AboutJustin Pennel, Author at PorchDrinking.com
Justin Pennel
What We’re Drinking | June 4, 2021
June 4, 2021 | Justin Pennel
Last weekend marked the unofficial start to patio beer(s) season. We posed the question on our Instagram account this week, asking if people still drink stouts and strong barrel aged beers during the warmer months. It seems like opinions on the matter vary greatly, and our staff is no exception. Let us know if you still consider summer to be stout season or if you tend to reach for lighter, more refreshing options. This is what we’re drinking to kick off patio season.
5 Questions with Ryan Beal, Bozeman Brewing
April 26, 2021 | Justin Pennel 2
There’s no question that barrel aging and blending beers are a true form of art. I have admired this art form for years and after moving to Bozeman, Montana, I quickly learned that Bozeman Brewing excels at it. They have a wide variety of beers in their sour program, dubbed the Bozeman Underground. They affectionately gave it that name because their barrel aging facility is actually underneath the brewery — hence the name Bozeman Underground. The beers within their sour program range from Goses, Lambic-inspired Ales, Tripels and Flanders style to name a handful. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ryan Beal, brewer and cellarman at Bozeman Brewing, to discuss their sours, the barrel aging process and blending. Ryan is responsible for overseeing the sour program and everything that goes along with it. The knowledge and passion Ryan possesses for his craft, clearly shine through in his sour and funky ales.
What We’re Drinking | April 9, 2021
April 9, 2021 | Justin Pennel
Spring is in the air. Shots are going in arms. Beer is going in bellies. Join us to see what we’re drinking this week.
What We’re Drinking | March 12, 2021
March 12, 2021 | Justin Pennel
Around much of the country it’s looking like spring is right around the corner, or depending on where you are spring is already in full force. With spring comes patio beers, summit brews, and anything that involves being outside and enjoying a good beer. Not all of our staff has fully embraced the outdoors quite yet, but regardless of our activities, one thing we all have in common this week is enjoying great craft beer. This is what we’re drinking.
Ultimate 6er | Craft Beer of Bozeman, Montana
March 3, 2021 | Justin Pennel
Bozeman is a growing and thriving city, nestled in the mountains in Southwest Montana. Bozeman residents love the outdoors, and they also love their beer. Montana has one of the highest brewery per capita numbers in the nation. Bozeman currently has eight breweries one can visit, with more in the works. The city also supports some production-only breweries and a kombucha producer. If you ever find yourself in Bozeman, here are some excellent beers to try (and breweries worth visiting).
What We’re Drinking | February 12, 2021
February 12, 2021 | Justin Pennel
We’re just two days out from Valentine’s Day 2021. Everyone treats this “holiday” differently regardless of their relationship status, and who knows what kind of wrench COVID is going to through into that equation. One thing I think we can all get behind is treating yourself or a loved one to a growler fill or some cans from your local brewery. This is What We’re Drinking.
What We’re Drinking | January 15, 2021
January 15, 2021 | Justin Pennel
Pandemics and politics, sounds like it could be the title of a horror film. Unfortunately, the two topics have consumed nearly everyone’s lives over the past ten months. Enough about that, let’s talk about beer. Even if you’re partaking in dry January, don’t forget that your local craft breweries need your support more than ever. Many breweries were able to limp through 2020, but if you want to see your favorites breweries stick around for years to come then make sure you start 2021 off by supporting them however possible. Some of our staff has taken that mission to heart and is trying to save this industry that we all love. This is what we’re drinking.
What We’re Drinking | December 18, 2020
December 18, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Two things set in as a harsh reality this week. First off, we’re right in the heavy of the holiday season. Secondly, 2020 is over in two weeks and we’re still dealing with COVID. Thankfully the vaccine has started to get distributed. Hopefully in the near future we can all get together at a beer festival or a brewery and share some beers and make some memories. A heartfelt cheers and happy holidays to all of our readers. This is What We’re Drinking.
5 Questions with Bunkhouse Brewery Owner Andy Stohlmann
November 26, 2020 | Justin Pennel
There are currently well over 7,000 breweries in the U.S., each of them have a unique story to tell. Bunkhouse Brewery in Bozeman, Montana is a unique nano-brewery located steps away from the campus of Montana State University and the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Bunkhouse is what many would consider a neighborhood brewery. They only distribute to a couple accounts and heavily rely on taproom foot traffic and sales. These types of breweries have been hit hard during the COVID pandemic and have had to get creative and adjust on the fly. Fortunately, Bunkhouse is producing as much beer as ever and is still focusing on the community aspect of the brewery.
