National Beer Day lands on Tuesday, April 7, and Philadelphia is not letting it pass without making something of it. From a label design contest at one of the city’s founding craft breweries to a Polish-inspired citywide paired with a shot of Żubrówka, to a custom brew-your-own experience and a rooftop bar in Rittenhouse serving local drafts at $9 a glass — this National Beer Day has something worth going out for. Here’s where to celebrate.

National Beer Day at Dock Street Brewery: Design Your Own Label

Dock Street Brewery — Philadelphia’s first craft brewery, with locations in Fishtown and South Philadelphia — is marking National Beer Day with one of the more creative activations in the city. On Tuesday, April 7, from 11 am to 10 pm, guests are invited to design their own beer label for a chance to see it actually produced. Submissions can be created on-site, must incorporate “Dock Street” and a custom beer name, and give participants full creative freedom beyond that.

The brewery’s team will select a winning design by April 10, which will be produced as a limited-run beer and featured on up to 10 cases of four-packs available for in-house sale. The winner takes home a complimentary case and social media recognition.

The contest is free to enter with no purchase required and is open to all ages. Guests 21 and over are eligible for the beer case prize; those under 21 receive up to $80 in food and pizza. It’s one of the more inclusive National Beer Day activations in the city this year, and one worth showing up for in person. Dock Street Brewery is already one of our favorite breweries in the city — if you haven’t been, see our earlier coverage of Match Madness at Dock Street Brewery for a sense of what they’re doing beyond the beer.

National Beer Day at Little Walter’s: A Polish Citywide

Little Walter’s — Chef Michael Brenfleck’s acclaimed contemporary Polish restaurant and bar — runs a beer program built around Polish and local selections year-round, which makes National Beer Day a natural fit rather than a forced occasion. The Urbanista ($15) is the drink of the day: a 16 oz can of Żubr paired with a shot of Żubrówka, which is a nod to classic Polish drinking culture and the Philly citywide tradition that locals know well. It’s a proper National Beer Day drink — no gimmick, just a well-considered pairing rooted in actual drinking culture.

The full beer list at Little Walter’s is worth exploring beyond the Urbanista. Polish staples include Żubr (6% pale lager), Bojan Passionfruit (3.8% fruit lager), Żywiec Porter (9% Baltic porter), Łomża Jasne (5.4% lager), and Kultowe for those going non-alcoholic. Local options cover Moon Tree (4.8% pilsner from Lost Time), Soft Focus (5.4% hefeweizen from Tonewood), Docktoberfest (5.8% seasonal from Dock Street Brewery), and Black Cherry Cider (5% from Commonwealth Brewing Company). The range of styles and ABVs makes it easy to settle in for a full session on National Beer Day.

National Beer Day at My Local Brew Works: Brew Your Own

For a more hands-on way to celebrate National Beer Day, My Local Brew Works (MLBW) offers its Custom Craft Brewing Package — a guided, start-to-finish experience through the brewing process. Designed for both enthusiasts and first-timers, the experience takes guests from selecting a beer style through naming the brew, designing custom labels, and producing a fully personalized batch with support from the MLBW expert team. Guests take home bottles of their custom brew and can purchase additional quantities.

For those visiting Philadelphia this spring, MLBW also offers a restaurant-driven angle — guests can craft beers inspired by selections at some of the city’s leading establishments, with similar creations appearing on tap at places including Bolo, Butcher Bar, and Monk’s Café. It’s a different kind of National Beer Day experience: less about consuming and more about creating something that is genuinely yours from grain to glass.

National Beer Day at Patchwork: Local Drafts at the Hyatt Centric

Patchwork — the New American restaurant and bar on the second floor of the Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square — is spotlighting local craft brews on tap at $9 for National Beer Day. The curated selection includes Lancaster Brew, a 5% blueberry lemon shandy; 2 Locals Clean Sweep, a 5.2% pilsner; and Victory’s Philly First 250 Anniversary Ale (4.8%), a limited release that ties directly into the city’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The seasonal, ingredient-driven menu at Patchwork pairs well with the lighter end of the draft list, making it a solid option for anyone who wants to observe National Beer Day with a view and a proper meal alongside.

National Beer Day at Red Owl Tavern: Drafts Across Every Style

Red Owl Tavern, located directly across from Independence Hall in Old City, brings one of the more comprehensive draft programs to National Beer Day. The list spans easy-drinking classics like Miller Lite and Yuengling Lager alongside Yards Pale Ale, Levante Cumbersome Hazy IPA, and Tröegs DreamWeaver.

Imports including Bitburger Pilsner and Guinness Nitro Dry Stout fill out the middle ground, while local standouts Dock Street Golden IPA, Evil Genius #Adulting, and Tonewood Hazy IPA represent the region’s craft scene. Several of these drafts are included in the BFD, adding real value across the list. For those not drinking, Red Owl also carries Athletic Brewing Co.’s Hazy IPA and Bitburger’s 0.0% Pilsner — a thoughtful non-alcoholic offering that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.

National Beer Day Bonus: Seaview Hotel and the 1914 IPA

For those looking to turn National Beer Day into a proper outing, Seaview Hotel — the New Jersey Shore’s quintessential seaside resort located just outside Atlantic City, about an hour from Philadelphia — is raising a glass with its signature 1914 IPA. Brewed in partnership with Brix City Brewing to commemorate the hotel’s 110th anniversary, the 6.5% New England-style IPA features Mosaic and El Dorado hops with bright tropical fruit notes and a crisp finish. Guests can enjoy it throughout the property — after a round on Seaview’s renowned golf courses, on the patio, or at the lobby bar. It’s a detour worth taking if you want your National Beer Day to stretch well beyond the city limits.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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