Golden Road Brewing | Point the Way IPA

ABV: 5.9% | IBU: 60

I have seen the light on IPA, thanks to Golden Road’s Point the Way IPA. “That stuff is [expletive] incredible,” someone told me recently. Quite a recommendation. As positive as that review is, I feared I might not feel the same way—I usually prefer mellow ambers to hoppy IPAs; I was wrong. I visited the Golden Road Brewery location here in Glendale, CA recently, and I loved their Point the Way IPA. To borrow a phrase, it’s [expletive] incredible. Read More

Great Lakes Brewing – Lake Erie Monster

As long as there have been people living around bodies of water, there have been stories about what lives in the deep recesses of each murky abyss. From Krakens of Greek mythology to the river monsters of the Amazon, to the Crocosaurus of the Sci Fi Channel to the infamous Nessie of Scotland’s Loch Ness, the lore surrounding mythical sea monsters swirls in all corners of the globe and throughout time. The northern Midwest is not excluded from this pantheon of time and geography as Lake Erie’s Bessie (sometimes known as “South Bay Bessie”) has graced this fourth largest of the Great Lakes since its first recorded sighting in 1817. Great Lakes Brewing’s summer seasonal Lake Erie Monster pays homage to the beast with a double IPA that (at 9.1% ABV) will have you telling tales in no time. Read More

Ska Brewing Mexican Logger

It’s summer. I love big, gigantic barrel-aged beers as much as the next bloke but it’s time to put those beasts into hibernation. It’s time to drink refreshing brews made for summer. I know a few other folks that would vouch that Ska Brewing Mexican Logger may be THE go to brew for summer. Plus, there is a zapata-esque dude wielding a chainsaw on the can. EPIC!

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Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. – Kentucky IPA

Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. – Kentucky IPA

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 70 (I couldn’t actually find a reliable source for this, so I ball parked.)

Alltech is responsible for quite a bit of growth in Central Kentucky, not to mention the first contributor to the advent of the Lexington, Kentucky craft beer spring. For years, there were very few local craft brews available in Central Kentucky. Alltech seized this opportunity and in 1999 released what is now a staple across the state: Kentucky Ale. Soon the brewery released yet another delicious creation: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. This beer combined the signature Kentucky Ale with the flavor of Kentucky Bourbon (by aging for 6 weeks in bourbon barrels), yielding a delicious, slightly sweet, and highly potent brew (about 9% abv).

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Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero Mexican Style Chocolate Stout

9% ABV

Hola Clown Shoes, welcome to Colorado.  The brewery itself is an enigma, based out of Massachusetts, brewed out of Mercury … Read More

Getting a Woody – Cascade Brewing The Vine

Background

Cascade Brewing The Vine Style: American Wild Ale ABV: 9.73%

Welcome  and prepare to get a woody. This installment of Getting a Woody we will look at Cascade Brewing … Read More

Blue Moon Brewing Company – Agave Nectar Ale

ABV: 5.6%

IBUs: 14

I’m not going to lie, I’m not the biggest fan of Blue Moon, but the last time I was at the store I saw their new summer seasonal, Agave Nectar Ale. I originally didn’t pick it up because I’ve tried agave beer before, but I just couldn’t get it off my mind. So today when I went to the grocery I decided to give it a go. Read More

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project: Hop Savant

Hop Savant

Crooked Stave Brewery, Denver, CO

ABV 6.7%

Hoppy beers have been a bit of a target recently. A widely shared article recently stated, “Hop enthusiasts are ruining craft beer.” This is hyperbole to be sure, but it’s still a fairly predictable backlash. Double and triple IPAs are now quite common at most breweries, and some are an absolute assault on the taste buds. Even regular IPAs can go a bit over the top from time to time. And so it’s understandable that people may be a bit hesitant to, at least for the moment, purchase a beer that even has “Hop” in the name. Read More

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery: Hoppin’ to Heaven IPA

Once upon a time the city of Akron, Oh was a flourishing place full of promises and opportunities.  Yes, looking at the grey, desolate, nearly abandoned ghost town that remains today, it is quite hard to believe.  However, not so many years ago, Akron was crowned the “Rubber Capitol” of the world.  Companies like Good Year and Firestone called this place their home and exported more tires than any other place in the universe, and in turn, provided the city with plentiful employment.  But, unfortunately those years have passed, and it seems Akron is more famous for what has left it behind than for what is still there (yeah, that’s a Lebron reference and yeah, I’m still bitter). Read More

