Bean to Barstool Podcast | Loon Chocolate

There are countless similarities between the worlds of craft beer and bean to bar chocolate, and few people know that as well as Scott Watson. Scott was a professional craft brewer in the 1990s when craft beer was just beginning to gain national attention. After leaving the craft beer world, he eventually discovered bean to bar chocolate and founded Loon Chocolate.

In this episode of Bean to Barstool, Scott shares his memories of brewing craft beer, what makes him love chocolate making, and the numerous ways in which these two artisan industries remind him of each other.
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World of Flavor | Sake’s Key Ingredient Unlocks New Possibilities at Hi-Wire Brewing

Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina, won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2021 for a beer its brewers weren’t even sure was going to be any good. Their Japanese Dry Rice Lager earned the hardware in the Experimental Beer category, a catch-all for anything too weird for the nearly 100 other categories judged each year. Typical winners have included an Arnold Palmer-inspired Berliner Weisse and a Sour Rye Saison aged on Prickly Pear Cactus. So what was so unusual about this Rice Lager, a beer that — on the surface — was as simple and unassuming as any beer at the festival?

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West Sixth Brewing | Rye Barrel Porter

For West Sixth Brewing‘s third bourbon and barrel collaboration, Rye Barrel Porter, the Kentucky brewery has partnered with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. Rye Barrel Porter is a high-ABV (9.0%) porter aged in Bulleit 95 Rye whiskey barrels.

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2022 Georgia Best in Year Review

Blink and you’ll miss it – 2022 did not slow down for anyone, it seems. It was a busy year in beer, as the industry continues to grow in Georgia, despite the limiting legislation in the state. Whether it be an individual beer, a brand new location, or a great event, there’s a good chance your favorite brewery made 2022 better for you. Read More

Go Brewing Opens Taproom Focused on Non-Alcoholic Beer

There’s a new brewery in Naperville, Illinois! Go Brewing offers non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers, exclusively. It recently took over the former Two Fools Cider space nearby Solemn Oath Brewery. As one of the few taprooms solely focused on non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers, the taproom provides a space for people to gather without alcohol. Go Brewing’s founder, Joe Chura, was inspired to start the brewery after taking a sabbatical and participating in the seventy-five hard. During that time, he realized there were so few places not centered around drinking. The taproom offers non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers in a variety of styles, along with an extensive list of programming, providing their community with even more reasons to come together.

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Colorado Beer Beat | Bi-Weekly Beer Release Guide 12/29

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays (usually!) to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.

As 2022 draws to a close, we hope that you’ll show your favorite breweries your support at least one more time. While we’ll surely miss all of the brews we’ve had this year, we’re certain that 2023 will be a great year for Colorado craft beer!

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Barrel Room Spotlight | WeldWerks Brewing

After an extended Holiday Hiatus, the Spotlight is back and featuring a true powerhouse from the Rockies: WeldWerks Brewing. From humble beginnings in a Colorado garage in 2009 to a friendly wager at the 2014 Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival, Neil Fisher and WeldWerks Brewery finally made its long-awaited debut in 2015 in Greeley, CO.

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2022 Colorado New Year’s Eve Brewery Events

2022 is almost in the books, meaning it’s time to celebrate the year that was and look forward to what 2023 will bring us. While some may be content to spend New Year’s Eve huddled amongst freezing masses for hours on end or in a crowded club struggling to reach the bar, the discerning Coloradan will wisely seek out a local brewery for a more relaxed and enjoyable vibe. Many breweries throughout the state have events planned in the hours leading up to New Year’s, so we have assembled a list of those here. Whether you want to catch some live music, eat a multiple course beer dinner or try some special beers, there is something here for every beer lover. As always, be safe and responsible in your New Year’s Eve drinking activities – let’s end this year and start the next in a great way!

If we missed any Colorado NYE Brewery events be sure to shoot us a message and we would love to add your event to our round-up.

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It’s All In The Blend | Tasting Eleven Years of Firestone Walker Anniversary Ales

The coming together of brewers and winemakers mixed with the art of blending and barrels is the genesis of Firestone Walker Brewing Company Anniversary Ale. Read More

DuClaw Brewing Co. | The PastryArchy Unicorn Farts After Dark

DuClaw Brewing Co.‘s The PastryArchy Unicorn Farts After Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Crunch Breakfast Pastry Stout (phew!) is everything it sounds like and more.

