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Event Preview | 2017 Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines
January 3, 2017 | Chris DayJanuary marks the return of one of our favorite Colorado beer events, the (formerly Vail) Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines festival. With activities ranging from brewing seminars and sensory panels to the drool-worthy commercial tasting session featuring an epic beer list from more than 150 breweries from around the world, this fest offers a unique experience attendees are unlikely to forget. Besides dropping Vail from the name, what changes will 2017 bring?
(More: Pour List for 2017 Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines)
2017 Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines Pour List Preview
January 3, 2017 | Chris DayAs the 2017 Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines festival approaches, I always have one question: what will be poured at the commercial tasting session?
Event Preview | Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival External Events Roundup
January 3, 2017 | Cecelia KathleenGearing up to attend the 17th Annual Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival in Breckenridge this year? While the Festival will take place at Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center … Read More
Why I’m Done Cellaring Beer
January 3, 2017 | Mike Zoller 15It’s uncommon to get Jester King Brewery beer here in Chicago. When a bottle shop got a rare shipment in last year, I jumped on the opportunity and bought three bottles. I got the bottles home and instead of getting them chilled to drink, I put them away in my “cellar.” Well, I’m done with that.
Odyssey Beerwerks | Oh Snap!
January 3, 2017 | Holly PriestleyABV: 6.4% | IBU: 20
The end of the year brings holidays, reflections about the year behind us, plans for the year ahead and some of the best seasonal brews around. In the northern hemisphere, this coincides with winter, darker days, colder temperatures and snow (usually). Lights go up on houses, relatives come down to visit and there’s little doubt you’ll make it to at least one brewery to while away the hours in avoidance of going to the mall to pick up that one last gift for the second uncle of your mom’s cousin thrice removed. Similar smells of cinnamon, pine trees and allspice waft out of stores and restaurants and even your neighborhood brewery.
Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup
January 2, 2017 | Chelsea MitchellSierra Nevada gives back to UC Davis, Devils Backbone expands, and female brewers protest Trump inauguration with a pussy riot beer. There’s no better way to start the new year than with some craft beer news. Keep reading to catch the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.
Listermann Brewing Co. | Bourbon Barrel Aged Chickow!
January 2, 2017 | Spencer MapesWe have a special beer here in Cincinnati, one in which is hard to pass up when you find it and has more delicious variations than Lady Gaga’s wardrobe. Listermann Brewing Co. is the proud father of Chickow!, a Hazelnut Double Brown Ale weighing in at a hefty 10% ABV. It has grown from a local favorite to being nationally recognized at the 2016 Festival of Barrel Aged Beers in Chicago. Listermann brought home two medals this year with their Barrel Aged Chickow! Not only did it win gold in the category of Speciality/Experimental beer, but it won the highest award of being Best in Show! Read More
What We’re Drinking | December 30th, 2016
December 30, 2016 | Danele BovaThe holiday season comes to a close, but we look back on all the delicious brews we enjoyed during our time with family and friends. We also contemplate giving our livers a break in the new year…..NOT! Here’s What We’re Drinking.
Country’s Rising Breweries Reflect on 2016 and Look Ahead to 2017
December 30, 2016 | Mike ZollerPhoto courtesy of Corridor Brewery.
As 2016 comes to an end, we connected with a handful of brewmasters from around the country to reflect on this past year and what 2017 will bring for not only their breweries but the craft beer industry in general. We were able to catch up with some of the most admiral people in the business – from Moody Tongue Brewing Company, Dry Hop, Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Corridor Brewery, Bluejacket, Jester King Brewing, Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery, Angel City Brewery, Coastal Empire Beer Co., MadTree Brewing, Burial Beer, Fremont Brewing, and SweetWater Brewing Co.
Reformation Brewery | Stark Toasted Porter
December 30, 2016 | John BaumABV: 5.5%
The Time: October 1517
The Place: All Saints Church; Wittenburg, Germany
The Major Player: Martin Luther, Theology Professor
The Action: Unhappy with the Catholic Church, Martin Luther writes down 95 suggestions and nails a copy to the door of All Saints Church.
The Result: The Protestant Reformation. Boom.
PorchDrinking Staff’s 2017 New Beer Resolutions
December 29, 2016 | PorchDrinking.com StaffWelcome to 2017! Congratulations on making it through another year without flying cars, middle-class suburbs on Mars and Dippin’ Dots becoming the ice cream of the present. This next year is a pandora’s box of opportunity. The sequel to Deadpool, the potential of self driving cars, and the complete shutdown of American government as we know it. Oh, and all the beer that will be brewed and poured! So, sit back, relax and share with us what New Beer Resolutions you have for the upcoming year. Read More
45 Events and Moments That Made Us Drink in 2016
December 29, 2016 | Hannah CarlsonImage courtesy of NPR
There is no doubt about it: 2016 has been a year.
