2 Days, 2 Nights in Washington, D.C.’s Craft Beer Scene

The first time most people visit Washington, D.C., they are in middle school. They are hustled from monument to monument, eat in overcrowded food courts and rarely adventure to spots beyond the National Mall.

Read More

Gillian | Goose Island Beer Company

ABV 9.5 %

The sun shined brightly on a Sunday afternoon as my girlfriend and I cruised lazily the back streets of Chicago. Through some force of nature, we happened upon the Goose Island Fulton Taproom. Suddenly, those same forces guided us to a parking spot. As we opened the door, we were greeted by kind, soft and welcoming faces. Looking around inside, our DIY intuitions were stirred by the hand-made, Chicago-themed woodwork covering the walls. My eyes were drawn to a wooden barrel repurposed into a water dispenser. What a brilliant idea!

Read More

Brewery Showcase | Great Central Brewing Company

Breweries have been accumulating in Chicago faster than snow during a vortex style blizzard. Many of those up and coming new breweries exist in buildings that offer limited potential for physical growth. But, brewing success leads to a greater demand, so what happens when the demand exceeds supply? Or, for brewers that haven’t yet found their own space, where can they brew? That’s where Great Central Brewing Company (GCBC) comes to the rescue (opening in fall, 2016).

Read More

QUIZ: Craft Beer or Pokémon?

Because you haven’t been living under a rock, you know that Pokémon GO has taken over the world. The new app lets people walk around in their neighborhoods, offices, traffic and public areas trying to catch digital Pokémon which appear in augmented reality using the camera on their smartphones. (Translation for my parents: remember those Pokémon cards from the mid-90s? Everyone’s playing that again, except now it lives inside their phones.)

I have a confession: I don’t really get Pokémon. When I was 8 years old, I was one of the ONLY kids in third grade who DIDN’T play the game, collect the cards, or watch the show. So the names of the hundreds of Pokémon now in existence are a bit over my head. And yet everyone is trying to “Catch Em All” and bragging about the newest addition to their collection.

Read More

Outlander Brewery | Holy Basil Pale

ABV: 5.6%

I love a little quirkiness with my beer, because with so many craft breweries in Seattle, a unique character is really what sets each establishment, and brew, apart. The Holy Basil Pale Ale by Outlander Brewery fits this measure well—it strikes just the right balance of eccentric and uniquely delicious. Read More

Event Recap | BREWSTER Series for Women

One day I was scrolling through social media, when an event caught my eye. BREWSTER Women’s Brew Day at Holy City Brewing in Charleston, SC. An event just for women, and we get to brew at an actual brewery? Sure, I’ve seen the act of brewing beer on countless brewery tours. My husband is also an avid home brewer, so mashing in is something I am familiar with. But an event created solely for women to collaborate on a traditionally male activity? Count me in!

Read More

Beerstagram | June 30th – July 7th

Here we are in July already! We hope that you had a nice long holiday weekend and celebrated Independence Day in the best way possible! From the looks of Instagram this week some more tasty beers were consumed, lots of food was eaten at BBQs, several breweries were visited, plenty of traveling adventures were had, and many fireworks were set off! Be sure to keep posting those nice photos and be sure to tag us in them if you’d like a chance to be featured! Cheers! Read More

Goodwood Brewing Company expands to Chicagoland area

Louisville-based Goodwood Brewing Company will begin distribution in the Chicagoland area as early as next week. It’s the first time the brewery’s beer will be available in the area.

Read More

The Art of the Summer Backyard Bash

Ah, summer is here. Can you smell it? If you’re like me and the sprouting weeds and blossoming trees have wreaked havoc on your once empty sinus cavities, probably not. Summer means many things to many people. To me, aside from the whole allergy thing, it means the pinnacle of outdoor hangout season is officially upon us. Don’t get me wrong winter can be nice for a bonfire, but as soon as Memorial Day has passed and the mercury has risen, the seasons for cookouts, barbecues (no, they’re not the same thing, more on that later,) pool parties, and tailgates are officially here! So, set aside those last few stouts in your beer fridge until the next snowfall and hope time treats them well. Grab yourself some summertime brews, gas up the lawn mower, pop some Claratin, and get ready for the best year of outdoor entertainment yet.

