Regions
Ultimate 6er | Central Texas Dark Lagers
December 2, 2020 | Ruvani de Silva
As the rest of the country slides into winter, Central Texas is still very much in fall mode – and a very welcome fall it is after a scorching summer locked down without the reprieve of our pools and swimming holes. Fall in Central Texas is full of fluctuation – you may need three different outfits in one day, with the temperature taking on the desert-like tendency to drop dramatically once the sun goes down. For weather like this, we brew up a fine selection of Dark Lagers – beers versatile enough to warm us when we’re being whipped by the wind but light enough to refresh us on those remaining sun-drenched days.
Speciation Artisan Ales | Magic Trait BBA Sour w/ Blackberry & Blackcurrant
December 2, 2020 | Jack Raymond
As an organism’s genetic sequence twists and changes, sometimes happy accidents occur, forever altering the course of a species. Fish switched fins for feet, lizards grew wings and took to the sky and here we are with livers, fine-tuned for processing the world’s delicious beer. Read More
Braxton Brewing’s Annual Dark Charge Release Goes Virtual
December 1, 2020 | Kindsey Bernhard
Like every event in 2020, Braxton Brewing Company’s Sixth Annual Dark Charge Day is going to look different this year: The annual release of their Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, Dark Charge, will be held online.
The good: Instead of waking up early on a Saturday with your BA Stout loving friends and waiting in line in the cold, you will be able to purchase Dark Charge variants from the comfort of your couch. The bad: There will be no big celebration at the Covington, KY taproom.
Real Ale Brewing Co. | Boombox Double IPA
December 1, 2020 | Dustin Wenger
Put on that tracksuit, strap on the fresh kicks and queue up “Don’t Stop the Rock”–it’s about to get hype in here. When one of the top breweries in Texas announces a new year-round addition to their lineup, you gotta make some noise. Already providing multiple hopped-up offerings across the spectrum, Real Ale Brewing Co. still managed to drop something fresh that hits all the right notes with their Boombox Double IPA.
Energy City Brewing | Bistro Grande Pumpkin Cheesecake
November 30, 2020 | Paul Lewis
With innovation and experimentation at the forefront, Energy City Brewing in Batavia, Ill. has something new brewing every week. Without an operating taproom and in the middle of a still-surging pandemic, they have still found a way to keep the sophisticated beer drinkers’ attention and stay relevant in times of uncertainty. While their mainstay offerings continue to be popular around the Chicagoland area, their one-off offerings, available only for curbside pick-up at the brewery, are the main attraction, drawing people all the way from Chicago to make the long drive two counties over for a chance to get their hands on this week’s concoction.
Indulgent Beer Series | Humble Forager Brewery – Voyager’s Getaway
November 27, 2020 | Max Sundermeyer
It’s arguable there’s no better way to indulge yourself than by taking a getaway. To unplug, decompress and reset is truly a gift. However, our getaways look very different this year, if they’re happening at all. Luckily, Humble Forager Brewery, whose mission is to offer thoughtful, specialty beers wherever adventure takes you, is providing ways to indulge during this difficult time, including a new Pastry Porter
Lifelong Friends Open Indian-Inspired Brewery in Chicago
November 26, 2020 | Kindsey Bernhard
When longtime friends Ray Schrand (Gator) and Bhavik Modi decided to open yet another brewery in Chicago—a city with close to 80 breweries—they knew their brewery needed to set itself apart. Thankfully, they didn’t have to do a lot of thinking.
Azadi Brewing Company opened its doors November 14 inside Pilot Project Brewing in Chicago’s Logan Square. That day also happened to be Diwali, India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. Azadi opened with two beers on tap: Kavi, a Cardamom Golden Ale; and Gir, a Kesar Mango IPA.
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5 Questions with Bunkhouse Brewery Owner Andy Stohlmann
November 26, 2020 | Justin Pennel
There are currently well over 7,000 breweries in the U.S., each of them have a unique story to tell. Bunkhouse Brewery in Bozeman, Montana is a unique nano-brewery located steps away from the campus of Montana State University and the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Bunkhouse is what many would consider a neighborhood brewery. They only distribute to a couple accounts and heavily rely on taproom foot traffic and sales. These types of breweries have been hit hard during the COVID pandemic and have had to get creative and adjust on the fly. Fortunately, Bunkhouse is producing as much beer as ever and is still focusing on the community aspect of the brewery.
