6 new places to go, plus 6 brews to try during Philly Beer Week

Opening Tap. Varga Bar's Pints & Pinups Block Party. Fishtown FestivAle. The Great Beer Expo.

These are the anchors of Philly Beer Week that deserve all the attention they get. But each edition of the vaunted citywide celebration gives beer lovers a chance to dig deeper into the local scene - a new bar, a new beer.

You'll find plenty of gems if you comb through the hundreds of events at PhillyBeerWeek.org and its free smartphone app. Here are a few I've found.

Events are pay as you go, unless ticket prices are listed.

1. Aldine Restaurant (1901 Chestnut St.).

The second-story spot opened by chef George Sabatino (formerly of Stateside) and his wife, Jennifer, is going big with its first beer-week event. Somehow it convinced Ardmore's iconoclastic Tired Hands brewpub to stick its toe into Center City with a $75-a-plate, four-course dinner tomorrow, when the brewery unveils a pair of new beers brewed just for the event.

2. Deschutes Street Pub

The mobile 400-foot bar makes a stop at South Street's Headhouse District on Saturday, with music, food and a long line of taps.

Most of you will belly up for the 2014 version of The Abyss Imperial Stout. But if it's hot outside, don't miss the Oregon brewery's lighter drafts, including Mirror Pond and Twilight Summer Ale.

3. Second Story Brewing (117 Chestnut St.).

Opened last year, the former Triumph brewpub has been rocking it with classically styled ales and lagers from newcomer John Wible. And now he's debuting a portfolio of edgy sours and barrel-aged brews. Stop by on Monday for Breakfast Stout aged in Dad's Hat Rye barrels, and on Thursday for a guided tasting of six sours (tix $45).

4. U-Bahn (1320 Chestnut St.).

The busy underground spot below BRU Craft & Wurst specializes in Pennsylvania beer, and that can range from the familiar (Victory Brewing is featured on Wednesday) to the unusual. On Monday, pucker up with sours from ShawneeCraft, Draai Laag, Free Will and Bullfrog.

5. The Bridge (100 Spring Garden St., Northern Liberties).

This new spot says it's "just a bar." In Philly, of course, that means good beer. On Wednesday, Round Guys is in the house, and you get to pick the ingredients for a unique beer to be brewed later this summer (tix $35).

6. Heritage (914 N. 2nd St., Northern Liberties).

The new jazz bar from the folks behind Time and Garage, among others, has tucked into the crowded 2nd Street restaurant scene. Enjoy music and brunch on June 7 with one of my favorite California breweries, Anderson Valley.

1. Bullfrog Veritable Grrrz Kriek

Though the Williamsburg, Pa., brewery's rep for sour beers is well-established, it still usually requires a long trek to Blair County to grab a bottle. Jon's Bar & Grille (606 South St.) will save you toll money by pouring a dozen Bullfrog drafts, including this traditional gueuze made with cherries.

2. Building Bridges

This series of six one-off collaborations between Saint Benjamin and Manayunk breweries is named after famous bridges around the world. Look for firkins of Ben Franklin Bridge, Pont Marie and others around town throughout the week.

3. Yards Barrel-Aged Grand Cru

Bottles of this Belgian-style strong ale (9.9 percent alcohol) from the Northern Liberties brewery are worthy of cellaring. Now it's nice to see Yards do the job for us. They'll pour the aged ale at a Boilermaker Happy Hour at the Dandelion (124 S. 18th St.) on Monday.

4. Coppertail Dangerous Frank

Ex-Flying Fish brewer Casey Hughes, now of Tampa's Coppertail, is making his Philly return at several venues. Look for this boysenberry-flavored Berliner weissbier at BRU Craft & Wurst (1318 Chestnut St.) on Wednesday.

5. All Green Everything

This triple IPA from Brooklyn's Other Half Brewing Co. has been the talk of New York for the past year. Try it on June 6 at Bainbridge Street Barrel House.

6. Cascade Sang Royal

The Portland, Ore., sour ale brewery sends only a few pallets of bottles to Philly every year. Somehow, always-excellent Tria Taproom (2005 Walnut St.) scored several kegs, tentatively including this cherry-flavored, oak-aged wild ale. Look for it on June 6.