Beer Topics
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Enter the Darkness | Six Dark Beers Perfect for November
November 5, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
The twilight of fall is the best time of the year for beer people. Yes, I love my sweet fruited ales and lightly sour goses, but there’s something hearty about a viscous, dark brown porter or stout that warms your heart…and your stomach on a cold day. Now that November has officially arrived and the sight of Halloween and pumpkin ales are behind us, I wanted to highlight six crucial beers that effortlessly bridge the gap between the sweet malts of September and the boozy heat of December. I below that the below six beers fit that mold and can be reasonably located throughout the country – some more than others.
Chicago Quick Sips | November 5 Chicago Beer News & Events
November 5, 2018 | 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].
PorchDrinking’s 2018 Midterm Election Drinking Game
November 5, 2018 | PorchDrinking.com Staff 1
Looking for the 2022 Midterm Election Night Drinking Game? Head Here!
Can you hear it? That’s the sweet sweet sound of silence on the horizon. We’ve finally arrived at election day, which means by tomorrow the barrage of political ads will be all but a distant memory. Until then, we thought we’d help make election day a little more entertaining with a 2018 Election Drinking Game.
Early voting numbers in several states have already dwarfed 2014, but the main event culminates on Tuesday, November 6 when millions of Americans will decide the fate of Congress, state officials and a host of other positions. After the polls close, there’s nothing one can do but sit back and watch the results. What better way to enjoy the tallying, than with a few drinks…and a game? It’s time for PorchDrinking’s semi-regular election night drinking game. Are you ready?
Modern Times Beer & Pueblo Vida Brewing Company | Arcosanti Fresh Hop IPA
November 5, 2018 | Justin Pennel
Everyone has a favorite brewery, or a few of them. If the stars ever align and those breweries get together and brew a collaboration beer, then that’s about as good … Read More
Keweenaw Brewing Company | Widow Maker
November 3, 2018 | Jessica Spengler 1
This fall and winter, if you’re looking for a dark beer without the thick texture of a stout or porter, look no further than Keweenaw Brewing Company Widow Maker Black Ale.
Located in Houghton, Michigan at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Keweenaw Brewing Company was an early entry in the craft beer boom of the 2000s. This is unsurprising, given that Houghton is not only a college town (home to Michigan Technological University), but a cold and snowy one, with little to do in the winters but ski, snowmobile and drink. Founders Dick Gray and Paul Boissevain opened up their tap room in the heart of downtown Houghton, and it was an immediate hit with students and staff alike. Widow Maker is one of their “core ales, ” alongside Pick Axe Blonde Ale, Red Jacket Amber Ale and November Gale Pale Ale.
What We’re Drinking | November 2, 2018
November 2, 2018 | Anna Dacosta
We have a fresh month ahead of us, and to me the correct way to start a month is having some fresh beer to match. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to turn over a new leaf this fall by forgetting the candy coma I endured earlier this week… that was rough. Is a candy coma a medical condition? If so, I had it and I didn’t even trick or treat. Chuck that leftover candy (if you even have any) and pour a fresh beer instead. We have some great options from the PorchDrinkers this week, so scroll down to see What We’re Drinking.
Holy Mountain | The Ox
November 2, 2018 | Brian Haitz
If you’re not familiar with Holy Mountain Brewing out of Seattle, then this beer, The Ox, will motivate you to change that. This barrel-aged saison is brewed with orange zest and Cascade hops, fermented in oak barrels (drooling). I had the pleasure of trying some of their brews for the first time recently and was floored by both the innovation of their brewing and quality of beer, particularly this saison.
Surly Brewing | Darkness Variants
November 1, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Surly Brewing Darkness has always been a highly coveted stout come the fall. The Russian imperial stout typically is available in a non barrel-aged version and a barrel-aged version. To change things up, Surly announced three variants, each in a different type of barrel and available only at Darkness Day.
Brewery Showcase | Honest Weight Artisan Beer
November 1, 2018 | Zach Benard
One of my favorite aspects of the craft beer community is just that: the community. There’s a sense of comfort when you’re able to strike up a conversation with locals about the happenings around town. Contributing to the community is one of the main values for Honest Weight. Located on the edge of the Pioneer Valley and neighboring the Quabbin Reservoir (one of the primary water supplies for Boston), Honest Weight Artisan Beer has started to become a household name in the area.
