Craft Beer News
PorchDrinking brings you the breaking in craft beer news.
Firestone Walker Announces Brewmaster’s Reserve Beer Club
February 8, 2021 | Tristan Chan 1
This year, as Firestone Walker Brewing prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Paso Robles-based brewery is about to embark on another ambitious project that aims to showcase experimentation and innovation. Nowadays it’s becoming more and more difficult for larger regional sized breweries to make a splash when it comes to small-batch beer releases, but Firestone Walker has always been among a handful of brands that have been able to balance building a highly regarded barrel-program while also complementing an equally successful core lineup.
BREAKING | Boulder Beer Rolls Out Updated Look, Brand Refresh
February 8, 2021 | Scott Grossman 2
Boulder Beer Company has opened another chapter in its long and storied history with a relaunch and refresh of the brand. This includes new can designs, realignment of the beer portfolio and a new partnership to help roll out the refreshed brand.
Boulder Beer will reduce core beers from six to five and eliminate its seasonal program to make the lineup more accessible to distributors and consumers. It will also resurrect old favorite Buff Gold as SKO – Buff Gold and introduce a new crossover brew named Bubbly by Nature. Read More
Denver Beer Co. Hires Former Avery Barrel Manager as Director of Innovation
January 28, 2021 | Tristan Chan
The winds of change continue to blow through Colorado’s craft beer landscape. One of the state’s most esteemed industry veterans is making a high-profile change this February, as Andy Parker, former barrel-manager at Avery Brewing has been announced as Denver Beer Co.’s new Director of Innovation.
Parker joined Avery in 2002 and was part of recipe development for most beers produced during that time period. While at Avery, Parker also helped to launch and oversee the Boulder-based brewery’s award-winning barrel-aging program, which grew from 30 barrels at its inception in 2007, to over 4,000 barrels at its height.
The PorchCast Ep 74 | Boulevard Brewing, Great Divide & Stout Month
January 28, 2021 | Tristan Chan
In episode 74 of the PorchCast, we dove into some heady recent topics relating to Boulevard Brewing’s sexual harassment allegations and how they responded to those claims. It should be noted that almost concurrently as this episode was being aired, Boulevard Brewing issued a second updated statement where they did in fact acknowledge their fault in sexual harassment claims and clarified that the employee in question has been fired. This statement can be found on the company’s Facebook page.
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Novel Strand Brewing Releasing ALL CAPS Tribute to MF DOOM
January 27, 2021 | Tristan Chan
Shrouded in mystery even through his recent passing, the iconic hip hop artist Daniel Dumile, who performed as MF DOOM, had a profound impact on the genre as a whole, in addition to his rabid fanbase.
A long time hip hop fan, Novel Strand co-founder and head brewer Tamir Danon, wanted to pay homage to the iconoclast, who he felt influenced hip hop artists and helped get a lot of people into the genre dating back to the early ’90s. Understanding the delicate nature of wanting to pay tribute without exploiting the artist’s passing can be a difficult balance, Danon wanted to ensure that the focus of the brand remains on the artists’ lyrics and talents. On the back label, Danon worked with an artist to transcribe lyrics from DOOM’s track, ALL CAPS with emphasis on particular words to translate the way it should be sung.
Mental Health Is Not a Competition | A Conversation With Hope for the Day
January 25, 2021 | Jason Ley
Message from the author: This story discusses suicide and other sensitive themes concerning mental health in an adult manner. While the intent of this reporting is to help destigmatize conversations about mental health, its content may be sensitive to some readers. In addition, it includes dialogue that contains explicit language, which has been left unedited out of respect for the authenticity of the interview that was conducted.
Please take this into consideration before reading.
BREAKING | Great Divide Intends to Sell RiNo Location & Consolidate Operations
January 21, 2021 | Tristan Chan
Great Divide Brewing announced today that it will be consolidating production operations by moving all packaging and canning back to its original Arapahoe Street location in Denver’s Ballpark Neighborhood.
SweetWater Brewing Expands Distribution to Colorado
January 21, 2021 | Tristan Chan
It’s been a monumental three months for SweetWater Brewing, which closed out the year in November by announcing that it had been acquired by Aphria Inc.(APHA), a leading global cannabis company based in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.
Now the Atlanta-based brewery is primed for rapid expansion and today announced that they are ready to launch throughout Colorado beginning February 1, 2021.
Revolution Caps Off Deep Wood Series with Half Acre Collab
January 20, 2021 | Mike Zoller
To wrap up their 2020-21 Deep Wood release, Revolution Brewing decided to go with two non-stouts, featuring an Imperial Rye Porter made in collaboration with Half Acre as well as a spin on their popular Ryewine Ale by putting it into Apple Brandy barrels.
New Non-Alcoholic Brews for Dry January We’re Buzzing About
January 18, 2021 | Taylor Laabs
The non-alcoholic (NA) beverage and beer segment continues to eat up market share thanks to its ability to offer younger buying groups a palatable and fulfilling NA option that takes the place of the typical beer, hard seltzer or hard cider. For many, NA beverages have become an addition to their overall alcohol-consuming habits while others have used NA beers to stop drinking altogether. I, like many others in the U.S., fall somewhere in the middle. According to Lagunitas, 45% of American adults have now purchased an NA beer. Data from Nielsen shows that 47% of Americans are making an effort to “cut back or abstain from” alcohol altogether.
