What We’re Drinking | September 17, 2021

Have you ever been on a diet, but all of your friends are like master chefs or legitimate barebecue pitmasters? That’s kind of what it’s like working for PorchDrinking while you’re taking a brief break from beer. Trying to rest your weary liver while looking at what this crew’s been drinking over the past week is no easy feat.

So join me this week as we drink vicariously through the PorchDrinking team in this week’s What We’re Drinking.

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Crooked Run Fermentation’s Oktoberfest

Daylight is starting to dwindle down a little earlier nowadays. There are slightly cooler temperatures in the air of the evenings and long into the night. It’s turning downright cold in some areas and we are starting to see pumpkin spice everything all the time everywhere! Those are some tell-tale signs that fall is right around the corner. With the coming of fall brings one of the most celebrated times in the beer community, Oktoberfest! Breweries across the land will be holding their versions of Oktoberfest starting in September and running through October. Crooked Run Fermentation in Sterling, VA invites you out to their Oktoberfest festival on Saturday, September 25.

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Urban Brew Labs Taproom Now Open

You’ve heard of Dad Bod. If you haven’t, it’s worth crawling out of the rock you’ve been living under to grab some. For starters, Dad Bod is back. More importantly, the brewery behind Dad Bod Hazy Lager, Urban Brew Labs, recently opened their first taproom. Since 2018, Urban Brew Labs has been distributing beer in the Chicagoland area. They began as draft-only and have since evolved to offer cans and draft beer to the market. Now, you can enjoy their beers (along with guest taps) at their very own taproom in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago.

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2021 Guide to Colorado’s Oktoberfest Releases & Celebrations

Believe it or not, summer is once again drawing to a close. Before we dive into pumpkin spice bombs and fresh hop season, let us raise a liter to German-style beers with a round-up of Colorado’s craft beer-centric Oktoberfest celebrations. So lace up those dirndls and strap on the lederhosen it’s time for the beautifully crisp, easy-drinking, toasted malt forward profile of Oktoberfest Märzen lagers. Check out our craft beer guide to Colorado’s Oktoberfest celebrations. Keep in mind, we’ll keep adding Oktoberfest beers from Colorado’s craft breweries as they’re released, as well as Oktoberfest celebration events for future weeks.

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PorchDrinking Fantasy Football Recap | Week 1

It’s the best time of the year, no doubt. Fall brings in cooler temperatures, a ton of specialty beer releases and football season. In an effort to talk about both great beers and football season, twelve of us at PorchDrinking joined up to play a season for a little camaraderie and competition. Regardless of your wins or woes, you’ll have friends here all season long to cheer on or watch as seasons crumble for some due to injuries or bad luck. Either way, we’re gonna have a good time or at least, some good beers. Read More

Meow Wolf Denver Unveils Craft Beer Options for Convergence Station Opening

This Friday, Meow Wolf, the innovative immersive arts and entertainment company will open its doors to its third location in Denver, CO. Collaborating with 200 in-house artists as well as 110 local artists including muralists, sculptors, fiber artists and technologists, Denver’s outpost dubbed the Convergence Station tells the narrative of a freak cosmic event that merged four worlds from different universes, erasing the memories of all residents and spawning the mystifying disappearances of four women in the form of a massive immersive art experience.

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Oddwood Brewing | Austinerbräu Oktoberfest Festbier

Despite the temperature in central Texas still nearing 100 degrees every day, it’s finally time to start enjoying the wonderful Oktoberfest season.
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What Would You Give a New Craft Beer Drinker?

On Twitter the other week I asked people if they had a friend who was new to craft beer and you had to give them one beer in hopes of getting them to try other styles, what would you give them? There were some common answers but also some more out of the box ideas.

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Rightside Brewing | Citrus Wheat & American IPA

The world of craft beverages seems to expand every day as more and more producers pump out products ranging from pre-mixed cocktails to Seltzers.

There is likely one area of the industry, though, that you have probably skimmed over when it comes to shopping coolers or shelves at your local bottle shop. No, don’t think about the newest candy-inspired Sour Ale or adjunct-loaded Barrel-Aged Stout. You should be thinking about your next non-alcoholic beer purchase. Read More

Women in Beer | Sloop Brewing’s Open Waters Intern Melissa Larrick

One of the most obvious shortcomings in craft beer is diversity. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Brewers Association (BA) and reported on CraftBeer.com, 96% of single-owner breweries were owned by men. Additionally, 88% of brewery owners were white. In response to these alarming statistics, breweries across the country have initiated diversity internship programs.

