Philly Beer Week Announces Hammer of Glory Relay and Opening Tap 2016

The Hammer of Glory will begin its annual parade around Philadelphia

at 6 a.m. on June 3, starting at WMMR and ending at The Fillmore

Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2016 will kick off in traditionally grand style: with the annual Hammer of Glory (HOG) Relay across America’s Best Beer-Drinking City™, followed by Opening Tap. The HOG Relay route takes the official keg hammer and beloved mascot of PBW across Philadelphia by virtually every conveyance imaginable; each year, participants compete to come up with the most outlandish and unusual transport for the HOG from place to place. Often, each participant keeps their method of transit a closely guarded secret until the day of the relay, when they unveil their off-the-wall method of transportation.

The relay kicks off the night before PBW, on June 2, with the HOG comfortably tucked in for a good night’s sleep, then gets up and at ‘em promptly at 6 a.m., concluding 13 hours and 42.8 miles later at 7 p.m. at Opening Tap at The Fillmore Philadelphia (29 East Allen Street).

This year’s HOG Relay Route will include:

The Night Before: Hotel Monaco (433 Chestnut Street)

6 a.m. Preston & Steve Show at 93.3 FM WMMR (1 Bala Plaza, Bala Cynwyd)

6:45 a.m. PHL17 (5001 Wynnefield Avenue)

7:45 a.m. Dock Street & FOX29 (5000 Baltimore Avenue)

8:45 a.m. Red Owl (433 Chestnut Street)

9:58 a.m. SawTown Tavern (4717 Princeton Avenue)

10:24 a.m. Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford Avenue)

11:02 a.m. Hop Angel Brauhaus (7980 Oxford Avenue)

11:21 a.m. SEPTA Fox Chase Line (11^th and Market Streets)

12:06 p.m. Sky Garten (1717 Arch Street)

12:27 p.m. Kite and Key (1836 Callowhill Street)

12:53 p.m. London Grill (2301 Fairmount Avenue)

1:14 p.m. Belgian Cafe (601 North 21^st Street)

1:45 p.m. Jose Pistola’s (263 South 15^th Street)

2:06 p.m. Opa & Drury Beer Garden (1311 Sansom Street)

2:18 p.m. Time (1315 Sansom Street)

2:44 p.m. Garage (1231 East Passyunk Avenue)

3:01 p.m. 12 Steps Down (767 South 9^th Street)

3:28 p.m. Varga (941 Spruce Street)

4 p.m. German Society (611 Spring Garden Street)

4:25 p.m. Bar Ferdinand and El Camino Real (1030 North 2^nd Street)

4:42 p.m. Heritage (914 North 2^nd Street)

4:59 p.m. Yards (901 North Delaware Avenue)

5:21 p.m. Standard Tap (901 North 2^nd Street)

5:43 p.m. Saint Benjamin Brewing (1710 North 5^th Street)

6:15 p.m. Philly Brewing (2440 Frankford Avenue)

6:40 p.m. Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Avenue)

6:51 p.m. Fette Sau (1208 Frankford Avenue)

7:02 p.m. Johnny Brenda’s (1201 Frankford Avenue)

7:20 p.m. Opening Tap at The Fillmore (26 East Allen Street)

Opening Tap will feature live music from The Living Sample and The Choice Cuts, plus photo opportunities with the HOG and the iconic Philly Spectrum S. Festivities will begin at 7:20 p.m. with the HOG’s arrival, followed closely by the ceremonial tapping of Brotherly Suds 7, a collaboration beer created by seven distinctly local breweries: Iron Hill, Flying Fish, Sly Fox, Victory, Tröegs, Yards and Stoudt’s. PBW Vice President Casey Wayne Parker will emcee the event – and, at 8:00 p.m., The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Maureen Fitzgerald will hand out Craig LaBan’s Brew-vitational Awards focusing on the best sour beers in the Philadelphia region.