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Philly Beer Week 2013: Your Guide To The Biggest Brew Bash In The U.S.

Put on your drinking cap: Philly Beer Week is here at last! This is the sixth consecutive year that the massive beer fest — the largest of its kind in the nation — has descended on the city. And with hundreds of events spread over 10 days (and more nearly 100 U.S. cities hosting copy-cat fests), it's no wonder Frommer's ranked the City of Brotherly Love one of the best cities for beer in the world. –Chelsea Karnash

What: Philadelphia Beer Week celebrates the city's 300+ years of beer-brewing and features hundreds of dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings, meet-the-brewer nights and festivals within the Greater Philadelphia area.

When: Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 9

Where: Various pubs, restaurants, taverns, breweries and local attractions.

Events: As previously mentioned, Philly Beer Week has hundreds of events on the schedule—impressive, but slightly overwhelming. To help you wade through the myriad options, some of the most unique and intriguing events are highlighted below. For a full schedule of Beer Week events, click here.

FRIDAY, MAY 31

Hammer of Glory Relay
Various bars
9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., pay as you go

The official symbol of Philly Beer Week, the Hammer of Glory (HOG), sets off on its glorious Olympic torch-style journey through some of Philadelphia's bars and pubs, ending up at the Independence Visitors Center just in time for the Opening Tap with Mayor Nutter. Cheer it on with a few cold brews along the way as you celebrate the start of an epic week.

Philly Beer Week Opening Tap
Independence Visitors Center
6th and Market St.
7 p.m., $40 ($25 designated driver)

Kick off Philly Beer Week with a ceremonial tapping of the Brotherly Suds 4 keg and a toast alongside Mayor Nutter.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Pin Up Block Party & BBQ
Varga Bar
11 a.m. – 8 p.m., pay as you go

Craft beer, food fresh off the grill, wings, games and a hot dog-eating contest are just some of the activities slated to happen at Varga Bar's 4th annual Pin Up Block Party. Interested in being a pin-up girl for the bar's annual calendar? The search begins today, so don your best pin up outfit and get your photos taken!

International Great Beer Expo
Navy Yard, Marine Parade Grounds
4747 S Broad St
1:30 p.m., $46 general admission ($10 for DDs) or $75 for VIP

Taste more than 100 of the best beers from around the world inside this tented party in the Navy Yard. And FYI, you're drinking to charity – proceeds benefit the Committee to Benefit the Children.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

Craft Beer Day on East Passyunk
E Passyunk Ave
11 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Celebrate the start of 10 days of drinking with…15 hours of drinking. Numerous East Passyunk bars and restaurants have events scheduled, including barbecues, brunch and live music, and the Italian National Day Street Festival is also happening nearby.

MONDAY, JUNE 3

Bespoke Bacon Beer Bash!
Prism Brewing Company
810 Dickerson Rd
N Wales, Pa.
7 – 9 p.m., $15 for your first beer and food

Bacon and beer? Yes, please! The dynamic duo is in the spotlight this evening at Prism Brewing in Montgomery County. Four words (or is it three?): Bacon-infused pulled pork.

And note: This is only one of several bacon-themed bashes happening during Beer Week.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Dunk Tank 2013
London Grill
2301 Fairmount Ave.
4 – 9 p.m., pay as you go

Dunk your favorite (or least favorite) beer-lebrity at this event. Watch 'em get wet while you whet your taste buds with delicious beers.

Beer Cupcakes with Dia Doce and Yards
Whole Foods Market – Mile Post Pub
821 Lancaster Ave
Wayne, Pa.
5 – 7 p.m., pay as you go

What could be better than beer and cupcakes? Perhaps, beer-infused cupcakes? Taste 'em at this Chester County Whole Foods, where Dia Doce, the winner of Food Network's "Cupcake Wars," will be whipping up just that.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

Toga Party
Varga Bar
941 Spruce St
10 p.m. – 2 a.m., pay as you go

Recreate the classic flick "Animal House" (as the actual film plays on a loop!) at Varga Bar, where beers from Terrapin and Smuttynose will be highlighted.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

Philly's Backyard Beer Garden
Four Seasons Philadelphia
1 Logan Square
5 – 8 p.m., $25

Cracked pepper and Meyer lemon beer from Dock Street in the beautiful Four Seasons Courtyard. Need we say more?

Dunkel Dare
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford Ave
7 p.m., pay as you go

Four breweries face-off at this Marc Summers hosted game night at Frankford Hall. Stop by to rub elbows with a semi-celeb, or to play some Jenga with your crew.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Beer & Cheese with Yards and DiBruno Bros
Alla Spina
1410 Mt Vernon St
5 – 7 p.m., pay as you go

Join DiBruno's awesome cheesemonger Hunter Fike and Yards for the cheesiest happy hour you'll ever attend.

Sarcastic Shirts and Suds Party
The Red Cedar Grille
249 Bethlehem Pk
Colmar, Pa.
6 p.m. – 2 a.m., pay as you go

Details are scant on this one, but we have a feeling the hipsters have it covered…

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

Fishtown FestivALE
Frankford Avenue between Girard Avenue and Shackamaxon Street
12 p.m. – 8 p.m., pay as you go

Johnny Brenda's, Fette Sau and Frankford Hall team up for the second annual installation of this massive outdoor beer fest, complete with DJs, Little Baby's Ice Cream and a dunk tank!

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

Dock Street Music Festival
Dock Street Brewery
701 S 50th St
2 p.m. – 7 p.m., FREE

Say goodbye to Philly Beer Week and hopefully, to your hangover (hair of the dog, anyone?) at this music and beer fest. Sip on Dock Street's tasty beers, munch on wood-fired pizza, and listen to live music from local bands at this Beer Week last-hurrah.

AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT…

Philly Beer Week Beer Garden
The Shambles at Headhouse Square
2nd & Lombard Sts
June 3 – 7 from 5 – 9 p.m., pay as you go

Just as E = MC2, sunshine + beer = amazingness. This year, Beer Week's HQ is Headhouse Square. A different local brewer's beers will be featured each day, and there will be a selection of yummy food available (to line your stomach!), too.

Need some help keeping track of all of Beer Week's events? Download the smartphone app here!

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