Regions

Crucible Brewing Company | Molten Peaches

January 8, 2018 | Jeremy Fuerst 1

Like any story worth sharing, it started with a night of drinking wine with his grandparents. The moment of clarity slapped Dick Mergens out of sleep at 3AM, and he saw it immediately through a boozy haze: “I should open a brewery.” The 23-year-old Lowe’s employee crawled out of his grandparents’ basement the following morning and shared his vision with his coworker Dylan. Soon enough, two other longtime friends were on board. It was only a matter of time before I walked into their brewery to taste Molten Peaches. Read More

Beer Topics Midwest

21 Year-Round Chicago Craft Beers Worth Trying

January 5, 2018 | Mathew Powers

A lust for special release beers has increasingly dominated beer geek culture the last few years, and an abundance of Chicago beer drinkers share that trait. But, what about signature brews? While it’s fun to post pictures of whales on social media, flagships pay a brewery’s bills and their quality ultimately determine a brewery’s fortune.

It’s likely that nearly all of nearly 200 Chicago-area breweries have one or two (or more) beers worthy of making this list. And, you can be sure that we writers left a few of our favorites off this list, too. Nonetheless, we feel that these 21 beers are ones you should not miss in 2018.

Beer Showcases Holiday South

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Christmas Ale

January 5, 2018 | Pam Catoe 1

The holidays are behind us and it’s time to put away the tree and restore the yard to it’s former non-whimsical state. While most folks are scouring stores for deeply discounted wares or decorations for next year, I’ll be driving around town looking for the last of the Saint Arnold’s Christmas Ale. Even though Christmas has officially past, this rich, malty old ale pairs perfectly with cold weather and hearty meals and is only available from October through December each year.

Beer Topics Features Mountain

Colorado’s Best Beers & Breweries from 2017

January 4, 2018 | Tristan Chan

Colorado craft beer has come a long way. While the old guard of New Belgium, Odell, Wynkoop, Great Divide, Left Hand, Avery, and Ska initially thrust the state onto the national scene the early 90’s, it’s been Colorado’s current brewing renaissance that has propelled its meteoric rise to even greater heights of recognition and acclaim. Just in the past 5 years since PorchDrinking’s existence, we’ve seen alleyway breweries grow to become national powers, startups in rural towns grow to become coveted brands, and a countless number of homebrewers who have their desk jobs to become household names among beer circles.

Beer Events Beer Topics Mountain

Outside Events Guide to 2018 Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines

January 4, 2018 | Brady Akers

Big Beers Festival 2017 Persika Photography

This weekend’s Big Beers festival is one of Colorado’s most awe-inspiring beer events, featuring more than 500 amazing and sought-after beers. If you’re not able to attend the big show in Breckenridge, there are plenty of mountain events related to the fest. From special releases to rare tappings, we’ve compiled a list of happenings for you to start 2018 with a bang.

Craft Beer News Southeast

Creature Comforts’ Get Comfortable Campaign Aims to Make an Impact on Athens

January 4, 2018 | Taylor Laabs

Craft beer is leaving its adolescence stage and venturing into adulthood. The maturing of craft brewers bodes well for the average consumer, but it also opens the market up to judgement by a higher societal standard. Craft beer can no longer skirt by as an emerging economic trend; it is now a prosperous and influential part of the U.S. economy, and it deserves to be treated as such. Outside of bottle releases and new taprooms, craft beer can make a verifiable impact on their local communities through outreach programs and charitable donations. Athens-based Creature Comforts is doing just that through their Get Comfortable campaign.

Beer Showcases Beer Topics Midwest

Saugatuck Brewing Co. | Oak Wizard Oak Aged Imperial Brown Ale

January 4, 2018 | Jessica Spengler

Winter time used to be a bit problematic for this outside-day-drinking, IPA-loving, oak-aged-avoiding lady. I could never “find” something I liked. For a long time, I thought it was the beer’s fault. The truth is, I wasn’t so much searching for beers as I was avoiding styles that had failed me in the past. I hadn’t realized that times had changed and that brewers were getting savvy to the ins and outs of wood aging and making some stellar concoctions. Once I made that realization, I decided to give wood-aged brews another chance. Happily, I found plenty of good ones out there, including Saugatuck Brewing Company’s Oak Wizard, an oak aged imperial brown ale.

