Beer Topics
PorchDrinking’s own discuss beer.
Urban Chestnut to release new Maibock to support Earth Day
April 22, 2019 | Jordan Palmer
One of the more refreshing aspects of the craft beer world is the sheer number of breweries that use their knowledge, time and product to better their own local communities.
Last year, one such brewery took it upon themselves to begin the conversation of sustainability by hosting a conference at their brewery. There, they discussed sustainable brewing practices and the increasing impact of climate change on the quality and availability of ingredients needed to brew beer.
At the end of the conference, a “Declaration of Sustainability” was signed by all participating breweries and the St. Louis Brewers Guild. They also called upon many local communities, businesses and policymakers to take action in both promoting sustainability and reducing climate change.
“Sustainability may sound like a buzzword, but it really is a critical element for those of us involved in brewing beer,” says Alvan Caby, Sustainability Coordinator at Urban Chestnut. “We work with farmers and utilize natural ingredients, so we feel that doing whatever we can to employ sustainable practices is important to the existence of our industry.”
What We’re Drinking | April 19, 2019
April 19, 2019 | Constance Del Rio
It’s been a busy start to spring, and our staff has been equally as busy attending the Craft Brewers Conference, family events, beer festivals and so much more. I really can’t believe we are already in mid-April–where did the time go?! Get comfy and see what we’re drinking!
(Farewell to) Horny Goat Brewing | Chocolate Peanut Butter Imperial Porter
April 19, 2019 | Bryan Oldham 4
Supposedly, we are entering the warmer months of the year. Colorado seems to have forgotten that, as we have been getting cold weather, overcast skies and some last minute snowstorms, which calls for a dark beer to help you batten down the hatches.
As I perused a local liquor store for something malty and roasted, I noticed a striking can design. Black, with a five-word beer title and a regal-looking insignia. Horny Goat Brewing Company’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Imperial Porter clocks in at a no-nonsense 8.5% ABV, a perfect level when trying to fight the latest installment in 2019’s Bomb Cyclones.
Brewery Showcase | Wolfden Brewing in Suburban Chicago
April 18, 2019 | Mathew Powers
Creativity breeds creativity, so it’s no wonder that Katie and Krys Wolf, with their pension for design and art, have turned an 1850s home into a profoundly unique craft brewery — Wolfden Brewing. The exterior is that of a spacious, suburban home while the inside reminds one of a lodge one enters in Wisconsin or the mountains of Wyoming — with plenty of beer, to boot.
“We wanted it to feel like home, or like a vacation getaway spot,” explained Katie Wolf.
Ratio Beerworks | Antidote IPA
April 18, 2019 | Rachel Morrison
Antidotally, Ratio Beerworks was easily mentioned more times than any other Denver brewery as one that I needed to check out during my trip. I recently started a new job that will be sending me out to Denver quite a bit, and while I love traveling to new cities, I don’t think I could be luckier. Added bonus? The craft brewery scene in Denver, CO is insane!
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | April 17, 2019
April 17, 2019 | Jeremiah Cornelius
The Denver Beer Beat is a weekly roundup of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, and more happening in the Front Range and beyond. Be sure to check in each Wednesday to discover anything and everything happening around Colorado’s beer scene. Now let’s get to this week’s can’t miss beer events. Read More
Ultimate 6er | Netflix Original Movies
April 17, 2019 | Scott Johnson
Since it’s inception, Netflix has always been a media trailblazer from shipping DVDs to offering original content on its streaming service. The California company’s success has caused most major media companies to follow in it’s footsteps by offering incredible shows to those without a traditional cable package. Netflix released a few movies early on to critical acclaim but never to the success of their various TV shows that we’ve covered twice.
2018 was the year Netflix really stepped up their game delivering original films and I’m not just talking about Roma. This Ultimate 6er covers six incredibly diverse and underrated gems that you might not be aware of.
Blending the Lines | Three Brewers Taking a Fresh Approach to Tea-Infused Beers
April 17, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
Beers with higher alcohol content typically aren’t what you consider refreshing. The booziness is hard to shy away from and can often be overwhelming. While some turn to colorful adjuncts and infusions to hide a higher ABV, some industrious brewers are taking a page from the blending book and brewing beer with tea and Kombucha. As beer hybrids continue to increase in popularity, tea-infused beers offer another enticing avenue for brewers looking to differentiate their portfolio and potentially appeal to an entirely new subset of drinkers. Whether it’s an IPA, Wit or Blonde Ale, tea is slowly but surely making its presence felt in the craft beer space. Here’s a look at three craft brewers who have mastered the craft.
Short’s Brewing Company | Barney Blood
April 17, 2019 | Jack Raymond
Who would have thought, underneath all that foam, Barney really is like you and me—filled with blood. If his really tastes this good, somebody get an IV drip funneled into my mouth, stat.
Barney Blood isn’t Short’s Brewing Company’s first stab at pairing whimsy with the macabre. Look to the Thirstie Mutilator for that, its label featuring a unicorn wielding chainsaws for hooves, and yet, the concept here makes even more sense. If you processed Barney through an industrial blender, I bet this is what you’d get. Don’t worry though, Short’s assures no dinosaurs were harmed in the making of this beer. Read More
Event Preview | Juicy Brews WestFest
April 16, 2019 | Danielle Engel
On April 20, 2019, Hop Culture Magazine will return to Oakland for the second year in a row to host Juicy Brews WestFest Craft Beer Festival. Hosted in partnership with Drake’s Brewing Company at Drake’s Dealership ( 2325 Broadway, Oakland, CA), the crew has put together an impressive lineup.
