-Feature photo: Dock Street Brewing Company / Contigo Photography
Bluebird Distilling– Phoenixville’s award-winning grain-to-glass craft distillery, boasts a robust catalogue of acclaimed spirits perfect for Valentine’s Day. Gift-givers wrapping up a bottle of Bluebird Days Whiskey (750ml, 86 proof, $50), the collaborative spirit born out of a friendship between country music star Jordan Davis and Bluebird Distilling Master Distiller Jared Adkins, are sure to make any country music lover’s heartstrings twang. Those enjoying a romantic dinner complete with believed aphrodisiac – oysters – can open a bottle of Breakwater Bourbon (750ml, 90 proof, $54.99), the collaborative spirit from Adkins and the Jetty Rock Foundation, the 501(C)3 nonprofit arm of the coastal lifestyle and apparel brand Jetty. Ringing in at 90 proof with tasting notes of light smoke, sweet cherry, vanilla, baking spice, candied ginger, soft corn, vanilla, and toffee, this spirit pairs perfectly with the popular mollusk.
Gift-givers can buy these spirits (and more!) online, at Bluebird Distilling’s bottle shop, or at either Char & Stave location…
Char & Stave– Pennsylvania roastery and full-service café-by-day, cocktail bar-by-night helmed by Jared Adkins of Bluebird Distilling. Influenced by Adkin’s distilling experience, Char & Stave makes “coffee by whiskey people,” with its Barrel-Aged Roasts that utilize a process strikingly similar to the aging process of Bluebird Distilling’s wide catalogue of brown spirits. Char & Stave’s flagship Four Grain Bourbon Aged Blend is aged in brown spirit barrels used to make the distillery’s noted whiskeys and bourbons. In addition to the roastery’s barrel-aged blends, Char & Stave also offers five signature roasts, including Bluebird Morning ($18), Everyday ($18), Workout Fuel ($19), Dark Voodoo ($18), and Adventure Espresso ($18). Char & Stave is a one-stop-shop for at-home mixologists this Valentine’s Day – with its robust offerings of coffee roasts, plus Bluebird Distilling spirits, imbibers can pick up all the ingredients to create a romantic libation. Coffee lovers can also purchase Char & Stave roasts online.
Dock Street Brewing Company– woman-owned and run since 1985, boasts a lineup of brews perfect for the beer-loving valentine. The award-winning brewery specifically has a couple beers brewed with chocolate malts, giving them a creamy espresso-like flavor…and one Wedding Beer *wink* *wink*…perfect for drinking around Valentine’s Day and beyond, including:
- Dock Street Man Full of Mocha 5.2% ABV // This seasonal version of Dock Street’s beloved award-winning Man Full of Trouble Porter is brewed with cocoa nibs, coffee from Dock Street’s neighbors at Green Street Roasters, and fresh Madagascar vanilla beans. It features a rich chocolate character complimented by a sweet vanilla essence and a bold coffee backbone. Black, brown, and chocolate malts create its deep mahogany appearance and gentle hopping gives it just enough balance. 16 oz cans will be released on February 13th
- Dock Street Prince Myshkin’s Russian Imperial Stout 9.8% ABV 71 IBUs – Pours a deep, opaque, midnight-black, with a dense milk chocolate colored head. Brewed with a large percentage of roasted and chocolate malts for depth and complexity. Flavors are reminiscent of dark fruits, chocolate, and sandalwood, making Prince Myshkin perfect for dessert or a dangerously smooth nightcap. “But who’s Prince Myshkin”? He’s the Idiot-Sauvant from Dostoyevsky’s novel, The Idiot, who the Russian writer described as “entirely positive… with an absolutely beautiful nature”. 4-pack, $20
- Dock Street Wedding Beer 5.5% ABV – Wheat Ale // For those looking to make their intentions clear, Dock Street Wedding Beer is brewed to celebrate love, marriage and good cheer with ingredients symbolizing unity, purity (of heart), love, prosperity, and joy. This Belgian-Style Wit Bier is brewed with 100% champagne yeast. It’s packed with auspicious ingredients including Lemon Verbena, Orange Blossom Honey, Rosehips, Coriander, Lemon Peel and Sage. A smooth, clean malt profile centered on barley and wheat is complemented by prominent fruitiness lent by the yeast, which, like the happiness after a great celebration, lingers long after the finish. High carbonation delivers big, jubilant bubbles to perfectly round out the profile of this special ale, the true Champagne of beers. 4-pack, $16
- Four-packs can be picked up during operating hours at Dock Street South, the brewery’s headquarters at 2118 Washington Avenue, and Dock Street Fishtown, the company’s quirky cocktail and taproom at 1229 N Front Street.
