Craft Beer News
PorchDrinking brings you the breaking in craft beer news.
Inside the Tank | Crystal Lake Brewing
March 25, 2019 | Mike Zoller
While there are a lot of big name breweries operating inside the city of limits of Chicago today, the surrounding suburbs are producing notable beers that often fly under the radar.
Since 2014, Crystal Lake Brewing has been producing beers that have become a mainstay for McHenry County. In that time, the brewery has begun to make more of a name for itself outside of Crystal Lake, IL.
Mikerphone Brewing Opens Addition, Preps for Smells Like a Beer Fest
March 25, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Two years to the day Mikerphone Brewing opened its taproom, the brewery officially opened its new addition, called the Mikerphone Blue Room. The expansion more than doubles the total square footage of the brewery, triples the seating capacity, and opens the door to a future that founder and owner Mike Pallen never could have imagined.
Germany’s Paulaner to Offer Two Popular Beers in Cans for the First Time in the US
March 22, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
America is bursting at the seams with great American craft beer options. There’s a bevy of tasty hazy IPAs and adjunct-filled stouts that generate social buzz and full bellies, but sometimes you just want a nice, easy-to-drink beer. For that, many look to and take notes from the Germans and their time-tested and rigorous brewing processes that continue to set the standard for classic beer styles. While solid imported options do exist, they can be hard to come by and even harder to identify if you’re not well-versed in traditional German brewers. Paulaner, a German stalwart of brewing that is older than America itself, is hoping to change that with Paulaner U.S.A’s announcement that their Hefe-Weizen and Original Munich Lager offerings will be available across the U.S. in 16.2oz cans this Spring. Here’s what you need to know about the new Paulaner beers gracing shelves stateside soon.
Four New Session IPAs Perfect for the Long Hours of March Madness
March 20, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
The calendar year is full of great sports events, but there is arguably no better multi-day sports period than the opening weekend of March Madness. From early Thursday to late Sunday, college basketball fans, avid gamblers, and college alumni alike will gather around computer screens, flat-screen TVs and in stadiums across the nation to cheer on their favorite team. It’s an experience that frays the nerves, especially if you have a team you’re rooting for or money on the line. It’s also one that is ideal for your favorite beverage of choice—several of them in fact. Whether you’re on your couch or on a bar-stool, the non-stop basketball action for the opening weekend deserves a light yet flavorful beer that’s high on hops but low on alcohol. Here are four new Session IPAs that should make it into your starting lineup this weekend.
Old121 Brewhouse Opening in Lakewood’s Former Caution Brewing Spot
March 14, 2019 | Tristan Chan 1
It’s incredible what can be accomplished over post-shift drinks, new friendships, new relationships, new business plans, and in the case of Old121 Brewhouse, ironically enough, a new brewery.
Lakewood, Colorado’s … Read More
More Brewing’s Head Brewer & GM Leave to Form Phase Three Brewing
March 14, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Nine years ago when Shaun Berns, his wife Brittany and best friend Evan Morris were working at RAM Restaurant & Brewery, they had talked about one day opening their own brewery. The three made their way from RAM to More Brewing which opened in July of 2017. Less than two years later, the three are ready to open up their own brewery – Phase Three Brewing Company.
BREAKING | America’s 2018 Top 50 Largest Breweries by Volume
March 12, 2019 | Tristan Chan
Every year the Brewers Association releases their list of the top 50 breweries by volume based on overall craft beer sales for the previous year.
Read More
Surly Releases Two New Beers Following Industry Trends
March 12, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Hazy IPAs and pastry stouts – so hot right now – hazy IPAs and pastry stouts. As these beers have become hotter than Derek Zoolander walking the runway and giving us Blue Steel, the larger craft breweries are following suit. Surly Brewing joins the game with their latest beers, One Man Mosh Pit and Tiramisu Funeral Bar.
Editorial | The Time for Women to Run the Beer Industry is Now
March 8, 2019 | Tristan Chan
The time for women to run this beer industry is now. Despite the efforts of stodgy scared obstinate old curmudgeons like Bill Metzger, the former co-publisher of the Great Lakes … Read More
Chicago Quick Sips | March 4 Chicago Beer News & Events
March 4, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].
Jester King, Allagash & More Honored as 2019 James Beard Semifinalists
February 27, 2019 | Constance Del Rio 2
The highly regarded James Beard awards have historically been associated with the highest calibre culinary institutions in the world, but the coveted honor also extends into the Wine, Spirits, and … Read More
Off Color Brewing Introduces Beer Emblems to Continue the Brewing Conversation with Consumers
February 27, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
Some breweries just do things differently. Whether it’s through a specialized brewing process, unique can art or a niche marketing approach, it’s a smart business strategy to stand out from one’s competitors. Off Color Brewing is one of those unique operations.
