Christian Moerlein Brewing | Power Stoutage

In an industry that’s often obsessed with the latest brewery to open, we must not look past beer from the breweries that have been around for more than a few years. Christian Moerlein is a brewery that fits that statement well. They’ve been making beer for years, and they recently released a limited edition beer called Power Stoutage.
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Wooden Bear Brewing | Barrel-Aged Midnight Mauler

One night shortly after my mother-in-law moved to the small town of Greenfield, Indiana, I found myself itching to explore the area. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot in the way of craft beer, but I was pleasantly surprised.

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San Francisco Beer Week 2018 | Opening Gala Preview

San Francisco Beer Week kicks off its 10th Anniversary on February 9, 2018. Like last year, this beer week runs a full 10 days, packed with events all across the Bay Area, ending on February 18, 2018. Get your livers and drinking boots ready. Make sure to check back for the PorchDrinking list of Can’t Miss Events for each day! Below you will find the 10 beers we’re most excited for, along with the full pour list (subject to change).

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Fort George Brewing | Cavatica Stout

I’ve been drinking a lot of imperial stouts. Unlike most, I believe every season is stout season. Luckily for me it’s February and I don’t get flak for drinking a 12% Russian imperial stout. The proliferation of adjuncts to the market has been interesting. Brewers adding coffee, vanilla, cocoa, peppers, mint, you name it. While fun for the palate, I still prefer an adjunct-free stout. Let that malt shine, those chocolate and coffee notes should develop alone. One favorite is Cavatica Stout from Fort George Brewing.
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Harmony Brewing Company | Los Conejos

When a beer stands out to me, it is usually because the brewer has taken the time to think about how that beer will be received by his or her customers. Too often, brewers, in a bid to stay on trend or create a beer that shocks or hits the scene running, don’t consider whether or not the end product will be something their customers will enjoy. Seldom does Harmony Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan fall into that trap. Of all our local breweries (and there are more than 50), their beers are the most complex, thoughtful and well-constructed. This is never more apparent than with their winter warmer Los Conejos, a nitro sweet stout designed around Mexican hot chocolate with a little extra heat.

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Land Grant Brewing | Beard Crumbs

You can’t deny the prevalence of beards that exist in the craft beer world. I’ve got one, so I can’t really complain or dispute the association. Sometimes I wonder if some get into craft beer just to justify their beard. Well, Land Grant Brewing Company isn’t afraid to express its love of beards either, and they’ve done just that with their winter seasonal Beard Crumbs Oatmeal Stout.

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Off Color Brewing | Coffee Dino S’mores with Dark Matter Coffee

Over the past three to four months Chicago has seen a plethora of great coffee stouts released from local breweries. Off Color Brewing’s Coffee Dino S’mores made with Dark Matter coffee continues the boom we’ve seen of java-forward beer.

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Why I’m Done Cellaring Beer—An Update

About a year ago I wrote how in 2017 I was going to stop cellaring beers and enjoy them fresh. The article got way more exposure than I would have ever thought and it brought out some pretty strong emotions in people—both for and against cellaring.

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Uinta Brewing Co. | Stompin’ Grounds Coffee Stout

ABV: 8.1%

2017 left as swiftly as it came. Year after year, the clock seems to tick more rapidly. Repeating the daily grind of the morning wake up, leaning on a java and finishing the night with a great beer. Did that a few times and BAM! There we were–drawing gape as the Patriots won the Super Bowl, experiencing a total solar eclipse and then suddenly watching the ball drop on the broadcast of New Years’ Rockin’ Eve. Okay, the time lapse may be a bit of an exaggeration, but for real—the past 365 days flew by like no other.
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26 Degree Brewing | Ziko’s Rage

26 Degree Brewing Company has a delicious imperial stout that I am stoked to share with you all. This stout with a raging flavor profile gets its name from a furious sea turtle that was rescued by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida.

