Art + Beer = Weekend

There are two very cool arts-and-beer-related events going on this weekend in Olde Kensington and Northern Liberties.

First, brother-Brogger Malachy is one of the many talented artists selling wares at Inliquid's 10th annual Art for the Cash Poor, 1-6pm Saturday at the Crane Arts Building, 1400 N. American Street, Philadelphia.  (Check out Mal's Flickr stream here.)  All art is priced under $199, with most pieces under $100.  To sweeten the deal, there will be live music, DJs, food from local restaurants and beer from Philadelphia Brewing Company.  AFTCP also runs on Sunday with the same hours (but sans Malachy).

The other event, if you're in the mood for a little exercise, is First Person Arts' Edible World Food Tour: Joe Sixpack's Northern Liberties, wherein Daily News beer columnist Don Russell leads a group of lucky folks on a walking tour of past and present beer landmarks in NoLibs.  Stops include the Foodery, Standard Tap, 700 Club and Ortlieb's.  The tour runs from 2-5:30pm on Saturday, starting at the Swift Half (1002 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia).  The cost is $75 person or $140 per couple ($65 per person for First Person Arts members).  Advance tickets required.

CHOCARRUBICA

The other night I decided to grab a pint at The Standard Tap, as is my wont. On such nights its a struggle not to ogle the floor to ceiling refrigerators at The Foodery nearby. I succumbed to my urges and purchased an Italian beer from Birrificio Grado Plato located in Chieri, IT (which is close to Torino). Chocarrubica is described as a "dark ale brewed with carob & cacao beans". I was unfamiliar with the taste of carob so I guess I was expecting the flavor of chocolate to be more noticeable. Instead it was sweet, then sour and finally gave way to a hint of chocolate-y smoothness. A peculiar beer that will definitely appeal to fans of the sour style. It retails for $30.25 for 1 pt 9.4 fl. oz. and has an ABV of 7%.