While December is often filled with excess drinking, January is typically viewed through the lens of constriction, where you either consume less alcoholic drinks or participate in dry January, a month-long pledge to stop drinking alcoholic beverages entirely. If you’re a beer drinker curious about new NA beer options available on the market or participating in dry January, below is a list of five options we’re excited about.
How Breweries Are Preparing for 2021 Beer Festivals
January 13, 2021 | Mike Zoller
After a year that saw virtually no in-person beer festivals, there’s hope that with a vaccine people might once again be able to congregate and drink together in 2021. But early in the year, people are very cautious with any concrete timelines or plans.
Craft Brewers Conference Announces Moves to Denver in September
January 12, 2021 | Tristan Chan
In an attempt to salvage the ability to move forward with an in-person conference, the Brewers Association has announced this morning that they will be moving this year’s Craft Brewers Conference. This year’s conference was originally scheduled to take place in San Diego, March 29 through April 1, 2021, and will now move to September 9-12, 2021 in Denver, CO.
The PorchCast Ep 73 | End of Year Recap & Boys Are From Märzen Podcast
January 11, 2021 | Tristan Chan
In episode 73 of the PorchCast, we got the entire PorchCast gang back together to take a look back at some of the biggest craft beer news from 2020 as well as some of our favorite breweries, beers, and trends from the last year.
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New Legislation Extends Aid For Small Businesses Including Breweries
December 28, 2020 | Scott Grossman
After months of political wrangling and a stressful weekend for many small businesses, President Trump finally signed a $900 billion aid package passed by both houses of congress last Monday. The bill extends many of the measures initiated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act last spring. This new legislation funds programs to help individuals and small businesses, including breweries. With many areas facing new government-mandated business restrictions due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, the aid comes at a critical time.
Since April, many breweries have invested heavily to maintain safety and economic viability. Changes include website upgrades for takeout orders, expanded indoor and outdoor spaces and delivery options. In addition to these costly changes, breweries have seen uneven customer traffic and revenue. Breweries hope that this new stimulus package will allow them stay afloat long enough for restrictions to ease and economic activity to pick up. Read More
More Inside Hershey’s Trademark Dispute with Side Lot Brewery
December 24, 2020 | Mathew Powers
As reported by CBS Chicago’s (WBBM) Marie Saavedra, Side Lot Brewery in Wauconda, IL (Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs) must pay The Hershey Company $8,500 by January 4th because of its Sugar Series beer release this past Halloween comprised of Hershey’s candies and the associated labeling that mimicked Hershey products. We spoke to the parties involved about the trademark dispute.
Brewery Vivant celebrates 10-year anniversary with release of J’aison Ale
December 20, 2020 | Jessica Spengler
Sunday, December 20, marks the 10-year anniversary for one of Grand Rapids, Michigan’s most celebrated breweries: Brewery Vivant. The brewery is the world’s first LEED certified commercial microbrewery and a Certified B Corporation. It is beloved among Michigan’s beer loving community for their Belgium-style brews, as well as their commitment to the local community. To celebrate 10 years, on December 17 the brewery released J’aison, a Petite Saison brewed with orange peel and Tellicherry black peppercorns. It is currently available on draft and in cans for sale at the brewpub.
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Shmaltz & Moustache Light Up the Holidays with ‘Golden Jelly Doughnut Pastry Ale’ & ‘She’brew #RBG IPA’
December 18, 2020 | Karl Kalinkewicz 1
Shmaltz Brewing Company’s favorite beer-drinking season of the year is here: Hanukkah! Shmaltz Brewing officially turns 24 this Hanukkah and celebrates with the national release of a brand new Golden Jelly Doughnut Pastry Ale brewed with 600 pounds per batch of real purees of raspberry and cherry with a generous slathering of pure vanilla. This Hanukkah Beer, a glorious homage to the beloved Sufganiyot dessert, is all new for 2020 and is now available in 12-ounce can 4-Packs, limited draft through their East Coast wholesalers, and through Brew Pipeline nationally.
Voodoo Brewery Sells Franchising Arm & Plans Denver & Las Vegas Locations
December 17, 2020 | Tristan Chan 2
Pennsylvania’s Voodoo Brewery has, since its inception, followed a relatively non-traditional path. Despite growing in recent years to become one of the East Coast’s most buzz-worthy breweries, garnering attention for Good Vibes, their West Coast-style IPA, an assortment of Hazy IPAs, and one of the country’s most well-regarded barrel-aging programs, at one point early in their 15-year history, the Meadville, PA-based brewery nearly faced bankruptcy.
3 Floyds Permanently Closes Munster, IN Brewpub
December 16, 2020 | Mike Zoller
3 Floyds Brewing first announced an indefinite closing of their Munster, IN facility back in May, and it now seem as if that closure has become permanent. In a letter … Read More
Breweries to Create Missouri Brewers Guild’s First Collaboration Brew
December 16, 2020 | Bryant Vander Weerd
Twenty-two members of the Missouri Brewers Guild teamed up this fall to brew the Guild’s first-ever collaboration brew, aptly named “Missouri Loves Company”. The breweries met via video conference to discuss logistics, ingredients, and unite during a time when social distancing rules tend to keep people apart.
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