Read More

Beerstagram | June 23rd – 30th

Somehow it is already the last week of June?! Where is the year going? With the looks of this week’s Beerstagrams many of you are again out and about exploring nature and taking in the views with a craft beer in hand! We also have a few nice shots from breweries and there is even a beer-inspired nod to Shark Week in this week’s round up as well! Cheers! Read More

Event Recap | Chicago Ale Fest

Like a symphony orchestra that brilliantly melds the sounds of a drum, bassoon and violin together into one harmonious musical piece, the Chicago Ale Fest proved most enjoyable because from tent to tent; one could sample a black or red IPA, porter, an ale with green tea and lemongrass, fruit-forward beers, barrel-aged brews, helles, pils, maibocks, saisons, sours and gose…and a partridge in a pear tree, I think. Each beer was good on its own, but collectively it makes for one terrific beer experience. Read More

Service Brewing Co. | Lincoln’s Gift

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman torched most of the Confederate South on his 1864 March to the Sea, but his swath of destruction met its end when he came upon the lovely city of Savannah, GA. Overcome by its beauty and bounty, tough old Sherman presented an unscathed Savannah to President Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift. – Service Brewing Co.

Read More

Beerstagram | June 16th – 23rd

From the looks of this week’s Beerstagram, MANY beers were enjoyed outside! As to be expected with the first week of summer kicking off, we couldn’t be more excited. It is most definitely porch drinking season now, hooray! It also seems like a lot of IPAs were popular this week. Read More

Event Preview | 9th Annual Savannah Craft Brew Fest

Feature Image credit to Casey Jones & Savannah Craft Brew Fest

Grab your pretzel necklace and get your liver ready for one of the Southeast’s premier events! This year marks the 9th annual Savannah Craft Brew Fest presented by Southbound Brewing Co. and Habersham Beverage. Located in Historic Savannah, Georgia across from the infamous River Street, this festival boasts a large pour list, generous VIP offerings, and several exciting activities to keep you busy for the afternoon.

Labor Day Weekend | Saturday September 3rd, 2016 | 1PM-5PM 
Savannah International Trade & Convention Center | Savannah, GA

Read More

Odell Brewing Co. | Drumroll American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.3% | IBU: 42

It’s been more than two years since Odell Brewing Co. has released a new year-round beer. I assume that’s because the brewery prefers to achieve near-perfection with a beer before putting it in customers’ hands. Having just tried their newest release, Drumroll American Pale Ale, I’m 100% on board with that strategy. Read More

Victory Brewing Company | Kirsch Gose

ABV: 4.7%

Over the past few summers, goses and Berliner-weisses have been popping up like crazy. Since I have a deep-seated love of all things sour, I’ve been loving the … Read More

What We’re Drinking | June 17th, 2016

Confession: I’m a theatre nerd. I don’t really know a damn thing about sports. The only things that can get me excited for a game are other excited people and, well, beer. Depending on the sport… lots of beer. But even I realize how massive the last two weeks have been for sports — US Men’s Soccer is a game away from the finals, and the NBA finalists are headed to an unexpected game 7 this Sunday. So grab a cold six pack, call up your friend with the big screen, and sports hard. Sports real hard. *clink*

Read More

Beerstagram | June 9th – 16th

This week’s installment of Beerstagram seems to have gone to the dogs, who always make great drinking buddies, right? We also have some non-dog shots for all of you cat people out there! If you would like a chance to be featured be sure to tag @porchdrinkingco in your photos each week!

Read More

Epic Brewing Company | Sour Brainless on Peaches

ABV 7.4%

A few years back, Epic Brewing Company did the unthinkable. They took classic beers from their standard lineup and messed with ’em! They released a handful of ‘wild’ versions of their fruit beers that we all know so well. The already natural funky flavors in the beer must have sparked the imagination of a creative brewer.

Read More

Event Preview | Chicago Ale Fest

2nd Annual Chicago Ale Fest Buckingham Fountain (Grant Park), Chicago, IL Friday, June 17, 2016: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. $50 … Read More