Urban Chestnut Zwickel Radlers to Debut at Oktoberfest

As the cooler temperatures of fall ascend on our city, it’s time to welcome back fall beers and of course fall beer festivals. That’s right it’s time to drop the C in October and replace it with the K, and welcome back all of area’s bests Oktoberfests.

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Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Mitch Steele announces plans for a new brewery, Snoop Dogg’s lawsuit against Pabst is headed to trial, and proposed legislation in Oklahoma would allow for the sale of full-strength beer in grocery stores. If these stories aren’t exciting enough, you can get pumped about the fact that we will not be reporting any AB InBev buyouts this week. Keep reading to catch all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Beerstagram | September 8th – September 15

Fall is right around the corner and we all know that means…it is the start of Oktoberfest and the Great American Beer Festival is also happening in just a few short weeks! You all better get your beer drinking pants on! (As if you didn’t already have them on!) Be sure to enjoy a few pretzels along the way too! A few folks are also still soaking up the great outdoors it seems like (as they should be), from the looks of this week’s Beerstagram. Also, how cute is that doggie? Cheers to that! See you again next week! Read More

Chicago’s German-American Oktoberfest

Chicago’s German-American OktoberFest, held in the city’s Lincoln Square neighborhood, celebrates culture, history, and of course good old fashioned Deutschland fun. However, it also provides a glimpse into Chicago’s love affair with German-style bier, both traditional and modern craft.

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Ultimate 6er | Zinzinnati Oktoberfest

With only a few days away from the largest Oktoberfest in the United States, it’s time to put on the drinking cap. Each year more than 500,000 people come to Cincinnati (aka Zinzinnati) to attend this rich German heritage event sampling German-style food, music and my favorite, beer. Read More

Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Old Style makes a new beer, Abita is sued over ‘Bootlegger’, and the biggest beer merger of all time has a set close date. These are the craft beer stories you can’t miss, so keep reading to catch all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

The U.S. Justice Department gives the green light to the AB InBev/SABMiller merger, Terrapin Beer Company is acquired by MillerCoors, and Sun King expands distribution in its home state. Why waste your time on election news when you can get up-to-date on all the happenings in the craft brewniverse? Read on for all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Aviator | OktoberBeast

ABV: 7.2% | IBU: 22

As much as we all love our autumn pumpkin seasonals, I thought it would be nice to have a little break from the spices and pie references. Instead, we’ll take a look at a Märzen-style seasonal from Aviator, OktoberBeast. This is one of the first Märzen style beers I have ever had, so I think it would be informative to discuss the style more generally before we tackle what stands out about the OktoberBeast. Read More

Metropolitan Brewing Co | Afterburner Oktoberfest

ABV: 6.1% | IBU: 30

I’ve been a lager lover ever since my college study abroad semester in Germany. Those minimalist, four-ingredient beers served as my first introduction to good beer and opened the door to the rabbit hole of beer that I’ve been falling down ever since (Vielen Dank, Rothaus!).

After coming back to the U.S. though, it was difficult to find any American lagers on par with what Germany was churning out. And imports just never held up after the international travel. Plus, with the American craft ale boom starting to really ramp up, it was easy to get taken with the tide. So my lager love was cellared until I could return to Germany again.

Except there’s been a steadily growing American craft lager movement, and I’m definitely late to the party (thanks for distracting me, sour beers!). So it’s time to bust out my cellared lager passion and shout my lager praises Zicke Zacke style, for Metropolitan Brewing’s Afterburner Oktoberfest. Read More

Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Stories we’re focused on this week: multiple beer releases and lots of good things happening in Ohio. If you’re an Ohioan or just want to stay up to date on the latest craft beer news, click read more to get all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Ultimate 6er | Märzen Madness

With the end of September comes the wrapping up of the Oktoberfest season, or what I would coin as Märzen Madness. Fairs across the U.S. have had their seasonal stein-raising festivals full of oom-pa-pa music, some of the more widely known tipples with German names and an array of food that may cause indigestion for most. In Munich, those millions lucky enough in attendance have a few more days before the nonstop imbibing ends and a cleanup of epic proportions begins.

To emulate this spectacular party still taking place abroad, to profess my love for the seemingly simple but still complex Märzen and to give one last hurrah to the summer, which is why this party takes place, I have provided you with the quintessential collection of some of the better Oktoberfests around. Read More

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company | Barktoberfest

ABV: 6%

IBU: 15

Mid-September: that between-the-seasons limbo. Labor Day has passed. The first day of fall has not yet arrived with its tantalizing cool. With a nod to many individuals’ preferences for certain beers hitting stores at just the right moment, I present to you a sweet and approachable Märzen from the state of Ohio, Thirsty Dog’s Barktoberfest, perfect for this time of shifting seasons.  Read More

Roundtable Discussion | Seasonal Beers Out of Season

Fellow PorchDrinking staff member Joshua Kan started the discussion about a week ago. His story goes a little like this.

A friend of mine just posted this status:

“Boycotting pumpkin beers and pumpkin spice coffees until it’s OFFICIALLY fall. One season at a time guys. Don’t be a Walmart.”

Thought it was a pretty interesting topic. What are your thoughts on drinking seasonal beers out of season?
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Ultimate 6er | Fall Fun

As October gets into full swing and the morning temperatures continue to drop, an Ultimate Fall 6er designed specifically for this beautiful season only seems appropriate. Get your mittens and your pumpkins and your s’mores and lets do this. Read More

Ultimate 6er: A Pub Crawl from Dublin to Prague

One of my bucket list items was to go to Munich and visit the birthplace of Oktoberfest. This year, I decided to cross it off my bucket list and go for my belated dirty thirty. What started out as a trip to Munich, turned into a three week long pub crawl full of awesome beer and liquor.

After visiting six countries in Europe, I return to you with my take on some of the best beers I’ve had in Dublin, Ireland; Edinburgh, Scotland; Bruges, Belgium; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Munich, Germany; and Prague/Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Here is my story of my trip throughout Europe, in beer form.

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Oktoberfest – Left Hand Brewing Company

ABV: 6.6%

IBU: 24

In my preparation for my stein raising trip to Munich for Oktoberfest, I wanted to have at least one local Märzen lager to compare with the brews offered in Germany. Since my favorite beer is Sam Adams version of Oktoberfest, I’ll try not to be biased. That being said, I am setting my sights on Left Hand Brewing’s Oktoberfest.
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One Minute Beer Review: Avery’s The Kaiser

The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest Lager- Avery Brewing Company, Boulder, CO

ABV 10.03%

IBU: 24

The Perseids meteor shower is the annual mid august star gazer’s dream.

How to do … Read More