El Merkury– scratch-made Central American street food. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with swoon-worthy twists on its signature dessert – the churro. Dessert lovers can sweeten anyone’s Valentine’s Day, whether they’re a romantic partner, bestie, or family, by sending a Churro Gram ($28), which includes heart-shaped churros, dipping sauce, and a customizable note. Instead of a dozen red roses, gift-givers can surprise their loved ones with a Churro Bouquet ($55), a stunning arrangement of glittery flower-shaped churros, complete with dipping sauce and a love note.
My Local Brew Works (MLBW)– the world’s first custom craft brewery focused on special events and contract brewing. For Valentine’s Day, create a Custom Craft Brewing package. Gift-givers and recipients of the package have the ability to join Tim Montague and Wayne Humphrey, two award-winning local home brewers and founders of My Local Brew Works, as well as George Hummel, brewing mentor and grain master, in the brewery (located in the industrial-chic Globe Dye Works building), to brew their own custom beer. From choosing the grain to designing the label, participants have full creative control of their custom craft beer and can be as hands-on or off as desired. Pricing varies based on a number of factors including volume of beer brewed, fermentation time, and ingredients, but starts at $120 per person and includes a full brew day, beer tastings, food and a parting gift. Those interested in learning more about the custom brewing process and to reserve a brew day with My Local Brew Works may do so by emailing beer@mylocalbrewworks.com.
Poi Dog– AAPI woman-owned sauce producer, and the seafood czars behind Giuseppe’s Market at Samuels Seafood, are partnering up to present the ultimate at-home Valentine’s Day shell-ebration! Couples can dive into the ultimate pairing of oysters and Poi Dog Chili Peppah Water with the Cupid’s Arrow Oyster Bundle for $40. The kit includes:
- 5 oz. bottle of Poi Dog Chili Peppah Water
- One dozen Cupid’s Arrow Oysters (from Massachusetts)
- A premium Dexter High-Carbon Steel Oyster Knife
With Valentine’s Day on a Wednesday this year, there is over a week’s worth of opportune time to get saucy with the ultimate aphrodisiac duo. Cupid’s Arrow Oysters are plump, juicy and have an intensely briny taste with a clean finish. There is a defined vegetal undertone, which pairs perfectly with Poi Dog’s spicy and tangy Chili Peppah Water. The sauce brings a vinegary, gingery zing, and a muted spiciness that complements the inherent flavors of premium oysters without overpowering them. The Cupid’s Arrow Oyster Bundles are available exclusively for pickup at Giuseppe’s Market at Samuels Seafood (3400 S Lawrence St, Philadelphia, PA) from February 1st through 17th. Poi Dog Sauces are available for purchase at Giuseppe’s Market at Samuels Seafood and a bevy of other local stockists; as well as online purchase via Amazon or www.poidogphilly.com.
Tenango Rum– the brand-new, woman- and Latina-owned spirit founded by Sofia Deleon (owner of El Merkury!), is the perfect gift for any rum-antic or budding mixologist. Lovers planning an intimate dinner at home can use the rum in a bevy of luxurious libations like Espresso Martinis, Old Fashioneds, Mojitos, and more. Tenango features rich notes of cocoa, banana, coffee, almond, and tropical fruits (most of which are rumored aphrodisiacs which seamlessly dance with the whiskey notes imparted by the second use barrel, adding flavors of butterscotch and caramel, making this the perfect rum for whiskey lovers. The rum is a vessel for cultural celebration and sustainability, and aims to support in the empowerment of Guatemalan communities via employing women and craftspeople to hand-make the vibrant covers that adorn each bottle. The traditional Mayan sheaths are woven on a traditional foot loom by a Guatemalan Kik’che’ Women’s co-op that specializes in this cultural practice, and $2 from every bottle sold goes to the co-op’s trade workers.
Gift-givers can purchase at select New Jersey retailers like Benash Liquors, Canals Pennsauken, and Super Buy Rite (see a full list of stockists here), with PLCB listing coming soon, as well as online.
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