This past Saturday, I attended the Great Allentown Brew Works Cask Beer Festival with my brother / fellow beer aficionado, Bill. There were about 30 limited edition cask varieties available, many of which were brewed especially for this event. I’d estimate that there were a few hundred people enjoying the samples, and we had some great conversations with other beer lovers and home brewers from Lehigh Valley.

Allentown Brew Works did a great job involving local Pennsylvania breweries, including Weyerbacher, Victory, Yards, Prism and SlyFox, among other notable breweries from across the country. If I had to decide my favorite cask conditioned ale, I'd have to say it was definitely the Scotch Ale from Bethlehem Brew Works. I think…

After three hours of delicious samples, it was time to take a break. Being the responsible citizens that we are, I had arranged for a room at the Holiday Inn Center City Allentown, a short one block walk down Hamilton. We were given a spacious room on the 9th floor with a nice view of the city of Allentown. I'm not gonna lie ... My bed looked pretty tempting at that point but we persevered, deciding that a trip to Delicioso for some sandwiches would satisfy our hunger.

After the food, we stopped at Made in Brazil for a pint since there was a good crowd there, and it’s literally right next to the hotel lobby. The convenience factor alone was worth the trip, since it was starting to get a little chilly out. After a few beers, it was finally time to hit the hay. The bed was super comfortable, and I consider myself to be pretty picky when it comes to hotel beds. This bed gave my mattress at home a run for its money. Another thing that set this hotel apart: They have adult sized towels! One of my biggest pet peeves is when a hotel gives you those skimpy little towels.

The Holiday Inn was an excellent choice after a fun night out on the town. Next time you’re planning on spending the night in Allentown or perhaps enjoying a beer festival, definitely check them out. They were extremely accommodating in making sure we had a comfortable night stay.