Night Shift Brewing – Snow

ABV = 3.4%

It’s easy to get jaded about being a “grown-up”. Here at PorchDrinking.com, we try to help you navigate adulthood as best as we can because we understand … Read More

Left Hand Brewing’s 400 Pound Monkey

Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey

6.8% ABV

An ominous red handprint blazoned on the neck of the bottle: does it indicate pain or does it indicate pleasure? Judging by … Read More

Fire Island Beer Company-Lighthouse Ale

With Spring finally in full effect and New Yorkers starting to head off for Long Island beaches, I thought it would be fitting to have a go at Fire Island Beer Company’s Lighthouse Ale. Read More

Three Floyds Evil Power Imperial Pilsner

Three Floyds Brewing  – Evil Power Imperial Pilsner

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: 56

“I hear voices . . . “ resounds the first lyrics on the self-titled track, EVIL POWER, from Lair of the Minotaur’s fourth release. Lair of the Minotaur (LOTM as they shall be known henceforth) and Three Floyds Brewing collaborated for this bottle of fearsome, full-palated deliciousness. After popping the crown cap, I am also hearing voices. These voices are telling me to find more Three Floyds Evil Power Imperial Pilsner and to hoard it like there is no tomorrow.

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Fat Head’s Oompa Loompa Chocolate Cream Stout

ABV: 6.5% | IBU: 33

Stout brewed with dark chocolate and vanilla beans added.

Fat Head’s story began in Pittsburgh, PA, circa 1992, with the founding of Fat Head’s Saloon. In 2009 Fat Head’s expanded to North Olmsted, Ohio, teaming up with Matt Cole (an award winning brewer) to open Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon. Success came quickly, with the brewery producing over 5000 barrels over its first three years and Fat Head’s beers winning many awards. They expanded to a full-scale producing brewery in 2012, located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

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Night Shift Brewing – Ever Weisse

ABV: 5.1%

Beer should be enjoyable. That’s simple enough, right? But sometimes I feel like as beer nerds we lose track of that. I know I do. I spend way too much time rummaging through Beeradvocate[1] and ratebeer, I obsess over “white-whale” beers and it legitimately bothers me when I try a much-hyped, rare, “highly rated” beer and it just disappoints me[2].  Then I start thinking about all the time I spent checking draft lists[3] and twitter feeds and the disappointment turns into pure anger, mostly directed at myself. I won’t even go into how frustrated I get at beer distribution[4] and beer laws because I am sure anyone reading this already feels my pain there. But here’s the good news: it does not have to be this way. Assuming you live close to a city, I can almost guarantee that you have phenomenal beer in your backyard[5] and you should be drinking and enjoying it. Not because it’s easy[6], but because it’s delicious and worth knowing about. Night Shift’s Ever Weisse, a superbly funky, sinfully red sour Berliner Weisse beer is the perfect example of the beers we should all be spending more of our time on. Read More

River Horse-Tripel Horse

ABV: 10%

Okay, so to get a proper feel for the River Horse-Tripel Horse you are going to need a particular soundtrack. Remember Salt ‘n Pepa’s ‘Shoop’? Remember the breakdown where it’s all, “Oooh ooh ooh, I like whatcha do, when ya do, whatcha do . . .”? Got the tune in your head? That is your soundtrack for this beer. Read More

River Runners Pale Ale

Eddyline Brewery and Restaurant – River Runners Pale Ale

ABV: 6%

IBU: 50

Eddyline Brewery and Restaurant’s River Runners Pale Ale is yet another example of the  awesomesauce that can come out of both 16-ounce cans and the frequently neglected beer region of Southern Colorado. Read More

Anderson Valley Brewing Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout

ABV: 6.9%

IBU: 14

I grew up on a farm in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Every day to and from school, we would pass one of Anderson County’s two distilleries. The smell of mash in the morning still brings back a flood of childhood memories. So when I heard that Anderson Valley produced a beer aged in an Anderson County batch of Bourbon barrels, I was naturally rather intrigued. I am a serious Bourbon drinker and, quite honestly, know more about Bourbon than I do beer. You grow up with it, you tend to learn a few things.

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Bells Brewery Hopslam

Bell’s Brewery- Hopslam

ABV: 10%

IBU: 90

When considering the progress India Pale Ales have made in the American beer drinking culture while also crediting the rise … Read More

Dry Dock Brewery Hop Abomination

Hop Abomination

Dry Dock Brewery

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 70

Typically, when it comes to drinking beer, my rule is the more IBU’s the better. IBUs represent bitterness. Bitterness represents hops. … Read More