BEER LANDMARK TO BEER LANDMARK

50 BEER LOVERS WILL WIN TRIP FROM MCGILLIN’S TO YUENGLING BREWERY

Philadelphia ’s Oldest Tavern to America ’s Oldest Brewer

McGillin’s Olde Ale House has been taking beer to customers since 1860, but now, for the first time in 145 years, the tavern will take customers to beer. McGillin’s, Philadelphia ’s oldest tavern, is arranging a brewery tour of Yuengling Brewery, America ’s oldest brewery and one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the country.

“We’ve been serving local and regional beers on tap since shortly after the Liberty Bell cracked,” said Chris Mullins, co-owner of the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia . “To celebrate our 145^th anniversary, we thought it would be fun to take a gang up to learn more about one of our favorite brewers, Yuengling.”

The tour, scheduled for Saturday, August 6, begins at McGillin’s Olde Ale House, 1310 Drury Lane , for “Kegs & Eggs.” Beer Writer Lew Bryson will enliven the bus ride to the brewery in Pottsville , PA with a discussion about the history of the Yuengling, the recent expansions and the future of the brewery. Bryson is author of Pennsylvania Breweries, staff writer for Ale Street News and contributing writer to many additional beer-related publications. Upon arrival, everyone will be treated to lunch and a VIP tour of the brewery followed by tastings in Yuengling’s Ratskellar Pub. The day will wrap up back at McGillin’s with a Bloody Mary with a Yuengling Lager chaser.

To get be part of this one-time-only event, beer geeks can visit McGillin’s to fill out a free raffle ticket. Starting on July 5, McGillin’s will raffle off seats on the VIP Brewery Tour Bus. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at midnight , one name will be drawn. Twenty-five lucky winners will get two seats on the VIP brewery tour bus. There’s no purchase necessary to get a raffle ticket and beer geeks may enter as often as many times as they wish. Winners need not be present at midnight to win the seats.

Yuengling Brewery is celebrating its 176^th anniversary this year. VIP Brewery Tour Bus Riders will tour the old brewery located at 5th & Mahantongo Streets in Pottsville , PA.   The brewery has two additional facilities, one in Pottsville , and one in Tampa , FL.   The Yuengling Family of Beers is now available in ten states up and down the East Coast.

Background on McGillin’s

McGillin’s has become just like the fictional “Cheers”—the place beer lovers go for its welcoming atmosphere, good food at a reasonable price, camaraderie and, of course, large selection of local and regional beers on tap. Tourists seek out the tavern, which is tucked away on a tiny alley in the heart of Center City , for its colorful history.

That history can be seen on the walls of the tavern, which reveals a story woven into the very fabric of the city. The original bar sign, a wooden arm holding a real bell, hangs above the bar. It’s flanked by 145 years worth of liquor licenses and surrounded by musical instruments, vintage beer cans, varsity banners, caricatures of past regulars, retail memorabilia, aged newspaper clips, old photos and much more.

A classic English pub-look with a beamed ceiling, tall windows, dark paneling and a large working fireplace create a warm atmosphere for enjoying the large selection of regional microbrews such as Yards, Stoudt’s, Flying Fish , Victory, Sly Fox and Dogfish Head beers on tap, as well as imports. Two house specialties, McGillin’s Real Ale and McGillin’s Genuine Lager are brewed in Adamstown by Stoudt’s, emphasizing McGillin’s commitment to Eastern Pennsylvania microbrewers. McGillin’s serves more of Stoudt’s draft beer than any other tavern in the Commonwealth. Zany additions like pumpkin martinis, McGillin’s Chocolate Raspberry Éclair with raspberry vodka, chambord and kahlua and the Printer’s Pickle Martini, a tribute to Ben Franklin, keep things lively.

