Craft Beer News
PorchDrinking brings you the breaking in craft beer news.
Alamo Drafthouse Announces Upcoming Westminster, CO Location
August 20, 2018 | Tristan Chan
For the past 21 years, Alamo Drafthouse has served as a pioneer in the cinema industry, pairing classic, contemporary and cult-following movie screenings, with sing-a-longs, themed event spectacles, a killer culinary program and elite level craft beer. Alamo Drafthouse has announced that it will open its third Colorado location in downtown Westminster, just 10 miles north of Denver.
Brewery Preview | Burns Family Artisan Ales Set to Open in Denver on Saturday
August 17, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Last Fall, the Denver beer scene saw two pioneers embark on a unique partnership, which left the brewery space at Wit’s End available for purchase. As Wit’s End was closing their doors, two industry veterans happened to be looking to begin a new path of their own. Taking over the space and equipment at Wit’s End gave Wayne Burns and Laura Worley just the opportunity they were looking for.
Wayne, brewing resume dates back to the early 90’s having spent time with Michigan staples such as Bell’s Beer and Kuhnhenn’s. And since moving to Denver, he’s spent time brewing with Vine Street Pub, Jagged Mountain, Wynkoop, and recently Holidaily. Burns’ wife Laura has also run the gamut of brewery experience, having spent time bartending or serving as General Manager as the likes of Tommyknocker, Lost Highway, and Woods Boss. Together this combined experience of front to back of house operations is something both Laura and Wayne believe will help them succeed with Burns Family Artisan Ales which opens tomorrow August 18th at 2:00 PM. Read More
Fast Facts on Surly Brewing’s New Hop Pack
August 17, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Oh, variety packs. What Hazy IPAs are to trending beer styles, the variety pack is to new packaging formats. And why not? You lower buyer’s remorse by offering more options and expose consumers to a wider array of your beer. Minnesota’s Surly Brewing has experimented with offering new beers available only in variety packs before (ala 60 Below Rye IPA), and its newest Hop Pack offering aims to build on this by offering two new beers in a hop-focused format.
Breaking Down the Newcomers & Breweries Missing from 2018 GABF
August 17, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Each year one of the most exciting aspects of the Great American Beer Festival is the ability to explore and sample some of the country’s best new breweries that have emerged on the scene. Additionally, it can be equally as rewarding to revisit some familiar faces you may only get to try once each year at the country’s largest beer showcase. However, with the evolving landscape of craft beer, and varying priorities, we also tend to lose some familiar friends. As we’ve done each year, we’ve broken down the new / returning breweries as well as those who sadly aren’t coming back for this year’s Great American Beer Festival.
BREAKING | 2018 Great American Beer Festival Brewery List Announced
August 16, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Over 800 Breweries. 4 Sessions. 3 Days. More than 4000 beers. 60,000 attendees. Spanning over 584,000 square feet (a 17% increase). This year’s Great American Beer Festival is back and primed for its 37th Anniversary. The field has finally been set, and we now know which breweries will be part of the world’s largest beer festival. It is time once again to begin planning your routes. Which breweries are your can’t miss? And which are your must tries?
Be sure to check back often as we’ll be bringing complete GABF coverage leading up to, during and after the festival.
As we do each year, we will also be breaking down the list breweries to showcase the newcomers who are joining the fest for the first time, as well as those breweries who are notably missing. Read More
Has Constellation Lost Their Minds? Church’s Beer to Benefit LGBTQ & More News
August 16, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Often when we find an inordinate volume of random beer news happening all at once, we’ll try to round them up as quick hitters to make sure to keep everyone in the loop. So in today’s edition of the roundup, we’ll touch on some bizarre decisions by Goose Island and Constellation, some release info as well as a great story on inclusion from an unlikely source.
We’ll kick things off with four equally bizarre moves from Constellation Brands, the beer conglomerate that owns Corona, Modelo, Ballast Point Brewing, Funky Buddha Brewing and the recently acquired Four Corners Brewing.
Schlafly Partnering With Award-Winning Wineries for Newest Release
August 16, 2018 | Jordan Palmer
If you have never had a sip of anything from Schlafly’s Ibex Series, I highly recommend you start. Schlafly Beer first introduced this series of premium beers in 2017. Since then, the series has provided new, handcrafted beers from what is known as the Ibex Cellar.
Breweries Plan Big Events for First-Ever Georgia Beer Fortnight
August 16, 2018 | Josh Ritenour
We’re gonna need a bigger boat. Why? Because one week of celebrating Georgia craft beer just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Thanks to September 2017 changes in state legislation allowing beer sales directly from breweries to customers, the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild and Wrecking Bar Brewpub have decided to extend Georgia Beer Week by introducing the inaugural Georgia Beer Fortnight.
Lagunitas Partners with Short’s Brewing Co. on New Session Ale
August 14, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Last July, Lagunitas purchased 20% of Michigan-based Short’s Brewing Co. When it was announced, Short’s spokeswoman Emily Sullivan noted that the agreement was strategic and helped them grow their business through easier access to materials and packaging that a brewing behemoth like Lagunitas can offer. Now, we’re seeing the first real activation of the partnership, as brewers from both operations joined together for a Midwest meets West Coast collaboration: Passion Grass Session Ale made with passion fruit and lemongrass. The new creation is the first consumer-facing example of their partnership and is sure to appeal to beer geeks nationwide. Here are the details.
