New 9,000 Sq. ft. Uptown Beer Garden is Coming to Center City

Outdoor sips and eats are coming to the heart of Philadelphia’s business district. BRU Craft & Wurst announces the opening of Uptown Beer Garden at 1735 JFK Boulevard in the courtyard of the PNY Mellon Bank Building on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 4:00pm. The 9,000 square foot summer pop-up will run through September and feature picnic tables, granite benches, tree slab communal tables, outdoor lighting and rustic decor in the tree-lined courtyard. A 35-foot bar will feature a full selection of spirits, select wines, six craft drafts and nearly a dozen craft cans. Signature cocktails will include frozen margaritas, stone fruit and berry red sangria, and peach and apricot white sangria. The on-site kitchen will serve a selection of bar snacks, sliders, sandwiches and even dessert.

Pulled Duck Slider

Starting hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 5:00pm to 10:00pm, Wednesday 4:00pm to Midnight, Friday and Saturday 2:00pm to Midnight and Sunday closed. A portion of proceeds from Uptown Beer Garden will be donated to Philadelphia Animal Welfare Association (PAWS). For more information, call BRU at 215-800-1079, visit BRU Craft & Wurst on Facebook and follow @bruphilly on Twitter.

“I love outdoor spaces and have always dreamed of opening a rooftop or patio bar/lounge,” said Teddy Sourias, owner of BRU Craft & Wurst, U-Bahn and Finn McCools. “After the successful opening of U-Bahn, we were ready for the next challenge. The courtyard of the PNY Mellon Bank Building is 3,000 square feet larger than BRU and U-Bahn combined. The unique space had everything I was looking for including expansive views of the new high rises, lush greenery, a mix of intimate and large spaces, and building partners that would let my team get creative.”

The Uptown Beer Garden can host up to 500 people and will feature $5.00 and $6.00 (average) craft drafts and cans, seasonal cocktails, bar bites, sandwiches and dessert. The starting food and drink menu will include:

SNACKS

Warm Pretzels
bavarian-style pretzel rods with spicy beer mustard

Guacamole & Chips
tortilla chips with housemade guacamole

BBQ Tofu Summer Roll
peanut hoisin dipping sauce

SLIDERS

Pulled Duck
fennel and apple slaw, porter plum sauce

Beef Short Rib
pickled red onion, bibb lettuce

Seared Tuna
grilled tomato, thai basil, wasabi aioli

SANDWICHES

Bratwurst
housemade brat, kraut, spicy beer mustard

Today’s Wurst
housemade sausage of the day

SWEET

Ice Cream Sandwich
mint chocolate chip ice cream, cocoa cookie

COCKTAILS

Frozen Margaritas
Stone Fruit & Berry Red Sangria
Peach & Apricot White Sangria

BEER

DRAFTS
Allagash White
Two Roads Road Jam
Ommegang Hennepin
Brooklyn Pilsner
Captain Law
Boulevard Heavy Lifting IPA

CANS
Jack’s Helen’s Blend Cider
21A Hell or High Watermelon
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice
Anderson Valley Holy Gose
Troegs Sunshine Pils
Brooklyn Lager
Founders All Day IPA
Firestone Walker Union Jack
Corona
Miller Lite

(*Plus seasonal limited and rare selections)

Guests at Uptown Beer Garden will be able to enjoy food and drink in the courtyard that will feature six 8-foot communal high-tops made from tree slabs, nine picnic tables, more than a dozen raw granite benches, and other furniture and decor made from reclaimed wood. Above the courtyard, lights will dance among the existing green trees. The entrance will feature a custom sign created by local artist Alloyius Mcilwaine. Sourias did the design himself, with help from his team, and execution by GM Efestos. “I wanted to play off of the natural and green elements of the space. We kept that rustic look and used raw and natural woods,” said Sourias. “As we did with U-Bahn, we also wanted to use recycled and reclaimed materials whenever possible.”

The main entrance to Uptown Beer Garden is 1735 JFK Boulevard.  The garden will also be accessible from the Market Street side through a passthrough next to the PNY Mellon Bank Building.

Starting opening hours:

* Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – 5:00pm to 10:00pm
* Wednesday – 4:00pm to 12:00am
* Friday, Saturday – 2:00pm to 12:00am
* Sunday – Closed

Some cans available at Uptown Beergarden

Happy hour specials will run Monday through Saturday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, and include $3.00 beer and $5.00 Wurst sandwiches. On Wednesdays, look for extended hours (4:00pm to 7:00pm) and additional specials to coincide with Center City Sips, including $5.00 cocktails, $4.00 wine, $3.00 drafts, and half-priced select appetizers. Other events and promotions will include a Yappy Hour and a pop-up with Philly Phaithful’s new Philadelphia Experience collection (details on both coming soon).

A portion of proceeds from the Uptown Beer Garden will be donated to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Guests of UBG will also be able to make donations and learn about PAWS at a special charity station near the front doors. A portion of the donations to PAWS will support the KATO (Kitty At The Office) program. “We are big fans of PAWS after working with them on Philly LOVES Paws at U-Bahn. Since Uptown Beer Garden is in the business district, we thought it was a great way for us to promote their new office fostering program,” said Sourias. More info is available here: www.phillykato.com

For more information, call BRU at 215-800-1079, visit BRU Craft & Wurst on Facebook and follow @bruphilly on Twitter.