"The story of a building can scarcely be told out of the context of the environment which forged its need and shaped its creation. Nor do mere brick, mortar and iron front consititute a temple ." Free Masons

My goodness.  This is the place. I have been hearing about the North East gem of a bar- for years now.  Famed for several reasons, not the least to mention their Firkin Fridays with at least 13 different casks. They have a great selection of beers rotated on draft keeping it fresh and local for the most part (one CAlifornia beer was on draft, the Anchor Bock, but I am certainly not complaining).  And--- they even have a Lodgemaster, Scoats- who's as friendly as they get. Lodgemaster?  I want to be a lodgemaster.

I grabbed my work sidekick, young Joanne, and headed to the subway. Took the El to the Frankford Transportation Center, picked up the 66 Bus, walked about 1/4 of a block and there it was.  Easy Breezy. Nowhere near as difficult as I had anticipated it would be. 

We took some photos out front, which will be added to my space as soon as they are developed.  We enter and take it all in.  Nice spot. Spacious. Not too much beer paraphanelia, but what is there is done tastefully.  There are a few TV's on.  Darts. We look around for the aspects of a bar that we treasure most.  For me it was a chalk board with draft selections  and a juke box hopefully with some stones and for Joanne, Ms. PacMan of course. 

John was our guy behind the bar.. He has just arrived to work and jumped right into the mix of things.  It was kind of humorous because he admitted that he saw the two of us outside, and thought to himself, "No way are those girls coming in here."  But alas, we traveled twenty minutes via SEPTA just for the Lodge.

The draft list is updated often, see www.greylodge.com.  On that given day I enjoyed The aforementioned Anchor Bock, A Franziskaner Dunkel, and an Orval. Sure I can get an Orval at Eulogy any time- but I just kind of felt like it.  Joann decided to participate in their current promotion, Stout Season and got the YARDS George Washington. Now you should know that this is actually the recipe that Our founding father penned in the late 1700's.  Yards has received Congressional approval to recreate the brew.  The recipe was found in the rare manuscripts of the New York Public Library.  Oh- and the Porter has molasses to boot, yum. www.yardsbrewing.com.

Stout season commenced coincidentally on the same day as Trout Season.  They are featuring a new Stout every week.  If you stop in for every week of the promotion, you get a one of a kind snazzy tee shirt.  I have my fingers crossed that even though I am not eligible, that perhaps they have some left over, and I can purchase one. 

I can in no way through words do justice to the restrooms.  I am nominating them to any Philly Mag/ Blog/ Publication that does the "best of" lists for best bathroom.  No- it isn't Paradigm with their see-through doors, or Starr's Continental wear the lads can see the lasses putting on their make up. It is the mosiac wonderland of quotes that lie within the walls of the Grey Lodge.  The women's restroom had a motif of love and money.  Done in symbolic colors of red and green. I could have drank a whole pint in their reading through the tiles.  Then I was lucky enough, to have The Lodgemaster show me where the men take care of business.  Those tiled quotes were of a beer nature.  Many of them I had seen, my favorite being Tom Wait's "I would rather have a bottle in front of me, then a frontal lombotomy. "

 We got some snacks.  Duck Spring Rolls served with an orange marmelade.  I could tell they were made fresh in house which is always nice.  We also ordered some wings and a burger.  I was impressed with their menu.  Many options that match up well with the liquid.  If you ever get a chance...pick up Brooklyn Brewmaster, Garret Oliver's book, The Brewmaster Table.  And you can read all about Oysters and Stouts hittin the altar.

The second floor had another bar with all the great beer they had downstairs.  There I met two more nice guys, Pat and Doozer.  There's nothing better than going into a place where everyone  is so damn nice.. it kind of makes you wanna come back. alot.  Upstairs, there is a really cool wall hanging, with a variety of Beer Labels, mostly Belgian that had been donated by a Patron before he moved to Indonesia. You will get to see a snapshot of that as well.

There is a schedule of upcoming events on the wall and website.  Count me in for  International Talk like a Pirate day on September 19th. Complete with Eye Patches for attendees.

The name itself begs the question of significance.  Scoats told me it was  Twin Peaks reference.. There was the Black Lodge and The White Lodge in David Lynch's twisted creation.  And since things aren't always B or W----you get the rest..

The praise is non-stop for this fine pub.  Beer Advocate.com gave it major kudos by placing it 25 out of the 50 top bars in America.  Esquire magazine just mentioned it as one of the best bars in America.  And-I say it's one of the Best bars in America.. So hop on the subway. get bus 66 and get your but and beer gut there. Say Hi to everyone you see.  Because you will meet some truly good characters including the guys and gals pouring your beers.