Goose Island Announces 2018 Bourbon County Stout Lineup
August 9, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Eight different Bourbon County Stout variants will be available come Black Friday this November, however, the official announcement from Goose Island had several surprises.
Soulcraft Aims For A Greater Audience By Transitioning to Cans
August 9, 2018 | Sue Bjorkman
CAN YOU? What single element can turn previously laid-back fun-loving brewers into nose-to-the-grindstone workers? Oh, that could only be…success. CEO and Head Brewer Mike LaCroix of Soulcraft Brewery in Salida, CO and his team are transitioning from very limited bottling to full-out canning.
On his first day off in three weeks, he takes some time to breathe and reflect on this next transition: The “big spark” he believes will revolutionize this small brewery into a nationally recognized brand.
Why the Craft Brewers of Green Bay are Some of the Packers’ Biggest Fans
August 7, 2018 | Taylor Laabs 2
Wisconsin is known for its cheese, beer and football. Green Bay, Wisconsin’s third biggest city, is simply known for the Packers. Dubbed Titletown USA, Green Bay has been home to the Packers for ages (the team will celebrate its centennial next year). The team is also a massive business boon for the city thanks to the tourism and additional business opportunities it brings to the small port city.
Packers football Sundays have also become big business for Green Bay’s small, but growing, craft beer scene. Two breweries, Badger State Brewing and Hinterland Brewery, are strategically positioned within a quick walk from the hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field. Stillmank Brewing Company is a bit farther away, but still sees a good deal of added foot traffic during any Packers’ home game weekend. We spoke to the owners of each brewery for an assessment on how the Packers have impacted their business.
Chicago Quick Sips August 6 – 19
August 6, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago, IL. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].
GLBC Releases 73 Kolsch | Brewed with Cleveland Football Hero Joe Thomas
August 4, 2018 | Mathew Powers
Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) has an affinity for beers that also tell a story, be it history, weather or paying homage to its local, Cleveland sports scene. For instance, GLBC released its Rally Drum Red Ale brewed in honor of the well-known Cleveland Indian bleacher-seat drummer, John J. Adams. Come September, Cleveland fans can sip on 73 Kolsch, brewed with Cleveland Browns hero Joe Thomas, an offensive linemen who played in an amazing 10,363 consecutive snaps during his 11-year career. Hence, GLBC describes the Kolsch-style beer as “A Brew Fit For An Iron Man.”
Crooked Stave Bringing Experimental Brewery & Taproom to Fort Collins
August 2, 2018 | Scott Davidson
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project is returning to their roots in Fort Collins.
Chad Yakobson, founder of Crooked Stave, graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 2006 and wrote his Master’s thesis, The Brettanomyces Project, while at CSU. Additionally, when the sour and wild focused brewery first launched, Yakobson initially turned to Funkwerks to brew their base wort. Now he seeks to bring the Crooked Stave experience back to its roots in Fort Collins.
Revolution Brewing Announces 2018-19 Deep Wood Series
August 1, 2018 | Mike Zoller
While the calendar might say August, the 2018-19 Revolution Brewing Deep Wood Series announcement shows us that barrel-aged season is just around the corner.
After an incredibly successful 2017-18 release which produced some of the best barrel-aged beers released from any Chicagoland brewery, Revolution is going big this year with a release of ten different beers.
Brewing News Roundup | Releases from New Belgium, Founders, Rogue & Great Lakes
July 31, 2018 | Mathew Powers
While we can’t pretend to list every new beer release, here are several tasty tidbits that have come across the PorchDrinking.com desk from around the nation. Founders, New Belgium and Rogue recently announced beers that will hit the shelves across much of the nation. Get ’em while you can!
Denver’s Dos Luces Brewery Opens Today Reviving Chicha and Pulque Beers
July 27, 2018 | Tristan Chan
In a time when much of the industry seems so narrowly focused on chasing the hottest new trend, the most innovative new style, the brightest and shinest new gimmick in beer, Denver’s newest brewery is actually looking backward, way back in time, to focus on historic styles.
New Moves from Allagash & Surly Signal Rise of Wine-Inspired Lagers
July 24, 2018 | Taylor Laabs 2
Rosé (lager) all-day? For some beer-drinkers, this dream is quickly becoming a reality. To stand out in 2018, brewers are throwing anything and everything (fried chicken?) into their beer to win over the increasingly saturated taste buds of beer lovers. That said, some breweries are moving in a different direction.
Beloved Minnesota brewer Surly Brewing and national powerhouse Allagash Brewing have decided to target a new sub-section of drinkers: wine and spirit fanatics. It’s a large group that continues to eat up market share thanks to the popularity of beverages like spiked seltzers and Rosé drinks. Rosé in particular continues to increase its influence across the alcohol market, posting a 40% increase of sales in 2017.
Cellar West Artisan Ales Planning Expansion & Move to Lafayette
July 23, 2018 | Tristan Chan
It’s been a busy summer of change across the Colorado craft beer landscape with multiple closures, even more openings, and several breweries announcing significant expansion news. This fall, Boulder’s Cellar West Artisan Ales will join the handful of young Colorado breweries looking to scale up within the evolving beer landscape, as they move their taproom to Lafayette to accommodate the addition of a dedicated on-site brewhouse. Read More
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