Anderson Valley Brewing Co. | Briney Melon Gose

ABV: 4.2%

Last summer was my introduction to the gose style, and my first one was Anderson Valley’s Blood Orange Gose (also a beer I highly recommend). I immediately became a fan, and started seeking out others in the gose style. That soon led me to another from Anderson Valley, the Briney Melon Gose. At the time, it was only available in bombers, but this year they started distributing it in six-pack cans… and we’re all better off because of it. With a fun, easy-drinking summer beer like this, cans that you can throw in a cooler and take to a barbecue to share with friends are the only way to go.

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Bronx Brewery B-Sides | Uptown Coffee Milk Stout

ABV: 6.8 | IBU: 36

BREWING: January – February

I’m just going to get straight to the point: this limited release was so delicious that my weekend morning coffee ritual was immediately replaced by Uptown Coffee Milk Stout via the growler purchased.

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Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery | Dark Apparition Vanilla & Coffee Bean

Style: Russian Imperial Stout | ABV: 10.5%

Spring has practically arrived and with warm weather comes spring and summer beers. Darker beers tend to fade out to make way for … Read More

Four Corners Brewing Co. | Notorious O.A.T.

Dallas local favorite, Four Corners Brewing Co., is based in the developing “fly” part of West Dallas called Trinity Groves. Trinity Groves is known for its contemporary eats and “dope” view of Downtown Dallas and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Just this past week, Four Corners announced that they are expanding and will be moving into the up and coming Cedars neighborhood. (You can read about it here.) Read More

Diebolt Brewing Company | Rosemary Lemon Bar Ale

ABV: 4.7%, | IBU: 15

I can’t seem to stay away from Diebolt Brewing Company these days. I find myself here probably more often than most other breweries in … Read More

Illuminated Brew Works | Fnord Wit Beer

7.3% ABV | 0 IBUs

I’ve never been a big fan of Wit beer. The true to style witbier seems to have a flavor that reminds me of boiled hot dog water, which in turn reminds me of the Limp Bizkit album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water which then floods me with memories of my 8th grade year. I can’t figure out if it’s the coriander that most seem to feature or a yeast strain issue, but whatever it is, it usually bubbles up some long repressed teenage embarrassment that I haven’t yet reconciled emotionally.

Yeah, I know. A lot to blame on a beer style. But it’s been enough for me to avoid ordering them.

But recently I decided to give wits another shot. There’s been some hesitation, though luckily the few I’ve tried have tasted great. But there is one that has stuck out and given me hope for wit beers. And that’s IBW’s Fnord wit beer. Read More

Council Brewing Co. | Beatitude Mango Tart Saison

ABV: 4.5%

The Beatitude series of Saisons by Council Brewing Company is kind of a thing in San Diego. That is to say that the fruity Saisons pop up in various kegs and bottles throughout the city with a distinct notoriety and a high demand. This beer has existed, to be exact, in Mosaic dry-hopped, Citra dry-hopped, raspberry, apricot, passion fruit, cherry, three berry, pineapple, blueberry and, of course, mango versions, all of which are bottle-conditioned. We discovered the Beatitude Mango fresh on tap when we visited the brewery location.
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Red Brick Brewing | Laughing Skull Craft Lager

How do you reinvent a brand that has been a flagship of Atlanta’s oldest brewery? How do you make it different from the other beers that you have released over the past several … Read More

Breakside Brewery | Salted Caramel Stout

Photo Courtesy of Breakside Brewery

There are few things that I love more than a good bowl (or perhaps two) of Salt & Straw ice cream. Every time I’m anywhere in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon, where the chain is based, I immediately find myself in line waiting anxiously for a few scoops.

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Maui Brewing Co. | Mana Wheat

ABV 5.5 | IBU 18

Seattleites take a lot of things for granted – gorgeous mountains, delicious beer, quality food options at every price point – but one unique benefit of Seattle that I had to discover for myself is the accessibility of Hawaii. The first time I booked a trip to Hawaii and realized that there were direct flight options from Seattle to multiple Hawaiian Islands, I thought I had uncovered a secret vacation destination. As it turns out, everyone was in on the secret but me, including two of my close friends who got married in Maui a few weeks ago. The wedding was lovely and the island was beautiful, but I’m here to write about the beer. To my delight, the bride and groom planned a post-wedding day-drinking session at Maui Brewing Co., so in honor of their marriage and my nostalgia for Hawaiian sunshine, this showcase will focus on the wedding party’s collective favorite beer from that day, the Mana Wheat. Read More

Funky Buddha Brewery | Floridian Hefeweizen

ABV 5.2%

After a winter of bleak, blustery days with too few daylight hours, Funky Buddha’s Floridian Hefeweizen is the ray of sunshine you need right now.