The Chicago brewery is known for its love of cats and numerous experiments with funky fermentation processes. Its brewing is regarded as an art form that cannot be painted in broad strokes or stylistic classifications. Instead, each specific aspect of the wild brewing endeavors conducted by brewers and co-founders John Laffler and Dave Bleitner demand denotation so that it can be celebrated and understood by the typical consumer. So, Off Color is bringing something new to the marketplace that has already been met by a bevy of consumer excitement. It’s not a new beer or yeast strain, it’s beer emblems.
Ultimate 6er | What’s New Chicago
February 27, 2019 | Rachel Morrison
It can be difficult to keep up with all of the new things happening in the Chicago craft beer scene. With new taprooms opening and bottle releases happening virtually each week, there is no shortage of options for new Chicago beers. Thus I’ve rounded up a few of my recent favorites in this Ultimate 6er, What’s New Chicago edition.
Three Weavers Brewing Company Crafts Special Beers for the Alita Expereince
February 25, 2019 | Pam Catoe
A new immersive pop-up experience, Alita: Battle Angel – Passport to Iron City is now open in Austin, Los Angeles and New York City to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated Robert Rodriguez film Alita: Battle Angel. During the experience, guests can explore the film’s futuristic world Iron City, which has been recreated down to the last detail to include the Kansas bar where guests can enjoy an exclusive beer from Three Weavers Brewing Company out of Inglewood, California. Each city will feature a beer crafted specifically for that city, along with other beers from the brewery.
I caught up with founder Lynne Weaver and brewmaster Alexandra Nowell to find out how the collaboration came about.
Chicago Quick Sips | Feb. 18 Chicago Beer News & Events
February 18, 2019 | Mike Zoller
Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].
Bull Durham Acquired by R&D Brewing
February 15, 2019 | Christopher Hilliard
On January 10, 2019, Bull Durham Brewing Company came under new ownership. And R&D Brewing, located on Capital Blvd in downtown Raleigh, became the proud new owners.
Before we get into that, let’s talk about Durham and its minor league baseball team, the Durham Bulls. Thirty-odd years ago, the Durham Bulls became part of popular culture with the release of the Susan Sarandon/Kevin Costner/Tim Robbins film “Bull Durham.” If Rotten Tomatoes can be believed, it’s safe to say people like it. I would say it has its moments.
How Chicago’s Logan Square Neighborhood Became a Craft Brewing Hotbed
February 15, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
Chicago beer drinkers are spoiled with the multitude of taproom options available to them throughout the city. With more breweries than any other city, it only makes sense that there are numerous spots where patrons can leisurely stroll from one brewery to the next in just a few minutes. Up north in Ravenswood, there is the Malt Row which boasts the likes of Half Acre, Spiteful, Begyle and Dovetail Brewing. To the west is the Chicago Brewing District, which includes award-winners like On Tour, Great Central Brewing Co. and more. Smack dab in the middle (okay, somewhat close to the middle) of these two vibrant brewing neighborhoods is Logan Square, which has quickly become one of the hottest brewing locations in the nation, with a growing list of breweries calling the unique neighborhood home.
5030 Local | Beer and Pizza Redefined
February 14, 2019 | Bryan Oldham
The stretch of Highway 34 from Namaqua Road out to Estes Park is known for, well, not much. That was until a few months ago, when the owners of Berthoud Brewing Company and Peel Handcrafted Pizza decided to make this stretch of road one of Northern Colorado’s premier food and drink destinations.
5030 Local is a joint venture between Berthoud’s namesake brewery and a mainstay in the Frederick food game. The owners have been friends for years, and general manager Vanessa told us that they had discussed a joint venture going back a long while. They finally pulled the trigger and brought their offerings North.
Portland’s BridgePort Brewing Closing Their Doors in March
February 13, 2019 | Hannah Carlson
Image courtesy of the BridgePort Brewing Facebook page.
The year after I graduated college, I visited Portland, Oregon for the very first time. To celebrate my arrival to the Pacific Northwest, I immediately commenced my visit with a stop at BridgePort Brewing Company. I vividly remember sitting on their outdoor deck, ordering a sampler tray, and blissfully working my way through their varieties – being taken by each brew that I tried.
Six years later after that visit, BridgePort Brewing has announced that they are closing their doors.
Perfect Timing: How the New Dogfish Head + Brouwerij Rodenbach Partnership Came to Be
February 7, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
Brewers collaborate with each other all the time. The results are usually pretty good and often buzzworthy. Then, there are those collaborations that make your eyes light up and your tastebuds salivate at the thought of two sour beer-brewing masterminds coming together to create something truly special that is primed to set the market ablaze – if executed properly. The new international collaboration between Delaware-based Dogfish Head and Belgium sour stalwart Brouwerij Rodenbach has the potential to do just that.
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