Southern New Jersey Cask Conditioned Ale Outlets?????

You're screwed, laddie. South Jersey is a damned beer wasteland. I keep telling the boys from Iron Hill to open a place there, and they're looking, but... Do yourself a favor, come across the Betsy Ross and go to the G-Lodge, it ain't that far at all.

That's only because toothless piney's drink only Coors Lite and MGD. ;

What Lew said.

...and if you find a place that doesn't require crossing a bridge and paying a toll, post the info here. PLEASE.

For CC ale, no. And hell, it's Jersey - Garden State Parkway requires tolls too, after all, even if they're cheap. That said, there's a place in Absecon, Goodfellows, with a passable tap selection and decent bottled stuff - I've had great bottled Prima Pils and Stickenjab there. Then there's Atlantic City - yeah, yeah, I know - with that bar with lots of tap beers in the Tropicana, and a passable brewpub. But CC ale? Fuhgedaboudit, pay the toll, and go to Philly.

AC? Shit, man, this time of year it's a LOT easier to go to Philly!

LEW What do you think of the

it in Philly. Of course there is always Monks in Philly and the Gray Lodge. Tom

Hate to admit this, but...never been.

Whoa. Color me stunned. I've been to a Philly beer bar not blessed by the gentle, grace-filled presence of the one, the ony Lew Bryson? Alert the presses! Rent billboards! E-mail all the TV newsrooms!

That out of the way, I found it a not-bad place to drink, but others perhaps a tad more knowledgeable than myself suggested that the food menu wasn't all it could be. I heeded that advice and dined at Monk's instead. It also isn't a cheap place to enjoy Belgian beer, but it sure is conveniently located for Old-Town pub crawling and night life.

Hey, you'll understand this: park> That out of the way, I found it a not-bad place to drink, but others

That's why I haven't really exerted myself. Bridgid's has more beer, fewer geeks, and better food.

Very much true, that. But in that instance, I'd just park somewhere a little farther out near a train/subway line, and take the train/subway into town - if it was worth my while. Last time, I was hoofin' it or using public transport (or a certain fellow sometime-beer geek was driving), and staying at a hotel quite close to Old Town Philly.

Jeez, yer such a grouch.

You'd think such a situation would improve over time, but it's not like there's any lack of business in the joint.

Ayup. Although I don't think parking is particularly easy in that 'hood either. And isn't Abbaye run by a former Bridgid's employee? Based on your (hey!) reccomendation, I'm much more likely to do a mini-crawl taking in Abbaye and the ST a week from Sunday.

Yup!

No, it's true. It's certainly a good enough place, from what I hear, but not exceptional...from what I hear. Cuz, ya know, I ain't been there. Myself. Yet.

No, though the walking in that neighborhood is nicer. And yes, it sure is, and the food's quite notable at Abbaye, IMO. And you are a smart man...a week from Sunday? Well, SHIT, man, firm it up, willya?

It's firmed already: arrive at PHL about 2.40pm 8/29 if USScare is running on-time, then try to find a place that will hold our luggage (but remember to hang on to the tickets and our passports, yes sir!) for a few hours while we scamper into town for a beer and some late-lunch or mid-afternoon vittles. Drink, scarf down vittles, then back to airport. If we can do this within four hours, all the better. Must be back at airport no later than

6.30pm to clear security and make an 8.30pm flight. Should be enough time for Abbaye and Standard Tap, no?

If you taxi; train's been iffy lately, from what I hear. But if you taxi, yeah, should be plenty of time. Ten-minute walk, tops, and good eatin'.

If we have to taxi, screw it. If SEPTA sucks that thoroughly, we'll camp out at the airport. It's not like there will be any lack of beer at our destination.