Schlafly Beer | The Variant II Brandy Barrel & Sour Cherry Aged Stout

On Saturday, December 8, at 11 a.m., Schlafly Beer will release The Variant II at its taproom in St. Louis and, in limited fashion, to the broader market. The Variant II is a sophisticated blend of two different variations of the base 9.4% Imperial Stout, receiving flavor from barrels that once held brandy (usually made by fermenting wine), as well as with sour cherries. The elegant beer suits anyone seeking to indulge during the holidays, especially those who possess a mutual love of craft beer and mixology.

“Tart cherries are soaked inside a generous stout and aged in brandy barrels—it’s enough to make you skip right to dessert,” explains founding Brewer Stephen Hale. “Imperial is the right word. This rich, creamy, luxurious experience brings a taste of extravagance, sip after sip. All is right with the world.”

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PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | December 5, 2018

The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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La Cabra Brewing | Mosaic Shatter

Along Philadelphia’s Main Line, sits a seven-barrel brewhouse in the suburb of Berwyn, PA. It’s the creation of a once Spanish teacher turned professional brewer. La Cabra Brewing, translated to “the goat” from Spanish, is named appropriately since the brewery shares similar features and traits to the animal. Fun, smart, and persistent are just some of the values both goats and La Cabra embody. And one of the latest releases from the Pennsylvania brewery is an IPA that falls in line with that same philosophy. Read More

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company | Fudgie the Beer

Who didn’t have a Fudgie the Whale cake for one of their birthdays while growing up? Thanks to Carvel and Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, the iconic ice cream cake has made its way into a beer.

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Founders Brewing 2019 Beer Release Calendar Teases Return of CBS

Just as Santa prepares to deliver toys across the globe, Founders Brewing has announced what gifts it has in store for beer drinkers throughout 2019. Founders, which recently expanded its distribution to a total of 47 states by adding Colorado, has unveiled its 2019 Beer Release Calendar. One item that jumps off the page involves the inclusion of its increasingly popular Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS).

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Chicago Quick Sips | Dec. 3 Chicago Beer News & Events

Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].

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Sierra Nevada | Beer for Drinking Hoppy Blonde Ale

As the craft beer industry continues to evolve and become more complex, Sierra Nevada switched gears and brewed an ale for a different beer lover. For the consumer who’s no connoisseur or who may not even care what the hell a hop even is, there’s Beer for Drinking.

It’s not barrel-aged, dry-hopped or infused. It’s beer. Plain and simple. And for many, that’s all they need.

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Ska Brewing | Sour Apple Gose

I have a confession to make. I sometimes hide beer from my husband. We’ve all been there before where the fridge becomes a free-for-all for everyone in the household. Being in my mid-thirties, I’m well past the point of leaving post-its to call beer dibs, so I resort to hiding precious beer that I’ve been clamoring to enjoy—in the broom closet (he’ll never find it there).  And in my broom closet that is where you’ll find Ska Brewing’s Sour Apple Gose, a beer that is meant to be savored even if it’s in secret. Read More

WeldWerks Announces Bourbon Brandy & Peanut Butter Medianoche Release

In the ever elusive world of beer rarity and hype, one of Colorado’s most heralded breweries has announced the next big release that’s sure to garner instant attention. WeldWerks Brewing, out of Greeley, CO, announced this morning that it will be releasing Bourbon Brandy Medianoche and Peanut Butter Medianoche as the next two installments in their vaunted bourbon barrel-aged stout series.

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BrewDog’s DogHouse Craft Beer Hotel is Disneyland for Drinkers

Craft beer is always best enjoyed locally, straight from the brewery taproom. But if you can drink at the source, why not sleep at the source, too?

While Columbus, Ohio, has seen a craft beer renaissance in recent years, it has never reached the status of a beer destination that Portland, Oregon, or Asheville, North Carolina, have achieved. That quickly changed once BrewDog’s co-founder James Watt stepped foot in the heart of the Buckeye State. Impressed with the midwestern city’s hospitality, he and his BrewDog team set out to build the world’s first craft beer hotel, raising funds through a crowdfunding website. It didn’t take long before they had more money than they knew what to do with, and the rest is history.

