Free Library of Philadelphia announces rooftop beer garden series at Parkway Central

Starting this week, Philadelphians will be able to lift an elbow while several stories up, courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia's Brews and Views mini-series at Parkway Central's Sky-line Beer Garden.

Through June 29, the Free Library's beer garden will be open Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Parkway Central location's Skyline Terrace on the library's fourth floor with local beer, wine, and cocktails available, as well as snacks from Brûlée Catering.

The beer garden's menu will change on a weekly basis. May 18's kickoff features bar food classics like nachos, pretzels, cheese plates, and more. Entertainment, meanwhile, will be provided weekly by Today's 96.5, which will be on-site at the beer garden.

Entry is free, and no RSVP or registration is required for a visit — however, all guests must be aged 21 or older. Attendees will also receive promo codes for Lyft rides for safe transportation home.

In addition to the Sky-line Beer Garden, the Free Library and the Raven Society, a young professionals group, will host a special author event with Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione and beer historian Patrick E. McGovern on June 6 at 6 p.m. The event, which will be held in the Raven Society Rooftop Biergarten, will discuss McGovern's new book, Ancient Brews: Rediscovered and Re-created.

Calagione and McGovern have worked together since 1999, most famously on Dogfish Head's Midas Touch brew, a recreation of a brew found in 2,700-year-old drinking vessels in King Midas' tomb. They also collaborate on other beers in Dogfish's Ancient Ales series, including Ta Henket, Theobroma, and Chateau Jiahu.

Tickets to that event are on sale, and run between $35 and $125. All tickets include access to an open bar, light snacks, and live music.