Crime and Punishment Is Getting Things Brewing in Brewerytown

Opening up shop just a month ago, Crime and Punishment co-owner Mike Wambolt has been a resident of the Brewerytown neighborhood of Philly for six years now.

“At one time, there were 21 breweries within a five block radius of here and that in and of itself was enough for my and our group of friends to do it,” Wambolt explains.

Partnering up with six of his closest friends (working as brewers, cooks, and front and back of the house), this new brewpub, named for the seminal Dostoyevsky novel had been in the works for two years. Taking over a storefront that was formerly home to the nonprofit, Give and Go Athletics, the crew rehabbed the space into a sleek tasting room with a tiny kitchen and back brewing area.

Although the food menu has definite Eastern European leanings (think housemade pierogies, pelmeni, and kielbasa sandwiches), the rotating draft list caters to everyone.

“We want to brew beer for everyone,” Wambolt says. “No matter where you’re at with your palate, we want to brew beers that fits into that. At the same time, we’re going to be brewing lots of crazy stuff that sort of pushes the envelope.”

That means that there are easy sippers like a Rolling Stop blonde ale (or as they refer to it, their attempt at a “regular beer”) to serious IPAs like the Fyodor Dankstoyevsky, a double IPA with German, British, and American malts.

But Crime and Punishment’s list really shines in the weirder beer department. The Ghost Station is a summer-y Berliner Weisse brewed with red raspberries that takes its name from the post-World War II abandoned train stations of East Berlin. And then there’s the Grod Inquisitor, their interpretation of a Polish Grodziskie, a smoked wheat sour with a nose that’s positively porky.

Due to the fact that Crime and Punishment has a brewery license and not a full liquor license, closing time comes at midnight. But that’s fine by Wambolt who sees the brewery/bar as more of a tasting room than a late night spot. Plus, he’s more than happy to send his clientele to other nearby bars to close out the evening and support other local Brewerytown businesses.

Crime and Punishment has plenty more brews in the works over the next few months, but if you’d like to try their latest, a farmhouse saison, it’s going to be making its debut on Friday, August 7, just across the street at Brewerytown Beats from 6 to 10 PM.

Crime and Punishment is open Thursday through Sunday, 4 PM to 12 AM.

Crime and Punishment Brewery, 2711 W Girard Ave., 215-235-2739

Top photo via Crime and Punishment; Interior photo by Caroline Russock