Santa’s Cookies & Milk Stout Release from The Open Bottle & Hailstorm Brewing
November 26, 2020 | Mathew Powers
Forget golden rings. On the fifth year of holiday collaboration, The Open Bottle and Hailstorm Brewing gave to us, Santa’s Cookies & Milk Stout. And, it’s adorned in gold labeling, with a special glass to match. The stout is decadent, creamy, full-bodied and somehow still crushable; a real holiday treat. Yet, the real gift goes to Tinley Wish because a portion of sales aids the south-suburban Chicago organization that gives aid to needy families.
Ultimate 6er | Colorado Beers to Pair with Thanksgiving 2020
November 25, 2020 | Tristan Chan
There’s no sugar-coating the fact that for many across the country, this year’s Thanksgiving might not inspire the same level of festive joy, gratitude, and goodwill as in previous years. And while most are likely scaling back their Thanksgiving feasts this Thursday still gives us an opportunity to reflect back on the positives that have emerged through times of adversity, while also giving us hope toward a better new year. And hey, perhaps the positive might just be that you get to avoid talking politics with family members.
Colorado Beer Beat | Black Friday Week Beer Release Guide
November 25, 2020 | Mackenzie Helms
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 Thursday’s to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.
With the holidays kicking off this week, now’s the time to find out what new release is the most interesting to you for your next holiday party. Take some time to peruse this page to see when and where all these drops are happening for Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend.
Additionally, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5th as our friends at Barquentine Brewing will be hosting a Holiday Toy Drive from 1-6pm. Barquentine is working with Denver Dream Center to help provide gifts for over 10,000 Denver kids this year and are seeking unwrapped gifts for kids aged 0-18. Barquentine will also be donating 20% of all sales during the event. Come out and help make a difference during this difficult year.
Everyone here at PorchDrinking.com wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
Begyle Brewing 2020 Barrel-Aged Imperial Pajamas Preview
November 25, 2020 | Mathew Powers
The 2019 GABF Gold Medal for Chicago’s Begyle Brewing Barrel-Aged Imperial Pajamas gave credence to those who boasted of its excellence, and the award did wonders for its popularity. However, medals only go so far; Chicago’s beer crowd can be downright snobby about BBAs. The annual Imperial Pajamas release enjoys increasing fanfare because of its consistency, quality and a taproom party consisting of hour-by-hour variant tappings. Sadly, the global pandemic prevented Begyle from throwing its annual gathering. Nevertheless, the three packaged Pajamas stand as exemplary BBAs and evidence of why the program now hangs with the big boys and girls of the strong barrel-aging beer world.
This year’s three Imperial Pajamas release consists of the classic in Heaven Hill barrels, a vanilla variant and a special version aged in Booker Bourbon barrels. “We’ve had a lot of fun with release day variants, the way we handled those hourly releases allowed us to explore many different flavor combinations over the years. With our first foray into canning a barrel aged variant we chose vanilla as it is one of the most versatile ingredients we use in several of the variant combos we have done in the past. From the feedback we’ve gotten vanilla was always the most popular flavor, whether it was just vanilla, or vanilla combined with other ingredients,” said Kevin Cary, Begyle co-founder.
Ultimate 6er | A Beer For Each Family Member This Thanksgiving
November 25, 2020 | Emma Wargolet
With a deep love for family and friends and food, Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday (until someone brings up politics). It also means that afterwards, I can blast All I Want for Christmas Is You as much as I want and no one can say anything.
