Fallser Field Trip: Spring Arts

Grab your bike for a brewery tour with bonus burritos — just a quick ride from NW Philly.  

You know what’s fun about Love City’s brewery/tasting room/beer garden? It’s ground zero for an exciting enclave of outstanding local beer. We discovered this little hop heaven in 2018, on a trip out to review Love City when it opened. Since then, “Spring Arts” has become a regular destination that’s only grown more interesting despite the challenges of the last few years.

The best part is, it’s so easy to get here and you don’t even need a car! You can go pretty much the whole way via designated bike paths from East Falls to Spring Garden. Just take the Schuylkill River trail (or MLK on weekends when it’s closed) to the Art Museum where you can easily cut onto Spring Garden’s bike lanes that practically lead right to Love City’s doorstep.

About six miles, total, one-way. Like a half hour, nice ‘n flat. Gorgeous scenery, too — river views with public art and spectacular architecture.  (CLICK ON MAP BELOW FOR TURN-BY-TURN DIRECTIONS)

Self-Guided Brewery Tour

Grab your favorite beer lover(s) for a day exploring this lively, growing neighborhood. TIP: Start on a full stomach, with a fine breakfast at the Breakfast Boutique, an SRT trailhead. Ride Kelly Drive then cut through around the Joan of Arc statue to Spring Garden.

Start strong at 11:30am when Yards Brewing opens. Warm up your palate with a crisp Pale Ale or Brawler, and then let your taste buds wander thru their world-class selections. With 20+ taps, you could be here awhile. Yards has a full kitchen, too, so you’ve got food options: a Bavarian pretzel, some spiced nuts or fries probably feels just about right, or dig in for another meal — no one’s judging.   (500 Spring Garden St)

Onward now to Liquid Art Barrel House (formerly known as Roy Pitz) to perk up your taste buds with their award-winning barrel-aged and sour beers. They offer a dizzying array of other imaginative brews, too, from classic recipes to “fringe” styles you might not encounter anywhere else in the city. Pace yourselves! (990 Spring Garden St)

Tummy grumbling? Grab a killer burrito to-go from El Purepecha (469 N. 10th St), an authentic “hole in the wall” Mexican joint with big portions and low prices. People rave from all over the city about this place, including the crew at Love City who’ve been regular customers since they started construction on the brewery (Mo highly recommends their carnitas burrito).

Carry that bad boy to Love City’sbyof” tasting room or their huge covered beer garden (1023 Hamilton St), where their easy-going beers will wash your feast down beautifully.

BTW, be sure to make a potty stop — you gotta see these bathrooms! Seriously, they have 11 gender-neutral restrooms and each private stall has been painted by a different local artist.

Don’t stop now! Circle back to Triple Bottom Brewing (915 Spring Garden St), a woman-owned, mission-driven craft brewery emphasizing balance, creativity and drinkability. They’re also big on equity and sustainability — their whole operation is powered by renewable energy! They’ve also got great outdoor seating and a small but inspired menu.

Finish up with some rolled ice cream — a Thai treat — at Frozen Rolled Ice Cream nearby (938 Arch St), where sheets of ice cream are coiled in cups with an exciting array of fresh toppings. BTW: The neighborhood is also known as “Chinatown North,” and has a laid-back, diverse, eclectic, and scrappy vibe. Ideal streets for strolling and window shopping. Maybe catch a show at Union Transfer or Silk City?

Once you’re back in the Falls, do you dare stop for cocktails at LeBus? Like I said, no judging here…

PS  We made a video to show how easy it is to ride downtown via the SRT. And now with East Falls’ new Indego Bike Station, it couldn’t be more convenient. 🚴🏼‍♀️🚴🏼‍♂️🍺🍺🍺🚴‍♂️🍻

BONUS LINK FOR SCROLLERS:  Top Taps in Town (September, 2022) reviews food & drink at four popular Philly beer gardens, cheers!

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