Craft Beer News
PorchDrinking brings you the breaking in craft beer news.
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
BREAKING | Bell’s Brewery Announces Colorado Distribution Beginning Fall 2018
July 19, 2018 | Tristan Chan 1
It was only a matter of time before Bell’s Brewery came to Colorado, and it seems that time has finally arrived for the Centennial State. Kalamazoo, MI-based Bell’s announced today … Read More
Niche or Necessity? Why 19.2 oz Cans Continue to Gain Momentum
July 19, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Look in the hand of any avid craft beer fan and you’ll most likely find a can of glistening beer. Right now, the shift towards aluminum primarily revolves around the traditional 12oz and tallboy formats, but that trend is evolving as consumers continue to voice their beer opinions through their wallets. The next frontier for cans is one that has been on-shelves for some time. Unsurprisingly pioneered by Oskar Blues back in 2012, the 19.2oz can, often called a stovepipe, is a behemoth of beer, giving drinkers over 1.5 standard servings of beer. It’s not a format for everyday use, but several brewers across the nation are finding interesting niches for the big can format.
We asked them about the growing trend and if they think the can is here to stay.
BREAKING | Three Weavers Brewing Joins Oskar Blues’ CANarchy Collective
July 17, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Los Angeles-based Three Weavers Brewing has announced today that it will be joining Oskar Blues Brewing Company under the Fireman Capital-backed Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective. Today’s news comes less than a week after the announcement that Dallas-based Deep Ellum Brewing would also be joining the CANarchy family.
36 Colorado Brewery Openings for July, August & September 2018
July 16, 2018 | Brian Phipps 2
When it is this hot for summer, you can either go run out in the sprinklers, head to the mountains, or grab a tasty brew. Or do all three! First, let’s start with a fresh pint from one of the 36 Colorado brewery openings for July, August, and September. Perhaps you will go try your first South American beer with corn as the main ingredient or even your first grape beer (oenobeer).
Dovetail Set to Release Chicago’s First Commercially-Produced Kriek
July 13, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Dovetail Brewery’s Kriek beer has been in the works for almost as long as the brewery has been open. After two years in production, the Kriek, believed to be the first Kriek commercially produced in Chicago, will be released in bottles tomorrow at the brewery.
The PorchCast | Ep 52 – 14er Brewing Acquires Former Beryl’s Beer Co. Space
July 12, 2018 | Tristan Chan
In a very special edition of the PorchCast, Tristan was joined by Andrew Kaczmarek and Nato Francescato, founders of Denver’s 14er Brewing to announce their acquisition of the former Beryl’s Beer Co. facility. That news, combined with their recent announcement of opening a taproom in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver, makes for one massive month for 14er Brewing.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Wynkoop Brewing Adds Foeders to Ever-Growing Barrel-Aging Program
July 10, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Sometimes in order to take two steps forward, you’ve got to take one giant leap back. Such was the case two years ago when Wynkoop Brewing made the difficult decision to end the packaging and distribution of its beers to outside bars, restaurants and liquor stores. However, the decision to shift focus solely toward on-premise sales has also allowed the Wynkoop team to re-invest in innovation and grow a stronger overall beer program.
Chicago Quick Sips July 9-22
July 9, 2018 | Mike Zoller
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].
2018 Bourbon County Labels Hint Possible Neapolitan, Horchata, Reserve Variants
July 9, 2018 | Mike Zoller
While there are still 137 days until the 2018 batch of Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout will be released, the hype has started with the approval of a variety of labels by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau last week.
The Second Annual Rapids & Grass Beer Fest Raises the Bar for Craft Events
July 2, 2018 | David Franz
As the brewing industry ebbs and flows through the many styles that interest consumers, beer festival organizers are finding ways to cater to tastes and stand out. Festivals such as Big Beers, Collaboration Fest, The Firestone Walker Invitational, and the recent inaugural WeldWerks Invitation go above and beyond the standard convention cup format by providing one-off offerings, sought after rarities, and highlighting the education and spirit of the brewing community. The 2nd annual Rapids & Grass Beer Festival in Buena Vista, CO this past weekend is another example of how organizers are upping the ante on beer festivals with more than copious amounts of unique brews—they are making it an experience. Rapids & Grass celebrated innovation and camaraderie in craft beer. Also, it offered attendees live bluegrass, camping, and whitewater rafting in the grandeur of the Collegiate Peaks alongside the roaring Arkansas River. Read More
Great Divide’s Denver Pale Ale Artist Series #3 Featuring Rachel Jablonski
June 28, 2018 | Kara Rowland
Great Divide Brewing Co. is out with a new label for its Denver Pale Ale as illustrator Rachel Jablonski takes the torch from John Vogl for the third iteration of the brewery’s Artist Series.
Featuring a man relaxing on a hammock as he sips a beer with an eye toward the city and mountain skyline, Jablonski’s design will now adorn cans of Denver Pale Ale, the brewery’s piney and sessionable staple. Rounding out the composition are iconic Denver symbols such as a hiker, the state capitol, skis, a hawk and a deer.
Great Divide — which at 24 years old is one of Denver’s older breweries — started the Denver Pale Ale Artist Series in 2016 shortly after opening its new RiNo location. Director of Marketing Shannon Berner described the series as a way to showcase local artists and pay tribute to the Mile High City that the brewery calls home.
Read More
Rapids & Grass Brings Together Beer, Music & Rafting this Weekend
June 28, 2018 | Chea Franz
Nestled at the foot of the Continental Divide at 8,000 feet lies Buena Vista, a Colorado town known for its pristine mountain peaks and roaring rapids. This weekend more than 45 breweries will be pouring beer along the Arkansas River at the Second Annual Rapids & Grass Beer Festival, a weekend long event on June 29 – July 1, that includes unlimited beer samplings, live music and rafting. If the sweeping mountain views of the Collegiate Peaks and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range weren’t enough of a draw, the beer will be; Jester King Brewery, Beachwood Brewing, Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales and Wiley Roots (slushy sour, anyone?) are among many notable breweries that will be pouring beers. Read More
Fast Facts on Lagunitas’ New THC-Infused Sparkling Beverage, Hi-Fi Hops
June 27, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
It’s not any sort of industry secret that Lagunitas Brewing Co. has been known to have an affinity for dankness. The Petaluma, CA-based brewery has had a storied history combining hops and cannabis into beer, which makes their recent announcement that much more exciting. Lagunitas has decided to take their groovy talents to the booming sparkling water market, with the introduction of their Hi-Fi Hops sparkling beverage. The new carbonated water drink is IPA-inspired and blends together hops with both THC and CBD, two chemical compounds found in cannabis.
Chicago Quick Sips | June 25
June 25, 2018 | 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].
New Denver Alcohol Laws Could Change the Beer Game this Summer
June 21, 2018 | Scott Davidson
If you’ve lived in Colorado all of your life *secret native handshake* you know there have been some big changes to the liquor laws over the past few years. This year, we will start to see the effects from the largest change, allowing grocery stores to sell full strength beer, wine, and liquor. This new law also has some other repercussions that you may not know about.
Surly Brewing Upping its Chicago Presence With Three Summer Beers
June 21, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Last year Surly Brewing made it clear — Chicago was a market they wanted to have a stronger footprint in. They switched distributors in January from Windy City Distributing to Lakeshore Beverage, AB-InBev’s High End distributor, and have subsequently made an immediate impact on the Windy City’s craft beer scene.
recent comments