Beer Topics
PorchDrinking’s own discuss beer.
Ellipsis Brewing | …Sunset (New England IPA)
April 15, 2021 | Michelle Thomas
Ellipsis Brewing out of Orlando, FL, is quickly ascending the craft beer ladder in their just over four years of being in business. Some of their top beers have been “Y Can’t IBU”, a zero-IBU Pale Ale, and Happy Pils, a joyously bright Pilsner.
Just entering their tasting room, by the way, is an experience all its own. A bold and unforgettable almost neon blue color on the wall suggests a combination of hype and chill vibes amongst this taproom.
Asheville Breweries Bloom with Expansions & Taproom Reopenings
April 14, 2021 | Eeva Sharp
Asheville brewery expansions and reopening announcements have been in full bloom this spring. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announcing the reopening of their taproom, Hi-Wire Brewing Co. will open a new beer garden and Burial Beer Co. expanding its South Slope footprint. All in all, craft beer fans will have a lot to explore this summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Ultimate 6er | Six Arizona Beers to Weather Any Weather
April 14, 2021 | Bailey Mahon
The snow is melting. The sun is shining. Spring has sprung! Or has it? This time of year, the weather can never seem to make up its mind. One day could be a sunny day at the beach. The next, you may need to ask Noah to build another ark. Whatever the weather, you’ll need a beer to make it through. These six Arizona Beers are sure to help you withstand any weather. Read More
Back Channel Brewing Co. | Titles (New England IPA)
April 14, 2021 | Jason Ehrreich
The folks of the North start to rejoice this time of year because it means warmer days ahead and the start of the baseball season. It also means we’ve made it out of the brutal winter and into beers of the warmer seasons. The thick and dark beers are still around. But, we are starting to see a seasonal change to juicer beers that one can enjoy on patios or sitting in the stadium of your favorite baseball team — Back Channel Brewing Titles is the ideal beer for that. Read More
Our Staff Picks the Best Beers from March 2021
April 13, 2021 | Tristan Chan
As we aim to continue to showcase the incredible beers being produced from independent craft breweries across the country, we thought we’d tap into our regional teams to showcase some of the best beers that have impressed us each and every month.
Bear with us as we’re still growing our regional teams across the country and hope to add full coverage over time, but for now, here are the best beers our teams tried in their respective states for March 2021.
Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion No. 18 | A New Zealand Hops Blend
April 13, 2021 | Mathew Powers
A beer exuding New Zealand terroir, the latest release of Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion No. 18 consists of four hops from the island country: Nectaron, Nelson, Motueka and Riwaka.
“It’s a celebration of our new grower and merchant relationships that we’ve forged over the past couple of years in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It’s the first time we’ve had enough supply to go all-in on a blend of 100% New Zealand-grown hops.”
Beers For Gaming | Ascension: Eternal
April 13, 2021 | Brandon Cohran
Deck-building board games often offer a unique sensation for gamers due to the act of holding physical cards and choosing which ones to play on the board or map. The hours upon hours spent opening packs, sorting through your collection and creating strategic decks adds memories to the game itself. The satisfaction of creating a deck based around a strategy or unique ideas–and it actually working–is incredible. Read More
Cellador Ales | Deadcrush Rustic Wild Ale
April 13, 2021 | Karl Kalinkewicz
With Firestone Walker launching their new society to much hullabaloo and memes, many are asking “Why should you spend your hard-earned COVID relief check on an expensive collection of beers from one brewery?” This question becomes especially poignant when you realize that, instead of investing these funds at the local bottle shop where you are choosing what prizes you will go home with, you are at the mercy of the brewer spinning their “wheel of chance” for what you receive. With so many good beers so readily available, and an abundance of trust issues built up from watching too much “Survivor,” how do you decide when it’s worth it to drop a large lump sum for vague promises of future delights? Cellador Ales might have the answer.
Read More
Revolution Brewing Releases Cuvée de Grâce for Second Time
April 12, 2021 | Mike Zoller
When Revolution Brewing Cuvée de Grâce was last released in January 2020 there was a line around the brewery, a big release party inside the taproom and just three U.S. airports were beginning to screen for COVID simply as a precaution.
Against the Grain Brewery to Open Downtown Louisville Location
April 12, 2021 | Kindsey Bernhard
The past year and a half has been very difficult for businesses in downtown Louisville. Between the COVID-19 shutdowns, the lack of tourism and the Breonna Taylor protests, downtown Louisville has taken an unfortunate hit.
Against the Grain Brewery is hoping to change that. The brewery announced they are opening their fourth location in downtown Louisville in the building that formerly housed Another Place Sandwich Shop and Jimmy Can’t Dance that closed on February 28, 2021.
