Holiday Beer Cocktails

It’s about that time everyone. You know what I’m talking about. It’s about that time where you’re going to be snuggled up close and personal with your family for an extended amount of time. And whether you love em’ or could live without em’, a tall, stiff drink does a body (and peace of mind) good! When a cold glass of beer won’t scratch that ugly sweater party itch, enter the beer cocktail as a very important part of your Holiday survival guide!

Read More

12 Beers of Christmas | Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper

ABV: 10.5%

When the weather outside gets frightful, a nice big imperial stout can be very delightful, but you should be sure that you’ve got no place to go. For me, one of my favorite big imperial stouts during the holiday season is Port Brewing’s Santa’s Little Helper. Like sweet baby Jesus, Santa’s Little Helper is pure and good in every way. The beer doesn’t have any “holiday seasoning” in it, which is a nice break after pumpkin beer season to avoid nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, etc.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Surviving the Snow Days

The snow is falling in parts of the country. While some states have yet to see its first flurries, others got over 20 inches of snow over night this month. Before the snow piles so high we give up and resign ourselves to the couch, filling our days with binge watching Netflix, we’d like to offer a few choices for provisions to stock up on. Better prepared than sober, I say.

Read More

Black Hammer Brewing | Sparkle Pony

ABV: 6.9% | IBU: 24

Jim Furman used to work at a nuclear safety test facility for the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC) in Chengdu in the Szechuan Province. Now Jim is the proud owner and head brewer of Black Hammer Brewing (BHB). True story. While Jim is brewing, you will often find Growler, Jim’s dog, hanging out in the tap room greeting customers. BHB opened just over a year ago in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco and is having great success. Their mission is twofold: Lager without limits! and Malt Forward! Sparkle Pony is one beer so popular that it pays the rent.

Read More

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company | Torpedo Extra IPA

ABV: 7.2%  |  IBU: 65

I have written my last couple reviews on some hard to get IPAs (the kind that you have to wait in line for and are gone within a matter of hours), so I figured it makes sense to write about a more readily available brew.

Read More

The Weekly Buzz | September 9th – September 15th

Unfortunately, we had to take last week off due to an unexpected emergency, but we’re back and more buzzed than ever! This week, social media has been chock full of job opportunities, beer event announcements, giveaways, and even bad touches. Fasten your seat belts, pour a beer into the appropriate glassware, and prepare yourself for The Weekly Buzz!
Read More

Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill | Super Rad!

Downtown Monterey, not the famous Cannery Row with the tourist shops and refurbished sardine-packing factories, was in need of a revitalization.

Monterey, California is a beautiful town on the coast about 100 miles south of San Francisco. The most famous area of Monterey is Cannery Row, a refurbished factory district full of tourist gift shops, sea food restaurants and bars. However there has been a recent revitalization of the downtown district of Monterey, led by Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill. Alvarado Street Brewery and Grill, opened by J.C. Hill and his father John Hill, had a plan for downtown. The father and son duo, together with the Head Chef Jeremiah Tydeman, created a brew pub that brings phenomenal food and great beer together to give guests “the ultimate sensory experience.” ASBG should be on your list of breweries to follow, visit and enjoy. Their canned sours are extremely sought after, each release is a huge success. They typically sell out quickly so if you see them on the shelf at your local craft beer store, don’t hesitate. J.C. Hill, the head brewer, was kind enough to speak with me about their newest release called: Super Rad.
Read More

Yolo Brewing Encourages Personalization, Experimentation

How many times have you been on a brewery tour and thought, “I wonder what it’s like to actually brew this beer?” Or maybe you’ve been working your way through a flight of beers and you became inspired. “How awesome would this beer be if it had ___ in it?” I can gladly say, I have found the spot for you: Yolo Brewing Co. Read More

Coronado Brewing Company | 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA

ABV: 10% | IBU: 75

Imagine yourself in San Diego 20 years ago. The craft beer scene was in its infancy, in fact there were only five craft breweries in all of San Diego! Flash forward to today and there are over 115. As San Diego has grown over the years, so too have the number of craft beer breweries. One of the originals, Coronado Brewing Company is still producing fantastic beer. Started by brothers Ron and Rick Chapman, they are part of the OG original five! Their award winning beers are currently distributed in 19 states and 10 countries. Coronado was crowned as the 2014 World Beer Cup Champs for mid-sized brewery. They created an amazing 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA that is sure to grab your attention.

