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AboutCraft Beer Joe, Author at PorchDrinking.com

Posts By Craft Beer Joe

Temperance Beer Co. | Might Meets Right

April 28, 2020 |

Barrel-aged stouts were once a rarity but have now become increasingly easier to procure. But, just like all craft beer styles, the flavors that define these stouts have evolved. For the longest time, high ABV and intense flavors of spirits was the goal. Now, many breweries are making barrel-aged stouts that mimic candy and desserts. Read More

West Side Brewing | Porter

September 12, 2019 |

The crisp fall air will be here before we know it and many will begin to indulge in the great seasonal beers of fall. This typically means Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers but there’s a style that may be even more fitting for fall – the porter.

While it may not be bursting with fall spices or be the official beer of a German festival, the porter fits into just about any situation you can imagine. It complements meals of any kind just as well as it would pair with dessert. Then consider drinking it while grilling out or around a bonfire. It is a style that is flavorful, approachable and ties into the fall season as well as any beer style. And just in time for the change in season, the West Side Brewing Porter gets its annual release.

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Fretboard Brewing | Klosterman Honey Wheat Lager

July 15, 2019 |

Bread and beer have some very obvious connections. Which means there’s always plenty of breweries using bread as a clever ingredient or naming convention. And that is exactly what is happening in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Fretboard Brewing and Klosterman Baking Co.

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Sonder Brewing | Kato Coffee Kolsch

May 7, 2019 |

Storytelling is nearly as prevalent in craft beer as hops. Ok, that may be a stretch but there’s no denying the importance of storytelling in the beer industry. A brewery’s narrative connects its mission and beer to its customers and community. Sonder Brewing, a young brewery located just north of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio, has fully embraced the value of a good story in every aspect of its business.

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Barleywine | West Side Brewing

January 25, 2019 |

There’s craft beer and then there’s special-release craft beer. And for the enthusiasts, getting these special-release beers is one of the most entertaining parts of the hobby. Breweries love indulging the passion of their fans by releasing a specific beers only once a year.

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Wooden Cask | Corruption

December 10, 2018 | 1

When it comes to defining the character of a brewery, there are a lot of decisions to be made, the most important being the type of beer that will be brewed. And Wooden Cask Brewing knew that providing the same modern styles as other breweries wouldn’t make them stand out; it also didn’t represent who they are.

So to gain recognition and embrace their favorite styles, Wooden Cask brews traditional styles that are often overlooked as other breweries are making hazy IPAs and pastry stouts.

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Little Miami Brewing | Bike Path

October 23, 2018 |

Location, location, location: Regardless of the type, location is always a critical piece to the success of a new business. This truth is evident when visiting Little Miami Brewing in Old Milford, Ohio, as their location is about as good as it gets. To celebrate one of the many perks of their location, the crew at Little Miami created Bike Path, a Bohemian pilsner that has become a fan favorite.

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Urban Artifact | Lost Alley Quad 

September 13, 2018 |

One of the most exciting elements to craft beer is the concept of a collaboration beer. Many of these collaborations prove that craft beer is unique in the way that community often trumps competition. Meaning, breweries will gladly work with and support other breweries long before they look at them as competitors. Can you imagine a world where Burger King and McDonald’s get together to make a burger? Probably not but that is exactly what happens in the craft beer world.

Moreover, collaborations aren’t restricted to breweries; restaurants, museums, organizations, and bars partner with a breweries to make a special beer, demonstrated by Urban Artifact Lost Alley Quad.

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Fretboard Brewing | Mellowship India Session Pilsner

June 25, 2018 |

In a culture that is often obsessed with the notion of “more”, craft beer has fallen victim to chasing high ABV and over-hopped beers. But the real truth is, that … Read More

Platform Beer Co. | Haze Jude

April 19, 2018 |

The New England IPA (NEIPA) was once only available via bottle trades or to those willing to wait in long lines. But that has slowly started to change because larger breweries are making this style and distributing them in much larger volumes. That’s good news to those that previously couldn’t get their hands on these beers. However, it is worth asking if the large scale production can mimic what made this style so unique and special. Cleveland’s Platform Beer Haze Jude helped answer that question.

