Ringing in 2026: A New Year’s Beer Crawl Through Philly’s Craft Beer Triangle

As the confetti settled and resolutions were made, my crew and I kicked off 2026 the only way we know how: with an epic beer crawl through Philadelphia’s thriving craft scene. While we trimmed the itinerary this year (NFL Wild Card Weekend waits for no one), the four stops we selected showcase the very best of what the city of brotherly love has to offer, spanning both beloved institutions and exciting newcomers in the Fishtown, Olde Kensington, and Northern Liberties triangle.

Stop One: Human Robot Brewing (Kensington)

You simply can’t plan a beer crawl in this neighborhood without including Human Robot. Housed in the historic St. Benjamin Brewing building at 1710 North 5th Street, this brewery has completely transformed Philadelphia’s craft beer landscape, and their original Kensington location has all the charm to match their stellar reputation.

The name itself tells you everything about their approach: “Human” represents their dedication to classic European-style beers, while “Robot” embodies their experimental, modern techniques. We sampled the Particle Ride, a crisp west coast pilsner, and the Flunderhaus lager, both showcasing their mastery of traditional styles.

Pro tip: Don’t leave without trying the “Milk Tube,” a 10 oz. stange filled with impossibly dense foam poured from a Czech Lukr side-pull faucet. And if hunger strikes, Poe’s Sandwich Joint shares the space, serving up loaded cheese fries and massive sandwiches that pair perfectly with those European lagers.

Stop Two: Sacred Vice Brewing

Perhaps the most underrated brewery in Philadelphia, Sacred Vice at 120 West Berks Street consistently cranks out quality beers across every style imaginable. Their taproom hits that perfect sweet spot between neighborhood brewery and local record store, with mid-century furniture that feels like your cool aunt’s living room and approximately 1,500 LPs spinning behind the bar.

Founded by cousins Matt Brodsky and Justin Steinberg, with Andrew “Ruby” Rubenstein leading the brewing program, Sacred Vice focuses on approachable, high-quality beers without pretension. We enjoyed the Super High Quality Saphir pale lager (a collaboration with the Philadelphia School District, which is pretty cool) and the Special Enough cream ale, a smooth American-style offering that lived up to its name.

Sacred Vice truly doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. The combination of consistently excellent beer, an inclusive atmosphere reinforced by their strong Code of Conduct, and that vinyl collection make it an essential stop on any Philly beer tour.

Stop Three: Forest & Main Brewing Co. (Fishtown)

The newest addition to the area at 1416 Frankford Avenue, Forest & Main may be a Fishtown newcomer, but they’re certainly no stranger to Philadelphia’s craft beer scene. With two highly successful locations in Ambler already under their belt, they’re particularly renowned for their saisons and English ales.

The Fishtown space, formerly home to Cheu, achieves that ideal “homey, classic pub feel” with mismatched furniture and original artwork. We sampled the Tiny Tim session bitter and their Best Bitter, both served via hand pumps in proper British fashion. These British-influenced ales showcase why Forest & Main has built such a devoted following.

We also grabbed a Quiet Ghost to take home, because when beers are this good, you don’t want the party to end at the taproom. Chef Dane DeMarco’s “Snack Shack” menu offers playful takes on pub food, including sloppy joes and “Walking Cheesesteaks” that complement the farmhouse-style saisons fermented with house-cultured wild yeast.

Stop Four: Wissahickon Brewing Company (Olde Kensington)

We wrapped up our crawl at Wissahickon’s spacious Olde Kensington taproom at 1526 N. American Street. This location stands out for several reasons: it’s much larger than the other stops on our tour, it operates as both a coffee shop in the morning and taproom in the afternoon, and it features a full kitchen serving elevated comfort food (those smash burgers hit differently after three brewery stops).

The beers didn’t disappoint either. We sampled the Pink Anchovy XPA and the Wigwam pale ale, both showcasing Wissahickon’s solid brewing chops. Before heading out, we snagged a Blossom NE IPA to go, adding to our takeaway haul.

With three locations now spanning from East Falls to Olde Kensington to Maple Glen, Wissahickon has proven they can scale up while maintaining quality. The former Original 13 Ciderworks space also serves as their kombucha production facility, showing the brewery’s commitment to diversification.

The Verdict

This condensed crawl perfectly captured what makes Philadelphia’s craft beer scene so special. From Human Robot’s perfect European lagers to Sacred Vice’s underrated consistency, Forest & Main’s British traditions to Wissahickon’s community-focused spaces, these four breweries represent the diverse, innovative, and genuinely welcoming nature of Philly brewing.

Whether you’re reaching for a farmhouse saison, a Czech pilsner, or a hazy IPA, the Beer Triangle has you covered. Here’s to another year of great beer, great friends, and crawls that start the year off right.

Cheers to 2026!