Features
Takeaways From Craft Malt Con (Online) 2021
February 19, 2021 | Jereme Zimmerman
The fourth annual Craft Malt Conference was held February 10-12, 2021 as Craft Malt Con Online. Originally scheduled to be held in Portland, ME, it went fully virtual this year due to COVID-19. Although members of the tightly knit craft malt community missed the opportunity to gather in-person, this format opened up the opportunity for a wider audience to participate.
Ultimate 6er | Spruce Up Your Love Life
February 17, 2021 | Kindsey Bernhard
February is the month of love and Valentine’s Day just passed. Like most people, you might be having a hard time finding love right now because of COVID-19. That’s okay. PorchDrinking is here to help. This Ultimate 6er is going to help help you “Spruce Up Your Love Life” and guide you to some delicious spruce and pine beers.
From Bean to Beer | The New World of Chocolate Beers
February 17, 2021 | David Nilsen
Chocolate beer is nothing new. Brewers have been throwing cacao nibs into stouts for years now. But with a growing recognition among brewers of the flavor potential of fine cacao in various forms, the possibilities for how chocolate can be used in brewing are expanding rapidly. And that’s exciting.
I started a podcast in 2020 called Bean to Barstool, which uses craft beer and bean to bar chocolate as dual lenses for exploring the world of flavor. I wrote in the initial media announcement for the show that people should “think of it as a dream journal written in the complex alphabet of beer and the eloquent vocabulary of chocolate.”
Six Colorado Beers to Celebrate Valentine’s Day from Molly’s Spirits
February 11, 2021 | Tristan Chan
Let’s be real, a special night on the town still isn’t exactly the most responsible decision during an on-going pandemic, commemorating Valentine’s Day with the loved one in your life can be as romantic as selecting the right beers to enjoy together at home. Luckily, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Molly’s Spirits to highlight six perfect beers to pair just for this occasion while still supporting Colorado local independent breweries.
Molly’s Spirits is located at 5809 W 44th Ave, Denver, CO 80212 (Lakeside), and 8557 E Arapahoe Rd Unit A (Greenwood Village, CO). All six of these beers can be found at Molly’s Spirits or try ordering online to get beers delivered to your doorstep.
Illinois BEERacket Fundraiser Boxes Go On Sale Friday
February 10, 2021 | Mike Zoller
With their regular roster of beer events canceled due to the pandemic, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild has had to be creative to find other ways to generate revenue for the non-profit organization. One solution has been mixed variety beer boxes for the general public to purchase. They sold out of the “FoBAB at Home” boxes in November and are releasing a new box with a March Madness-like BEERacket theme.
Ultimate 6er | Female Friendships to Celebrate
February 10, 2021 | Emma Wargolet
Celebrating friendships has always been extremely important, even more so after experiencing the trash fire of 2020. Galentine’s Day is a favorite holiday of mine, as it is a day where I can bake and craft and celebrate the incredible women in my life. I spend more time preparing for Galentine’s Day than I do most things, so knowing that this year will need to be postponed just equals more time to make celebrating female friendships extra special.
Dogfish Head Hazy-O! IPA Goes All in With Oats
February 9, 2021 | Taylor Laabs
With the hazy IPA, is there ever enough? For breweries looking to delve into the crowded category with a new offering, you really need to stand out. One brewery never shy in doing just that is Dogfish Head, which recently introduced Hazy-O! This new hazy IPA is brewed with four types of oats: malted, rolled, naked and oat milk. Dogfish makes it a point to note that this will be the first nationally-distributed oat milk IPA on the market. Here’s what you need to know about a beer that Dogfish says took almost a year of research and development to perfect.
2020 New York Best in Beer Year-End Honors
February 9, 2021 | Karl Kalinkewicz
If there was one thing 2020 gave us plenty of, other than anxiety, it was the chance to focus on our local beer scenes. Without travel, and with many states relaxing shipping laws, we had plenty of time to contemplate the state of the world and social distance with our favorite brews. New York was the early focal point of the pandemic, enacting changes swifter than most other states, forcing breweries to adapt to the new NY normal. Much like how the vine has to struggle to produce the best grapes, NY breweries persevered and produced some incredible products this year, expanding their catalogs, increasing distribution and pushing boundaries. This list will highlight some of the best beers, breweries and stories to come out of NY last year. So, without further ado, we present the 2020 New York Best in Beer Year-End Honors.
Hi-Wire Brewing to Open Taproom in Louisville
February 8, 2021 | Kindsey Bernhard
Hi-Wire Brewing is coming to The Bluegrass State. Hi-Wire announced it’s opening its sixth taproom in Louisville, Kentucky.
The brewery currently has a total of five taprooms: two locations in Asheville, North Carolina; one in Wilmington, North Carolina; one in Durham, North Carolina; and one in Knoxville, Tennesee. Hi-Wire becomes the first brewery outside of the state of Kentucky to open a taproom in Kentucky.
Downloadable 2021 Super Bowl LV Bingo Boards
February 5, 2021 | Tristan Chan
It’s time once again for PorchDrinking’s annual 2021 Super Bowl LV Bingo Cards for Super Bowl 55. In addition to the entertainment of seeing who can inhale the most combinations of cheese dips in one sitting, we’ve created bingo boards for your party-goers’ enjoyment. Each square should be crossed off as they occur. And sure, since this is PorchDrinking, take a drink each time you cross off a square.
Outdoor Spaces During COVID-19 | 56 Brewing
February 1, 2021 | Erik Eidem
“Burn the Jenga!” the crowd feverishly chanted. The patio was bustling and the taproom at 56 Brewing was out of firewood, so something had to go. Your typical brewery staples of Yahtzee and Scrabble would only stoke the flames for so long. This called for something bigger, bolder… something that would warm their patrons for hours. When one is dealing with both pandemic-based shutdowns and the frosty winds of the North, out-of-the-box thinking is required. Welcome to the Patio Pintometer.