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Christian Moerlein Brewing | Power Stoutage

February 26, 2018 |

In an industry that’s often obsessed with the latest brewery to open, we must not look past beer from the breweries that have been around for more than a few years. Christian Moerlein is a brewery that fits that statement well. They’ve been making beer for years, and they recently released a limited edition beer called Power Stoutage.
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Land Grant Brewing | Beard Crumbs

January 25, 2018 |

You can’t deny the prevalence of beards that exist in the craft beer world. I’ve got one, so I can’t really complain or dispute the association. Sometimes I wonder if some get into craft beer just to justify their beard. Well, Land Grant Brewing Company isn’t afraid to express its love of beards either, and they’ve done just that with their winter seasonal Beard Crumbs Oatmeal Stout.

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Taft’s Ale House | Santa’s Bribe

December 14, 2017 |

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Beermas!

Is there anything better than a Christmas ale? I mean really when you think about it, is there another style of beer made for a single day?

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MadTree Brewing | Thundersnow

November 17, 2017 |

By definition, Thundersnow, also known as a winter thunderstorm or a thundersnowstorm, is an unusual kind of thunderstorm with snow falling as the primary precipitation instead of rain.

I’ve never witnessed Thundersnow in my area but I have witnessed the frenzy of people excited about the release of MadTree Brewing’s Thundersnow.

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Christian Moerlein Brewing Company | Bay Of Bengal

October 23, 2017 |

Who Dey! If you don’t know what that means, then you haven’t watched the NFL in a very long time. That is the chant you’ll hear from the crowd at any Cincinnati Bengals game; as well as, what I scream every time I crack open a can of Christian Moerlein Bay Of Bengal.
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18th Street Brewing | Candi Crushable

September 22, 2017 |

Living in Cincinnati, there’s no shortage of great beer. In fact, as of next week, we will have 42 breweries in the area. That’s more than enough to keep me busy.

But that doesn’t mean that I occasionally get the itch to try something from outside my area. When that happens, I drive across the Ohio / Indiana border to a place called Whitey’s. This is the local liquor store in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and is just minutes off the highway.

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Ultimate 6er | Six Perfect Beers for Camping In The Midwest

August 1, 2017 |

When summer hits, people find just about any reason to spend time outdoors. For many that means camping. While camping can mean something different for each person, I think we can all agree that craft beer is a perfect companion for spending time in the great outdoors. Canned craft beer is especially ideal because it is lighter, easier to recycle and doesn’t break like glass bottles.

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Sour Summer: Five Sour Craft Beers to Beat the Heat

June 30, 2017 |

Featured image courtesy of Braxton Brewing Co.

For most, the hot summer months mean moving to lighter beers. It makes sense that a light, crisp, refreshing beer is better when you are in the sun, but that doesn’t mean you have to default to a light lager or blonde ale. Many other styles fit the hot summer months just as well, such as sour craft beers. And I am not talking about the traditional sours like lambics but rather kettle sours (aka quick sours). There’s been a huge influx of this type of beer and I think they are a great fit for a hot summer day because they offer low ABV, are ideally drank cold, and provide a crisp, refreshing taste that fights off the effects of the hot summer sun.

Here in Cincinnati, we have a lot of great options that fit this style. Plus, these beers are easy to bring along when you are enjoying the outdoors. Here are five of my favorite Cincinnati summer sours.

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Merging Brewing Ingredients and Techniques Into Cooking: A Recap of Brewed Food Cincinnati

June 26, 2017 |

Chances are you enjoy beer; that’s why you clicked through to read this. And I would bet that you prefer good beer, I mean really good beer. You focus on hunting down rare beers and are always on the hunt for brews that contain new ingredients and push the boundaries of what you think craft beer can be.

But what about food? Do you pursue food with the same passion? For me, I focus a lot of attention on what I drink but not nearly as much on expanding my culinary world. That’s where Brewed Food aims to change our culture.

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Urban Artifact | Warmug

June 12, 2017 |

ABV: 7.7% | IBU: 20

Just because something is different doesn’t mean it isn’t great. And Urban Artifact Warmug is a perfect example. Read More