saisonale, a ten-tap saison beer event to welcome warmer weather.
There will be classics, local farmhouse ales and even L’Olmaia Karkade Zymatore (aged in a gin barrel).
Philly Cooks Week Tasting Tours will be going on sale next week. Find out about them first, exclusively in the Foobooz Newsletter. Tasting Tours are a set of three tours nightly, between February 25th and 27th.
And just to whet your appetite, how does this sound?
Congrats go out to Vetri Restaurants Steve Wildy, who has recently been named general manager at Alla Spina. The organization’s beverage director has added the second title and kicked off what we hope will truly be a series, Weekly Wildy.
Alla Spina is saying thank you to local breweries between now through New Year’s Eve by devoting all 22 of its tap lines to East-coast beers. Look for everything from Alla Spina exclusive, Victory Via Weisse to Yards Brewing’s barleywine, Olde Bartholomew.
Victory Brewing and Alla Spina have been coming up with collaborative brews since the bar opened earlier this year. And on Monday, Januay 7th, the North Broad bar will be debuting Victory Hundred Horse during a special Alla Spina Industry Night. Joining the Alla Spina crew will be Paul Kahan of One Off Hospitality group (he’s the chef/owner at Chicago’s Blackbird, Avec, Publican, Big Star Tacos, and Publican Quality Meats). Kahan will be joined by Publican chef de cuisine Brian Huston and beer director, Michael McAvena.
Hundred Horse is the collaboration of Alla Spina and the Publican team. It is a chestnut ale brewed with imported English & German malts and hops, and fermented with a German Kolsch yeast. Expect a nutty, light, malt-forward flavor.
Beer director Michael McAvena fro the Publican in Chicago will be at Alla Spina tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. for the tapping of three sour beers.
Del Ducato “My Blueberry Nightmare”
Vicaris “Tripel-Gueuze”
Loverbeer “D’Uvabeer”
The beers will be $2 off during McAvena’s time at the North Broad gastropub. McAvena is one of the most respected and knowledgeable young beer talents in the country, so stop by for something rare and pick the man’s brain.
Tuesday, September 18thOsteria will be holding a special dinner from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to gear up for fall. The five-course dinner will be $125 per person and will feature the wines of the Abbazia di Novacella, the oldest continually-operated winery in Europe. The wines will be paired with a fall menu inspired by the northernmost region of Italy where Abbazia di Novacella lies, Alto Adige.
Alla Spina and Uber (the Best of Philly winning reason to never ride in a cab again) are teaming up for a happy hour special. If you use the car service to arrive at the North Broad Street, Italian gastropub during the regular or late-night happy hours, you can receive an item of your choice from the happy hour menu in addition to $10 off the Uber ride.
The special deal runs tonight through Friday, August 24th. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. And late nights Monday through Thursday, from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
Get your free dish, limited to two per car by showing your Uber confirmation. Get your discounted ride using the Uber promo code, DOGDAYS.
Tonight Alla Spina is debuting a new beer brewed by Victory Brewing for the Italian gastropub. Via Weiss is a sessionable wheat beeer (4.1% ABV) with what’s described as having a “subtle, thirst-quenching tartness on the finish.” Tonight the beer will be pouring for just $3 all night.
This is the second collaboration between Alla Spina and Victory. Alla Spina opened with Novello on tap, a beer that we really enjoyed. A third batch is already in the works in the fall based on Vetri Family partner Jeff Benjamin’s input.