Beer Events Denver Beer Beat Mountain

PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | January 3, 2018

January 3, 2018 | Jeremiah Cornelius

The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
Read More

Atlanta Beer Beat Beer Events Beer Topics

PorchDrinking’s Weekly Atlanta Beer Beat | January 3, 2018

January 3, 2018 | Josh Ritenour 1

The Atlanta Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings and more!

Beer Topics Mountain Podcasts

The PorchCast | Ep 46 Saying Goodbye to Jesse & Recapping 2017

January 3, 2018 | Tristan Chan

In Episode 46 of the PorchCast we bid farewell to longtime co-host Jesse Brookstein who announced that he’ll be moving to Madison, WI. We’re incredibly bummed to hear that he’ll be leaving us, but can’t wait for him to start a Madison branch of The PorchCast fingers crossed.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Beer Showcases Midwest

Crystal Lake Brewing | 2016 & 2017 Boathouse Reserve

January 3, 2018 | Mike Zoller

As the days get shorter and the temperatures continue to drop, I continue to look to barrel-aged beers to make the winters bearable. When 2016 and 2017 Boathouse Reserve from Crystal Lake Brewing Company showed up on my front door I was excited to open them up.

Beer Showcases Beer Topics Southeast

The Veil Brewing Company | Broz Night Out

January 2, 2018 | Cristie Shull

Is anyone reading this a fan of Stranger Things? Have you heard of it? Okay, I’m probably crazy for even asking that question. My point, of course, is not about the show on Netflix. However, if you’ve seen the show, then you would most likely recognize the label of a particular beer, Broz Night Out, made by The Veil Brewing Company.
Read More

Features Midwest

16 St. Louis Beers That I Loved in 2017

January 1, 2018 | Jordan Palmer

2017 was a banner year for St. Louis beer, and I say this based on how much of it I drank. Between festivals and brewery visits, my Untappd account topped 200 different beers in 2017. Is that a lot of beer? It is for me, but who is really counting?

Beer Showcases Midwest

Sprecher Brewing Company | Winter Lager

January 1, 2018 | Danny King

Like many of you, I get a lot of beers and beer accessories for Christmas. This year my boyfriend went with a monthly beer club – with the extra promise he won’t have more than 2 of the 12 every month. As a bonus, they were nice enough to deliver before my PorchDrinking deadline, so I get to share my haul with you guys! While I was familiar with one of the breweries from the east coast, the club introduced me to Sprecher Brewing Company and their Winter Lager.
Read More

Beer Showcases Mountain

Uinta Brewing Co. | Stompin’ Grounds Coffee Stout

December 29, 2017 | Chris & Sylvia Hollands

ABV: 8.1%

2017 left as swiftly as it came. Year after year, the clock seems to tick more rapidly. Repeating the daily grind of the morning wake up, leaning on a java and finishing the night with a great beer. Did that a few times and BAM! There we were–drawing gape as the Patriots won the Super Bowl, experiencing a total solar eclipse and then suddenly watching the ball drop on the broadcast of New Years’ Rockin’ Eve. Okay, the time lapse may be a bit of an exaggeration, but for real—the past 365 days flew by like no other.
Read More

Beer Events Beer Topics Mountain

2018 Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines Pour List

December 28, 2017 | Tristan Chan

Perhaps I’ve become a bit spoiled, or maybe even a little jaded, but its become few and far between that I’ll get downright giddy when it comes to the prospect of attending a beer event. However each year, there’s one event that rivals the level of excitement experienced on Christmas morning as a kid, Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines.

Beer Showcases Southeast

26 Degree Brewing | Ziko’s Rage

December 28, 2017 | Anna Dacosta

26 Degree Brewing Company has a delicious imperial stout that I am stoked to share with you all. This stout with a raging flavor profile gets its name from a furious sea turtle that was rescued by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida.

Beer Events Denver Beer Beat Mountain

PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | December 27, 2017

December 27, 2017 | Jeremiah Cornelius