Joe Sixpack: On Black Friday, enjoy mall-bar hopping

TODAY IS Black Friday, the day that, according to long-standing holiday tradition, beer drinkers seek refuge from bargain-hunting Toys 'R' Us shoppers and spend the afternoon enjoying stout.

Well, at least that's my tradition, and I'm sticking with it.

Of course, you've got to make it look good. Usually I head to the mall, cram a Cinnabon into my mouth, check out the mannequins at Victoria's Secret, then shred my gift list and hunt for the nearest bar.

Unfortunately, at most malls you're stuck with Ruby Tuesday and Houlihan's, which remind me of those multicolored rubber-ball pits for kids, only with Mississippi Mudslides. Surprisingly, both chains actually serve some decent craft beer. Take a look at the taps and you might find Abita Turbodog or Samuel Adams Winter Lager.

But it's the holidays, and if you're not going to get any shopping done, you oughta treat yourself to something special. Here are three joints that should be on your radar:

_ Manny Brown's (Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem, near the AMC movie theater).

If there is a shopping mall bar with a better beer list, please send me an e-mail and save me a parking spot.

Among MB's 24 taps: Oskar Blues Gordon imperial IPA and three brands from Michigan's uber-trendy Founder's Brewing, including that beer freak favorite, Breakfast Stout. The bottle list is heavy on strong ales and too long to repeat here. Let's just say it's the first time I've ever spotted a Samuel Adams Triple Bock within eyesight of a Bath & Body Works.

The Christmas beer selection is a little thin, but you can't gripe when you can pick from Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, Weyerbacher Winter Ale and Magic Hat Roxy Rolles.

My advice: Dump your kids at the merry-go-round just outside the front door and - in the spirit of Black Friday - head in for a discounted two-buck draft of John's Locker Stock Black Lager.

_ Capone's (224 W. Germantown Ave., Norristown).

This suburban Italian restaurant isn't located in a shopping center, but it's just eight minutes up the road from Plymouth Meeting Mall.

The bar opens at 10 a.m., perfect for all you knuckleheads who got up at 4 this morning to line up outside Boscov's. You'll be first in line when they tap a rare keg of De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale, a collaboration between Jason Perkins of Allagash Brewing in Maine and Belgian brewing scientist Dirk Naudts.