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7 Seas Brewing | Boobytraps Cascadian Dark Ale

7 Seas Brewing Cascadian Dark Ale has been one of the premier representations of the Black IPA style within the Pacific Northwest for quite sometime, however it was only recently that this fall gem was packaged for the first time.

Named “Boobytraps” with inspiration coming from the 80’s PNW cult classic film about kids searching for treasure, this Black IPA style beer starts off with nuances of orange marmalade fleeting across the palate. Then a wave of pine and sticky resin comes rushing through with a restrained bitterness and a touch of roasted coffee. From beginning to end this one is velvety smooth.  Read More

21st Amendment Brewery Announces Colorado Distribution

It’s been a banner year for national breweries expanding their distribution footprint to include the Centennial State. Anchored by household brands like Bell’s and Founders, and recently Brooklyn Brewery, 21st Amendment … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Brewers of Sierra Nevada’s Camp Fire Relief IPA

The devastation of the Camp Fire in Butte County, California has reached unmeasurable levels. The fire is now the deadliest and most destructive in California’s history. The need for support for those who have been left with nothing is essential. In dire times, though, the generosity of the craft beer community is a level of support to be reckoned with and this situation is no different. Read More

PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | November 28, 2018

The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Dos Luces Brewery | Chicha Inti

It was a cold, dark and slightly damp fall evening — but as soon as I walked inside Dos Luces Brewery, the stream of twinkling lights, plentiful plants and colorful, open space melted away the snow from my shoulders and why-is-it-dark-at-4 p.m. attitude. The brewery, which opened this summer, was filled with a smattering of locals sipping beers in unassuming white cups on a quiet Wednesday evening. A few sips of the Chicha Inti beer, an Incan drink brewed from blue corn and radiating with sweet spices, quickly made me forget the omnipresent chill and transported me to the warm, verdant oasis of my grandmother’s garden. Read More

5 Beer Instagram Tips and Discoveries for a Better Beer Blog

November marks one full year since we kicked off our beer blog, Ale Adventures. In that time, we’ve had a lot of incredible opportunities and highlights which we shared about in our last post. But we’ve also learned a lot about beer blogging and utilizing social media.

Here are five things we’ve learned in our first year of beer blogging that might just help you on your own journey.

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Russian River Brewing Company | Windsor Porter

Russian River Brewing Company is an iconic brewery, a brewery that started beer trends, even before we knew what beer trends were. They are also a company that methodically moves at their own speed, with their own vision.

Though there’s no question that Russian River could have expanded earlier, they completed their expansion on their own terms, in my mind further proving their dedication to, and love of, craft beer. The stunning new brewing facility is located in Windsor, CA, just about nine miles from their Santa Rose brewpub. The new location includes a multi-room restaurant and a bar, with both indoor and outdoor bar seating, along with separate tasting and gift shop areas.

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Braven Brewing Makes a Home in New York’s Bushwick Neighborhood

Sincerity can’t be faked — and it can make something that’s good transform into something absolutely wonderful.

Walking into the newly opened Braven Brewing Company in Bushwick on a Tuesday night, you’ll likely receive a warm welcome from the bartenders, hear friends laughing after work and see Cheer’s playing on all the televisions. Read More

Revolution Brewing Expands Freedom Session Sour Series

In what could be a sign of changing times, Revolution Brewing announced earlier this month, that they would begin expanding their Freedom Session Sour lineup making that series available in cans all year round. Next up in the series is a Kettle Sour with black currants called Freedom of Press. In order to make room for those beers, a Revolution staple, Bottom Up Wit, will no longer be canned.

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4 Hands Brewing Company | Absence Of Light

The saddest day of my entire beer-loving life arrived last spring when I opened the door of my old college dorm room beer fridge, and out came my only remaining bottle of 4 Hands Brewing Absence Of Light ’17. In slow motion, the bottle teetered out of the fridge, falling to its death just six inches below. I moved as fast as possible, but I could not catch the neck from slamming into the concrete floor, causing the glass to shatter, ejecting the brown, frothy goodness directly into laundry drain.  The scent of Peanut Butter Stout wafted into the air as I stared down at the brown liquid disappearing into the abyss. It was a sad day. Needless to say, I replaced that fridge. But, I was afraid I could never replace that beer — until now.

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