This past weekend was my big bridal shower in PA, which netted me a very nice haul of gifts, with pictures forthcoming of the design-minded pieces. Due to the company meeting a sales goal, we were all given a day off last Monday, which I was able to move over to this past Friday so that we could head down during a lull in traffic instead of fighting with irate commuters. This afforded us the ability to grab dinner at Victory Brewing Company with Michael’s parents, which is super-convenient as it’s only a short walk from their house to the restaurant/brewery.
Situated in an old Pepperidge Farm factory, the place is pretty unassuming–it’s in an old factory complex that has since morphed into some sort of “tech” office park. The interior matched the exterior in spirit–though boasting brightly colored walls, some fun murals and a few quotes stenciled throughout, it was obvious that the main focal point was the massive bar that went around the perimiter of the main brewing room, with a side area set up with tables and chairs in a slightly disorganized mish-mash. Sure, you could get an order of nachos, or pizza, or a burger, but food was not the main reason why you would go there.
It was for the beer.
Victory has a huge beer list, all made in that little factory space, that has garnered the attention and prestige to get it consistently ranked as one of the top 50 breweries in the world. Even someone like myself whose tastes run more to wines and certain cocktails can find something to not only tolerate, but to love. They have a classic lager, a super-hoppy IPA, one of the best stouts ever, and a Belgian ale that will put you out on your ass, as it’s like drinking two beers at once (to name only a few of the twenty beers they produce). Many of the beers lend themselves nicely to be used as ingredients–they have three barbecue sauces with each made from a different beer and they partner with Wegman’s a few blocks away to make a Victory HopDevil Cheddar Cheese soup that is utterly sublime.
Needless to say, unlike other brewpubs in the area, Victory has always maintained a low-key, unpretentious atmosphere–it’s in a blue-collar area, and it embraces that fact rather than trying to rise above it. Whenever we’re in town, a trip to Victory is usually in order–it’s my favorite way to unwind after shopping at King of Prussia on Black Friday, and it’s always great when we’re faced with a Saturday evening with nothing to do. It was inevitable that we would want to have our rehearsal dinner there–it was close to the church, relatively inexpensive, and most importantly–fun. I was bragging to the guys at The Wine Thief about how it was so close to our parents’ houses, and some of them admitted to driving all the way to Pennsylvania just to check the place out (they weren’t disappointed).
But then my mom sent me a clipping from the local paper announcing that they were going to renovate, and I got nervous. Would they become more pretentious, expensive, and (God forbid) allow liquor there? Would it become another Iron Hill restaurant?
Fortunately, those fears were baseless–the new space is bigger and therefore can acommodate more diners at once (one big peeve of the old space), and the only new additions to the menu were barbecue dishes that seek to play up the essence of Victory–the beer–in yet another way.
So if you ever find yourself in the area, check it out. You won’t be disappointed either.
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