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River North Brewery | Nightmare Fuel

As the name and label suggest, Nightmare Fuel from Denver’s River North Brewery is traditionally tied to Halloween. However, its dark, bold flavors and high alcohol translate nicely into winter warmer season as well. This barrel-aged Coffee Imperial Stout is the perfect comfort beer for curling up next to the fire on a snowy day. Read More

PorchDrinking’s Year in Ohio Beer 2022

Ohio is much more than the butt of TikTok jokes. We’re perenially hovering around the top five craft beer-producing states by volume, and bring in a healthy haul of medals at every World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, and Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer. With numerous mid-sized big cities, Ohio has countless beercation destinations for the beer savvy traveler. Here are my picks for the noteworthy beers, breweries, and stories of 2022 in Ohio beer.

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Colorado’s Best Coffee Stout Blind Tasting Presented by On Tap Credit Union

Taking the stage in the latest edition of PorchDrinking’s Blind Tasting series are Coffee Stouts. In this latest tasting, we asked a group of 10 judges to taste 26 Coffee Stouts made by Colorado breweries. By conducting a tasting blindly, we are able to put all sizes of breweries across Colorado on an even playing field that removes all marketing and preconceived notions that the judges may have. In previous installments, the Blind Tasting Series focused on Märzens, Barrel-Aged Stouts, Pilsners, and Fresh Hop Beers.

PorchDrinking’s Blind Tasting Series is presented by On Tap Credit Union. The Coffee Stout tasting is sponsored by Novo Coffee as they proudly served as our hosts.

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Colorado Beer Beat | Bi-Weekly Beer Release Guide 12/15

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays (usually!) to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.

We’re seeing a number of Christmas related seasonals being released right now, but for those of you that aren’t in search of the taste of the holidays, there are plenty of more traditional styles being releaed as well. As you celebrate the holidays this year, do it with beer in hand to show your support to all of our local Colorado breweries.

If you’re looking for New Year’s Eve plans, look no further than FlyteCo’s Catch Me if You Can themed party at the former Stapelton Air Traffic Control Tower. Tickets are available now!

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Seventh Son Reborn | One Brewery’s Unusual Strategy for Expansion

Seventh Son Brewing opened in the historic Italian Village neighborhood of Columbus, OH, in April 2013. Their beer was good and their taproom was friendly and inviting—obvious prerequisites for success—and they set about doing what many other breweries around the country had done before them and have done since: offering classic American craft styles in a communal, social atmosphere.

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Exploring Mexican Craft Beer

Mexican beer has come a long way from the thin-bodied, flavorless yellow beverage chugged poolside on spring break. These days there’s a burgeoning Mexican craft beer scene featuring the robust and flavorful styles that craft beer lovers are familiar with. Read More

PREVIEW | Danico Brewing Opens Near Denver International Airport

It might feel a bit out of place walking into a new Colorado craft brewery to discover Bud Light on draft. But for Danico Brewing owners, Nikki Harwood and Dave Lotierzo, it not only speaks to their desire to create options for more traditional beer drinkers but also nods to their unconventional career paths that began at Anheuser-Busch.

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Denver’s FlyteCo Beer Supports Local Journalists with Release of Thirst Amendment

We might be a little biased, but supporting local journalism is critical not only to maintaining a democratic society but also to providing platforms for small businesses and individuals in industries like craft beer.

Unfortunately over the last decade, countless numbers of publications have suffered from budget cuts, key departures, and in some cases closures. In the beer industry alone, we’ve seen notable departures from peers like DRAFT Magazine, BeerPulse, The Hop Review, and All About Beer Magazine before it was eventually revived earlier this year.

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Firestone Walker 2023 Brewmaster’s Collective Opens for Enrollment

When it comes to national breweries, Firestone Walker is the baseball equivalent to a five-tool player. Not only have they been wildly successful in capturing the attention of casual craft beer fans with commercial hits like Mind Haze, Union Jack and Hopnosis, while also gaining the respect of their peers with industry icons like Pivo Pils and Wookey Jack, but they’ve also proven their ability to gain traction with casual beer drinkers through their 805 series.

However, all of that might pale in comparison with what they’ve accomplished through their ever-evolving barrel-aging and specialty release program. While beer fanatics are likely familiar with classics like Firestone Walker’s Parabola, Sucaba and their yearly Anniversary blends, over the past three years, the Paso Robles-based brewery has quietly continued to breathe new life into their barrel-aging and small-batch release programs through the Brewmaster’s Collective membership program. Think of them as the Shohei Ohtani of brewing.

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New Belgium Brewing | Holiday Ale

I don’t know when exactly it started, but at some point in my voracious drinking career, I realized that I mentally connect certain breweries with certain seasons. During June and July, I almost exclusively drink from Outer Range Brewing—whatever they’re making automatically becomes my summer go-to. Then when the leaves change and the nights get cooler, all I want is Odell Brewing: their amber ale, their tropical sour; I don’t care about the style, I just want whatever they’re brewing. And, for as long as I can remember, my winter palate has belonged to New Belgium Brewing.

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