Great Lakes Brewing | Sharpshooter Session Wheat IPA

ABV: 4.8%
IBU: 40

Sometimes change can be scary and uncomfortable. We tend to embrace constancy in most situations. When something unfamiliar greets us, there may also be skepticism. I noticed this when Great Lakes Brewing Company revealed their brand refresh. There was some outcry, some fear, mainly from social media users who did not want the labels and the image of GLBC to change. With tried and true marketing and a strong presence in many parts of the United States, why become different? Despite those worries by some, I feel changing things up can also spark interest and excitement. Personally, I was more intrigued when I first learned about the brand refresh. Let me tell you why I like what GLBC has done: the changes that have taken place embrace the 25+ years that this brewery has been a strong presence in the N.E. Ohio craft beer community. The history behind the brewery, its location and its facilities, runs even earlier; and the artwork by Darren Booth pays homage to the brewery and to the city as well. Each label is a story, a collage of images that explores the rich history of Cleveland and also of the company’s presence. Along with the new brand, we now have a new seasonal beer from Great Lakes: the Sharpshooter Session Wheat IPA. It is a tasty IPA that was tapped during the last week of May at GLBC’s brewpub and has just been released to distribution markets on June 1.

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Shades Of Pale Brewing | Misdirected IPA

4% ABV- Session

If a bottle had a label that said ‘Beer’, would you be interested? We think some people might be, just because trying to ‘not to be cool’ seems to be a form of ‘cool’ these days. It is just as likely in the beer world if there isn’t something interesting on the label, it might not hit the table. These days, label art has been taken to a new level, which proves the unconditional love many brewers have with their liquid gold.

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Deschutes Brewery | Foray Belgian Style IPA

ABV: 6.4%
IBU: 60

In a time when one out of every five craft beers sold in America is an IPA, it can be difficult to muster enthusiasm for yet another bottle containing something hoppy and golden. No? You’re still interested? Busted…me too. As much as I love other styles, when facing a beer menu, my eyes always wander towards the IPAs first. Perhaps it’s the promise of drinking an old favorite or maybe it’s the chance of seeing something new and intriguing. While still thriving, single and double IPAs find themselves sharing shelf space with triple IPAs, white IPAs, black IPAs, sour IPAs, and even Belgian-style IPAs. Read More

Bell’s Brewing Co. | Saturn – The Bringer of Old Age

Bell’s Brewing Co.

Saturn – The Bringer of Old Age

Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine

ABV: 11.5%

Deep, rich, robust, and smooth. These are all flavors that make up Bell’s fifth … Read More

Ballast Point Brewing Co. | Grapefruit Sculpin IPA

American IPA
San Diego, CA
ABV: 7.0% | IBU: 70
Availability: Year-round in 12oz. Bottles, 12oz. Cans & Draft

In the world of IPA’s, leave it to the west coast to remind us what flavors we didn’t quite realize we were missing, or flavors that were better left in the cupboards. For the ever popular Ballast Point Brewing Company in San Diego, California, pushing the envelope isn’t new territory. Just this past weekend, I was able to experience the strange and not quite so enjoyable Habanero Sculpin. This beer most definitely plays in a league of its own and even now, I am not sure what those rules are.

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Ethereal Brewing | Lambda Oatmeal Stout

ABV: 5.7% | IBU: 30

Though Ethereal Brewing has been cranking out new recipes consistently throughout its first year in business, the same brew still warms my soul week in and week out.

The Lambda Oatmeal Stout, my tasty favorite, was named the Lambda for a very good reason. The lambda is a measurement of industrial malfunctions, which seemed all too appropriate for the title of this accidental brew success. Due to the level of popularity of stouts, the brewers decided it would make no sense to even attempt the initial recipe. It has now become the most popular beer on the menu, second only to the IPA. Read More

Adroit Theory Brewing Company | Persona Non Grata

ABV: 7.7 percent

IBU: 30

Adroit Theory isn’t always what it seems. This is true: It’s a bold, innovative brewery in the hills of Virginia and is charging ahead on … Read More

Holy City Brewing Company | Chucktown Follicle Brown Ale

Beer can change a man’s life; it has certainly affected mine. We hear of men who leave their stable jobs at the age of 40 to turn their homebrew into a full-fledged brewery, beers that alter the shape and direction of the whole industry, and beers that get professors fired.

Wait…what?! Don’t fret; I’m getting to that. Read More

Bootstrap Brewing | Insane Rush® IPA

Bootstrap Brewing is nestled in downtown Niwot (Boulder County), diligently brewing their award winning, fresh, delicious, craft beer, which they supply to some of the best restaurants and liquor stores along the Front Range. Stop in to their tasting room and enjoy a flight, pint or growler to go. Or, pick up a case of their flagship Insane Rush IPA and take it on the road with you. On many days they offer live music and fun activities, which can be found on their website calendar.