Read More

Fieldwork Brewing | Convergence DIPA

ABV: 9%

When Fieldwork opened in Berkeley a year ago, I was stoked, and not just because it was a 10 minute walk from my old apartment. I had read that the co-founder and head brewer, Alex Tweet, had done stints at Ballast Point and Modern Times, where he came up with beers like the Indra Kunindra, Booming Rollers, and yes, the Grapefruit Sculpin. When Fieldwork first opened, however, the beer was great, but I can’t say the taproom was exactly packed. Read More

Anchor Brewing Company | Go West! IPA

ABV: 6.7% | IBU: 75

In my first article for PorchDrinking.com, it only makes sense for me to write about a San Francisco IPA, more specifically Go West! IPA. Although the options are somewhat endless, with new breweries opening seemingly every week, I had to start with San Francisco’s oldest brewery. It just so happens, Anchor Brewing Company is located just a few blocks away from my home. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Summer Sixer Southern California

Some folks of cider make a rout
And cider’s well enough no doubt
When better liquors fail;
But wine, that’s richer, better still,
Ev’n wine itself (deny’t who will)
Must yield to nappy ale.

-John Gay (1685-1732), “Ballad on Ale” from Songs and Ballads

I couldn’t let Northern California have all the fun. Check out my California Summer Sixer list with the best of what Southern California breweries have to offer this summer season. All beers listed are currently available with an ABV of 5.5% or lower. The average ABV for this sixer is also 4.7% – perfect planning, if we say so ourselves.

Read More

Almanac Beer Co. | Apricot De Brettaville

ABV: 6.5%

Almanac Beer Co. makes “Farm to Barrel” seasonal beers, inspired by the culinary tradition began by Bay Area celebrity chef Alice Waters. Founded in 2010 by then-homebrewers, Jesse … Read More

Fieldwork Brewing Co. | Sea Farmer Sea Salt Grapefruit IPA

ABV 7.3%

Two words in the beer world that are instantly recognizable: Grapefruit Sculpin. Alex Tweet, head brewer and co-founder of Fieldwork Brewing Co in Berkeley, CA, decided to “take that idea in a different, but complementary direction” then the original Grapefruit Sculpin he created for Ballast Point. The different, but complementary direction resulted in Fieldwork’s Sea Farmer Sea Salt Grapefruit IPA (say that 10 times fast!). This grapefruit IPA is absolutely delicious and refreshing, making Sea Farmer the quintessential summertime fruit IPA.

Read More

Golden Road Brewing | Pints & Pierogi (Grand Central Market)

Golden Road Brewery is named as a tribute to the Grateful Dead’s song The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion.” If they had a motto, I believe they would take inspiration from a quote by the great Jerry Garcia said:  “our strong suit is what we do…” Golden Road opened their newest tasting location in the wonderfully eclectic and diverse Grand Central Market. Join them for a pint and a pierogi, and you will certainly know that their strong suit is everything they do.

I found myself in Los Angeles on a rainy Friday afternoon and I was lucky enough to experience the sights, sounds and experience of Golden Road and their newest location in the Grand Central Market.

Read More

Anderson Valley Brewing Co. | Briney Melon Gose

ABV: 4.2%

Last summer was my introduction to the gose style, and my first one was Anderson Valley’s Blood Orange Gose (also a beer I highly recommend). I immediately became a fan, and started seeking out others in the gose style. That soon led me to another from Anderson Valley, the Briney Melon Gose. At the time, it was only available in bombers, but this year they started distributing it in six-pack cans… and we’re all better off because of it. With a fun, easy-drinking summer beer like this, cans that you can throw in a cooler and take to a barbecue to share with friends are the only way to go.

Read More

Bear Republic Brewing Co. | Racer 5

ABV 7.5%  | IBU 75

I moved to the Bay Area in the fall of 2011 and I soon discovered my love of good, local, craft beer. Most bars in the Bay Area offer Northern California staples even if their beer selection is not very diverse or “crafty.” The drafts typically include an IPA from at least one of the following: Anchor, Bear Republic, Drakes, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada or Speak Easy. My interest and intrigue with the hop flavor and IPAs was piqued as I experienced more and more of these local favorites. Through my trials and tribulations, a clear favorite emerged. The Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewing Company quickly became my go-to beer.

Read More

Literary Beer Collection | Halloween Edition

I am excited to bring you a second edition of the Literary Beers series. Can we call it a series now that there is more than one? Meh, who is counting… I lost count long ago.

This edition of Literary Beers will focus on stories/brews that are centered around Halloween.  I have scoured retail shelves and library catalogs to find you the most intriguing and haunting of literary brewing collaborations. So, light a candle and grab a pumpkin ale because this is about to get real!

Read More

BREAKING | Saint Archer Brewing Acquired by MillerCoors

It’s becoming hard to keep up with all the pieces on the chess board as more and more pawns succumb to the bigger players. It was just announced that Tenth … Read More

Bison Brewing | Organic Chocolate Stout

Bison Brewing’s Organic Chocolate is one of my favorite stouts, and has been for the last few years or so. It is rich in flavor without being heavy in the body, and low enough in alcohol to be sessionable. This is definitely NOT a sweet stout. (If sweet is your thing, check out Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate stout.) Brewed with Peruvian cocoa and roasted barley, this beer boasts big coffee and dark chocolate flavors.

Read More