Philly's native son W.C. Fields born 1880


ALCOHOL
Cocktail sign

Closing time for bars (as opposed to private clubs) is 2am, 7 days a week. You can buy wine and spirits only in state stores, which are usually open Monday through Wednesday from 9am to 5pm and Thursday through Saturday from 9am to 10pm. Most are closed Sunday and all on holidays! Beer is available at a beverage distributor and sold by the case. Tax is added into the price. Beer can also be purchased by the 6-pack at bars at ludicrous prices, individual bottles and six-packs at select delicatessens.

State stores in Philly are not like liquor stores in other parts of the country such as NJ, NY, VA, AZ, CA. The shelves are far apart, the selection is sparse, the prices are high, the help isn't helpful and the emphasis is on quart bottles, liters and magnums of name brands. I wanted a pint or ½ pint of Scotch. They had two brands of whisky to offer, neither Scotch whiskey. There were No sampler bottles in the store I visited. I guess theft is a problem in the Center City stores.
Wine can be purchased from a wine store carrying only wines made in PA. Blue Mountain is one. They are allowed to be open Sunday. But judging from what I've tasted, it's not an advantage.
picture of beer in mug Draft beers at bars can vary from greatly in price from around $2.00 for the local swill -Yuengling Lager to $13.50 for a Belgian Chimay. I felt sheepish asking the prices of the taps, but after paying $8.50 tab for a single draft beer, I have overcome my shyness. I don’t bother with domestic piss-water as Budweiser and Miller and I have not seen much of either in this town
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PA Wine & Spirit store locator:
My favorite place in CC for carry-out beer is The Foodery on 10th & Pine Streets, and the 800 block of North 2nd, with hundreds to chose from.

Looking for a brew in Philly? http://foobooz.com/

 

"Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy."

—Benjamin Franklin
 
 

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