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June is EXTREME Beer Month at McGillin's Olde Ale House
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Chef2Chef News Desk
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Contact: Irene Levy Baker
215/782-2258
June is EXTREME Beer Month at
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Meet, Greet & Taste with Brewers and more
operating tavern in
McGillin’s patrons can be among the first to taste some of these unusual brews at special events set up throughout the month, including “Meet, Greet & Taste” events with regional brewers, a Bloomsday Brewery Bus Tour and a Bloomsday Celebration with free beers for patrons with James Joyce books.
Meet, Greet & Taste events include:
Thursday, June 7 -
Troëgs Brewing Company
-- Since 1997, these Mechanicsburg natives have been handcrafting world-class beers that combine traditional English brewing techniques with the eclecticism of new American brewing.
Tuesday, June 12 -
Flying Fish Brewery -- The key word to describe all Flying Fish beers is “balance.” The beers are full-flavored, yet highly drinkable. Flavors harmonize, rather than fight for individual attention.
Thursday, June 14 -
SlyFox -- A new powerhouse on the regional brewing scene.
SlyFox’s O’Reilly’s Stout is the exclusive Irish-style stout at McGillin’s
Thursday, June 21 --
Legacy Brewing Company -- Our region’s most EXTREME brewery handcrafting beer with American & European techniques using imported malts and whole flower hops.
Thursday, June 28 --
Weyerbacher Brewing Company -- This Easton-based brewer will showcase Weyerbacher
Blasphemy, with anise & raisin flavors that race to the back of the mouth and spice that warms the body to the core. Hints of licorice and vanilla.
Additional Meet, Greet & Taste events with Stoudt’s, Victory and others will be posted at
www.mcgillins.com.
The highlight of Extreme Beer Month will be the
Bloomsday Brewery Tour on Saturday, June 16. The day starts with Kegs & Eggs at McGillin’s and includes a tour of
Stoudt’s Brewery with lunch and samples (of course), a tour of
SlyFox with snacks and samples (of course). Tickets are only $20. Reservations needed. Call 215/735-5562. Space is limited. First come/first served.
And, even if you miss the bus you won’t miss the boat. On Bloomsday (June 16) h
ead to McGillin’s for live music by Baby Brother and the High Five, in their first
Background
McGillin’s has been attracting notice since shortly after the Liberty Bell cracked and long before ground was broken for City Hall. Its beer taps have been flowing since 1860 -- making it the oldest continuously operating tavern in
What’s the secret? For locals, McGillin’s has become just like the fictional “
Cheers”—the place they go for its welcoming atmosphere, good food at a reasonable price, comradery and, of course, large selection of local and regional beers on tap. Tourists seek out the tavern, which is tucked away on a tiny alley in the heart of
History
McGillin’s history can be seen on the walls of the tavern, which reveals a story woven into the very fabric of the city. The original bar sign, a wooden arm holding a real bell, hangs above the bar. It’s flanked by 146 years worth of liquor licenses and surrounded by musical instruments, vintage beer cans, varsity banners, caricatures of past regulars, retail memorabilia, aged newspaper clips, old photos and much more.
A classic English pub-look with a beamed ceiling, tall windows, dark paneling and a large working fireplace create a warm atmosphere for enjoying the large selection of regional microbrews such as Yards, Stoudt’s, Flying Fish , Victory, Sly Fox and Dogfish Head beers on tap, as well as imports. Two house specialties, McGillin’s Real Ale and McGillin’s Genuine Lager are brewed in Adamstown by Stoudt’s, emphasizing McGillin’s commitment to
The good feeling comes from the staff, several of whom earned the right to call customers “dear” by working here for 25 years, and the Irish owners, who are only the second family to run the tavern in its long history. Husband/wife team Chris and Mary Ellen Mullin have been serving good, home-made comfort food since before it was trendy. Back in the 1800s, the owners served free baked potatoes to the lunch crowd. That tradition continues today, as lunch includes free, unlimited soup ladled from a giant kettle. And practically free are the 25 cent Buffalo wings on Tuesdays, 50 cent chili tacos on Wednesdays, half price pizzas and other nightly specials. Favorites include
the half pound burger ($4.89), Grilled Reuben ($5.99) and bountiful salads ($2.79-$7.29 with shrimp), served during the day and at night. Popular dinner entrees include the 16-ounce rib eye steak ($12.99) and the Irish Mixed grill (one pork chop, grilled chicken breast, grilled shrimp with Cajun ranch dipping sauce, vegetable and potato for $6.99 at lunch/$9.99 for dinner).
Originally called The Bell in Hand, the tavern opened in 1860 inside a small row house. The laborers who frequented the place just called it McGillin’s after William McGillin, the Irish immigrant who owned the bar and raised his 13 children upstairs. The nickname stuck and the tavern grew to encompass the oyster house next door, the back alley/washroom, and the McGillin’s house. On August 31, 1901, “Pa” McGillin died and “Ma” McGillin took over running the restaurant. No push-over, “Ma” had a list of troublemakers who weren’t allowed into McGillin’s. The list included her own father, as an antique newspaper clipping hanging on the wall reports.
McGillin’s survived Prohibition and Ma ran it until her death in 1937 at the age of 90. The McGillin’s daughter, Mercedes McGillin Hooper, who grew up above the tavern, sold it to brothers and experienced barkeeps, Henry Spaniak and Joe Shepaniak in 1958. (That’s not a mistake, the brothers actually spelled their name differently.) Keeping it in the family, Henry’s daughter, Mary Ellen Spaniak Mullins and her husband, Chris Mullins have run the restaurant since 1993. Mary Ellen’s sister, Kate Newcomer, (another of Henry’s daughters) is the general manager. Mary Ellen and Chris’ son, Christopher, Jr. (Henry’s grandson), recently joined the business, as well. Mary Ellen and Kate grew up in
Over the years, many big names have frequented the friendly tavern tucked into one of Philadelphia’s littlest streets, including Will Rogers, Tennessee Williams, Thomas Eakins, Ethel Merman, Vincent Price, the Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields and John and Ethel Barrymore, That tradition has continued in recent years with visits by Ty Pennington, Joey McIntyre, “The Frugal Gourmet” Jeff Smith, Robin Williams, Ed Bradley, Will Ferrell, Ed Rendell and Tug McGraw.
The tavern that opened around the time the Liberty Bell cracked and long before anyone ever tasted a cheesesteak, is a stone’s throw from City Hall,
Loews Philadelphia Hotel, the Philadelphia Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton and other Center City hotels. A private upstairs room for 90 plus guests is available for beer tastings, bus groups, fundraisers, and more. Hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Sundays 11 a.m. to midnight.
McGillin’s,
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