I would say that it has been a rollercoaster, but the cliche does not do it justice. This year has not been a rollercoaster. This year has been a journey through the entire amusement park – with that park being haunted by ghosts, designed by aliens, and operated by zombies – all the while being secretly funded by the next President of the United States. Oh – and on top of all of this, there is no escaping the park because they have locked the gates, thrown away the keys, and sentenced you to misery by playing MMMBop by Hanson on the park speakers on repeat. It never stops. There is no stopping the bop.
Real Ale Brewing Co. | Axis IPA
December 29, 2016 | Pam CatoeABV: 7% | IBU: 70
This year Real Ale Brewing Co. celebrated 20 years of brewing and is the Austin area’s oldest brewery. Recently they released Axis IPA, a brand new mainstay that highlights its ability to continually innovate and produce a wide array of styles. I caught up with head brewer, Schmitty, to find out more about the new release.
Calling All 2017 Beer Release Calendars
December 28, 2016 | Tristan ChanAs we near the end of another calendar year it’s time to turn our attentions to the future. For the third consecutive year, PorchDrinking is compiling Beer Release Calendars from across the industry to preview the multitude of amazing beers being released this year.
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | December 28, 2016
December 28, 2016 | Jeremiah CorneliusThe Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
Go to the Calendar now
New Year’s Eve Parties – So many parties to choose from!!! Take your time browsing the list to choose your favorite place or maybe even hit up a couple. Finn’s Manor, Ratio Beerworks, The Crafty Fox, Odd13 Brewing, Odyssey Beerwerks, Brewability Lab, Avanti F&B, Fiction Beer Company, Wibby Brewing, Freshcraft, Declaration Brewing, Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company, CAUTION: Brewing Co., Epic Brewing Company, Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company and Beryl’s Beer Co.
Beer Dinners/Brunch – NYE Beer Dinner at Breckenridge Farm House, Black Tie Beer Dinner at Copper Kettle Brewing Company, BRU Beer Dinner and Holiday Hangover Party at Epic.
Beer Education – No time for edumucation this week with all these awesome NYE parties. Check back next year.
Bottle/Can Releases – Depravity Peanut Butter Cup Stout
Festivals – Week of Lagers and Smash Bros (N64) Tourney
Firkins/Casks/Special Tappings – Ratio Comedy, NYE Cherry Pie Firkin, Secret Chat Room and Single Hope Citra.
Grand Openings – Cellar West Artisan Ales
Pairings – None this week, but check out the NYE parties as many breweries and beer bars are having food specials.
Tap Takeovers – No tap takeovers this week, but stay tuned next year. Read More
Pipeworks Brewing Co. | Blueberry Cichlid
December 28, 2016 | Mike ZollerABV: 9.5%
There are few beers that I actively go out and look for the day that distribution begins. One of those rare exceptions is anytime Pipeworks Brewing Co. releases a new beer from their Fish Series. If you’re not familiar with this series, it consists of big imperial IPAs with the addition of fruit and, typically, honey. They’re sweet, they’re fruity and the most recent release does not deviate.
Wicked Weed Signs with Elite Brands for Colorado Relaunch
December 27, 2016 | Tristan ChanWhen Wicked Weed announced that it would be entering the Colorado market this August, they signed with CR Goodman, a local distributor focused on growing special craft beer brands. A … Read More
Year in Review | The Best Beers of 2016
December 27, 2016 | Dan BortzThe 2,016th year of the Common Era has come and gone, leaving many high and low points in its wake. Some people may argue that this was one of the worst years in recent memory, but PorchDrinkers don’t like to focus on negatives. We are a mostly optimistic lot, who choose to remember all the positive and happy moments. For many of us, those moments began with a sip of a surprisingly great beer. Together, as a team, we want to to celebrate the best beers of 2016.
Ultimate 6er | Southeast Dark Beer
December 27, 2016 | Mark ElliotWhen thinking about the beer needs of the South, it would be easy to discount the dark brews. Warm (if not blazing hot) weather, beautiful beaches, thick humidity, and rolling farms often naturally lead to IPAs, sours, wheats and other easy sessionable styles. But to ignore the dark beer coming out of the South would be a mistake. There certainly is less of it than in some other regions, but the brew that is produced can go toe to toe with the best of them.
Deschutes Brewery | Armory XPA and Sagefight Imperial IPA
December 27, 2016 | David ThompsonArmory XPA ABV: 5.9% | IBU: 55
Sagefight Imperial IPA ABV: 8.0% | IBU: 75
I spent the first few of my formative beer drinking years living in Portland, Oregon, where IPAs are king. Like a child who doesn’t like broccoli, I was naive about hoppy, aromatic beers and stuck to sweeter beers as much as I could. But alas, a beer drinker can repent of their beer drinking sins, and however naive I once was, I have seen the light.
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