Ultimate 6er | Southern Arizona Sampler

I feel fortunate as a beer nerd to live in Southern Arizona, Tucson specifically. The beer scene here has started to gain some national attention, but still largely flies under the radar. Tucson is a legitimate beer destination with 20+ breweries, drive out a little bit further and there are additional breweries in Tombstone, Bisbee, and Sonoita. The desert is definitely not dry here, so sit back and crack open a few delicious local brews. Read More

Tree House Brewing Company | Lights On

“Shipping up to Boston!” is a phrase that was uttered more times than I dared to count during my most recent trip — an overnight stay in the famed New England coastal city. It was St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and I snagged two tickets to see Dropkick Murphys perform the first night of their hometown holiday show at the House of Blues in Boston. The idea of expanding our trip to include lobster rolls, “chowdah” and amazing beer was too sweet to pass up, and drinking Lights On from Tree House helped put this trip over the top.
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18th Street Brewing | Candi Crushable

Living in Cincinnati, there’s no shortage of great beer. In fact, as of next week, we will have 42 breweries in the area. That’s more than enough to keep me busy.

But that doesn’t mean that I occasionally get the itch to try something from outside my area. When that happens, I drive across the Ohio / Indiana border to a place called Whitey’s. This is the local liquor store in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and is just minutes off the highway.

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Ultimate 6er | Beers to Drink in the Desert

Regardless of the time of year, when you’re spending time in the desert, it is important to stay hydrated, thanks to the dry climate and low humidity. The same concept applies to drinking beers in the desert—you want a beer that is refreshing and easy-drinking, particularly in the summer months when the daily temperature can easily exceed 110°F. This is a six pack that speaks to the lighter side of the desert culture.

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Counterbalance Brewing Company | Raconteur Rye Pale Ale

ABV: 5.8% | IBU: 38

Just in time for summer barbecues, weekend camping trips and sunny beach days, Counterbalance Brewing Company has released its first two canned beers: Raconteur Rye Pale Ale and Counterbalance IPA. Both of these beers are available for purchase in 6-packs throughout Washington as of the beginning of July, but today’s showcase will focus on the delightfully refreshing Raconteur Rye Pale Ale.

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Lone Tree Brewing Company | Cucumber Wheat

ABV: 5.2%

Lone Tree Brewing Company opened in December of 2011 as the first private craft brewery along C-470 in the Lone Tree/Highlands Ranch area. Since then several more breweries have opened, but Lone Tree has continued to grow strong. They recently introduced their Branching Out Series of seasonals and continue to grow their selection of canned beers. These include their Mexican Lager, Red Ale, Double IPA and Peach Pale. This spring they also started canning their seasonal beers and the first to be canned is the Cucumber Wheat, a delicious refreshing thirst-quenching summer love.

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Grumpy Old Men Brewing Company | Aska Pale Ale

ABV: 5.8%

Almost as refreshing as their beer is the attitude that Steve Weber and Chipley McKnight bring to the modern day craft beer industry. They are the two grumpy old men behind Grumpy Old Men Brewing in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and they are not looking to be hip or game changers. Nor are they interested in some of the funkier trends that tend to occupy the minds of today’s craft beer maestros. 

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Pisgah Brewing Company | Pisgah Pale Ale

When people think of the Asheville area with regards to craft beer, so many brewery names come to mind. Too many. Asking to list all of the awesome breweries leads down one hell of a rabbit hole, along with the famous special release beers from nearly all of them. What might not be so obvious to outsiders and even some locals is the answer to a question such as “What is the  ______ beer of Asheville?” If that blank space says Pale Ale, there is an easy answer to it: Pisgah Pale Ale.

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Great Divide’s Denver Pale Ale Artist Series #2 Featuring John Vogl

Last June, Great Divide took their iconic, but somewhat dated Denver Pale Ale and reimagined every aspect of the beer. Not only did its 20+ year old recipe receive a facelift, evolving from an English to an American-Style Pale Ale, but it’s label design was re-imagined for a newly introduced canned format.

Paying homage to the artistic roots associated with its new Barrel Bar location’s home in the River North Art District, Great Divide’s yearly rotating Artist Series features the work of a new local illustrator each year.

