What’s the difference between “beer” and “brewing”? In the case of a company name, a lot, it turns out. When we read last night on Newsworks that a winning Powerball ticket worth $1 million had been sold at Philadelphia Brewing Co., we were curious, and a bit concerned. We knew the Fishtown brewery at 2439  Amber St. was involved in the surrounding community, partnering with neighborhood associations like Greensgrow Farms on their healthy food program Harvest in the Hood, for example. But we were surprised to hear that the maker of Kenzinger and Walt Wit (recently named one of the top five sustainable breweries in the USA) had turned to selling convenience store trinkets.

So we checked Newsworks writer Shannon McDonald’s source: a MyFoxPhilly article. Suddenly, the situation became clear. The Fox report stated the winning lottery note was sold at a Philadelphia Beer Company, located at 2525 East York St. Is a large production brewery at this address? Google Street View proved otherwise. Philadelphia Beer Company is one of the city’s many beer distributors, the case-wielding middlemen in the convoluted Pennsylvania system of liquor sales. In other words, they are a small package goods store, where beer, cigarettes and – yes – lottery tickets are sold.

Makes a lot more sense. While we are fans of Newsworks (the online home of public broadcast company WHYY), they could probably do with a bit more drinking of fine local craft ales. At least enough to know the difference between “brewing” and “beer.”