General Topics
Everything else discussed on the porch.
Beers For Gaming | Dungeons & Dragons
June 16, 2020 | Brandon Cohran
Beginning a new hobby—whether it’s immersing yourself into a board game or getting into the craft beer scene—can be a daunting task. As I was learning the ropes of Dungeons & Dragons, I found myself reminiscing on my early craft beer adventures. Experiencing and exploring new beer styles, breweries and beers was unfamiliar but exciting; the thrill of these new discoveries was truly unmatched. The same emotions are felt when adventuring through a quest in Dungeons & Dragons as unpredictable and diverse journeys shape each session.
Brewers Weigh in on the State of the Industry
May 22, 2020 | Bryant Vander Weerd
This past two months, as stay-at-home orders swept the nation, breweries had to quickly adapt to keep their taprooms afloat. Draft-only taprooms shifted to packaging, breweries got creative with social distancing measures, and sadly, layoffs began to unfold. Regarding the state of the industry, the Brewers Association announced in early April that a recent survey found that the majority of breweries were concerned that their businesses could not withstand several months of shelter-in-place orders. And, although many states are now in the process of lifting those orders, most establishments in those regions are only allowed to open to limited capacities, and they are opening in an environment where high unemployment and COVID-19 fears are limiting people’s willingness or ability to frequent bars and breweries. Other locations remain under lockdown orders.
As we forge ahead, and inevitably, as states begin to lift stay-at-home orders, it is evident that things may not go back to normal, at least for a long time. At PorchDrinking.com, we’re keeping a close eye on how the brewing industry reacts. Here’s what a few industry veterans had to say on panels hosted by WeldWerks Brewing Co., BusinessDen and the Colorado Brewers Guild.
Drink Beer, Do Yoga, Support Local
May 12, 2020 | Rachel Morrison
Just about everything looks different than it did a few months ago: We’re buying to-go beer and drinking at home because many of us cannot enjoy our favorite beverage at a local brewery or bar right now. Overnight, breweries have turned into delivery companies specializing in contactless delivery and carry out. Innovation is the name of the game and many breweries are offering creative options for people to stay entertained, from gift baskets to DIY pizza kits.
The fitness industry has drastically shifted as well. We cannot currently take large group fitness classes and instead are forced to participate in at-home workouts, oftentimes with dogs and small children attempting to join in.
Star Wars Beers to Celebrate May the Fourth Be With You
May 4, 2020 | Jess Baker
You’re probably the fanatic that clicked refresh 1977 times in order to be the first to purchase tickets for Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker. You’ve concocted the wildest theories ranging from R2D2 actually being a Sith Lord, to the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda being Rey’s parents.
As one of the most iconic movies of all time, it’s clear to see how Star Wars has inspired countless numbers of brewers to pay homage to this epic saga that took place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
The Force is strong with these Star Wars Themed Beers. In honor of May the Fourth, Star Wars Day, we’ve updated our roundup of Star Wars beers… just don’t try to drink them all at once. I have a bad feeling about this…
Virtual Happy Hour Do’s and Don’ts
April 27, 2020 | Emma Wargolet
We all can agree we miss happy hours at an actual bar or brewery. Thankfully, with technology and the advent of to-go beers, we are fortunate enough to be able to have virtual happy hours with friends and family. After spending roughly 42,000 hours on virtual happy hours, here are some do’s and don’ts that will help make your time online even better!
The First Sip: Life After COVID-19
April 27, 2020 | Seth Garland
With more time to watch movies and shows, I’ve been reevaluating the importance of entertainment and imagination. One movie I’ve been thinking about is Big Fish—particularly the end where Albert Finney and Billy Crudup envision how “the story ends.” The ending they come up with is a bright visualization—a jubilant, cheerful scene where the son carries his dying father to a pond through a long stretch of smiling faces. As they walk down the hill towards the pond, the father gets a standing ovation from the dozens of quirky people who made up his remarkable (if exaggerated) life’s story.
Sometimes those kinds of visualizations are fun distractions—a daydream to pass the time. But sometimes visualizations are a coping mechanism, pure survival. It’s not news that we’re missing a lot right now. And when we miss things, it’s easy to let our minds wander and dream about what may come. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do. With the help of some lovely folks in the craft beer industry, we’re going to close our eyes and imagine what it’ll be like on that first day back to life.
Small Business Relief Options for Breweries Shut Out by Stimulus Bill
April 20, 2020 | Scott Grossman
When President Trump signed the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, it appeared to offer a much-needed lifeline to small businesses that are suffering under the current pandemic. The act funded several programs designed to allow businesses to pay their basic expenses—particularly their employees—while under various government-mandated shutdowns and reductions in service. However, within just 13 days of the April 3, 2020, start date the $376 billion program ran out of funds, leaving many small businesses, including breweries, wondering if any assistance will be coming. Read More
Brewery Bracket Challenge | Which College Has the Best Brewery Scene?
April 6, 2020 | Tristan Chan
Well, it certainly wasn’t the March Madness we’ve all come to anticipate. And while the Coronavirus may have put a damper on the actual tournament itself, the PorchDrinking team still … Read More
Ultimate 6er | Enjoy Baseball During a Quarantine
March 26, 2020 | Mathew Powers
Beer & Baseball go hand-in-hand. Although beer operations are either slowed or shut down in almost every U.S. location, to-go options and cellar-emptying are at least helping us through this quarantine. Baseball, however, is on full hiatus, and baseball fans need something to fill the void. The good news is that fans can still enjoy baseball during a quarantine through social and digital media. You may even find sites you never knew existed, and become fans of those sites forever.