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Cooking with Beer | Braised Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta & Dale’s Pale Ale

This recipe is featured on These Are My Storys.

I have a hard time understanding why Brussels sprouts seem to be the most-hated vegetable in America. Yes, they are a bit stinky (and if you overcook them, it becomes a MAJOR stink bomb), but they are packed with so many nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin K, iron, folic acid, magnesium and fiber. They are also an extremely versatile vegetable to cook with and the variety of dishes one can create is extensive. I have made several Brussels sprout dishes, but never with beer and I have been missing out!

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Upslope Brewing Citra Pale Ale Joins Year-Round Lineup

Upslope Brewing’s year-round flagship lineup will be receiving a facelift this year, by replacing their longstanding Pale Ale with a Citra Pale Ale. The Boulder-based brewery announced today that Pale Ale, … Read More

Bale Breaker Brewing Company | Field 41 Pale Ale

ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 38

Recently, at a north Seattle neighborhood taproom, I overheard a patron declare her aversion to “hoppy beers.” Puzzled, I wondered if it was the hop aroma, … Read More

SweetWater Brewing Company | SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale

ABV: 5.7%  IBU: 41

When does something reach official classic status? Is there a committee? Are there longevity rules? Popularity requirements? No matter. What’s really at stake here, dear reader, is the over-proliferation of the term “classic.” 

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Trillium Brewing | Skimpy Sparrow

ABV: 5.4%

Two months ago, I had the pleasure of traveling to Boston with my wonderful girlfriend. It was our very first time going and we were able to stay with our amazing friend, Jackie. The great thing about Jackie, besides having two super adorable dogs and living in Salem, is the fact that she is a beer lover just like us. So we spent the better time of five days exploring the East Coast for craft beer and fresh lobsters; yum! Nothing pairs better on a hot day than fresh caught lobster and a cold beer. Throughout our mini vacation we were able to try numerous new breweries and even attended the Microbrewery Invitation. All brews considered, one brewery stood out to us above all others: Trillium Brewing (including its Skimpy Sparrow American Pale Ale, or APA).

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Avery Brewing Company | Ale to the Chief

8.1% ABV | 19.1 degrees Plato (OG)

Avery Brewing Company Ale to the Chief is around for a third term. Don’t worry, there’s no dictatorship here — it’s all about democracy. In that spirit, this isn’t the first time we’ve written about Ale to the Chief. Four years ago, PorchDrinking’s own chief wrote a blurb about Avery’s Ale to the Chief, but there’s a new political and beer climate around, it’s time for a new voice. It’s time for my voice. It’s time for change!

[Balloon Drop]

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La Cumbre Brewing | Monzón Wet Hopped Pale Ale

This showcase is sponsored by Small Batch Liquors.

ABV: 6.0%

Bottle: Crown Capped 675ml

Brewed on: 09/09/2016 | Sampled on: 09/17/2016

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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

Black Raven Brewing Co. | Raven de Garde

Belgian Style Pale Ale 2014 and 2015 Vintages 7.4% ABV

In spite of, or maybe because of, the number of great beers available in Washington, I usually don’t know until … Read More

Melvin Brewing | Hubert MPA

ABV: 6% | IBU: 66.6

So, you know when a Magician does a magic trick and you have no idea how it happened? Well, that’s the kind of hocus-pocus that goes into each and every one of Melvin Brewing’s exceptional beers. With over 50+ years of experience in all corners of the Melvin Clan, there’s some true mad science behind it all. Like most good beers, the magic is in the hops. Melvin Brewing breaks the rules in all hop-science. Now you see it, now you don’t. And to think that some of the best IPA’s in the world are being churned out of Wyoming may be quite a surprise to most; our Colorado PorchDrinkers have recently become the believers in all things Melvin and all that they are doing up in the North as they have increased distribution through our friends over at Crooked Stave Artisans!

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Ozark Beer Company | American Pale Ale

ABV: 4.3% | IBU: 38

Got time for a story? Great, have a seat. Last week something tragic happened: my neighbor finally mowed their lawn. Up until last Tuesday, by comparison, my lawn looked fine. However in an effort to keep up with the Jones’, now that my neighbor’s yard was cut, edged, and beautiful, it was my turn. Read More