The Ultimate Guide to Eating and Drinking Your Way Through Black Friday in Philly

Whether you're thinking about braving the retail crowds on Black Friday and need some liquid courage, or just need to get away from the family and into a pint or five after Thursday's all-day feast, here's our roundup of food- and drink-centered highlights for the big day after the big day.

Black Beer Events and Specials

The obvious move for bars on Black Friday is to roll out some pitch-black beers, and there's no shortage of places on board with the trend:

Memphis Taproom (2331 E. Cumberland St.; website)
The Taproom's Everything Went Black Friday event will run a massive number of dark beers on tap all day long, from Allagash, Yards, Victory, Port, Firestone Walker and tons more (check out a partial draft list here). While the beer goes all day, they'll also be running brunch until 3 p.m.

Bru (1316 Chestnut St.; website)
Bru's Fade to Black event will highlight dark beers from 11 breweries — including Maine's Oxbow (their head brewer, Mike Fava, is a Philly expat whose brewing credits include Dock Street and Nodding Head), who will be pouring a couple of selections and serving charcuterie from one of the pigs raised at their farmhouse brewery. Additional food specials (incorporating beer, of course) will be available, and featured drafts will be priced at $4-5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Taproom on 19th (2400 S. 19th St.; website)
If you're on the lookout for Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout, here's one to hit: the Taproom says they'll be tapping theirs at 11 a.m. on Black Friday.

Kraftwork (541 E. Girard Ave.; website)
Blackout Brunch starts at 10:30 a.m. with a slew of dark beers and a Thanksgiving leftovers-themed brunch menu. (Anyone for green bean casserole quiche?) Here's the draft list, which includes some good ones you don't see every day, including gems from Dominion and Mikkeller.

Sidecar Bar (2201 Christian St.; website)
Serving up the same leftover-heavy Blackout Brunch as sibling Kraftwork, Sidecar will have a slightly different taplist and will get started earlier, at 9 a.m.

Tria Taproom (2005 Walnut St.; website)
They're keeping it simple with one good special, tapping Carton Brewing's Epitome (an imperial black ale) and offering it for just $4.50 all day long.

Devil's Den (1148 S.11th St.; website)
Starting at noon, the taplist will include Free Will Black Friday Quad, Allagash Black, Founders Dark Penance, and more. Plus, the bar will be running brunch specials all day.

City Taphouse U City (3925 Walnut St.; website)
Starting at 1 p.m., pick from a huge taplist of dark craft beers, with tasting flights available. The choices run from classics like Founders Breakfast Stout and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (they'll have multiple vintages of the latter) to some quirkier flavored choices like Evil Twin Doughnut Break, Neshaminy Creek Coconut Mudbank, and Flying Dog Mint Chocolate Stout. (See the full taplist here.)

Other Beer Events

Bottle Bar East (1308 Frankford Ave.; website)
The bar's turning two years old, and to celebrate, they'll have an impressive taplist featuring hits from Bell's and Stone. Of special note: This is one of just a few places to find Stone's Enjoy By 12.26.14 (a super-limited fresh DIPA that's likely to sell out quickly), and they'll be tapping at 5 p.m.

Brew (1900 S. 15th St.; website)
The Newbold beer boutique will hold a free tasting event to debut this season's Christmas beers. Drop by from 5 to 7 p.m. to see the new stock and snag some free sips.

Dining, Shopping, and More

Aldine (1901 Chestnut St., second floor; website)
The buzzy new restaurant from George and Jen Sabatino is opening early on Black Friday with some specials on drinks and small bites to provide a break and much-needed sustenance to anyone hitting the Rittenhouse area shops. From 3 to 7 p.m., they will be offering half off drafts, $5 house red and white wine, and $7 speciality cocktails. Food specials will include $2 oysters, $3 popcorn, $5 rabbit rillettes crostini, and $5 panna cotta.

Christmas Village at Love Park (16th St. and JFK Blvd.; website)
Though the official grand opening ceremony isn't until Saturday, this year's Village will be open for previews on Thanksgiving Day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Black Friday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) There's shopping to be done, but there's also plenty of beer, hot beverages, and food — from raclette to currywurst, pretzels to doner kebabs.

Blue Cross River Rink Winterfest (101 S. Columbus Blvd.; website)
Black Friday (starting at 11 a.m.) is the official first day for this year's Winterfest, which joined the River Rink last year to resounding success. This time around, in addition to ice skating, you can shop at the Art Star Bazaar or just hang out in the Lodge, playing games and enjoying food and drink options executed by Garces Events (there's a full bar, taco truck, and more).

All Garces Restaurants (various locations; website)
Starting on Black Friday, Garces Group will implement holiday bonuses for gift card purchases: Spend $100 on gift cards, and get a bonus $25 card. You can buy gift cards at any Garces restaurant, or get them online.

Shake Shack (various locations; website)
OK, this isn't technically Black Friday-related, but it's worth noting that time's almost up for November's ultra-popular Pumpkin Pie Oh My concrete (a.k.a frozen custard with a whole slice of pumpkin pie blended right in). It'll be gone after Sunday, November 30, so consider dropping by for one more while you're out running around.