PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia’s favorite wine, cheese and beer destination, Tria will host an exciting series of Meet-and-Greet events with talented guest speakers from local, national and international breweries, complete with special pricing on some of their most acclaimed offerings during Philly Beer Week 2009. The Meet-and-Greet events will be held at both Tria cafe locations – Tria Washington Square West (1137 Spruce Street, 215-629-9200) Tria Rittenhouse Square (123 S. 18th Street, 215-972-8742) – and are specially arranged to coincide with educational offerings at Tria’s celebrated Fermentation School (1601 Walnut Street, 215-972-7076).
Unless otherwise noted, special pricing on featured beer and cheese will be in place from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Participating guest instructors are present from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. to discuss their offerings. Reservations are not necessary; just show up!
Tria’s one-of-a-kind Fermentation School, an educational forum that hosts a rotating selection of talented “guest lecturers” on wine, cheese and beer and has become an integral part of Tria’s mission to educate diners and drinkers about the “fermentation trio.” Meet-and-Greet events feature the same guest instructors as the Fermentation School in a less formal atmosphere. Information and tickets for Fermentation School classes can be found online at www.triacafe.com.
Meet-and-Greet events and Fermentation School offerings include:
d Friday, March 6: Tria’s own fermentation guru, Erin McLean, will team with Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Company for a special beer-and-cheese pairing seminar. Featured cheeses will include Jasper Hill Farm’s Winnemere, made exclusively for this class and washed in Victory’s Baltic Thunder. Class at Tria Fermentation School from 6:30 – 8 p.m.; $50.
d Friday, March 6: Bill Covaleski of Victory Brewing Company will attend a Meet the Brewer event at Tria Washington Square West from 5- 6 pm.
d Sunday, March 8: Adam Avery, president and brewmaster of Avery Brewing Company, will make his Tria debut during Philly Beer Week 2009 with a special tasting of his wildly creative ales and lagers. For different Avery ales including rare treats not usually available in PA will be featured at each Tria café. Meet the Brewer, Adam Avery, at Tria Washington Square West from 5 – 7 pm and at Tria Rittenhouse Square from 7:30 – 10:00 pm.
d Monday, March 9: Craft brewers are saying “yes, we can” to packaging their beers in easy to transport, recyclable cans. Pioneers in this movement Marty Jones of Oskar Blues Brewery and Brian O’Reilly of Sly Fox will discuss and taste their much-lauded brews – straight from the can. Class at Tria Fermentation School from 6:30 – 8 p.m.; $35.
d Monday, March 9: Meet the Brewers, Marty Jones and Brian O’Reilly at Tria Washington Square West from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
d Tuesday, March 10: Founder and president of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Sam Calagione will discuss and sample his off-the-wall offerings. New beers will be showcased alongside some Dogfish Head classics. Class at Tria Fermentation School from 7:30 – 9 p.m.; $60.
d Tuesday, March 10: Meet the Brewer, Sam Calagione, at Tria Washington Square West from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
d Wednesday, March 11: Meet the Brewer, Terence Sullivan of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., for a taste of the new Torpedo Extra IPA and other perfect brew-n-cheese pairings at Tria Rittenhouse Square from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
d Wednesday, March 11: Holland’s brewing superstar Hildegard van Ostaden of Urthel Brewery and her artist-husband Bas, the designer of all her beer’s labels, will share favorite brews from Urthel, brewed in a castle among monks known as De Koningshoeven Brewery. Class at Tria Fermentation School from 6:30 – 8 p.m.; $55.
d Wednesday, March 11: Meet the Brewer, Hildegard van Ostaden, at Tria Washington Square West from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
d Thursday, March 12: Ommegang Brewery head brewer Phil Leinhart will present the upstate New York brewery’s acclaimed beers, including such favorites as Abbey Ale, Hennepin and Three Philosophers and new treats like the Ommegang Ale 2009. Meet the Brewer, Phil Leinhart at Tria Rittenhouse Square from 5:00 – 9:00 pm.
d Thursday, March 12: One of America’s superstar brewers, Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company, is on the forefront of the craft beer revolution with barrel-aged, funky Belgian-style brews. Meet Rob Tod at Tria Washington Square West from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
d Friday, March 13: Don Feinberg, importer extraordinaire of Vanberg & DeWolf, will bring his expertise on Belgian beers, along with a fascinating selection of new beers making their American debut exclusively during Philly Beer Week 2009 and Boon lambic saved especially for Tria. Class at Tria Fermentation School from 6:30 – 8 p.m.; $55.
d Friday, March 13: Meet the Importer, Don Feinberg, at Tria Washington Square from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
Tria was named “Best Wine Bar” of 2008 by Philadelphia magazine, and was cited by Bon Appétit as one of the “Hot 10” wine bars nationally in the October 2008 issue, making them Philadelphia’s only representative in the top 10. Imbibe’s September/October 2008 article, “Best Places to Geek Out,” praises Tria’s spectacularly diverse beer list, noting that “Tria makes geekdom accessible for beer lovers of any stripe…[they are] completely committed to enlightening the beer-curious.” Also cited in both articles is Tria’s Fermentation School.
Since opening their first location in 2004, Tria has consistently received glowing praise from critics for its exceptional offerings, welcoming ambience and gracious service. With a causal atmosphere that spills out onto the sidewalk, all dishes priced at $10.50 or less and the city’s best selection of exceptional wines, craft beers, and artisanal cheeses, Tria is a neighborhood favorite at both their Rittenhouse Square (123 South 18th Street, 215-972-8742) and Washington Square West (1137 Spruce Street, 215-629-9200) locations. Hours vary by location; for more information, visit www.triacafe.com or call (215) 972-7075.