Indulgent Beer Series | Hill Farmstead Samuel
November 25, 2020 | Karl Kalinkewicz
Everyone has their own definition of indulgent. It could be a decadent chocolate cake that pushes the boundaries of your sweet tooth and your waistband. It might be a 5-star spa day or a vending machine that distributes gold bars. There may be no clearer measure of an indulgent purchase, however, than seeing the facial expression of a beer non-connoisseur when you tell them you have spent $50+ on a single bottle of beer. Hill Farmstead Samuel becomes the latest release to stress-test the wallet, especially in the midst of a pandemic that is making us reevaluate our financial priorities. Read More
5 Questions with The Ale Apothecary’s Paul Arney
November 24, 2020 | Jereme Zimmerman
Paul Arney, co-owner and head brewer of The Ale Apothecary in Bend, OR has a bit of a reputation. Words like “legendary” are often thrown around to describe his brewery and the unique, place-based wild beer he brews. Arney has a bit of a nutty–yet deeply intellectual–personality. It’s not uncommon to hear him lovingly referred to as bats#&@ crazy. We sat down with Arney for five questions about Ale Apothecary and to see how he’s holding up during the pandemic. We were relieved to hear that he hasn’t let up one bit on his unrelenting “art over industry” philosophy.
Little Fish Brewing Comes to Dayton
November 24, 2020 | David Nilsen
Little Fish Brewing Company is coming to Dayton, OH.
When the news broke last week, beer fans across the Gem City let loose a celebratory cheer. The Athens, OH-based brewery known for its mixed-fermentation sour and farmhouse-style beers (they just won their first GABF medal for Cleft) has been distributing bottles to the Dayton market for years and has long been one of the most respected breweries in the state. Still, the two-and-a-half-hour drive along Ohio’s winding back roads was always a lot for Dayton beer fans who wanted to visit the Athens taproom. Now, Little Fish will be just a short walk from downtown.
The Table is Set | Creature Comforts Brewing & Giving Kitchen Collab
November 24, 2020 | Brandon Cohran
In lieu of the old adage, “have your cake and eat it too,” this year’s motto for Creature Comforts Brewing Company in Athens, GA should be: “drink your beer and do good, too.” This holiday season, grab a physical or virtual seat at your dining table with Creature Comforts’ Table Beer.
Table Beer, a Belgian-style Session Ale, is refreshing and floral, yet light and subtle. Even though the body is light and the ABV is low, there is an earthy balance and a peppery bite behind a hop-forward aroma and flavor. The finish is dry and cleansing, as the delicate mouthfeel readies your palate for another sip, soup or salad. At 4.2% ABV, Table Beer is an incredible pairing no matter what holiday meals you enjoy.
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The Blackest Friday with Black Calder Brewing Co.
November 24, 2020 | Emma Wargolet
Black Calder Brewing, a new brewery opening in Michigan, launches on Black Friday. As the first Black-owned brewery in Michigan, owners Terry Rostic and Jamaal Ewing recognize how significant this is for representation and diversity in craft beer. PorchDrinking chatted by email with Rostic and Ewing to find out more about Black Calder Brewing and what to expect from the brewery.
Indulgent Beer Series | Three Taverns Brewery Heavy Bell
November 24, 2020 | Brandon Cohran
Whether it’s that fourth cookie, bonus day of vacation or third barrel-aged beer of the night, life is too short to not indulge every once in a while. This time of year always seems to bring more chaos. Luckily, Decatur, GA’s Three Taverns Brewery has the perfect beer to slow you down during this indulgent holiday season.
No, it is not a pastry-loaded adjunct Stout. It’s not a hopped-to-the-brim Triple IPA, either. What is it? It’s Heavy Bell (2020)–a Belgian Quadrupel Ale aged in bourbon barrels.
Heavy Bell (2020) takes indulgence to a new level as it expands on the base recipe of Quasimodo, a 10% Belgian-style Quadrupel, and ages it on eight-year-old bourbon barrels.
Yakima Chief Hops Announces the Pink Boots Blend for 2021
November 23, 2020 | Pam Catoe
Typically the ladies of Pink Boots Society (PBS) come together at the Great American Beer Festival for the Annual Hop Rub. The tradition began in 2017 when PBS partnered with Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) to bring the best of their hop harvest, carefully laid out on tables for attendees to smell, touch and taste, with the goal of selecting the annual Pink Boots Society hop blend.
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