Phase Three Brewing Company | Pressed
March 20, 2020 | Eric Oliver
You enter the store and wait through the excruciating line, the fog of early morning clouding your eyes. You get to the counter and place your order, saying, “I’ll take a grande, nonfat, Porter with a side of vanilla.”
It may not be Starbucks, but Phase Three Brewing Company, in Lake Zurich, Illinois, is brewing a series of beers that blur the line between coffee shop and brewery. Maple. Vanilla. Chocolate. Hazelnut. Coffee. Each is incredible on its own, but when brewed into a beer, they can become amazing if approached correctly. Phase Three is remarkable, and is fighting its way into your glass.
COVID-19 Closures | Ways to Support Your Local Colorado Breweries During the 30* Day Closures
March 18, 2020 | Karen Mills 10
As new developments arise and things are changing as it seems almost by the hour during the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be tough to keep up with which breweries are still open; in what format they are open in, if they have certain limitations (depending on the state that you’re in), and so on. The underlying factor remains the same: everyone is affected in one way or another by the growing pandemic, but we all love the craft beer community and want to find ways to continue to support one another.
Supporting Local Breweries in the Midst of COVID-19 Mandated Closures
March 17, 2020 | Karen Mills
What a time it is right now. The Brewers Association announced last Thursday they’ll be cancelling CBC 2020 and that was followed shortly by the Colorado Brewers Guild announcing the suspension of this year’s Collaboration Fest. The craft beer community has been diligent about updating procedures and staying on top of these changes that need to be implemented. Although it’s unclear the full impact of how COVID-19 will be affecting breweries, they’ve responded by continuing to announce temporary closures, event cancellations, or sharing their processes to help protect their employees and patrons. With the recent announcements from California, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minneapolis, Pennsylvania, and now all of Colorado asking for bar closures, which includes breweries and taprooms, we want to share ways you can continue to support your local breweries with these changes, while still being mindful of public health safety.
Dear Abbey | Taster Fan & First Time Bottle Share in Wisconsin
March 9, 2020 | Jaclyn Menendez
Introducing our new beer advice column, Dear Abbey. This is a chance for you readers to send in your questions about all things craft beer: brewery etiquette, bottle share protocol, style differences, you name it.
No matter the topic, Abbey guarantees you that she will always be right and always be buzzed.
If you’re in need some beer advice, email Abbey at [email protected] and check back each month for new words of wisdom.
New Orleans-Based Urban South Brewery Expands to Houston
February 18, 2020 | Pam Catoe
Houston’s beer scene continues to grow with the addition of award-winning Urban South Brewery’s first expansion outside of New Orleans. A satellite brewery, Urban South – HTX will focus on creative experimental beers in Houston’s Sawyer Yards District, including the hazy IPAs they are well-known for.
QUIZ | ‘The Witcher’ Character or Bon Iver Song?
February 7, 2020 | Drew Troller
Okay, I have a confession.
I have not watched “The Witcher.”
Ultimate 6er | The Best Picture Nominees of The 2020 Oscars
February 5, 2020 | Scott Johnson
The 92nd Academy Awards represents some major changes going on in the world of Hollywood. From the first South Korean movie nominated to Best Picture to streaming services fighting against classic studios; we can’t keep our attention away from the prestigious awards ceremony. Yet people always ask the same question every year: Do the Oscars matter in the grand scheme of things?
My answer is always yes. Even if something you don’t like wins, the goal is to expose others to new cinema and respect the work done by so many unsung heroes in the industry. After all, these are values you learn in the craft beer world when trying new styles or finding out how beer is made. So I’ve cobbled together the best six beers to have with the nine Best Picture Nominees.
2020 Super Bowl 54 Bingo Boards | Print & Play Along
January 31, 2020 | Tristan Chan
It’s time once again for PorchDrinking’s 2020 Super Bowl Bingo Cards for Super Bowl 54. In addition to the entertainment of seeing who can inhale the most combinations of cheese … Read More
The State of Independent Hop Farming
January 28, 2020 | Max Sundermeyer
Mighty Axe Hops is an 80-acre hop farm located near Foley, Minnesota, roughly a 90-minute drive northwest from Minneapolis. It’s the largest hop farm from Michigan to Idaho and grows 13 varieties of hops.
Stepping Up Your Beer & Wing Game
January 28, 2020 | Kevin Kain
I love the Super Bowl solely because of the food. Chips and guac, Italian heroes (or wedges, as they call it where I’m from) and chili are all great, but wings are my favorite. Since beer and wings go hand in hand, it’s fun to take this pairing a step further and combine the two. There are many ways to do this and we’ve provided a few easy ideas. Read More
An Ode To Label Art | Fair State Brewing Cooperative
January 24, 2020 | Max Sundermeyer
It’s no secret on this site that I’m a fan of Fair State Brewing Cooperative. Whether classic styles like their Pils or Hefeweizen, their famous Roselle kettle sour or their beautiful hazy creations like Spirit Foul and Mirror Universe, the Minneapolis cooperative cranks out some of the best in the area.
But as much as I appreciate the beer coming out of Fair State, I always admire what’s outside the can. To celebrate Beer Can Appreciation Day, let’s take a deeper dive into Fair State’s label art.
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