The PorchCast Ep 56 | Novel Strand Brewing

The PorchCast team of Tristan, Sam and Sami gathered to bring you a Thanksgiving treat. For episode 56 of the PorchCast, they spoke with Novel Strand Brewing co-founders, Tamir Danon and Chantel Columna, who were sadly without their third co-founder Ayana Coker, to talk about their brewery/coffee shop, their unique approach toward beer and community, as well as some more controversial views on Instagram culture, flight boards and Untappd.

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PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | November 21, 2018

The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Colorado Black Friday Beer Releases & Special Tappings

Each year on Black Friday, millions of Americans shake off their tryptophan-induced comas brought on by the previous evening’s gorge fest, to shop off all their newly acquire calories. For … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Thanksgiving Beer Pairings

Some of us are planning the dishes to cook for Thanksgiving or where to go on that notorious night before (tonight!). Maybe you’re a rockstar and are planning both. We are going to do our friends and family a favor by leaving the cooking up to them. Everyone loves the person who brings the good beer, so we are here to help you do that.

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Narragansett Brewing Co. | Narragansett Fest

Those of you still clinging on to the spirit of Oktoberfest you are in luck. Narragansett Brewing Company, founded in Cranston, Rhode Island in 1890, has what ails you. Fashionably late to the season, and coming out of a brief retirement, is Narragansett Fest.

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Fast Facts on Cruz Blanca’s 2018 Luchadores Club Bottle Release

Chicago beer fans are spoiled during this time of year. Between FoBAB and a list of nationally-recognized bottle releases throughout November, there’s never been a better time to be a barrel-aged beer fan. And though Goose Island, Half Acre, Begyle and Revolution Brewing (and more) all make exceptional barrel-aged beers, Cruz Blanca in the West Loop quietly released an equally impressive lineup of barrel-aged beers last year and is doubling down in year two with a bigger and better lineup that can easily challenge Chicago’s best.

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Editorial | Don’t Get Stuck in a Craft Beer Brand Name Rut

Does size matter? Do name brands imply value? Last year, I dared to suggest that the best barrel-aged beer I tasted came from Crystal Lake Brewing — the 2015 Heaven Hill Rye Barrel-Aged Stout (aged for three years). That assessment afforded me an opportunity to receive several nasty, troll-like emails, messages and online commentary.

For some reason, boldly claiming that a brewery outside the realm of the “big boys” somehow banished me to the craft beer timeout corner. But why?

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Beach Haus Brewery | Winter Rental

The Jersey Shore is home to surf, sun and the beach, loved by many locals and tourists (aka bennies, shoobies, etc.) alike. Jokes aside, the population in the summer skyrockets but is back to normal levels by Labor Day. As the weather turns cold, the number of people dwindles and shore communities turn into ghost towns. Some who stay behind and are not “locals,” per se, stay in relatively affordable “winter rentals,” which is where Beach Haus Brewery’s seasonal release Winter Rental got its name. Read More

Event Recap | The 11th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, & Food Festival

Walking into the 11th annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, and Food festival was an overwhelming sensory experience. The excitement and chatter of thousands of festival goers filled the air, in addition to music being provided by local musicians. The smell of tacos from Lindo Mexico and pulled pork from Slows Bar Bq, just a few of the local eateries on site, teased my taste buds. Although I enjoy wine and cider, my eyes were drawn immediately to “Beer City Station,” the area of the festival dedicated to over 60 brewery tents lined with taps and ready for me to explore. My husband and I bought our tasting tickets and set out on our culinary adventure.
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Events Roundup | Black Wednesday in Chicago

Once deemed “Black Out Wednesday,” to differentiate it from Black Friday and because the day before Thanksgiving ranks as one of the busiest drinking nights of the year, Black Wednesday has grown to become one of the craft beer industry’s biggest days. Chicago’s breweries and bars are regaling patrons with plenty of special beer, most of it as black as a winter night. So, to help you navigate Black Wednesday in Chicago, we’ve compiled a list to help you.

We can’t detail every event, but we tried to hit on the big releases and offerings. Did we miss something grand? Let us know via comments here or on social media. Have a great Thanksgiving Week!