Adding to the welcoming atmosphere, is weekly karaoke, a weekly deejay,  juke box, five TVs tuned into sports and theme-nights ranging from book signings by Irish authors to tributes to local theater productions. And to keep things “real,” no one gets dressed up in a chic black outfit to come here. Flannel shirts, sweat shirts, scrubs or work clothes fit right in. The after-work crowd often comes for happy hour and stays for dinner. The patrons get progressively younger as the night gets older. And precisely because it’s not the kind of place people go to “pick up” someone, hundreds of couples have met here, including one recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer wedding column and the owners’ sister and brother-in-law.

The good feeling comes from the staff, several of whom earned the right to call customers “dear” by working here for 25 years, and the Irish owners, who are only the second family to run the tavern in its long history. Husband/wife team Chris and Mary Ellen Mullins have been serving good, home-made comfort food since before it was trendy. Back in the 1800s, the owners served free baked potatoes to the lunch crowd. That tradition continues today, as lunch includes free, unlimited soup ladled from a giant kettle. And practically free are the 25 cent Buffalo wings on Tuesdays, 50 cent chili tacos on Wednesdays, half price pizzas and other nightly specials. Favorites include the half pound burger ($4.89), Grilled Reuben ($5.99) and bountiful salads ($2.79-$7.29 with shrimp), served during the day and at night. Popular dinner entrees include the 16-ounce rib eye steak ($12.99) and the Irish Mixed grill (one pork chop, grilled chicken breast, grilled shrimp with Cajun ranch dipping sauce, vegetable and potato ($6.99 at lunch/$9.99 for dinner).

History

Originally called The Bell in Hand, the tavern opened in 1860 inside a small row house. The laborers who frequented the place just called it McGillin’s after William McGillin, the Irish immigrant who owned the bar and raised his nine children upstairs. The nickname stuck and the tavern grew to encompass the oyster house next door, the back alley/washroom, and the McGillin’s house. In 1907, “Pa” McGillin died and “Ma” McGillin took over running the restaurant. No push-over, “Ma” had a list of troublemakers who weren’t allowed into McGillin’s. The list included her own father, as an antique newspaper clipping hanging on the wall reports.  McGillin’s survived Prohibition and Ma ran it until her death in 1937 at the age of 90. The McGillin’s daughter, Mercedes McGillin Hooper, who grew up above the tavern, sold it to brothers and experienced barkeeps, Henry Spaniak and Joe Shepaniak in 1958. (That’s not a mistake, the brothers actually spelled their name differently.) Keeping it in the family, Henry’s daughter, Mary Ellen Spaniak Mullins and her husband, Chris Mullins have run the restaurant since 1993. Mary Ellen’s sister, Kate Newcomer, (another of Henry’s daughters) is the general manager. Mary Ellen and Kate grew up in East Falls . Kate currently lives in Brigantine, NJ. Mary Ellen and Chris currently reside in Narberth. Chris, a native of Elkins Park , also came from a family who understood how to entertain guests and make them feel welcome. He is the son of a chef. And the legacy of hospitality continues with Mary Ellen and Chris’ son, Chris, Jr., who handles food and beverage at the Union League.

Over the years, many big names have frequented the friendly tavern tucked into one of Philadelphia’s littlest streets, including Will Rogers, Tennessee Williams, Thomas Eakins, Ethel Merman, Vincent Price, the Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields and John and Ethel Barrymore, That tradition has continued in recent years with visits by “The Frugal Gourmet” Jeff Smith, Robin Williams, Ed Bradley, Will Ferrell, Ed Rendell and Tug McGraw.

Like the locals, the celebs have been attracted by the quaint atmosphere and an eclectic mix of stouts, ales, lagers and pilsners from Europe (New Castle Brown,   Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Paulaner: Hefe-Weizen) and the U.S. with a special emphasis on brews from Eastern Pennsylvania and nearby (Yard’s, Stoudt’s, Victory, Sly Fox,  Dogfish, Flying Fish, Yuengling). 

The tavern that opened around the time the Liberty Bell cracked and long before anyone ever tasted a cheesesteak, is a stone’s throw from City Hall, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, the Philadelphia Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton and other Center City hotels. A private upstairs room for 90 plus guests is available for beer tastings, bus groups, fundraisers, and more. Tavern hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.