Their goal is simple – they want to make really great beer and have a lot of fun. They also love to rock out, and their beer enjoys the best classic rock 24 hours a day, which is why it’s so happy and delicious! They even have music pairings with their beer?! Read More

Peticolas Brewing Co. | Operation Collaboration

ABV: 8%
IBU: 75

It’s no surprise that one of my favorite local breweries is none other than Peticolas Brewing Co. They continue to push the envelope with their superior brews, consistently delivering year after year. One of the most anticipated collaborations in the DFW craft brew scene – Operation Collaboration IPA – is a joint effort between Peticolas and Chuck Silva of Green Flash Brewing Co., and includes two experimental hop varieties simply known as 07270 and 06277 for now. Read More

Reuben’s Brews | American Brown

ABV: 5.9%
IBU: 36

Reuben’s Brews was one of the first breweries I covered when I began writing about craft beer and has always been one of my favorite taprooms to visit, so I have happily monitored their rapid growth into a well-recognized force within the Seattle craft beer scene and beyond. Reuben’s opened in August 2012 but, thanks to a delicious and award-winning rotating beer list, they reached brewing capacity within six months. This lead the team at Reuben’s to begin looking for a location in which to expand their operations two years ago, and they opened the doors to their new, spacious brewery and taproom on May 9 of this year. I stopped by the brewery to pay homage to my roots as a craft beer writer – and to sample one of their rotating brews, the American Brown. Read More

Uinta Brewing Co. | Tinder Rauchbier

One of the great things about warmer weather is spending time with family and friends. Whether it’s an impromptu poker game, gathering for a BBQ or heading to the hills to sleep under the stars, there doesn’t have to be another boring weekend indoors. We truly are lucky to live in Utah, a place where we ‘usually’ have four seasons, each possessing benefits. As the affectionate weather trend continues, we can’t help but turn on the deck lights, powder off the outdoor speakers from the inside out and lounge on the porch with interesting brews. Read More

New Glarus | Hopster

This picture will no doubt look a little off to some. A New Glarus beer in front of the Chicago skyline just seems misplaced, like a John Deer tractor driving down Michigan Ave. But there is a huge amount of respect for New Glarus here, and people will travel out of their way to grab a bottle (thanks for your convenient location and large New Glarus selection, Mars Cheese Castle!). And while there is some animosity between the two states (Packers vs. Bears; Wisconsin State Troopers vs. Wisconsin Dells-Bound Illinoisans; ‘Sconnies vs. FIPs), we are undoubtedly linked by common loves: beer and sausage. Read More

Boulevard Brewing Co. | Hibiscus Gose

ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 11

I have a secret. I can’t stop buying Boulevard’s Hibiscus Gose. My hands keep grabbing the cardboard box the sixer comes in. I’ve bought three so far. I can’t control it. Hey, Boulevard, why don’t I just direct deposit part of my paycheck to you?

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Strange Craft Beer Company | Zora Rosemary Pale Ale

In honor of Strange Craft’s upcoming 5th Anniversary, we take a look back at their Zora Rosemary Pale Ale.

6.5% ABV, 55 IBUs

On an eighty-degree summer night, the back patio of Strange Craft Brewery in south downtown Denver is about as close to actual “porch drinking” as it gets. Copious amounts of good vibes, camaraderie and beer are present, and while the facade of the Strange entrance has a strip-mall feel, the patio’s warm industrial vibe feels almost Brooklyn-esque. Denver RTD trains even rush along the back fence every 10 minutes or so as if the Brooklyn J train de-railed and headed west of its own accord.
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Uinta Brewing | Tinder

One of the great things about warmer weather is spending time with family and friends. Whether it’s an impromptu poker game, gathering for a BBQ or heading to the hills … Read More

Platform Beer Co. | New Cleveland Palesner

I know it is not the case this year in some areas of the U.S., but this past week has been toasty in the Cleveland area. With temperatures almost reaching 90 degrees on the 8th and 9th, it is strange that not long before the first week of May we had weather forecasters talking about snow and wind chills.With summer at the doorstep, and already here, in some locales, a killer cavalry of refreshing brewskis have arrived. Therefore today, I share with you a delightful beer from Platform Beer Co., one of Cleveland’s newer breweries. Pictured above is a pint of Platform‘s New Cleveland Palesner.

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Head Hunter IPA | Fat Head’s Brewery

Cleveland, Ohio. A city that, throughout time, has developed a number of monikers – The Mistake by the Lake, The Forest City, The North Coast. But it’s Cleveland’s most recent nickname that has perked the ears of beer lovers across the country: The Best Beer City in America, according to Huffington Post’s Amy Plitt. Though the title may be up for debate (here’s looking at you, Denver and Portland), Cleveland has certainly made its presence known in the craft beer world. With Great Lakes Brewing Company, arguably the most renowned brewery in the area, leading the charge with its award-winning lineup, it’s the smaller, up-and-coming breweries that are excelling in buttressing Cleveland’s newfound reputation. With names like Nano, Platform, and Market Garden standing out among locals, it’s Fat Head’s, and their sterling Head Hunter IPA, who continue the city’s surge to craft beer notoriety.

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Aspen Brewing | 10th Mountain Oatmeal Stout

It’s May 11th. In Colorado. It snowed this weekend. I cannot even begin to explain just how ridiculous yet predictable that is due to the fact that this happens … Read More

Brüeprint | Brüenette Brown Ale

ABV: 5.2% | IBU: 24

I love when I’m browsing the North Carolina section of my local bottle shop and an assortment of unfamiliar beers from the same brewery appear before my … Read More