By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Mimi Janosy
Mimi Janosy Professional Photography Studios, Philadelphia, PA
www.mimiprophoto.com

Grab your friends and celebrate safely with SEPTA’s affordable and responsible Philly Beer Week promotion. Pictured: The beer lovers from In Pursuit of Ale (www.beerlass.com)
Beer will be flowing and the ’burbs and city bars will be bustling as the highly anticipated second annual Philly Beer Week 2009 kicks off Friday, March 6th. And this year, nearing close to 500 events across the region, PBW ’09 is going to the rails—the SEPTA rails! PBW has announced an exciting collaboration with SEPTA entitled: Sip Safely with SEPTA. The Sip Safely campaign offers an unlimited, all-day, bus-trolley-rail pass for $9.00, and is valid any one day during the ten-day beer week celebration March 6th through March 15th. This pass is to encourage PBW participants to travel safely, rather than driving from event to event.

The second annual Philly Beer Week runs March 6th through March 15th. Want to know where to grab a cold one in the 'burbs and downtown? Stay tuned to AML for a complete PBW breakdown of the hottest events…coming soon!
Matt Guyer, owner of Wayne’s popular beer distributor The Beer Yard, Main Line brew aficionado and good friend of AML, acknowledged the importance of this initiative. “The Sip Safely Campaign is just awesome! To me, it’s one of the greatest things that could have evolved from the first event. I think that it will actually bring a lot of people out from Philly. So for nine dollars, you can head out and stop at Gullifty’s in Rosemont, then Teresa’s and Boathouse on Restaurant Row in Wayne, and easily hop on the R5 headed west to TJ’s Drinkery and The Flying Pig all in one pass. And, even if you live in Berwyn, it’s a good reason to have fun in your neighborhood safely. It is a smart idea that will reacquaint people with SEPTA and I am sure SEPTA will be happy with that,” said Guyer. The pass is valid for unlimited rides, all day long, until the end of service, and will feature a festive, specially designed PBW 2009 logo to signify SEPTA’s partnership with Philly Beer Week and their unified commitment to the safety of participants.
Tom Peters, owner of Monk’s Café and co-founder of Philly Beer Week, said the campaign is a great way to encourage more participants across the region. “I do think you can spend a week looking at all the events trying to decide where to go! And now this year, once you have made that decision, you can affordably hop on the train and go! When I look at the Main Line and what is happening for PBW, Teresa’s Next Door and The Flying Pig are doing great events. I think the SEPTA Sips Safely pass not only is a good, responsible promotion for the suburbs, but it will also encourage those in Center City to hop on the train and check out what the suburbs have to offer. And, there is plenty going on in and around the Main Line–I am really surprised about how cool the beer scene is becoming in the burbs, it blows me away. And, Philly Beer Week will certainly showcase that with the help of SEPTA in a fun, safe way,” said Peters.

The Flying Pig Saloon on King Street in Malvern will be offering discounts during Philly Week for patrons who present their Septa tickets.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson
Sip Safely with Septa passes are not valid on Regional Rail Trains arriving in Center City before 9:30 AM and are not valid for travel to or from stations in the State of New Jersey. Philly Beer Week 2009 (www.phillybeerweek.org) is the second annual celebration of Philadelphia’s dynamic and diverse brewing culture. More than 10,000 attendees are expected to attend the over 400 events, tastings, tours and educational seminars on all things beer and brewing. National and international brewing celebrities will attend, as well, bringing with them their incredible depth of knowledge and of course, kegs and casks of their esteemed lagers and ales.
For a complete list of sales locations, or to purchase a pass online, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and click on travel.
For SEPTA travel information, please visit www.septa.org or call 215.580.7800.
Need assistance planning your Philly Beer Week schedule in the ‘burbs, city and surrounding region? For a comprehensive listing of the most highly anticipated events, stay tuned to AroundMainLine.com’s own PBW 2009 preview. Next week we will offer you a comprehensive look at whats to come, where to go and whose pouring at the best bars around town. We’ve consulted with the experts to identify the coolest spots in the Main Line region and in the city. And, we will be helping to guide the thousands of beer lovers visiting the area to the best Philadelphia Beer Week 2009 has to offer. Beer lovers…stay tuned!
