Banded Oak Brewing | Cabernet Barrel Aged Belgian Dark Strong Ale

I like to consider myself an equal opportunity imbiber. My preference is beer, sure, but there’s no denying the fun that comes along with whiskey or a bottle of wine. The sweet spot, then, is barrel-aged beers: after all, what better way to improve upon a brew than to stuff another form of alcohol into it? Barrel-aged beers are like Turduckens, except your resulting sleepiness is due to a high ABV instead of tryptophan.

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Dogfish Head Announces Rarity Releases for Record Store Day at Avanti F&B

There may be no two industries that are currently experiencing as great a resurgence as American craft beer, and vinyl records. This Saturday in celebration of Record Store Day, PorchDrinking is thrilled to once again partner up with Dogfish Head for a special day of vinyl programming and killer releases at Avanti Food & Beverage in Denver, CO.

Record Store Day, which first launched in 2007, has grown each year to celebrate collectors’ deep appreciation for the purest medium for at-home musical consumption, with special releases including live albums, re-issues and unique or rare new vinyl covers as well as live in-store artist performances.

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Avery Invitational Announces Initial Participating Breweries, Tickets On-Sale

In craft beer, the old adage of “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” doesn’t necessarily apply. Even the most successful breweries, and industry events must continue to innovate in this most competitive and fast-evolving landscape.

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2 Days, 2 Nights | A Complete Guide to Chicago’s Craft Beer Scene

Chicago has always been a weekend destination as people look to explore the city’s rich history, culture and of course, have a slice of deep dish pizza. It’s also now a place where craft beer fans can indulge in the wide array of breweries that the city offers. If anything, it might be overwhelming when trying to think of how to tackle all the breweries within the city limits. Spoiler alert—it would be virtually impossible to visit every single brewery in a weekend.

So if you’re coming to Chicago for a weekend, here’s a guide on how to get the most out of the Chicago craft beer scene in a limited amount of time. Understand that like I said above, it would be virtually impossible to do every brewery, so I had to leave some out. It’s nothing personal and you can alter this itinerary however you like. You’ll also notice that there are no suburban breweries on this list. I’ll be doing another itinerary in a couple of weeks that will focus on just suburban breweries—don’t worry guys, I didn’t forget about you!

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Beers, Burgers and Games Delight at Cherry Cricket’s Ballpark Location

When I moved from Washington, D.C. to Denver this past summer, my goal was to leave behind the hamster wheel that is political journalism. But in doing so, I was forced to make a sacrifice I hadn’t prepared for: leaving behind my favorite hamburger joint (Fuddruckers), which does not have a presence in Colorado.

To be sure, there are plenty of burger proprietors in the Mile High City, but I loathe having to choose between a customizable patty, decent sides and a flavorful beer list—you know, with options that offer more than merely an alternate source of hydration to water. With the addition of Cherry Cricket’s new location across from Coors Field, my problem appears to have been solved.
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Bottle Logic Brewing | Roll For Initiative

It is important to first realize that Bottle Logic Brewing was founded only five years ago in 2013 and they have been doing big things ever since. Their tasting room opened its doors just a year later, and in 2015 they were ranked up on BeerAdvocate’s ‘Best New Beer’ list. It’s no surprise that their initiative and passion has led them to plans for a tasting room expansion later this year to accommodate the beer heads that come from all over to try their stuff.

Bottle Logic has never been afraid to rewrite the rules and live on the edge with their beers. Their mantra is “Process and Science Reduced to Art and Magic,” and they have lived up to it without a doubt. Easily their most popular and most sought after series is the Stasis Project. Focusing on barrel-aged masterpieces, Stasis has released some of the most incredibly complex and sought after stouts in the secondary market. It may only be less than a week until Space Trace releases, but people are still reeling over the last and newest addition to the Stasis lineup, Roll for Initiative. I did not miss this release, and I knew before it touched my lips that this would be my next beer showcase. Here’s why…
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Book Review & Interview | Brewing Local

For beer writer and historian Stan Hieronymus, brewing local means more than just using attention-grabbing, wild ingredients like dandelions and tree bark; it means looking at the complete agricultural picture of a region as it relates to beer. That certainly includes those aforementioned esoteric additions but also encompasses workhorse fermentables like corn and rice, which were looked down upon in craft circles until recently.  Read More

Cleophus Quealy Beer Company | Framboos (2017)

Before I was a #LadyWhoDrinksCraftBeer, I was really into wine. Wine was so important that I contemplated studying to be a sommelier. One day, I discovered Flanders red ales and the rest is history! Over the years, I’ve discovered different types of brews that tickle my fancy and many that I could do without. I have an appreciation for tart, funky beers and Cleophus Quealy Beer Company’s Framboos hits the spot every single time!
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What We’re Drinking | April 13, 2018

Did any of you get a chance to celebrate National Beer Day? I was working nights and was too exhausted to even think about beer. My fellow PorchDrinkers, however, poured a few amazing beers down their throats. It goes without saying that I am jealous. Very jealous. This is What We’re Drinking.
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The Weekly Buzz | April 6 – 12

This was one of those weeks that I allowed my day job to get in the way of my fun beer writing job. I really had to push my Twitter-scrolling finger past its safety limits to get this post out in time. While I grab an ice pack and a beer, you can check out this edition of The Weekly Buzz.
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Colorado’s Primitive Beer to Serve Méthode Traditionnelle Beer in a Box

Built upon the wings of innovation, Colorado’s craft beer scene has already gained a reputation as trail blazers and pace setters for the rest of the industry. But when Longmont, CO’s Primitive Beer opens this Saturday, it’ll distinguish itself with a number of different milestones from day one.

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Holy Mountain Brewing | Afterswarm

If you’re a beer drinker in Seattle, you’re a Holy Mountain Brewing drinker in Seattle. It’s as simple as that. Even in a city renowned for its thriving and creative craft beer scene, Holy Mountain effortlessly stands out thanks to a niche it has filled in the heavily-hopped Pacific Northwest market: Holy Mountain is your go-to for great Belgian styles, or any beer that has been flirting with mixed fermentations or barrel-aged ingredients. One of Holy Mountain’s latest releases, Afterswarm, is an ideal case-in-point.

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Ultimate 6er | Packing Up & Moving Out

Let me start by saying that I’m currently in the process of writing this Ultimate 6er while packing up and moving, so I hope that earns me a bit more credibility with this post. There is nothing that’s needed more than a beer while moving, and six beers is probably a good number to have at the very minimum.

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BadWolf Brewing Company | Clara’s Vanilla Porter

Spring is here but that doesn’t mean porters should disappear from your lineup, notably something that’s light, slightly sweet and beloved in your hometown. Personally, I was shocked when I saw that I hadn’t profiled this Clara’s Vanilla Porter from BadWolf Brewing Company, located steps from my home in Manassas, Virginia.

I’ve been enjoying this beer during Friday night date nights with my husband for months now, thrilled with its low ABV and full body.

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PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | April 11, 2018

The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery is Finally Open

One of Denver’s most anticipated brewery openings in 2018 has also had to endure the indelible distinction of having undergone one of Denver’s most maligned opening processes to date. Despite multiple failed general contractors, innumerable licensing delays and a scaffolding that tore through its ceiling, The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe and Brewery is finally open.

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