Goose Island Set to Release Four New Beers

On Monday July 3, Goose Island will have its largest release of the year. Alright, maybe there is a bigger release in November; but Goose will release four new beers into the market on Monday. 

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Dry Dock Brewing | Barrel-Aged Funk & Sour Series: Cassidae

ABV: 6.1% | IBU: 8
Last year, Dry Dock Brewing Company announced the launch of their Funk & Sour series, which features crowd-pleasing favorites from South Dock’s barrel-aging program. The series includes more than 80 barrels, which consist of mostly wine and some whiskey, and are dedicated to sour, Brett and mixed fermentations. I was able to get my hands on Batch No. 2, called Cassidae, a sour Brett saison that was bottled August 19, 2016.
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Birrificio del Ducato / Oxbow | Oud Brunello

Featured photo credit: Birrificio del Ducato.

ABV: 7%

Two years ago, back in the summer of 2015, I traveled to Italy. While I am normally a beer drinker, in Italy I … Read More

Event Recap | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Burly Beer Fest

PorchDrinking closed out winter with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild during their Burly Beer Fest on Saturday, April 1st. The festival featured 113 different beers with some really rare and special offerings available from 55 different breweries from all across the country. According to Margo Metzger, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, Burly Beer Fest “raised $10,000 to support [the] guild’s mission to make North Carolina the best place to brew beer (and drink beer) in the nation.” Combine all that was available with the general atmosphere provided by the grounds around Sierra Nevada and it was easy to relax, enjoy yourself and sip some huge beers in a proper send off to winter all in support of a great cause.

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Journey into the Woodlands

SweetWater Brewing Company has always pushed an image of nonconformity. Its latest venture, The Woodlands, is no different. Over the last 20 years, SweetWater has focused on growing its brand, and as founder Freddy Bensch explains “We have capacity under control, and can give more time to projects we’ve always aspired to do.” Bensch continued, pointing out, “We’re always challenging ourselves to evolve and master our craft.” The Woodlands is the physical manifestation of the brewery’s vision to push its practice and, as Bensch finished, “…make some really phenomenal beers.” So it was in this spirit of innovation and mastery that the Woodlands was born.

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Goose Island Set to Release a Variety of New Beers

Goose Island is getting ready to release a variety of new beers throughout the next quarter and into the rest of 2017. From a new Fulton & Wood Series beer to a lot more barrel aged beers, I went out to Goose Island to try the new releases and taste the results of their experimenting. Read More

Founders Brewing Co. | Frootwood Barrel-Aged Cherry Ale

ABV: 8%

You won’t find the best beer from Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan — you’ll find it below Grand Rapids, where barrels of goodness hibernate in caves. For example, each April, the famous Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) arises from its slumber and seeks to conquer the palates of beer geeks everywhere. And this year, for Founders Brewing’s 20th Anniversary, several special beers are emerging from those caves, too. So, let us talk about the first release, a barrel-aged cherry ale from Founders named Frootwood.

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The Bruery to Release Chocolate Rain to the Public

Featured photo contributed by The Bruery

The Bruery’s forecast calls for a 100% chance of rain… Chocolate Rain that is, and we couldn’t be more excited. What began as a single cask of beer that was released in 2009 for a Black Tuesday release event has since become a, wait for it, legendary brew that members of The Bruery’s exclusive beer societies have enjoyed. But for the first time on March 24, Chocolate Rain will be pouring for all. Read More

Odell Brewing | Elephunk Imperial Wild IPA

ABV: 9.9% | IBU: 33

Funky doesn’t begin to describe Odell Brewing Elephunk Imperial Wild IPA. This delicious boozy palette puncher is indeed a wild ride. It’s weird. It’s complex. It’s funky with a “p-h.” Yep, it’s PHunky.
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Horse Thief Hollow | Buffalo Trace Barrel-Aged Cinnamon Girl

Image Courtesy Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co.

ABV 9.8%

People love eating breakfast. Hell, they love it so much it actually co-opted another meal of the day (lunch) to make the super popular brunch. While some have the time to make a hearty breakfast meal, others must run out the door with little time to eat cereal. With a few exceptions (Raisin Bran and Cheerios for example), you’re going to sound like a 5-year-old when you tell someone what you had for breakfast, though. How do you avoid that social situation? Read More

Listermann Brewing Co. | Bourbon Barrel Aged Chickow!