Let’s be honest. … Read More

Cerveceria de Colima | Páramo Pale Ale

ABV: 5.2%

PorchDrinking.com’s Hannah and Katelyn knocked it out of the park with their 2 days and 2 nights in Seattle article a couple of weeks ago. Most of the beers, … Read More

Stone Brewing Co.| Pataskala Red IPA

ABV: 6.2% | IBUs: 70

This is a technically a review of Stone Brewing Co. Pataskala Red IPA, but it’s really a story of remembering your roots.

Last spring, Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala (pronounced Puh-ta-skuh-luh), Ohio, had a problem. Their school district needed to pass a levy or ALL extracurricular activities would be cut, from sports to band. Freshman Ally Jeffers depended on band to get her through the day, a creative outlet that challenged her like no other class. The levy had failed twice before and the situation looked dire. That’s when inspiration struck- Ally wrote a letter to Stone Brewing CEO/Founder Greg Koch (Watkins Memorial class of ’81) asking for help.

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Brüeprint | Whiskey Barrel-Aged Midnight Brüe (2015)

ABV: 8.5% | IBU: N/A

Apex’s own Brüeprint has been making a name for themselves in the greater Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area since opening their vats in the summer of 2014. They produce several … Read More

Cellarmaker Brewing | Tremont IPA

ABV: 5.8%, | IBU: 29

Cellarmaker Brewing’s co-founder, Tim Sciascia, previously worked for Boston Beer Company, where he was told he would never be allowed in the brewhouse without a … Read More

Zipline Brewing | BA Chocolate Double Stout

Photo Courtesy of Zipline Brewing Co.

ABV: 11.5%

When Zipline Brewing Co. first opened its doors a few short years ago, I instantly became a fan. From the get-go, they were turning out solid beer in a number of styles, with many featuring a creative twist that made them unique and especially interesting for craft beer lovers. Like the sense of fun and adventure the brewery’s name suggests, these guys love to push the envelope without being reckless. The result? Some damn good beer from a place you wouldn’t expect—Lincoln, NE.

While I’m now a Denver resident surrounded by some of the country’s premiere breweries, it was still critical that I showcased the quality beer coming out of Zipline. I chose one of their latest creations, the Barrel-Aged Chocolate Double Stout, because, well, it’s amazing. Read More

Weyerbacher Brewing Co. | Sunday Morning Stout 2016

ABV: 11.3%

What does Lionel Richie’s song “Easy” have in common with Weyerbacher? Lionel is “Easy Like Sunday Morning” and Weyerbacher’s Sunday Morning Stout is so smooth, that it’s just as … Read More

Defiance Brewing Co. | Thrasher Session IPA

ABV 4.5% | IBU 44

Mid-winter is an interesting time for beer. When February temperatures are reaching near 70 degrees each day in Denver I never seem to know what I am in the mood to drink. Not yet warm enough for summer styles, yet too warm for dark heavy winter styles. Recent travels to Kansas concluded with my husband and I taking a large box of Kansas beer home across state lines back to Colorado. Thrasher Session IPA was one of these beers (well, really a whole 6 pack of them) and it seemed like the perfect beer to showcase for an early Springtime sipper! Read More

Red Rock Brewery | Rêve

ABV 10.3%

Although Valentine’s day is over for another year, it’s good to continue reflecting on things we love. When a highly anticipated seasonal release of a favorite local offering just so happens to land during the same week of warm weather in the middle of winter, the combination deserves reflection. Because, 1) Warm weather means summer really is coming back, and 2) Exclusive beer releases with limited bottles really are ‘all the hype’ and you’ll feel damn lucky to have your hands on the prize. When both happen to mingle, it feels like a celebration. Read More

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company | Erlkönig

ABV: 8.3%

I really appreciate the stories Urban Chestnut Brewing Company spins on its beer labels. The ancient tale referenced on Erlkönig is especially interesting. This beer, a double wheat bock ale, falls into their “Revolution Series” which is a nod to the revolution of modern craft beer in America taking place in urban areas like St. Louis. The story behind Erlkönig however, could not be less modern. Dating to a poem written in 1782 by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, it describes a boy and his father resisting the lure of a mysterious Elf King. It’s worth a read if you’re into the strange and supernatural. So, how’s the beer?

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