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Cloudburst Brewing | Remember the Maine Smoked Pumpkin Porter

October 19, 2016 |

ABV: 5.1%

As our own writers have demonstrated, pumpkin beers can be a divisive topic. But despite the controversy attached to this particular category of beer, West Seattle’s beloved beer bar and bottle shop The Beer Junction has devoted an entire week to celebrating this type of beverage with an event titled Pumpkin Junction 2016. This event features 30 taps devoted solely to pumpkin beers and ciders for eight straight days (Oct. 15-23). I attended the Pumpkin Junction on opening day and chose Cloudburst Brewing’s Remember the Maine Smoked Pumpkin Porter as my inaugural pumpkin beer for the season. The Beer Junction’s promise of pumpkin did not disappoint.

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Sierra Nevada Brewing Company | Torpedo Extra IPA

October 12, 2016 |

ABV: 7.2%  |  IBU: 65

I have written my last couple reviews on some hard to get IPAs (the kind that you have to wait in line for and are gone within a matter of hours), so I figured it makes sense to write about a more readily available brew.

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2016 GABF Pour List Preview

September 26, 2016 |

With 775+ breweries in attendance and 3,500+ beers available for sampling, the dazzling array of choices at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival could overwhelm even the most seasoned beer enthusiasts. Are you looking for all the sours? IPAs? Barleywines? Look no more!

Continuing one of our favorite GABF traditions, we reached out to every brewery attending the festival this year to get a preview of what they will be pouring. We hope our exclusive pour list preview will give you a head start on planning the best route possible through the maze of GABF breweries in order to gain the best beer for your buck. Read More

Event Preview | Music Tastes Good

September 23, 2016 |

Photo courtesy of Music Tastes Good. 

Festival season may be winding down, but it’s not going quietly. With prices soaring and tickets selling out for mega-fests like Coachella and Bonnaroo, niche festivals have been popping up all over the Los Angeles area. The new kid in town is making its debut on the streets of Long Beach this weekend, September 23rd through the 25th, with a lineup as diverse as the LBC. Read More

Cellarmaker Brewing Company | Double Dobis

September 21, 2016 |

Photo courtesy of Cellarmaker Brewing. 

ABV: 8.2% | IBU: 86

Cellarmaker Brewing Company burst on the San Francisco beer scene in 2013 and has been brewing some of the best beers on the West Coast ever since (especially their pales and IPAs). Cellarmaker tends to rotate through beers quickly, and rarely brings back the same beer twice, especially in short order.  But, there are exceptions to every rule.

In June, Cellarmaker bottled their Double Dobis beer. Cellarmaker recently started bottling one beer a month, and they are always out of this world. Double Dobis was no exception. Read More

Event Recap | California Craft Beer Summit

September 20, 2016 |

Sometimes, you go to an event with the highest expectations and walk away disappointed. Not because it was bad, but because it couldn’t live up to your lofty expectations. The California Craft Beer Summit is absolutely, positively, without a doubt, 100%, not one of those events. Read More

Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill | Super Rad!

September 13, 2016 |

Downtown Monterey, not the famous Cannery Row with the tourist shops and refurbished sardine-packing factories, was in need of a revitalization.

Monterey, California is a beautiful town on the coast about 100 miles south of San Francisco. The most famous area of Monterey is Cannery Row, a refurbished factory district full of tourist gift shops, sea food restaurants and bars. However there has been a recent revitalization of the downtown district of Monterey, led by Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill. Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill, opened by J.C. Hill and his father John Hill, had a plan for downtown. The father and son duo, together with the Head Chef Jeremiah Tydeman, created a brew pub that brings phenomenal food and great beer together to give guests “the ultimate sensory experience.” ASBG should be on your list of breweries to follow, visit and enjoy. Their canned sours are extremely sought after, each release is a huge success. They typically sell out quickly so if you see them on the shelf at your local craft beer store, don’t hesitate. J.C. Hill, the head brewer, was kind enough to speak with me about their newest release called: Super Rad.
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Monkish Brewing Company | Really Real Double IPA

September 1, 2016 |

ABV: 8.3% | IBU: 75

Beer trading has seemingly taken off in the last year or so with the increased focus on limited release brews. Treehouse Brewing and Tired Hands are brewing hugely sought after beers from the East Coast, however a contender has arisen from California, making waves with their own New England style, hazy IPAs. That brewery is Monkish Brewing Company and that beer is Really Real Double IPA. Read More

What We’re Drinking | August 26th, 2016

August 26, 2016 |

Guess who’s back, back again? The PorchDrinking team has rejoined forces to bring back our weekly What We’re Drinking series. As the evenings grow shorter, the temperature begins to drop and we all know that summer is quickly coming to an end. Because of this, we are drinking whatever the hell we want. We love our seasonal brews but let’s be completely honest here. We love #allthebeers. So cheers to another awesome week and hoping we can stretch a little more out of this summer. Read More

Yolo Brewing Encourages Personalization, Experimentation

August 24, 2016 |

How many times have you been on a brewery tour and thought, “I wonder what it’s like to actually brew this beer?” Or maybe you’ve been working your way through a flight of beers and you became inspired. “How awesome would this beer be if it had ___ in it?” I can gladly say, I have found the spot for you: Yolo Brewing Co. Read More