What We’re Drinking | October 30, 2020
October 30, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Tomorrow is Halloween, and like most of the holidays this year, it’s going to look a little different. The people who normally dread trick or treaters coming to their house will rejoice. They finally have a great excuse not to answer their door. Hopefully everyone else can find a safe, socially distanced, fun option for their Halloween this year. While you’re on our site, be sure to check out some of our Halloween-inspired articles. This is What We’re Drinking. Read More
What We’re Drinking | September 25, 2020
September 25, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Fall is officially here and our lives are about to be taken over by pumpkin spice lattes, if they haven’t already. Another way many beer lovers look at fall is that it kicks off Stout season with the cooler temps settling in. Seasonal food and drink can be a lot of fun and our crew here at PorchDrinking has been highlighting a seasonal beer lately — Oktoberfest beers. Check out some of our articles lately and give some seasonal offerings a try! Here’s What We’re Drinking. Read More
What We’re Drinking | September 4, 2020
September 4, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Is the concept of time still a thing? How on earth is it already September? September means we’re in the fourth quarter of 2020. Let’s hope humanity can hit the buzzer beater and roll into 2021 with the win. Until then, here’s What We’re Drinking. Read More
5 Questions With Crooked Yard Hops Founder Jake TeSelle
September 1, 2020 | Justin Pennel 1
While Oktoberfest style beers and Pumpkin Ales get all the attention as summer turns to fall, true beer fans know what September brings: fresh hop season. Fresh hops or wet hops, depending on who you talk to, are only available for an extremely limited time frame and are usually brewed within a day of being picked. Their distinct flavor and unmistakable aroma are as exciting for brewers as they are for beer fans. But the story doesn’t start with the harvest—it starts years earlier under the care of hops farmers.
With fresh hop season quickly approaching, we chatted with Jake TeSelle, founder of Crooked Yard Hops, to discuss every beer lover’s favorite ingredient: hops.
What We’re Drinking | August 7, 2020
August 7, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Here were are entering the fourth quarter of the year and things haven’t settled down yet or returned to normal. Who would’ve thought that would be the case five months ago? Anyway, off-premise alcohol sales continue to soar and that seems to be the one consistency over the last several months. This week our nation came together to celebrate one of the most time honored traditions, National IPA Day (August 6). This is What We’re Drinking to celebrate the holiday and some other non-IPA varieties. Read More
5 Questions with Mountains Walking Founder Gustav Dose
July 15, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Every year a handful of breweries burst onto the scene and seem to gain overwhelming popularity overnight. These breweries are often coveted in trading circles and are setting the tone in their local communities. A brewery that one could say fits into this category is Mountains Walking. Mountains Walking in Bozeman, Montana has been open for a couple of years now and has quietly been perfecting their craft and people have been taking notice in 2020.
What We’re Drinking | June 11, 2020
June 12, 2020 | Justin Pennel
While checking the date for writing this post, it really hit me that half of the year is already over. I’m not sure I’m relieved or bummed about that. In six months this year has produced all sorts of hard times for multitudes of people. One thing I’m sure everyone can agreed on is that COVID-19 stole months of our lives that we’ll never get back. While that’s unfortunate, that should be all the more reason the seize the moment and live life to the fullest. Get out there and explore some new breweries or beer bars and support this industry that we all enjoy so much. This is What We’re Drinking. Read More
What We’re Drinking | May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020 | Justin Pennel
While life has been different for most people these last couple months, one thing that remains the same is our love for craft beer. I’m personally thankful that breweries are continuing to produce delicious and innovate beers during these wild times. The writers on our team are continuing to savor the best liquid gold that we can get our hands on and I can assure you, it’s all highly delectable. This is What We’re Drinking. Read More
What We’re Drinking | April 17, 2020
April 17, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Most people in the country are a month or more into social distancing and stay at home orders, and have completely lost track of time and social norms. Is it acceptable to have a coffee stout at breakfast? Or a beer at lunch when working from home? I think we all know the answers to these questions, but as cabin fever and the groundhog day effect sets in, people start venturing into the unknown to save their sanity and prevent complete boredom. Good luck to everyone out there—stay safe, stay healthy and support your local breweries! This is What We’re Drinking. Read More
Ultimate 6er | Montana Mixer
March 4, 2020 | Justin Pennel
Montana tends to fly under the radar when it comes to craft beer. There are plenty of people that know about one or two breweries in the state, but many might be surprised at how much Montanans love their craft beer. Montana has a lot of breweries and ranks second in the nation in breweries per capita. Given the low population of many cities in the state, a significant number of breweries can/bottle their beers and distribute across the state, as well as many of the neighboring states. Read More
What We’re Drinking | January 24, 2020
January 24, 2020 | Justin Pennel
It’s still hard to believe that it’s 2020. There are a lot of people out there that were convinced we’d have flying cars and be living like the Jetsons by now. While we’re not quite there yet, we have a ton of great craft beer to explore and experience in the meantime. This is what we’re drinking.
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