Brewery Showcase | The Pike Brewing Co.

Walking into The Pike Brewing Company isn’t like walking into a brew pub. It’s like walking into a beer museum.

The walls of Pike are lined – floor to ceiling, … Read More

The PorchCast | Ep 22 Ryan Skeels and Kevin Greer of Baere Brewing

On the cusp of Baere Brewing’s 2nd Anniversary, taking place this weekend, we caught up with founders Ryan Skeels and Kevin Greer. For episode 22 of the PorchCast, we touched … Read More

Spiteful Brewing | God Damn Pigeon Porter

ABV: 8.2%

City living comes with its annoyances. Plenty to find just in being around large amounts of people. But the special treat comes from dealing with the variety of “wildlife” that the city harbors. Rats, pigeons, squirrels, rabbits, centipedes, ginkgo trees, invasive ivy. Every city dweller has a story about a run in with city nature. Girlfriends screeching to kill a ceiling centipede, rats running into your foot on a bar’s back patio, or pigeons decorating your suit coat on the way to work. Just daily city navigating. But one way to take your mind off the animals (other than employing your own feral cats) is to sit down with Spiteful Brewing’s God Damn Pigeon Porter. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Summer Sixer Southern California

Some folks of cider make a rout
And cider’s well enough no doubt
When better liquors fail;
But wine, that’s richer, better still,
Ev’n wine itself (deny’t who will)
Must yield to nappy ale.

-John Gay (1685-1732), “Ballad on Ale” from Songs and Ballads

I couldn’t let Northern California have all the fun. Check out my California Summer Sixer list with the best of what Southern California breweries have to offer this summer season. All beers listed are currently available with an ABV of 5.5% or lower. The average ABV for this sixer is also 4.7% – perfect planning, if we say so ourselves.

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Ultimate 6er | Summer Sixer for Northern California

Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain.
Quaintest thoughts, queerest fancies
Come to life and fade away.
What care I how time advances;
I am drinking ale today.

-Lines on Ale (1848), by Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849)

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Rhinegeist | Streaker Rye IPA

ABV: 6% | IBU: 60

Streaker Rye IPA from Cincinnati’s up-and-coming  Rhinegeist provides insight into why this Queen City brewery is enjoying such rapid success. Rhinegeist recently celebrated its third anniversary, only days after partying with friends from New Belgium Brewery to help kick off the release of the Fat Tire and Friends CollaBEERation 25th Anniversary project (as reported by PorchDrinking’s Jasmin Hudacsek). In a crowded world of craft brewing, Rhinegeist is making beer enthusiasts take notice. Read More

Beer News | Krebs Brewing Acquires Prairie Artisan Ales

Yesterday the beer world saw two fairly substantial pieces of news develop toward the late afternoon, so while I’m about 4 hours away from commencing my America Day Celebration, I … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Refreshing Summer Sippers

There’s a lot going on this week friends. Of course, it’s Shark Week! Olympic trials in swimming, track and field and gymnastics have started. And my favorite holiday is less than a week away. That’s right, Independence Day is my favorite holiday! I look forward to it each and every year. To me, the Fourth of July signifies everything that makes summer amazing. Yes, it’s a day to celebrate our Independence and the birth of Democracy. But it’s also a day to soak up those special moments spent with friends and family into the wee hours of the evening, enjoying cold brew after cold brew as you kick back, relax and take in all that is summertime. (The Fourth of July also kicks off what I call my “birthday week” which culminates on 7-11. Gifts of craft beer are always appreciated! ) Read More

Life, Liberty and 13 Beers for 13 Colonies

It is a special thing to celebrate the Fourth of July in places up and down the East Coast, in cities that relish their historical relevance. It’s also a special thing to drink plenty of beer, develop a t-shirt tan and relish in the glory that is overcooked burgers and sour cream and onion chips, with ridges, of course. Read More

Event Recap | Chicago Ale Fest

Like a symphony orchestra that brilliantly melds the sounds of a drum, bassoon and violin together into one harmonious musical piece, the Chicago Ale Fest proved most enjoyable because from tent to tent; one could sample a black or red IPA, porter, an ale with green tea and lemongrass, fruit-forward beers, barrel-aged brews, helles, pils, maibocks, saisons, sours and gose…and a partridge in a pear tree, I think. Each beer was good on its own, but collectively it makes for one terrific beer experience. Read More

PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | June 29th, 2016

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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Service Brewing Co. | Lincoln’s Gift

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman torched most of the Confederate South on his 1864 March to the Sea, but his swath of destruction met its end when he came upon the lovely city of Savannah, GA. Overcome by its beauty and bounty, tough old Sherman presented an unscathed Savannah to President Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift. – Service Brewing Co.

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The PorchCast | Ep 21 Bess Dougherty – Wynkoop Brewing

The PorchCast has been on a bit of a hiatus since we last sat down with the fellas from Our Mutual Friend Brewery. Episode 21 welcomed on our newest permanent host … Read More

Brewery Showcase | Temperance Beer Co.

Who better to build a craft brewery from the ground-up than a former architect? Josh Gilbert, born and raised in Evanston, IL (a northern suburb of Chicago), left the world of architecture and founded Temperance Beer Company in 2013, the town’s first brewery since Prohibition. Three years later, the brewery can best be summed up with one word — balance. Balance in beer. Balance in approach. Balance in philosophy.

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Event Recap | 2016 Avery Sour Fest

Photos by KC Cunilio

BOULDER — It used to be that attending an event like Avery Brewing Co.’s SourFest meant immediately heading to the booths of out-of-state breweries with well-earned … Read More

Schlafly to Release 12-Pack Focused Around Individual Hops

Schlafly Beer is getting ready to release a new variety pack that features relatively new hops in a SMaSH (single malt & single hop) format to showcase the unique characteristics of the hops. The Hop Trial SMaSH Pack will be available everywhere Schlafly Beer is available starting July 4th.

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Wicked Weed Brewing | Pernicious IPA

ABV: 7.3% | IBU: 70

Asheville, NC is a hip southern mountain town sought out by many beer fans. I was fortunate enough to make a brief pilgrimage there on a recent road trip across the country. The town hosts many excellent breweries, just some of which include Asheville Brewing Company, Green Man, Burial Beer Company and Wicked Weed. I only had time to visit one, but made a great selection in choosing Wicked Weed.

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Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Stone Brewing says goodbye to their brewmaster, AB InBev gets caught in a monopoly, and U.S. Bank Stadium is starting a craft beer program. Don’t get left behind in conversation when you can impress your friends with infinite craft beer knowledge. Keep reading to catch all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Goose Island releases latest Fulton & Wood Series beer: Bee Squad

Brewed with honey and the proceeds going to help beekeeping education and training, Goose Island released Bee Squad last Wednesday night at a sold out event at The J. Parker Rooftop.

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Event Recap | Odell Small Batch Festival

After a 4 year hiatus Small Batch Festival returned to Fort Collins, and as the saying goes “it was just like riding a bicycle.” Entering the festival one fun perk that stood out was that bicycles were welcomed to a VIP parking in the main parking lot and those that drove had to park up top in the upper lot. Walking through the ticketing line was a breeze and the atmosphere as you entered the main bar was jovial.

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