💡 Get Philly smart 💡
with BP’s free daily newsletter
Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.
Updated Nov. 6
If you were wondering what beer to bring to Thanksgiving dinner this year, direct your searchlight toward Brewery ARS. The twins behind the West Passyunk micro beermaker have just come out with a new brew that encapsulates the moment perfectly.
Introducing Gritty Gruel. Tagline: “This is what nightmares are made of.”
Brothers Sean and Andy Arsenault decided to make a beer in honor of the Flyers mascot because of the general buzz around him — but also because of the makeup of their clientele.
“In all honesty, we have so many fans swing by the brewery before and after games that we are really doing it for them,” said Sean.
The beer itself is a stout brewed with donuts and hopped with cold brew coffee. Why? The mascot “looks like he/she is hopped up on something,” so those were the first two things that came to mind. The beer packs an appropriate punch at 7.5 percent ABV, but also has a softer side thanks to lactose added to the the mix.
Close your ears: Actual donuts were harmed in the production of this beer — specifically “way too many” hot fresh from Federal Donuts — which were tossed in during the mash. Then, during secondary fermentation, Andy poured in the Rival Bros. cold brew, which pleases Rival cofounder Jonathan Adams quite a bit.
Adams didn’t know about the project before it was announced Monday night on Instagram, he said, adding, “I am, however, beyond stoked.” His business partner Damien Rival is a huge Flyers fan, and he himself played roller hockey growing up.
Starting on Thursday, Nov. 8, Gritty Gruel will be available in 4-packs for $17, or on draft at the Brewery ARS tasting room in South Philly. Less than 50 cases are being made, so they won’t last long.
