Name, Layout and Faces Change, But Not Quality

What can go wrong when a historical establishment with one wildly successful beer dinner under its belt changes its interior, its name and its management?

Nothing, apparently.

So it was at the "new" Humphrey's Tavern--formerly the Glen Gardner Inn--when it hosted its second beer dinner with the Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company of Croydon, PA.

With a completely redesigned interior that manages to combine at once a sense of rusticity, airy-ness and coziness, Michael Keller's restaurant/pub hosted forty very satisfied guests last night. Much of that satisfaction was due, once again, to the culinary wizardry of Chef Larry Cera whose (somewhat larger now) kitchen staff produced five superb courses of "earth-to-fork" food.

Kyle Park, his counterpart on the beer side and the beer rep from NCBC, did a masterful job of pairing up his beers with Cera's food, and the entire operation was overseen by a general manager who was serving in her very first day on the job. Alexandra Garvey, with twenty-five years in the bar business under her belt, had taken over for GM Dan Weiss, the co-architect of the first dinner, who left to explore other opportunities.

"Dan and I parted ways amicably," said Keller. "We were brought together at just the right time. When we met, I needed him and he needed me, and it worked fabulously. I wish him well. But we are moving forward."

With his total employee staff of fourteen, Keller says his "new" place is doing "pretty darned good" in terms of business. After two hundred-forty years of serving travelers, the old inn has a new face and a new approach that is drawing loyal customers from the area--and, more importantly, with events like this--new ones from other areas.

Keller himself will handle the beer end of the business from now on, while Garvey handles the rest of the bar offerings. And if she oversees that the way she did this second dinner, Humphrey's patrons, both long-time and new, will be as satisfied as those who attended the dinner.

And why wouldn't they be? Take a gander at this menu above. There are more pics of the food and the revelers in the Gallery on The PubScout's page.

Park's beers started out in a session vein, with the Cream Ale and the Pils registering at just 4.2% and 4.9% respectively. The Pilsner was a crisp classic and the "Lawnmower" Cream Ale had just a pleasant hint of sweetness, probably from the flaked maize. Both were well crafted, nicely balanced and eminently drinkable.

Then the heavier hitters came out, introduced by that delicious Tripel (9.3%) followed by the excellent DIPA, Shape of Hops to Come (8.3%) and Punkless Dunkel (8.5%).

Every table The Pubscout visited had nothing but praise for the beer dinner, including some who were attending their first. But last night also saw some previous beer dinner guests who came back because of their experience at the first.

One couple consisted of Ezra Miller, whose family did the interior work for Humphrey's Tavern, and his gal, Josi. Both were first-timers, and both loved it.

Keller has a plethora of events scheduled at Humphrey's, including a very popular "Psychic Lunch" where a local psychic comes in to "read" the twenty-five luncheon guests who usually remain enrapt for two and a half hours. Places as old as Humphrey's usually have a wandering spirit or ten about the grounds, and it might be fun to accompany the psychic on a short tour.