Old Nation Brewing Co. | Night Farmer Porter
April 12, 2021 | Jessica Spengler
Old Nation Brewing Co. made waves a few years ago for their highly drinkable take on the New England IPA: M-43. What followed was a “New Orthodox” IPA series that has kept the brewery on top of best-in-beer lists. But the brewery ain’t no one-trick pony. Their Electron Brown and Over Privileged Stout have both been hits with beer enthusiasts and are a far cry from the Hazy IPAs that put them on the map. In what seems like a pattern of success, they’ve managed to create another winner with their newest brew, a 6.5% ABV Porter called Night Farmer.
What We’re Drinking | April 9, 2021
April 9, 2021 | Justin Pennel
Spring is in the air. Shots are going in arms. Beer is going in bellies. Join us to see what we’re drinking this week.
Texas Craft Brewers Guild Launches Liquid Bake Sale Fundraiser
April 9, 2021 | Ruvani de Silva 1
Who doesn’t love a bake sale? All manner of excitingly delicious, affectionately prepared offerings to tempt the taste buds, with any guilty feelings of over-indulgence thoroughly negated by the knowledge that one is stuffing one’s face to fundraise for a most-worthy charitable cause. A winning fundraising formula employed by school boards, scout troops and religious institutions across the nation, the bake sale has taken on a new and exciting beery form, courtesy of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.
Boys Are From Märzen Podcast | Kim Collins Guardian Brewing
April 9, 2021 | Kindsey Bernhard
In Episode 37 of the “Boys Are From Märzen” podcast, Kindsey Bernhard converses with Kim Collins, owner and head brewer at Guardian Brewing Company in Saugatuck, Michigan.
Fat Bottom Brewing | Knockout IPA
April 9, 2021 | Jesse Valenciana
Flagship beers are the unsung heroes of a brewery. They’re the load-carrying backbone of a beer list. With every new, flashy, ridiculously-hopped IPA or adjunct loaded, melted ice cream cone passing as a stout, they’re also the first to be forgotten. Like a true workhorse, flagship beers do their job. They get packed in cases or filled in kegs to be shipped off to a sea of local grocery stores and faceless sports bars while getting snubbed by the cool kid, craft beer stores in town. Flagship beers may never get any taproom-exclusive hype, but they’re evergreen. They pay the bills, and keep the lights on.
Colorado Beer Beat | Bi-Weekly Beer Release Guide 4/8
April 8, 2021 | Mackenzie Helms
Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction, and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.
With Colorado Pint Day being yesterday, hopefully, you made it out to snag one of this year’s glasses. If you didn’t, well we can’t help you there… but we do have a bunch of new releases, and some crowd favorites that are being re-released! Take a look at everything coming out and make a trip to your favorite brewery to support them, even if you don’t get a glass out of it. Read More
Exploring The Perfect Harmony Found Between Beer Releases & Instagram
April 8, 2021 | Taylor Laabs
Scroll through Instagram’s visual-forward feed, and you’ll find pictures of people celebrating life events, vacations and accomplishments—along with a heavy dose of very prescriptive sponsored posts that make you question your internet browser’s personal data collection policies. You’ll also find a bevy of new beers, pumped up by appeasing photos that appeal to both your eyes and your taste buds. While a striking photo of your latest beer to hit shelves is the standard, many breweries have taken things a step further—perhaps inspired by the poetic musings of the Dont Drink Beers Instagram account—to layer their latest beer release with passages of beer-inspired prose.
The PorchCast Ep 78 | Odell Brewing COO Brendan McGivney
April 8, 2021 | Tristan Chan
Over the past 20 years, Odell Brewing has grown to become one of the country’s top breweries not just by volume but also in respect and quality of beer. In recent years, the Fort Collins-based brewery has organically begun spreading its reach by opening additional outposts in Denver’s River North Art District and earlier this week in Denver’s Sloan’s Lake neighborhood. Now they’re also nearing the launch of a wine project.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Old Ox Brewery | Down the Hatch (Amber Lager with Hatch Green Chiles)
April 8, 2021 | Dane Skousen
What region of the country has the most defining iconic food? Is it New York or Chicago pizza? Philadelphia cheese steaks? Minnesota Hot Dish? Texas or Kansas City BBQ?
My nomination goes to the southwest, specifically the Hatch, NM region and their green chile. It is, in fact, green CHILE (not chili, or chilli). They take it so seriously that the New Mexico legislature passed rules requiring those products involved in the chile food and beverage trade to be labeled with “New Mexican” or “Not grown in New Mexico.”* “Red or Green?” (styles of chile) is even the official question of the state. Like I said, serious stuff… does Philly codify their cheesesteak labeling into law?
Cullen-Harrison Act of 1933 | National Beer Day
April 7, 2021 | Mathew Powers
“I think this would be a good time for a beer,” exclaimed Franklin Roosevelt after signing the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 22, 1933. Though the passage of the 21st Amendment in December 1933 fully ended the nation’s temperance experiment, the Cullen-Harrison Act allowed for the legal sale of low-alcohol beer (and wine). It went into effect on April 7, 1933, a day we commemorate as National Beer Day.
recent comments