Melissa Larrick is Sloop Brewing’s third participant in the Open Waters Internship Program.  The Hudson Valley, NY-based brewery launched its program in January of 2021.

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Craft Beer News | Firestone Walker Mind Haze Tropical Haze Mixed Pack

Surely there are other people besides myself who are cherishing the last few days of summer, right? Fall has a lot to look forward to–football weekends and holidays–but Firestone Walker Brewing Co. just made quite the splash with a new release mixed pack that has enough vacation-vibe and tropical flavors to keep us celebrating summer well into the autumn season. Read More

Dos Luces Brewery Strengthens its Latino Roots

Dos Luces Brewery, a Denver brewery which focuses on traditional beer from the Americas, is strengthening it’s Latino roots for Hispanic Heritage Month. Co-owner Judd Belstock is brewing two separate collaboration beers with brewers from Peru and Costa Rica. He’s also entering Dos Luces Chicha in Mitad del Mundo, one of the largest beer competitions in South America. Read More

Marz Brewing | Jungle Boogie American Pale Wheat

If you haven’t had Jungle Boogie by Marz, I’m sorry. Jungle Boogie, like Marz Brewing itself, has a cult following. It’s deserved. It’s an American Pale Wheat beer brewed with rooibos tea. The beer is perfectly rounded by the subtle sweetness from the mixed wheat grain bill and the stone fruit flavors of the rooibos tea. Light enough, at 5.5% ABV, that you can keep drinking it. Which is convenient, because you’ll want to go for another pint. Jungle Boogie is a flagship and staple at Marz. It’s the middle of the road in terms of the brewery’s long list of hoppy offerings, fruited sours, and clean lagers. The beer itself has thankfully stayed the same. Beyond infrequent adjunct offerings from mango to the more recent blueberry release, you know what you’re getting with Jungle Boogie, the very best.

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Denver Losing One of the Greats with Factotum Brewhouse’s Closure

Denver is losing one of the city’s great community-focused breweries… at least for now. Late last night, Denver’s Factotum Brewhouse announced that it would no longer be able to continue to operate from its current location after October 9. Citing … Read More

Illinois Ties State Medal Record at 2021 Great American Beer Festival

Illinois brewers put on a show at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival Award Ceremony taking home 16 medals, tying the state’s all-time record set in 2007. 

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Colorado Breweries Who Won Big at the 2021 GABF Competition

Photo © Brewers Association

Colorado has long held a reputation for strong showings at the Great American Beer Festival, and while this year was no different, Colorado breweries had a solid showing after totaling 21 medals after tallying 25 the previous year.

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2021 GABF Results | Find Out Which Breweries Won Big This Year

Much like 2020, this year’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF) looked a lot different than the norm. While the awards ceremony wasn’t completely virtual (this year they allowed limited attendees as part of the Craft Brewers Conference), there was once again no commercial tasting event.

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Impressive GABF Streaks Ahead of This Year’s Competition

Tonight marks the 35th iteration of the competition portion of the Great American Beer Festival. And while there will be no commercial tasting event open to the public for a second straight year, tonight’s awards are still sure to usher in socially distanced causes for celebration among breweries across the entire country.

In normal years we’d be prepping guided routes for folks to enjoy at the festival, this year we are once again focusing on trends we’ve seen emerge from past award winners.

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Xül Beer Co. | It’s A School Night Italian Pilsner

“Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I’m not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don’t get in a fight. Ohhhh, back to school. Back to school. Back to school. Well, here goes nothing.”

Those are the words of the comedic, fictional character Billy Madison, from the movie Billy Madison. I’m sure most of us have seen this movie at some point in our lives, it’s just one of those classic comedies from the ’90s that just seem to last and stay relevant. Speaking of back to school, since mostly everybody has started back at this point, let’s learn about It’s A School Night, an Italian-Style pilsner from Knoxville, TN based Xul Beer Co.

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Colorado Beer Beat | Bi-Weekly Beer Release Guide 9/9

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.

The Craft Brewers Conference returns to Denver September 9-12 at the Colorado Convention Center. Whether you’re lucky enough to attend the event this year or not, there are still plenty of new beer releases and events centered around CBC that will be taking place. So while you’re out this weekend, grab a pint or two at some of your favorite breweries, and take home some limited releases at the same time.

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