Fonta Flora | Errday Farmhouse Saison

The magic of North Carolina is in the land. Sandy eastern beaches roll into lush central plains which grow into majestic mountains to the west. Between mountains and plains, just north of Interstate 40, you’ll find magic of another sort: Fonta Flora Brewery.

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Sour Series: Side Project Brewing | Pêche du Fermier Farmhouse Ale

Few styles can be as divisive among craft beer fans as fruited Sours. Some avoid them altogether, while others see them as the pinnacle of craft brewing. From time to time a beer comes along that can successfully bridge this divide. Side Project Brewing Pêche du Fermier is the poster child for this kind of mass appeal.

Produced by one of the greatest American brewers of sour beers, Side Project is as highly regarded as they come. Their ability to consistently produce delicious and complex beers is staggering and explains why trying to find their beers sometimes feels you’re on a quest for the holy grail. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Fantasy Football

We’re getting ready for playoffs in most Fantasy Football seasons, and despite how your record looks, I’m sure that you could use a beer or six to finish out the season. Some of us are blitzing through our schedule with no issues, while others of us are cursing because of bad luck with matchups despite the points you consistently score. Read More

Väsen Brewing Co. | Triple Peach Saison

Tis the season for Saison, and Väsen Brewing out of Richmond, Virginia, has put out one of the best in the mid-Atlantic. Their Triple Peach Saison hits all the right notes for the cooler weather and shorter days, perfect for leaf-peeping along the Blue Ridge Parkway or sipping next to the year’s first bonfire.

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Beers For Gaming | Dungeons & Dragons

Beginning a new hobby—whether it’s immersing yourself into a board game or getting into the craft beer scene—can be a daunting task. As I was learning the ropes of Dungeons & Dragons, I found myself reminiscing on my early craft beer adventures. Experiencing and exploring new beer styles, breweries and beers was unfamiliar but exciting; the thrill of these new discoveries was truly unmatched. The same emotions are felt when adventuring through a quest in Dungeons & Dragons as unpredictable and diverse journeys shape each session.

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Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery | Polycephaly IV

With so many breweries closed or offering limited service, it is a serious challenge to find a steady supply of great beer. Luckily, there are a few notable breweries that are offering shipping to states with a more liberal policy on out-of-state beer shipping (thank you VA, DC and AK!). Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery is one such notable example.

The good people at Jackie O’s are not just selling their more commonly found offerings, but have also opened up their cellars and are selling early examples in their sought-after Polycephaly series, including Polycephaly IV.

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Maxline Brewing | Raspberry Basil Saison

While springtime in Colorado can be tumultuous with unpredictable weather, a picturesque sunny and clear day in the Centennial state means one thing: patio season. Located in a city that runs deep with craft beer heritage and culture, Fort Collins-based Maxline Brewing has one of the best patios in town due to its heavy rotation of live music and food trucks during the warmer months.

A popular seasonal that comes back year-after-year, just in time for patio weather, is Maxline’s Raspberry Basil Saison. While we can’t enjoy this delicious beer on their patio currently, we can certainly grab a crowler or six-pack to imbibe at home—with shades, of course.

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Birds Fly South Ale Project | Rustic Sunday

What’s better on a Sunday afternoon than kicking back with a craft beer? This rye farmhouse ale by Birds Fly South will make you wish that every day was a “Rustic Sunday.” Read on to discover what makes this beer so approachable, crisp, and tart, and why it calls for soaking in every moment on laid back, lazy afternoons. Read More

Steel Bender Brewyard | Cinderella Story

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque in New Mexico is a small village that maintains the charm of rural living despite being surrounded by the city of Albuquerque. Steel Bender Brewyard is the first licensed (and only) brewery in the village and it has positioned itself as a community gathering place for a variety of occasions including ordinary after-work happy hours and celebratory milestones from baby showers to retirement. Using seasonal fruits from local orchards for their barrel program and creating “from scratch” pub fare in their full kitchen, there are many reasons why Steel Bender Brewyard should be added to your next beer journey in New Mexico.

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Rowley Farmhouse Ales | Chantal

Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the first capital city in North America. In this historical place with centuries of traditions, there’s a small-scale independent brewery that offers playful twists to classic beer styles. Chantal, their robust French saison, shows this brewery’s passion for brewing.

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Preyer Brewing Co. | Undercurrant

It’s been a season of surprises in North Carolina. First, we have one of the biggest December snow storms I’ve ever seen. Then, I discover a new brewery — Preyer Brewing — that managed to fly under my radar for the past 3 years.

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Holy Mountain | The Ox

If you’re not familiar with Holy Mountain Brewing out of Seattle, then this beer, The Ox, will motivate you to change that. This barrel-aged saison is brewed with orange zest and Cascade hops, fermented in oak barrels (drooling). I had the pleasure of trying some of their brews for the first time recently and was floored by both the innovation of their brewing and quality of beer, particularly this saison.

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What We’re Drinking | January 26, 2018

As the first month of the new year fades away, we are all left with warm thoughts of holidays past and look forward to the next three-day weekend! I am looking forward to that extra Monday off after San Francisco Beer Week 2018 though; it all starts with the SFBW Gala in San Francisco on February 9, and ends with some chill events on the 18th. The 19th I fully plan on sleeping in and repairing what is left of my liver. I hope you enjoy seeing What We are Drinking this past week!

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Upslope Brewing | Champagne Saison with Nelson Sauvin

Sometimes tap rooms can act as testing grounds that can bring unassuming beers to the forefront, allowing for crowd pleasing favorites that otherwise wouldn’t be canned and distributed to share in some of the spotlight. Upslope Brewing’s Tap Room series is just that, offering a rotating series in which larger batches of popular tap room beer is brewed — split between kegs and cans, and then once it’s gone; that’s it for the year. Previous releases in 2017 have included Strawberry Mint IPA, Peanut Butter Porter and Hefeweizen. I was able to get my hands on its Champagne Saison with Nelson Sauvin, a beer that I like to call “fancy beer for outdoorsy folk.”

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Someplace Else Brewery | Darth Saison

Featured image courtesy of Someplace Else Brewery’s Facebook page.

ABV: 6.3%

This is a great beer, and not just because I’m a Star Wars fan.

The creation of this beer was one of those happy accidents. When brewer Ryan Parker was home brewing, before Someplace Else Brewery even started, he made a wee mistake and diverged from the recipe. Read More

Style Profile | Saison

Every other month, PorchDrinking.com will tackle a style profile and, this month, the subject involves Saisons. Our motivation involves educating beer drinkers so they can more accurately identify beers and calibrate their senses accordingly. Beer can be a complex topic but worry not because PorchDrinking is here to show you the ropes – like an older brother or sister, only with less abuse and more information.

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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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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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Adroit Theory Brewing Company | Persona Non Grata

ABV: 7.7 percent

IBU: 30

Adroit Theory isn’t always what it seems. This is true: It’s a bold, innovative brewery in the hills of Virginia and is charging ahead on … Read More

Jester King Brewery | Das Wunderkind!

ABV 4.5%

Jester King Brewery, maker of artisan farmhouse ales out of the beautiful Texas Hill Country are more than artists in their craft but also activists in the … Read More