4 Hands Brewing | Alter Ego

ABV: 5.5%

On my personal hoppy vs. malty beer scale, the malty side is always sitting lower. I’ve learned to appreciate hops and all the bitter nuance that comes with them, but generally I’ll go for a stout or porter when given the option. So, when I see a beer labeled “Black IPA” like Alter Ego from 4 Hands Brewing, I’m more inclined to give it a shot. Plus the can art reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones in the incredibly terrible Batman Forever. Thankfully, this brew is anything but that. Read More

Dry Dock Brewing Co. | Signature Series Double Hazelnut Brown Ale

8% ABV
30 IBU

It’s fair to say I have a soft spot in my heart for Dry Dock Brewing Co. Their Aurora taproom is one of the first breweries I visited after moving to Colorado, and its proximity to my office made it a frequent haunt for happy hours with coworkers and friends. With a lineup of beers running the gamut from a really solid Hefeweizen to one of my favorite double IPAs in the state, I didn’t need many excuses to return. One of their most highly-anticipated releases has always been Signature Series Bligh’s Barleywine, an excellent take on the style aged in whiskey barrels. This winter, Dry Dock added several companions to their Signature Series including one that caught my eye while shopping several weeks ago, Double Hazelnut Brown Ale. Deciding that a big brown ale plus whiskey plus hazelnuts sounded like one of the most delicious things ever, I grabbed a bottle and headed home. Read More

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co | 2014 Harvest Wild Hop IPA

ABV 6.5% IBU 55

For those of you keeping up with Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Series, you’ll know that they’ve gifted us with two single hop IPAs, a wet hop IPA, a … Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 12 | Golden Road Brewing Back Home Gingerbread Stout

Christmas has a powerful way of finding you where ever you may be. Last year was my first Christmas spent away from home. My folks were in Hong Kong for … Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 11 | Prairie Christmas BOMB!

Prairie Artisan Ales  – Christmas Bomb!

ABV: 11%

Merry Christmas everybody! Hope everyone gets exactly what they want this year!

I’ve already doted on Prairie Artisan Ales and, more namely, Prairie Bomb! on several occasions. When I caught word that Prairie was building a new bomb, a bigger and more powerful bomb, a Christmas Bomb!, I was of the utmost stoked. Billed as the O.G. Bomb! with “Christmas spices” added or “brewed with spices”, Prairie does well to not over-bill this as a completely different beer. It is, essentially, Bomb! with Christmas spices added or Bomb! “brewed with spices.” And that; that is why I love it so much!

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12 Beers of Christmas | Day 10 Fremont Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged Abominable

ABV: 11%

Since starting PorchDrinking, the question I get most is “What’s your favorite beer?” This question can be answered in a number of different ways. The first two of … Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 9 | Victory Winter Cheers Winter Wheat Ale

ABV: 6.7%

When Mrs. Claus hangs her flour-splotched apron after a night of baking scrumptious goodies, a bottle of Winter Cheers is her perfect pat-on-the-back. A little known fact, her jolly old man makes Downingtown, Pennsylvania his last stop on Christmas morning to bring her a snow-cold stash fresh from the Victory Brewing Company every year to enjoy together. Always having admired this hard-working First Lady of the North, I decided to follow suit. Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 8 | Revolution Brewing Fistmas Ale

Like many others on this site, I love ginger. Love it, love it, love it. Obviously then, gingerbread cookies are my favorite of all the Christmas-cookie options. Adding insult to injury, or the opposite in my case, there are now quite a few beers out there I can coin as liquid gingerbread. Or something very deliciously close to that. We already have a beer for this year’s 12 Beers of Christmas that is perfect for gingerbread lovers, a stout that is fuller than the typical one you would place in the “Christmas Ale” section at the store. Therefore, let’s have another example of ginger doing the right things: Revolution Brewing Fistmas Ale. Yes, our waltz with gingerbread can be sated once more! Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 7| Fat Head’s Holly Jolly Christmas Ale

When kids think of Christmas, they generally think of a jovial fat man and the presents he bribes in return for good behavior. Although it wasn’t for good behavior, I was rewarded a 6-pack of Fat Head’s Holly Jolly Christmas Ale from my older brother because my Indianapolis Colts stomped on his Cincinnati Bengals earlier this season. Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 6 | Tröegs Mad Elf Ale

Christmas is a time of joy and laughter and good feelings. It’s also a time where one freaks out thinking of perfect gift ideas, is over-commited to attend too many parties in 3 weeks, and deals with high-stress travel plans that all conspire to drive you insane. When I was 13, my family took over hosting duties for my mom’s 7 siblings and their family. By Christmas Eve, we weren’t speaking to each other and the only carols I heard were the frantic string instruments in my head like the score to Martha, Inc. Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 5 | SweetWater Festive Ale

Christmas songs play on the radio way too early and holiday sales seem to go up before the kids have even picked out their Halloween costumes. But as annoying as starting Christmas too early can be, SweetWater Festive Ale could be released on the 4th of July and I’d be okay with that.

