Midwest
The Complete Guide to the Best Breweries in the Twin Cities
April 28, 2022 | Adam Rozanas
So, you’re coming to Minneapolis in May for the 2022 Craft Brewers Conference.
Awesome! If you’ve never been to the Land of 10,000 Lakes before, you’re in for a treat. There’s a lot here to boast about (but, because we’re … Read More
Join PorchDrinking for Three Days of Special CBC Events in Minneapolis
April 28, 2022 | Tristan Chan
The PorchDrinking team is taking the Twin Cities by storm during next week’s Craft Brewers Conference by partnering with First Draft Taproom & Kitchen’s Minneapolis location for three special afternoons of special tappings and programming.
We invite all CBC attendees to join us for three days of special tappings beginning Monday, May 2 with a Lager All-Stars takeover presented by our friends at Hopsonomy, followed by a WeldWerks + Forager & Friends Rarities Takeover on Tuesday, May 3, and wrapping with a Hop All-Stars night on Wednesday, May 4.
BKS Artisan Ales | Big Spender Triple IPA
April 25, 2022 | Givon Blakney
Hey Big Spender, spend a little time with me. Who wouldn’t want to spend some quality time with the newest Triple IPA from BKS Artisan Ales? BKS resides in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, MO. The small upstart brewery has become a local favorite and is starting to gain popularity nationally as well.
Brewery Showcase | Amorphic Beer
April 20, 2022 | Whitney Froelich
As one of Milwaukee, WI’s newest and most innovative breweries, Amorphic Beer resides in an old brick industrial building in the Riverwest community. The building has a long history of housing creative scientific endeavors, including being the birthplace of the world’s first handheld electric drill, post-WWI. The Hole Shooter was eventually absorbed into Milwaukee Tools’ product offering.
Lo Rez Brewing | Java Logic Pilsner
April 15, 2022 | Jeff Knese
Java Logic from Lo Rez Brewing in Chicago, Illinois achieved something special. They crafted a memorable beer that stands out in a sea of other options. There is no shortage of examples of breweries teaming up with coffee roasters to make beer but Java Logic really hit the mark. It’s the perfect combination of unique and classic.
Event Recap | 2022 Side Project Invitational
April 14, 2022 | Eric Griffin
It has been just over two years since the inaugural Side Project Invitational came and went, setting a new standard for craft beer festivals. Not long after its debut on February 2, 2020, the entire world was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of which are continuing to bare their teeth even into the early parts of 2022. It hasn’t all been bad, though. On January 31, Side Project announced the second Invitational, which was to include not only Barrel-Aged Stouts & Barleywines, but instead all varieties of oak-aged beer. This, to the joy of many, was set to include the wild, the funky and the sour.
Midwest Coast Brewing | Three from the Tee American Cream Ale
April 12, 2022 | Ben Garbarek
Spring has been slow to arrive in earnest in many places, but the surest sign of the dawn of warmer weather has been the return of refreshing beers. With shandies and session sours appearing on the shelves again, another classic style is getting its moment: cream ales. The latest in Chicago comes from Midwest Coast Brewing Co. with its Three from the Tee American Cream Ale.
2022 Side Project Invitational Announces Insane Pour List
April 6, 2022 | Brian Margiotta
Beer lovers rejoice; this weekend, some of the best breweries & brewers converge on Maplewood – St. Louis, MO, for the second annual Side Project Invitational. After taking off 2021 due to COVID, Side Project is coming back with a bang. This year rather than just featuring Barrel Aged Stouts & Barleywines, the format shifts to welcome all Oak-Aged Beers including the wild, funky and sour beer.
2022 Wisconsin Pink Boots Collab Brews
April 6, 2022 | Whitney Froelich
The Wisconsin chapter of the Pink Boots Society celebrated International Women’s Month in March with five individual and unique Collaboration Brew Days across the state. For these brew days, independent craft brewery hosts created their own recipes using the Yakima Chief 2021 Pink Boots Blend of hops. Malteurop Malting Co. of Milwaukee donated grain for each of the brews. A portion of proceeds from sales of Wisconsin PBS Collab beers will help fund educational scholarships for local women in the fermented beverage industry.
Illinois Craft Beer Week 2022 | New Events & New Location for Beer Under Glass
April 1, 2022 | Mathew Powers
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild announced today the return of Illinois Craft Beer Week (ICBW), which will take place May 13-20. For those who forgot what ICBW was like before the global pandemic wreaked havoc on the world, the week-long celebration features a lineup of signature festivals and events that support Illinois breweries and ostensibly kick-off the state’s craft beer season. One can expect breweries to host other events and offer specials during the week, too. Unlike the last two years, with festivals operated virtually or during untraditional times, Beer Under Glass (“BUG”) will again serve as the ceremonial start to Illinois Craft Beer Week 2022 on May 13. However, one difference will be its new (temporary) location: Chicago’s Union Station. The Guild has also provided info on its Passport Program and a host of other events, which are detailed below.