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The Pike Brewing Company | Space Needle Golden IPA

A few weeks ago, on a cloudy Seattle Friday night, dozens of beer fanatics flooded the basement of the Pike Brewing Company in celebration of the establishment’s 29th Canniversary. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the taproom and restaurant, guests mingled amidst the brewery’s fermenters and bottling lines – sipping away on the quintessential Pike brews and slurping down oysters from the Puget Sound. Read More

Complete Results from the 2018 Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB)

Over the past 16 years, Chicago’s Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers has quickly established itself as one of the preeminent showcases of barrel-aged beers in the country. This two-day festival not only … Read More

What We’re Drinking | November 16, 2018

I just got finished shoveling snow and am about ready to start my commute to work. There’s no beer in my immediate future, but luckily I can live vicariously through the craft-brewed adventures of the PorchDrinking.com staff. This is What We’re Drinking.
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Fox Farm Brewery | The Cabin Smoked Helles Lager

In a market so saturated with DDH beers, super-fruited and adjunct overloads (which I should note, I love trying as much as the next beer enthusiast), I find it refreshing when a brewery isn’t steadfast to these trends and unafraid to put out more traditional styles of beer. Fox Farm Brewery in Salem, Connecticut is a brewery that’s doing just that. Their Smoked Helles Lager, The Cabin, is a great beer that deserves the spotlight for this reason.

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Event Preview | 2018 FoBAB (Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers)

Tis the season for barrel-aged beers. While many fervent craft beer fans will flock to the annual barrel-focused release parties of their favorite local brewer this month, there is only one event that brings more than 200 of the best barrel-aged brewers from around the country together for one decadent event. The Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers is now in its 16th year and has quickly established itself as one of the best beer – not just for stouts and barleywines – festival in the states.

The event is held at the UIC Forum in Chicago on Friday November 16 and Saturday November 17 and already has the attention of many beer fans, myself included, excited to indulge in all of the great one-off and unique barrel-aged offerings served two ounces at a time.

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Hold Out Brewing | Amarillo Thumb Puncher Pale Ale

Fall weekends in Austin, Texas can trick you into forgetting all about humid summer nights or surprise flash floods. Weather like that can convince someone that patio weather will never end, that you get an extra hour of sleep every night or that that the next beer might be the best beer — Hold Out Brewing is working to make at lease one of those dreams a reality.

An upcoming brewpub in central Austin, Hold Out is spearheaded by brewers Mark Stowe and Brent Sapstead. Brent is the former head brewer and production manager of Real Ale Brewing Company in Blanco, Texas. On Saturday, November 3, Hold Out Brewing threw a preview event hosted by their soon-to-be neighbors, Better Half Coffee and Cocktail Bar. Guests could sample four beers from Hold Out Brewing or purchase two different collaboration beers from Hold Out Brewing and Austin Beerworks.

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PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | November 13, 2018

The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Ultimate 6er | Great Winter Beers that Aren’t Stouts or Porters

‘Tis the season for a good winter beer.

What if you’re not a fan of stouts or porters, but still want to get into the festivities of winter beer releases? We’ve got some suggestions for you! Read More

Bottle Rocket Brewing Company | M-40 Belgian Pale Ale

Seward, Nebraska is known as “The Fourth of July City.” With just over 7,000 denizens, Seward is not a “small” town by Nebraska standards, where towns with less than 1,000 people are still common around the state. And so it was nice to see this town get its own independent brewery in 2015 when Bottle Rocket Brewing Company opened its doors.

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We Asked Brewers About Brown Ales vs. Porters

Ah, ’tis season of winter beers. As the days and nights turn colder in the northern parts of the nation, the bite in the air invites us to turn from the lighter beers of summer to the bigger, bolder and richer beers designed to be sipped by the fire, enjoyed with hearty menus or served at warmer temperatures.

The three most popular winter styles, outside the realm of barrel-aging, involve stouts, porters and brown ales. While most can adequately describe stouts, the differences between porters and brown ales are often misunderstood. To better understand the styles, I asked some breweries in the St. Louis region to provide clarity on the topic.  Read More