resurrection

Yet Again Bringing New Life to Off-Beat Parts of the City.

It’s hard to tell sometimes whether Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida are in the business of opening bars or, not to use a cheesy pun, resurrecting neighborhoods. With their third venture in the past few years, the couple decided to bring life to the closed down and uniquely designed Yello’bar in the Graduate Hospital area of the city. Having already begun their beer domination with the likes of Memphis Taproom in Fishtown and Local 44 in West Philly, Brendan and Leigh had already formed a strong following and had the city hyped for another location.

Opening only one year ago, Resurrection Ale House has caught on quickly and become a local resident hot-spot. It may be smaller in size, but it surely does not lack in character as it has one of the most unique bars in the city. What sets their bar apart from others in the city is that it is bi-level. The back side of the bar is literally on a separate floor and taller than most of the bartenders. The other side of the bar is the typical bar height, but why sit down low when up top you have prime position (on par with the rail at the front window of the 15th and Walnut location of Qdoba for people watching) to spy on the rest of the bar patrons. However, there is more to this cozy little place than a bi-level bar. Like the other two bars running under Brendan and Leigh’s reigns, Resurrection is one of the premier spots in the city for a great beer list that’s complimented by an equally palatable food menu.

Despite having a great beer list, Resurrection’s list isn’t overwhelming. There are not 1,000 options to leave you feeling unsure of what to drink. Rather, Brendan and Leigh created this list with the mindset of putting quality over quantity. The tap list consists of 12 rotating lines and a hand pump. The taps are always flowing with a great variety of locals and favorites from around the world. There is also an opportunity to discover rarities from highly sought out breweries such as Russian River, and there’s always a good chance of finding a Belgian geuze to be savored. As for the bottle list, it’s also kept minimal at around 40 bottles. The bottles have a strong Belgian focus with a few Cantillons amongst others. Also, look out for such local classics as Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout, which they keep stored atop the bar at room temperature so you’re sure to pick up all the little nuances in this complex beer. Like the beer list, the food menu is also created with a quality over quantity focus. The menu is filled with creative, exceptionally tasty items such as a beef tongue sandwich or their take on the classic twice fried chicken. Resurrection Ale House also serves a brunch menu to keep the weekend morning crowds happy. So, take a stroll down to Grays Ferry Avenue and see for yourself how Resurrection’s delicious food and extensive beer list has livened up our already legendary scene. Resurrection Ale House is located at 2425 Grays Ferry Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19146.