Avery Brewing Invitational & Anniversary Previews Brewery List
April 16, 2019 | Tristan Chan
In the game of beers, you evolve or you die. Game of Thrones allusions aside, Avery Brewing, one of Colorado’s most storied brewing programs, has leaned into the notion that all great things must continue to evolve.
Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse | Tomorrows Verse
April 16, 2019 | Danielle Engel
Spring is upon us! The sun is peeking through, trees are sprouting leaves, flowers are blooming and drinking outside has once again become a pleasant possibility. There is something about seeing the first blossoms of warmth makes us crave a saison—more than usual, of course.
Sacramento, CA-based Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse has made quite a name for themselves since they opened to the public in May 2018, becoming known not only for creating award-winning beers but also for their succulent Texas-inspired, California-influenced BBQ. Read More
Chicago Quick Sips | April 15 Chicago Beer News & Events
April 15, 2019 | Eric Oliver
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].
Track 7 Brewing | Rule G
April 15, 2019 | Zach Clevenger 1
Track 7 Brewing, located in Sacramento, CA, has been producing a wide range of killer craft beers since they opened in 2011. For those who don’t know, the name Track 7 was selected due to the brewery’s proximity to the old Western Pacific railroad tracks, west of Curtis Park, as a nod to the integral role the railroad has played in the city’s rich history. One thing that keeps Track 7 relevant, aside from quality, is their ambition to try new styles and work with flavors that you don’t often see from other breweries. Track 7 typically releases two cans every weekend so there is no shortage of new things to try.
What We’re Drinking | April 12, 2019
April 14, 2019 | Pam Catoe
From National Beer Day to the Craft Brewers Conference in Denver, it’s been a big week for craft beer. This was my first year to attend CBC, and if you are in the industry, this is a must do event. I learned so much and met so many great folks, not to mention all the new beers I sampled. Now that we are all back home, recovering from a beer filled week, here are some ideas for your relaxing weekend in this week’s What We’re Drinking.
Hold My Crown | 10 Variant Release of a Suburban-Chicago Pink Boots Collaboration
April 12, 2019 | Mathew Powers
The Women of Suburban Chicago, who took part in the Pink Boots Live Brew Day at Skeleton Key Brewing for International Women’s Day in March, had one thing in mind: make good beer. The brewers and brewery professionals, who happened to be women, came together to do what all beer fans love: transform yeast, malt, hops and water into a wonderful, fermented beverage. As a byproduct of brewing in the Pink Boots’ event, the women did accomplish one extra item: they demonstrated (again) that brewing prowess has zero to do with gender. Any doubt that women can brew was immediately stripped away when patrons enjoyed the nine varieties (of the 10 made) of Hold My Crown Rustic Lithuanian Pale Ale, released April 5 at Iron & Glass bottle shop. From base beer to Kombucha, the variants proved to not only be delicious, but a geeky exploration of flavor combinations.
BlackMan Brewing | Blueberry Hostel Cereal
April 12, 2019 | Eric Jackson
Some brewers pull inspiration from current trends and others seek to brew according to personal like and although neither is wrong, Barrett Tillman of BlackMan Brewing, he’s in neither category.
Insert the Hostel Cereal, a timidly tart sour ale, which according to Tillman “began as a study on famine, its cause and how people survive.” During his travels through Africa and staying at hostels, the breakfast that was served was a porridge, made from grains and topped with whatever fruit was available. This was Tillman’s inspiration for the Hostel Cereal.
5 Questions With: Purpose Brewing & Cellars’ Peter Bouckaert
April 11, 2019 | Taylor Laabs
Brewing beer is hard. Starting a brewery is even harder. Along with making the beer that keeps the lights on, there’s logistics, staff, space and marketing workflows that need to be addressed and accounted for. It’s a big undertaking that takes a certain sense of passion and entrepreneurship; many brewers often say it’s a calling. This was the case for Peter Bouckaert when he decided to open up Purpose Brewing & Cellars last year.
New Terrain Brewing Co. | Rambler Amber
April 11, 2019 | Katie de la Rosa
“For Those Who Wander.”
The slogan of New Terrain Brewing Company isn’t limited just to those who explore the great outdoors—though it certainly does include outdoor adventurers. Accordingly, visitors of the Golden, CO-based brewery are rewarded with a spectacular view of the Foothills; in addition to effortless access to a forested dog park. This facility, with its bucolic beer garden that offers scenic sights of Rocky Mountains to the west and Denver’s skyline to the east, was certainly built with those who wander outside in mind.
Ultimate 6er | Miguel Rivas, The BeerTrekker
April 10, 2019 | Chris & Sylvia Hollands
Miguel Rivas is the international man of beerstery. In 2013, his photography hobby morphed while visiting the Trappist Abbeys in Belgium. Capturing the sights sparked an artistic outlet for the stay-at-home father of two. Photography is a passion for Rivas, so it was clear to combine his thirst for taking pictures with his love for beer. Since then, Rivas successfully branded himself as The BeerTrekker and passing the five-year mark, his project is strong and still growing.
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