Do-It-4-MDOG Aims Big in 2nd Annual Fundraiser
March 16, 2022 | Brian Phipps
For the second year in a row, Jack’s Bottle Shop of Rochester, Minnesota is putting together its Do-It-4-MDOG fundraiser. This year the beneficiary is Children’s Minnesota, a place Jack’s Bottle Shop owner Jack Lester is very close to.
Kansas City Bier Co. | Carolator Doppelbock
March 8, 2022 | Katie Camlin
Note: the author is employed by Kansas City Bier Co.
Every year since the brewery opened in 2014, Kansas City Bier Co. has brewed a Doppelbock in the winter to be blessed and released around the time of Lent, following Bavarian brewing traditions established in the 1600s. The bier was called Blessed Doppelbock, as it was brewed and then blessed by a local priest for the Lent season. In 2021, however, the beer took on a new name, Carolator, to honor the memory family member who passed unexpectedly.
Hinterland Brewery | Saving Gracie Gluten-Free Hazy IPA
March 4, 2022 | Whitney Froelich
Hinterland: (noun) a word of German origin meaning “the land behind”; an unexplored, uncharted area full of possibility, opportunity and adventure.
Founded in 1995, Hinterland is Green Bay, Wisconsin’s first modern-day brewery to emerge from the late 1980s craft beer boom. Founders Bill and Michelle Tressler, who were both just 24 years old at the time, moved back home from a rock band drumming, magazine editing, corporate career adventure in California to open a brewery of their own. They rented an old cheese factory outside of town and bootstrapped their way through startup, nearly burning down the factory in the process. Eventually, the Tresslers and their head brewer Joe Karls moved operations into a turn-of-the-century meat processing plant in downtown Green Bay. The small, charming space worked well enough for Hinterland until 2017 when they got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand. They sold the building and brewhouse to Copper State Brewing Company.
2022 Chicago Women’s Collaboration Brew Day Beer is Here
March 3, 2022 | Emma Wargolet
Each year, Pink Boots Society members across the country team up to brew a beer for International Women’s Day. The Chicago chapter met up in February at Church Street Brewing Company to brew Cosmic Nunchucks, which will be available on tap and in cans at participating breweries starting this weekend. The brew day event involved 45 women that are involved in the craft beer industry in the Chicagoland area, helmed by Chicago Chapter Co-Leaders Shana Solarte, Raiye Rosado and Katie Hofmann.
Off Color Brewing | Beer for Lounging Pale Ale
February 18, 2022 | Ben Garbarek
The release of a pale ale usually wouldn’t raise many eyebrows. It’s a staple of nearly any brewery. But when Off Color Brewing released a new pale ale, it was a startling surprise for many of its fans.
While other breweries make an endless supply of IPAs, pale ales and other hoppy beers, Off Color has steadfastly refused to ever make one. Off Color started in 2013 with an initial lineup of a saison, a gose and a kotbusser — instead of an IPA, pale ale and a double IPA.
Community Across The Bar | Cheboygan Brewing Co.
February 17, 2022 | Eeva Sharp
Cheboygan, Michigan had a brewery as early as 1872 when the town was an important part of the state’s logging industry. In 2011, that history was rebooted with Cheboygan Brewing Company. A decade later, the brewery is still sharing the past and shaping the future of the community from behind the bar.
Brewery Showcase | Moor’s Brewing Company
February 15, 2022 | Rachel Morrison 1
If you haven’t yet heard of Moor’s Brewing, then you haven’t been paying attention. While the brewery is only about eight months old, Moor’s is seeing early success and momentum through their ever-growing list of distribution partners, a current residency at Haymarket Brewing and many more partnerships and events in the pipeline.
AleBlazers | Q&A With Funkytown Brewery
February 14, 2022 | Emma Wargolet
As a part of the PorchDrinking AleBlazers series, we’re excited to chat with the owners of Funkytown Brewery, Richard Bloomfield, Zachary Day and Gregory Williams! With their opening in October 2021, they became the second Black-owned brewery in Chicago that is currently operating. We discuss the future of Funkytown, how they started working with a brewery incubator, the importance of diversity in craft beer and more!
Code Beer Co. | Munich Mindset Dunkel
February 14, 2022 | Lori Kitzing
In Nebraska, the temperature can easily swing 40 degrees from one day to the next. In the winter, it can be bitter cold on Monday, and 60 degrees on Tuesday. This can make it challenging to know which beer to stock up on. Dark and cold days call for a heavier beer to warm you up. On a sunny day, you want to reach for something crisp and light. What’s the solution? Play it safe and get yourself some Munich Mindset, brewed by Code Beer Co. in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Servaes Brewing Co. | Purple Pineapple Berliner Weisse
February 10, 2022 | Jason Murphy
A favorite childhood drink comes to mind when pouring and sipping this beautifully done Berliner Weisse that is Purple Pineapple from Servaes Brewing Co. The drink we’re referring to is the timeless classic known as Kool-Aid. We’re down for drinking the Kool-Aid that Servaes (pronounced liked service) is putting out, too. Intrigued yet? Let’s dive in and find out more!
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