Athentic Brewing Co. | Escape Button IPA

Craft beer seemingly has the ability to put you at ease or take you on a journey and transport you to somewhere different, albeit all in your mind, but it does have that effect. Maybe it even helps you escape from the harsh realities that are going on in the world right now. Speaking on this, we’ve got just the right beer for you to try!

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Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | Cold Chisel IPA

Chicago’s Maplewood Brewery & Distillery just released a new Cold IPA, Cold Chisel, that is fermented and conditioned at colder temperatures, similar to a lager. As the temps begin to drop here in the Midwest, it’s the perfect time to try this new brew from one of the best Chicago breweries. Read More

Southern Grist Brewing Co. | Strange Horizons NEIPA

Collaborations between bands and breweries are nothing new. Run the Jewels, for example, seem to agree to beer collabs as often as they agree to play a festival. From wacky creations that never should’ve left the brains of collaborators to killer creations that you wish would never run out, the spectrum of these projects are vast. Regardless, it’s always amusing to see what folks come up with.  Read More

Ultimate 6er | International IPA Day

It wasn’t that long ago that the letters IPA basically meant one thing. For better or worse, IPA was known as a hop-forward and bitter beer. With International IPA Day coming up on the first Thursday in August (this year it’s August 6th), we’ve rounded up a few to create this Ultimate 6er. Read More

Saint Arnold Brewing Company | Art Car IPA

The phenomenon of the art car has intrigued me for some time. Have you ever seen these things? Cars covered from bumper to bumper with colorful paint jobs and anything from mosaic tile to plastic figurines. Sure, some look like a hoarder hoarked on a hooptie, but there are certainly some examples that truly are mobile art. The layers of detail and creativity are impressive, and it’s that creative spirit that inspired Saint Arnold’s Art Car IPA.

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Greater Good Imperial Brewing | Pulp

One of my favorite things about craft beer is beer mail. There’s nothing more exciting than getting a box of beer from another part of the country and diving into the contents. I was particularly excited for this most recent arrival from my cousin on the East Coast. We kept up with each other’s beer adventures via Instagram, and I had been bothering her to send me some of the famous haze names that we all associate with New England–Trillium, Night Shift and Tree House. This latest box had a few of those (thank you!) but it was an unknown label that caught my eye. Today, I tried out Greater Good Imperial Brewing’s Pulp.

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Maine Beer Company | Another One

The craft beer explosion in unique to everyone depending on location. Once the contracts are signed, state distributors awash the bottle shop shelves with rows of new possibilities. These beers become exciting mysteries; sold as 1 to 2 bottles per customer to get everyone’s attention to the hot new kid on the block. Years will go by, some breweries will go away, but others stay thanks to their long lasting quality. Maine Beer Company fits all these descriptors when it arrived in my state years ago.

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Bell’s Brewery | Song of Myself

Beer is poetry. It takes a great deal of understanding and thoughtfulness to make a beer that speaks to drinkers and keeps them coming back for more. Putting together a genuinely exquisite beer requires the consideration of each part individually, from the water to the hops, from the malt to the yeast. Over time, those elements become part of one, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, time will improve it even more. Poetry is much the same. With thorough understanding and thoughtfulness, a poem can last for generations, sitting on our tongues and inspiring whomever it touches. It was this inspiration that led Bell’s Brewery to honor one of Larry Bell’s favorite poets, Walt Whitman, with the launched of their Leaves of Grass series. The first release, Song of Myself, is a German-inspired American IPA. Its release in May 2019 coincided with Whitman’s 200th birthday.

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Forgotten Boardwalk | 1916 Shore Shiver

Pretty soon the days will become even longer and the temperatures will continue to get hotter. If you live in the mid-Atlantic, you also understand the oppressive humidity. Some of us are lucky enough to be born into this swamp state with a huge shoreline while others flock here in the summer. To battle the upcoming season, you’ll most certainly need a beer; I’d recommend Forgotten Boardwalk 1916 Shore Shiver.

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Great Lakes Brewing Company | Great Lakes IPA

Year-round offerings, especially for long-standing breweries, are special for various reasons. With Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC), one would be hard-pressed not to have a beer of theirs that has become a mainstay, a fall-back favorite. In 2019, Great Lakes has done something really, truly special: not just creating a new year-round, but also commemorating the people who make the brewery what it is and keep it a sustainable community. Great Lakes IPA is a welcome addition to the brewery’s already stellar cast of characters. It’s a beer I foresee fitting in nicely with old favorites.

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Bear Republic Brewing Co. | Racer 500 Indy Pale Ale

With my wife being from Indianapolis, I know that when the calendar turns to May; it’s Indianapolis 500 month. To celebrate the event, Bear Republic Brewing Co., known for its Racer 5 IPA and other racing-inspired beers, has released Racer 500 Indy Pale Ale. The beer is only be available at the brewpub and the state of Indiana.

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Lord Hobo Brewing Co. | Hobo Life

It was New Year’s Eve and I was battling a slew of last-minute beer shoppers. The aisles were packed and I was beginning to have some mild anxiety. I sure love beer, but I hate nothing more than big crowds of people. After battling through the coolers to build a mixed six-pack, I was ready to be gone. I grabbed a 6er of the first session IPA that I saw and got into the long, serpentine line to check out. It turned out that the session IPA in my basket was Lord Hobo‘s Hobo Life.
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Odd13 Brewing | n00b

I’m that guy. I’ve been him for a long time now. I’ve known it for a long time, but didn’t care. I went with it. I’m the guy who no matter what always just wants to try the NEW beer. It’ll be sitting right next to a beer that I know I love and have even ranted and raved about to my friends. And yet, I can’t help myself; I grab the shiny new beer next to it on the shelf. I’ve never really had a go-to beer.

That has finally changed.

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Victory Brewing Company | Vital IPA

ABV: 6.5%

As the second American IPA in Victory Brewing Company‘s year-round lineup, Vital IPA had to fight an uphill battle against the existing family favorite. This brew had to differentiate itself from Victory’s better-known Hop Devil IPA and prove that it could stand on its own. By being crisper, more subtle, and lighter-bodied than its predecessor, Vital IPA attracts an audience that Hop Devil may not: lager lovers.

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4 Noses Brewing Co. | Bout Damn Time IPA

ABV: 7.1% | IBU: 65

If you’re like me, the very first thing that comes to mind with Bout Damn Time is, “Why the name?” So, I asked 4 Noses Brewing Co. this very question. And it turns out, the answer is pretty simple. Read More

The Brew Kettle | All for One Session IPA

ABV: 4.75% | IBU: 35

Over the decades, Cleveland sports has had many moments that have been hard to swallow. Despite Cleveland being one of the more pained sports cities, moments of intense optimism do pop up from time to time bringing a refreshing tint to the hues of cynicism. For example, there’s always the start of baseball season and the chants of “It’ll be this year!” Along with that, there’s annually a nice brew to go with that. Turning to basketball though, the return of LeBron James and the acquisition of many other stellar players has allowed my Cleveland Cavaliers to fare quite well in the second half of this year’s NBA season. Hope is blossoming again, albeit with the normal hint of caution. Still, The Brew Kettle, a local brewery in the Cleveland area, has begun distributing its All for One Session IPA to continue stoking the flames of the playoff push that is now imminent. Excitement has definitely returned to the CLE!  Read More