Liacouras Center – Breweries

The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a massive, multi-purpose venue on the campus of Temple University. It’s used for everything from concerts and sporting events, to conventions. The Liacouras Center is located amidst the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia, making it easy to find and convenient to visit.

Its location is also ideal for beer-lovers, as there is no shortage of breweries in the area. It may be tough to know where to start, so we’ve put together a list of awesome breweries close to the Liacouras Center. This way you can enjoy a cold one before or after the event.

Love City Brewing

The closest brewery to the Liacouras Center is Love City Brewing. This approachable brewery rejects the pretentiousness sometimes found in other breweries. They strive to create an enjoyable beer experience free of judgment, and instead full of delicious beer.

There are plenty of beers to choose from, many of which cater to various tastes. They’re all guaranteed to be fresh, as the brewing equipment is less than 100 feet from the tasting room. Their industrial setting has decorative touches like string lights, couches, and a dart board. This creates a welcoming place for cicerones and casual beer drinkers alike. In addition to a range of beers, you have plenty of choices in terms of food as well since food trucks regularly stop by Love City Brewing.

Evil Genius Beer Company

Some of the craziest beer concoctions in Philly can be found at Evil Genius Beer Company. There, the brewmasters are always coming up with funky, new flavors. They refer to their tasting room as “The Lab,” and guests are the guinea pigs for their experimental brews.

One of Evil Genius’s crazy flavors is the Purple Monkey Dishwasher, a porter with chocolate and peanut butter. Their #adulting beer is a guava-infused IPA, while the #ICANTEVEN is a refreshing watermelon blonde ale. If it’s a scorcher out in Philly, you may want to try the You’re Killing Me Smalls, a raspberry-infused lemon shandy.

The Lab looks similar to a factory with its high ceilings, exposed brick, and tables of all shapes and sizes. Venture into this creative brewery, located less than 10 minutes from the Liacouras Center.

Crime and Punishment Brewing Co.

Crime and Punishment Brewing Co. is a small, quirky establishment with a cozy seating area, and a few tables outside. Guests with a sweet tooth should try the fruity Smilesmirk, a beer like no other on the menu. Crime and Punishment brews their Smilesmirk with strawberry puree and rhubarb, giving it a pink color and sweet taste.

Another one of their beers, an IPA called Space Race, has a scent of papaya and slight flavors of passionfruit, mango, and grapefruit. Enjoy this brew with some of their Russian-inspired dumplings, and you’ll have the quintessential Crime and Punishment experience.

Philadelphia Brewing Company

The oldest and largest brewing facility in all of Philadelphia is only 11 minutes from the Liacouras Center, making it a must-visit. Philadelphia Brewing Company operates out of a building established as a brewery more than 125 years ago. If those walls could talk, they’d likely talk about the fresh and fantastic beer that’s been brewed in the facility for generations. The inside of the brewery is spacious, beautifully decorated with iron, wood, flowers, antiques, and a fireplace.

When visiting Philadelphia Brewing Company you may spot the brewery cat, Duke, strolling around. The employees memorialized their beloved cat by naming their latest beer “Working Cat Pale Ale.” In addition to Duke, the brewery supports other cats by hosting adoption events. During these events, guests drink beer while playing with the adorable cats. What’s more perfect than that?

Mainstay Independent Brewing Company

Mainstay Independent Brewing Company is a fiercely individual establishment with an award-winning beer maker. Brian O’Reilly, is one of Philadelphia’s best-known brew masters. He has earned 10 medals from the Great American Beer Festival, and created hundreds of beers over the course of his career. He brings this incredible experience to his latest project, Mainstay Independent Brewing Company. The outstanding beers include the Constitution Lager, Glow Spice Amber Ale, and the Festival Ale, brewed specifically for Philly’s Holiday Festival.

The most outstanding part of Mainstay, in addition to their beer, of course, is their beer hall. The Craft Hall, as they refer to it, is a 35,000-square-foot warehouse that contains plenty of seating, and even an indoor playground. The playground is the perfect place for kids to play while parents enjoy some artfully brewed beer. Outside, Mainstay houses chickens and rabbits for guests to visit.

Mainstay Independent Brewing Company is unlike any other, so definitely consider taking the 12-minute drive over from the Liacouras Center.

Wissahickon Brewing Company

Family-owned Wissahickon Brewing Company is relatively new but has already made a big splash in the Philly brewing scene. The Gill family, local to the area, opened their brewery in 2017 and have been making headlines ever since. Philadelphia magazine named Wissahickon the best brewpub of 2019, and Eater Philly lists them as an essential Philadelphia Brewery.

The Gill family’s brewing started as a hobby. But once their beers started winning national competitions, they decided to make their dream of opening a brewery a reality. Sit at a high top table at their cozy bar area, simply decorated to make their beautiful stone and wood bar stand out. Or, head back into the industrial area amongst the barrels and brewing equipment. This spacious, high-ceilinged seating area gives you a look into Wissahickon’s brewing process, and an appreciation for the work that goes into it.

Wissahickon a great place to gather with friends, as this family-run business has a welcoming atmosphere and outstanding beers. Their Black Bear IPA is brewed with 60 pounds of honey, their Raspberry Wit includes hundreds of pounds of raspberries in the fermenter, and their Abyss saison is gently spiced with peppercorn and coriander. In addition to outstanding beer, there are food trucks present every day.

Wissahickon Brewing Company is less than 20 minutes from the Liacouras Center, and well-worth the trip. This down-to-earth establishment is one where you can get to know everyone, and feel good about supporting a dream come true.