Philly has lost a giant in its beer community. Rich Colli, owner of Varga Bar, beloved for its craft tap list, died last week. Colli was active in the Philly drink scene and a board member at Philly Loves Beer, a nonprofit that hosts events, including Philly Beer Week. He was only 44.
“ If you go to an event for Philly Beer Week, he was at the center of everything,” said Mike LaCouture, a family friend and owner of Broken Goblet Brewing.
“The dude was just such a solid human being. He would always give you a huge hug and a handshake and ask you how your family was before he asked how your business was,” LaCouture said.
“I think if you talked to 50 people about him, 50 out of 50 would say the same thing.”
More than his success or reputation in the industry, Colli was known for his warmth and ability to lift people up.
“No matter how busy he was, he’d take time to greet people and see how they were doing, talk to them without them feeling as if something else was more important,” said his sister, Mary Jo Colli.
“ [He was] always focused on being a people person, talking to people and connecting with people,” she said. “Which I feel like in this day of egotism, it’s amazing also to be able to hold that many people in your heart.”
The Medical Examiner’s Office reports that Colli’s cause of death was hypertension and chronic cardiovascular disease, per the Inquirer.
To celebrate his life and legacy, Billy Penn reached out to Colli’s friends and family to curate a list of local bars he loved and often frequented.
“ When it came to owning his own business and being a manager, it’s funny because everyone loved and respected him, but they said it was very important to him that things were run and done the way he wanted,” Mary Jo said. “ And I don’t mean with perfection, but I mean with integrity.”
Colli’s list
Each bar on this list is celebrated for a unique craft beer menu, with many including local standouts as well as interesting additions from around the globe.
- Crime and Punishment Brewing in Brewerytown
- Jose Pistolas in Rittenhouse and Sancho Pistolas in Fishtown
- Sacred Vice Brewing in Kensington
- Pen and Pencil Club in Rittenhouse
- Second District Brewing in Point Breeze
- Fergie’s Pub in Center City
Colli’s legacy
Varga Bar opened in 2009. Colli originally worked there as a manager and eventually bought the place in 2020 — keeping it open and running despite a global pandemic.
“ I just remember kind of marveling in the humanity of his work ethic,” said LaCouture. “It wasn’t just about, ‘clear tables and get people moved off so we can get more money.’ It was, ‘Let me, let me be a good steward of the people in the neighborhood. Let me help these people. Let me do this charity work. Let me take this group of people to the Phillies game.’ ”
Varga Bar has been a staple in the Philly community, propping up new craft brewers by adding them to its tap list. LaCouture’s wife is a lifelong friend of his sister Mary Jo. The late bar owner helped LaCouture transition from a career in music to a career in brewing.
“He could really put you more firmly on the map in a city that was a beer mecca 10 years ago, just by leaning a little support your way,” said LaCouture. However, he adds that he was generous in his support of beermakers, especially those who were passionate.
“He just worked really hard to make people feel included,” LaCouture said. “If he couldn’t get you on tap, he’d want to have you at an event. If he didn’t have room for you at the event, he would work to get you some notoriety.”
Both Mary Jo and LaCouture emphasized Colli’s ability to make whoever he was with feel seen.
“You know everybody knew Rich, and everyone thought that they were special to him,” Mary Jo said.
“He was so good to his family,” LaCouture added. “I don’t know if everybody knows that. He made time for his family, given a schedule where he worked tirelessly. And would make sure that he worked tirelessly so that his staff was taken care of, or that his people were paid, or that nobody felt marginalized, or that they were overworked, or anything like that.”
Colli spent his life championing Philly bars and motivating people to get out and gather with friends and loved ones over a drink. There’s a time-honored way, whether it’s at one of the bars on this list or one of your favorites, to pay your respects.
“We’re not sure what comes next,” Philly Loves Beer posted on its Facebook page on Monday, along with a picture of a large crowd gathered outside of Varga Bar to honor Colli. “We think it involves a beer. Raise one up for Rich Colli!”