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12 Beers of Christmas Day 4 | 21st Amendment Fireside Chat

Winter Spiced Ale | 7.9% ABV | 45 IBUs

Ah, winter time. When the weather is perfectly suited for the warming effects of the winter beers that pepper our local craft beer purveyor. Every year I see more new examples of the style, and I couldn’t be happier about that. Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 3 | Samuel Adams Merry Maker

ABV: 9% | IBU: 25

I have a confession: I’m a bit of a grinch. The winter holiday season doesn’t excite me very much, and that feeling generally extends to holiday beers. Regardless … Read More

12 Beers of Christmas Day 2 | Southern Tier Krampus

ABV: 9%

Krampus: an under-appreciated mythic figure during the holiday season. That is, up until recently. We have always received the stories and quaint images of good old St. Nicholas, the jolly fellow who gives the “good” kids gifts in their stockings. Krampus is the imp-like figure that, depending on the European myth, bestows upon the naughty kids bad gifts or even kidnaps them and brings them to his lair. Sounds pleasant…

Thankfully, the Krampus that I will be talking more about today is the complete opposite from our devilish comrade; it is a present provided to us from Southern Tier, and it is the perfect refreshment for any of your December festivities.

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12 Beers of Christmas Day 1 | Delirium Noel

Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 10% ABV

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the winter brews coming and everyone lifting their pint glass to “cheers”, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Read More

Paradox Beer Company | Skully Barrel No. 17

ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 103

Since their introduction in 2012, Paradox Beer Company has been constantly enhancing their craft and releasing ‘banging’ beers to the state of Colorado.

Based out of Woodland Park, “The City Above the Clouds,” Paradox’s mission is to produce ancient beers with modern brewing processes. Already up to batch 17, their Skully Barrel Project is their sour barrel aged series. Each batch is a small release with only around 80 cases. Mainly sold out of their tap house, you can get lucky and find their bottles throughout Colorado. Read More

Wicked Weed | Black Angel

ABV: 6.6% | IBU: 16

In the shadow of the mountains of western North Carolina lies a beautiful, eclectic city called Asheville. While it’s known for many things, one of the greatest is its big and burgeoning beer scene. With dozens of quality craft brewers in the area, it takes something bold and unique to really stand out among such strong competition. Fortunately, we have just the thing in our review today of Wicked Weed Brewing’s Black Angel, a black sour ale aged in bourbon barrels on “obscene amounts of tart cherries” (it says so right on the bottle). Wicked Weed Brewing specializes in uniquely sour beers (among a slew of hoppy beers and Belgian styles), and Black Angel is perhaps one of their greatest creations. Read More

Asheville Brewing Company | Ninja Bread Man Porter

Somewhere between the huge patio (where vintage airport chairs used to serve as seats), the killer pizza, cornhole and the mini hop infusing baskets, Asheville Brewing Company has become the place that’s often my first stop in a city so full of incredible beer.

When we hit up ABC’s downtown location to grab lunch before heading to some breweries, I thought the biggest surprise was there were enough Big 10 conference football fans in the house to convince the manager to turn the tv to the Minnesota vs. Ohio State game (a rarity in the South, my friends).

But my beloved brew pub had yet another surprise waiting: the delightful Ninja Bread Man Porter.

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Rogue | Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel, Raspberry, & Chocolate Ale

My boyfriend returned from a weekend in Portland slightly scruffier than when he left and toting a large pink bottle of voodoo. Two of Portland’s most beloved brands, Voodoo Doughnut … Read More

West 6th Brewery | Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter

Chocolate can be extremely polarizing. It can magically alter the brain chemistry of a hormonally-crazed female, turn pint sized trick-or-treaters into sugar charged hellions, or serve as the perfect wing-dessert to a romantic dinner for two. However there are certainly situations where chocolate may not necessarily work. It probably doesn’t pair well with soup, nor serve as an appropriate topping to a kale and tofu salad (trust me Ive tried) and to some it might seem a tad averse to mix chocolate with beer. But such is not the case with West 6th’s Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter.

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