Stem Ciders | Chile Guava Apple Cider
November 1, 2018 | Mathew Powers
“Cider is too sweet. Cider isn’t beer.” If that’s your thought on the matter of ciders, I would implore you first to refrain from comparing cider to beer. Beer is beer. Whiskey is whiskey. Wine is wine. And cider is cider. Yes, the packaging and crafted nature of the business has often allowed the two imbibe industries to converge, but they are not the same. I would then suggest next that you explore ciders as its own entity; you’ll find that the ciders of today are nothing like the jugged-cider sold at family pumpkin fests, and they differ greatly from the hard cider that first emerged fifteen to twenty years ago. Cider today is innovative, nuanced and balanced, demonstrated exquisitely by Stem Ciders‘ Chile Guava Apple Cider.
Ultimate 6er | Halloween Brews
October 31, 2018 | Constance Del Rio
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | October 31, 2018
October 31, 2018 | Jeremiah Cornelius
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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Cruz Blanca Brewery Launches Sour Program in Chicago’s West Loop
October 31, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood is home to some of the city’s most iconic restaurants. From Girl and the Goat to Au Cheval, followed by an endlessly growing list, it’s a Chicago hot spot for eating but also drinking. While there are a lot of places to get great cocktails in the West Loop, the craft beer scene is also becoming more prominent in the area and starting to make a name for itself. Read More
2018 Colorado Craft Brewers Summit Kicks Off Sunday
October 31, 2018 | Tristan Chan
With over 370 breweries currently in operation throughout Colorado, brewers, brewery owners, sales and marketing teams are discovering the importance of continuing education and investing in growth strategies to thrive in such a high-density beer market. Recognizing the need for professional development in Colorado’s craft beer scene, the Colorado Brewers Guild is once again offering independent Colorado craft brewers/members and soon-to-open brewery members the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry.
Epic Brewing | Quadruple Barrel Big Bad Baptist Barrel-Aged Stout
October 31, 2018 | Daniel Avilez
Epic Brewing has been a mainstay in Salt Lake City, UT since its genesis and as they continued to grow, added a Denver location in 2013. Their burgeoning beer roster is host to innovative beer that steers the entire industry in a new direction, as well as iconic anchors that satisfy the staunchest of purists. However, Big Bad Baptist, their iconic barrel-aged stout, has become the centerpiece that preaches to the ethos of both categories.
Craft Beer Highlights from Four Unique European Cities
October 30, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
I was lucky enough to attend Oktoberfest, but that’s only part of the 11-day beer journey I took across four cities in early October. Outside of the Bavarian beer fest, Munich has a bunch of awesome beer history, quaint beer gardens and famed beer destinations like Hofbrauhaus. Much like Munich, the Belgian capital of Brussels is steeped in brewing tradition thanks to its array of world-renowned trappist breweries and Belgian beer bars like the Delirium Cafe. These two beer-fused cities offer an embarrassment of riches to any beer lover, but it’s the beers and experiences I had in the other two cities I visited: Budapest and Amsterdam, that really opened my eyes to just how diverse and vibrant the beer scene is in Europe. From beer baths in Budapest to a craft brewery situated under a picturesque windmill in Amsterdam, my beer experience in Europe was amazing. Here are my main takeaways from the unique beer scenes in each city I visited.
4th Tap Brewing Cooperative Brews Spooky Concept for Haunted House Entertainment Pioneer
October 30, 2018 | Pam Catoe
Halloween is upon us and haunted house fans in Texas know the House of Torment in Austin, Texas is as good as it gets. Nationally recognized, this pioneer in haunted entertainment features three re-imagined immersive experiences and a new bar, Torment Tavern. Read More
Avery Brewing | Rumpkin Rum Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Ale
October 30, 2018 | Jaclyn Menendez
Ahh, fall. A time of cooling temperatures, cozy knit sweaters and pumpkin spice as far as the nose can smell. It can be easy to hit gourd overload before the leaves even begin to change, and craft beer is no exception: I counted 14 pumpkin-themed six-packs at the liquor store this week, and that’s not even including bombers.
So, in an effort to help you wade through the most trendy of all beer trends this autumn, let me cut to the chase: just drink Avery Brewing’s Rumpkin. Read More
Liberati Blends Innovative Beer-Wine Hybrid with Elevated Italian Cuisine
October 29, 2018 | Tristan Chan
When you enter Denver’s newest brewery, Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers, it’s hard not to imagine Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “L’inverno” … Read More
2018 Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, & Food Festival Preview
October 29, 2018 | Aimee Jackson
The 11th annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival is quickly approaching, and there is no better way to spend a cold fall night than with these tasty comforts. With over 1,500 different beers, wines, ciders, and spirits from the around the world, there is something for everyone to enjoy- not to mention the delicious local food samplings! The festival takes place over the course of three days (Thursday, November 15-Saturday, November 17), and live music from local musicians will be provided throughout.
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