We have a special beer here in Cincinnati, one in which is hard to pass up when you find it and has more delicious variations than Lady Gaga’s wardrobe. Listermann Brewing Co. is the proud father of Chickow!, a Hazelnut Double Brown Ale weighing in at a hefty 10% ABV. It has grown from a local favorite to being nationally recognized at the 2016 Festival of Barrel Aged Beers in Chicago. Listermann brought home two medals this year with their Barrel Aged Chickow! Not only did it win gold in the category of Speciality/Experimental beer, but it won the highest award of being Best in Show! Read More

Oskar Blues Releasing Rum Barrel-Aged Death By Coconut & Ten Fidy

As craft beer continues to grow, some of its biggest breweries, brewers and even beers have begun garnering cult-status followings. 2016 has been an especially massive year for cult-ish following beers … Read More

Denver Beer Co. | Drama Queen Saison Aged in Wine Barrels

ABV: 8.3%

I don’t mean to be dramatic, but I think they’ve named this beer wrong. With a name like, “Drama Queen”, you’d expect this 8.3% barrel-aged saison to be too boozy, quick to fly off the handle with overly pronounced flavors. No, she is far too balanced to be called a drama queen.

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Avery Brewing Discontinues Dictator Series in 2017, Expands Barrel Program

From IPA to BBA, craft beer continues to evolve, and Colorado’s Avery Brewing is unafraid to ride that wave of transformation and help influence its direction. In 2017, Avery Brewing will offer fans far more fermented pleasures from its Botanicals & Barrels series, as well as a add to its year-round selections. While that is exciting news for many fans of Avery, it comes with a price — a few long time favorites will have to be retired.

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Revolution Brewing | Deep Wood Series: Ryeway to Heaven

ABV: 14.5% | IBU: 20

Revolution Brewing explains its Deep Wood Series Ryeway to Heaven as perhaps a “doorway to an existential awakening, or maybe it’s just a damned fine beer.” One could argue it’s a little bit of both. This rye ale aged in rye barrels serves as the quintessential example of how the art and science of barrel-aged brewing can result in elevated deliciousness – and it’s a perfect treat for Thanksgiving and holiday festivities.

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Southern Brewing Co. | Southern Woodpile: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Finally, the season is changing. The days are shorter, the nights are cooler, and the leaves are making a quick exit from the trees. I mean let’s face it… this was an unending summer. It’s all anyone talked about. We needed low alcohol brews that were loaded with fruit, because if we drank anything heavier, we may have literally died. Or melted. Or burst into flames. It was seriously hot out there.

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Brew Gentlemen | DoubleMex

Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout | ABV: 9.9%

Brew Gentlemen’s bottle release of DoubleMex took place on Saturday, September 17, 2016. This was my first ever bottle release that I have attended so I made sure I did my research on the event. I followed BG on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and even signed up for their newsletter (pssh stalk much?!) just so that I could stay current with the brewery.

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Tired Hands Brewing Company | Ourison

It’s been hotter than Hansel in Los Angeles the past few weeks and when the temperatures rise, I start moseying into the sour/saison realm for refreshment. Luckily, I had a bottle of Tired Hands Brewing Company Ourison to help cool me. Straight out of Ardmore, Pennsylvania, I enjoy Tired Hands for its unfiltered yet refined farmhouse and sour ales that regularly have unusual style and ingredient combos. For instance, Woodlahands, a Flanders oud bruin with mushrooms added, is an example of the type of beer that emanates from the Tired Hands Fermentaria, and I’m all about it.

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Powder Keg Brewing Company | Quartet

This showcase is sponsored by Small Batch Liquors.

ABV: 7.8%

Bottle: Crown Capped 375ml

The Brewery

Powder Keg Brewing Company is a brewery and tap room in downtown Niwot, … Read More

Event Recap | Brooklyn Brewery’s Chicago Beer Mansion 2016

On August 13, 2016, Brooklyn Brewery brought their A-game to Chicago and threw down one of the more unique beer festival experiences. The Brooklyn Brewery Beer Mash, which was part of a … Read More