Read More
Right Proper Brewing & Heurich House Museum Revive a Classic Lager
January 29, 2021 | Brian Hennighausen 1
With over 8,000 breweries operating coast-to-coast and everywhere in between, there has never been a better time than today to be a beer drinker in the United States. The energy and creativity of the craft beer movement is undeniable. Breweries are producing elaborate takes on venerable beer styles and creating new styles as well. Whether you like Milkshake IPAs or an Italian Pilsner, there is a beer for you in your local brewery. Craft beer is an undeniably popular beverage. However, beer was even more popular in the US before the catastrophe of Prohibition nearly wiped out the alcohol industry from 1920 to 1933.
Oconee Brewing Co. | Bacon & Kegs Bacon-Infused Red Ale
January 27, 2021 | Brandon Cohran
Since the holiday chaos and rush has slowed down, it’s a good time for some reflection. We wrapped up some of our favorite beers and the biggest beer stories across our regions to end 2020. One story that caused a greasy splash was the collaboration between Waffle House and Georgia’s own Oconee Brewing Company for an official beer.
Now, a few weeks later, we’re wiping down the table and diving into the bacon-infused Red Ale that is Bacon & Kegs.
Mental Health Is Not a Competition | A Conversation With Hope for the Day
January 25, 2021 | Jason Ley
Message from the author: This story discusses suicide and other sensitive themes concerning mental health in an adult manner. While the intent of this reporting is to help destigmatize conversations about mental health, its content may be sensitive to some readers. In addition, it includes dialogue that contains explicit language, which has been left unedited out of respect for the authenticity of the interview that was conducted.
Please take this into consideration before reading.
Best Bernie Sanders Memes Take Over Craft Beer Marketing
January 22, 2021 | Scott Davidson 3
One day after the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden, it should be expected that the internet would be filled with news about the incoming administration, but instead, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is “once again” Berning it down with memes.
Outdoor Spaces During Covid-19 | Brass Ring Brewery
January 22, 2021 | Jessica Spengler
In 2020, we entered a new normal. When once we crowded hip-to-hip in breweries and barrooms, we now spread out six feet, stick to our tables, and wear masks whenever we move about. During summertime, since outdoor eating is a norm many people enjoy, it felt a little bit better, a bit less stifled. But in late fall, when cold weather set in and a surge in COVID-19 cases caused a new round of indoor dining closures throughout the country, breweries, bars and restaurants had to get creative. Plastic outdoor igloos began to show up, allowing a private space for groups to gather outside. Some establishments chose to keep their patios “as-is,” installing large space heaters to keep people warm and cozy. But others have gone a different route, to stand out due to cost issues — or because as the weather gets colder, even large space heaters don’t do the trick.
Here at Porchdrinking.com, we’ve decided to highlight the creativity of these establishments to keep their businesses open, even when indoor dining is an absolutely non-starter. Our first profile is Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Brass Ring Brewery, and their colorful ice shanties.
PorchDrinking Dream Bottle Share | Stan Hieronymus
January 21, 2021 | Tristan Chan
Since our launch in 2012, PorchDrinking has celebrated its anniversary each year by throwing a big bottle share for all of our industry friends, supporters, and staff because to us, bottle shares are the truest form of beer lovers coming together as a community. However, 2020 was an unorthodox year, and as much as we would have loved to mark our 8th anniversary with another share, we figured that passing bottles in an enclosed space during a pandemic probably wasn’t the best idea.
More Than Beer | Root Shoot Craft Malting Connects With The Land
January 21, 2021 | Scott Grossman
Sometimes the crafting of craft beer goes beyond the creativity and hard work of a brewer. Root Shoot Malting of Loveland, CO., is a family farm and craft maltster that supplies the Rocky Mountain region with craft malt and grains. In addition to providing quality ingredients today, Root Shoot is working to insure that their land remains available to grow grain for the beers of tomorrow.
Founded by Todd and Emily Olander, Root Shoot supplies barley, wheat, rye and corn to craft brewers and distillers. The Olanders grow these grains on their own 112-acre farm and approximately 1500 leased acres. Their malthouse then transforms much of the crop into a portfolio of craft malts using their own proprietary process. Read More
PorchDrinking Dream Bottle Share | Louis Livingston-Garcia
January 20, 2021 | Tristan Chan
Since our launch in 2012, PorchDrinking has celebrated its anniversary each year by throwing a big bottle share for all of our industry friends, supporters, and staff because to us, bottle shares are the truest form of beer lovers coming together as a community. However, 2020 was an unorthodox year, and as much as we would have loved to mark our 8th anniversary with another share, we figured that passing bottles in an enclosed space during a pandemic probably wasn’t the best idea.
Shannon the Dude’s Brew Has Cult Following
January 19, 2021 | Kindsey Bernhard
What happens when someone tweets you a picture of Shannon’s Sweet Tea? Well, you end up getting your own beer, of course. That’s what happened to Shannon Grigsby, famously known as Shannon the Dude. Shannon the Dude is an on-air radio personality and producer for Kentucky’s top radio show Kentucky Sports Radio. He is also the Ohio Valley Wrestling World Heavyweight Radio Champion.
“Well I was in New York, I was in Manhattan and somebody randomly tweeted me,” Shannon said. “I guess it was a local tea, like a sweat tea that somebody had and it was Shannon’s [Sweat] Tea and they said I didn’t know you had your own tea and I retweeted something to the effect of I never wanted to have my own tea but I have always wanted to have my own beer.”
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