Event Preview | ThirstyBear Organic Brewery Celebrates 20 Years

August 24, 2016 |

Surviving as a brewpub in San Francisco for 20 years is tough. Switching to an organic brewpub for the last 10 years is even more difficult. Both of these milestones are reason to celebrate, and that is exactly what ThirstyBear Organic Brewery is doing this weekend. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Seattle Growler Fills

August 17, 2016 | 1

Draft beer almost always tastes better than bottled or canned beer.* It’s fresher and hasn’t been exposed to heat, light, or oxygen—elements that can have a major negative impact on the beer’s taste and aroma. Despite the superiority of draft, we don’t always feel like going out for a pint. As a self-proclaimed introvert, I’m a prime example of a beer enthusiast who sometimes just wants to chill at home and watch a movie. Or read. Or drink a few beers while I cook dinner. This is when growlers come in handy. Typically 64 fluid ounces (the equivalent to 4 pints) or 32 fluid ounces (2 pints) breweries and taprooms will happily fill growler jugs with fresh, tasty, draft beer and allow patrons to grab quality beer to go. Read More

Stone Brewing | Stone IPA

August 3, 2016 |

ABV: 6.9% | IBU: 77

I have become something of a fresh IPA  snob. With so many amazing hoppy ales to choose from these days, once you’ve tasted a super fresh IPA, it becomes difficult to stomach a dust-covered bottle that says India Pale Ale, but doesn’t include a bottled on date. Have you had a Stone Ruination bottled the same month you bought it? WOW. The difference is palpable.

Under normal circumstances, i.e.: Living in America, this is typically a non-issue – as many of the best beers have date codes. But moving to Switzerland, which is outrageous, and not living in a major city means access to true American-style IPAs have become limited. Cue the violin and tears.

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Coronado Brewing Company | 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA

July 25, 2016 |

ABV: 10% | IBU: 75

Imagine yourself in San Diego 20 years ago. The craft beer scene was in its infancy, in fact there were only five craft breweries in all of San Diego! Flash forward to today and there are over 115. As San Diego has grown over the years, so too have the number of craft beer breweries. One of the originals, Coronado Brewing Company is still producing fantastic beer. Started by brothers Ron and Rick Chapman, they are part of the OG original five! Their award winning beers are currently distributed in 19 states and 10 countries. Coronado was crowned as the 2014 World Beer Cup Champs for mid-sized brewery. They created an amazing 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA that is sure to grab your attention.

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Fieldwork Brewing | Convergence DIPA

July 19, 2016 |

ABV: 9%

When Fieldwork opened in Berkeley a year ago, I was stoked, and not just because it was a 10 minute walk from my old apartment. I had read that the co-founder and head brewer, Alex Tweet, had done stints at Ballast Point and Modern Times, where he came up with beers like the Indra Kunindra, Booming Rollers, and yes, the Grapefruit Sculpin. When Fieldwork first opened, however, the beer was great, but I can’t say the taproom was exactly packed. Read More

Anchor Brewing Company | Go West! IPA

July 13, 2016 |

ABV: 6.7% | IBU: 75

In my first article for PorchDrinking.com, it only makes sense for me to write about a San Francisco IPA, more specifically Go West! IPA. Although the options are somewhat endless, with new breweries opening seemingly every week, I had to start with San Francisco’s oldest brewery. It just so happens, Anchor Brewing Company is located just a few blocks away from my home. Read More

Outlander Brewery | Holy Basil Pale

July 12, 2016 |

ABV: 5.6%

I love a little quirkiness with my beer, because with so many craft breweries in Seattle, a unique character is really what sets each establishment, and brew, apart. The Holy Basil Pale Ale by Outlander Brewery fits this measure well—it strikes just the right balance of eccentric and uniquely delicious. Read More

The Art of the Summer Backyard Bash

July 5, 2016 | 5

Ah, summer is here. Can you smell it? If you’re like me and the sprouting weeds and blossoming trees have wreaked havoc on your once empty sinus cavities, probably not. Summer means many things to many people. To me, aside from the whole allergy thing, it means the pinnacle of outdoor hangout season is officially upon us. Don’t get me wrong winter can be nice for a bonfire, but as soon as Memorial Day has passed and the mercury has risen, the seasons for cookouts, barbecues (no, they’re not the same thing, more on that later,) pool parties, and tailgates are officially here! So, set aside those last few stouts in your beer fridge until the next snowfall and hope time treats them well. Grab yourself some summertime brews, gas up the lawn mower, pop some Claratin, and get ready for the best year of outdoor entertainment yet.

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What We’re Drinking | July 2nd, 2016

July 1, 2016 |

4th of July has arrived, my friends. We’ve got a long few days of PorchDrinking and sparkler-waving ahead of us, so stock up on your favorite summer brews and get ready to celebrate. Here are a few of our favorites. Break out the koozies and red solo cups… this weekend, we drink to Amurica! *clink*

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Brewery Showcase | The Pike Brewing Co.

July 1, 2016 | 1

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