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Renegade Brewing Company | The Night Flight

We’ve mentioned Renegade Brewing Company several times here at PorchDrinking. Since 2011, Renegade has been gifting the Denver Arts District with exciting and unique brews. From their Peanut Butter Cup Milk Stout to the Pancakes Maple Porter, you’d be hard-pressed to find something you aren’t intrigued by on the taproom menu.

On my most recent visit to Renegade, which also happened to be my first, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As a sucker for dark beers with malty, roasty flavors, I don’t often find taprooms that have a large variety of these drinks on the beer list. However, when I walked into Renegade, I was pleasantly surprised by the vast array of stout and porters on the list. I knew I wanted to highlight one of their beers, but I simply couldn’t pick. So, you lucky readers get a five-for-one in this beer showcase, as I was a lucky drinker of what I’ve taken to calling the Night Flight courtesy of Renegade Brewing. Read More

Stickman Brews | Obesity Epidemic

“Stickman Brews focuses on American twists of Belgian-inspired beers among other things.”

Smack dab on the middle of the homepage on their website, you will come across this self-description written in all caps. Obesity Epidemic, a Belgian-style stout, truly backs up that claim. This beer fuses those two cultures in perfect harmony.

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New Holland Brewing Company | Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mocha Mint

Just in time for the holidays, New Holland Brewing has given us another in their Dragon’s Milk Reserve line, Dragon’s Milk Reserve Mocha Mint. This bourbon barrel-aged Stout sits at 11% ABV and is just as delicious as it sounds.
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The Good Hop’s Extrava-CAN-za w/ Track 7 Brewing

You’ve probably heard of an extravaganza, but have you ever experienced an Extrava-CAN-za? Sacramento’s Track 7 Brewing releases limited run cans twice a month. These beers rotate and can only be purchased on-site at the brewery. Your first introduction to Track 7 Brewing may have been their bottles, but now they’re killing it with a whole slew of new recipes debuting in cans.

Can’t always make it up to Sacramento? Well our friends at The Good Hop have trekked up to Track 7 Brewing for you and picked up a carload of the special release cans to be sold in Oakland at The Good Hop store as part of today’s Extrava-CAN-za release. Ain’t that some Bay Area love?!

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Engine House No. 9 | Frambuesa Moka

Sour styles in any incarnation were my beers of the summer and although I love stouts, the transition into the colder, rainier reality of stout season has been harsh this year. That’s why I was so excited to find the perfect middle ground: the Frambuesa Moka, a tart, dark potion from Engine House No. 9 in Tacoma, Washington. Read More

Night Shift Brewing | Bennington

This year, the crisp, fall air I know and love has struggled to find its way to Massachusetts. Drinking saisons and tropical IPAs seemed suitable well into October. But now that the crisp air is starting to steadily settle in, I can feel free to indulge in stouts. The Massachusetts-native Night Shift Brewing knows fall well, and it’s certainly reflected in their beers. Read More

Revolution Brewing’s Deep Wood Series Gets Major Overhaul

If you’re in Chicago in November you’ll find a never-ending lineup of great barrel-aged beers being released seemingly every week. In addition to constant releases, you also have FoBAB in the beginning part of the month. This year, one release to not overlook is Revolution Brewing’s Deep Wood Series which gets released Nov 17.

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Pizza Boy Brewing Company | Sunny Side Up

If you’re anything like me, you believe that it’s always stout season. Of course, there seem to be times that are more appropriate than others for enjoying a stout. Despite spending many years of my life here, I am still surprised by how cold it gets. It happens literally every year, yet I’m still shocked every time. “I can’t believe it’s so cold outside.” I live in a state where we are fortunate enough to experience all four stout seasons. So, as we approach the cold season here on the east coast, it’s almost comforting to find such an exceptional dark roasted beverage to relish in. That beverage is Pizza Boy Brewing Company‘s Sunny Side Up.
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Event Preview | 2017 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB)

With the 15th annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB) less than a week away, the weeks and months leading up to this year’s event have been different than in the past. With a price increase and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild releasing the brewery lineup before the event for the first time ever, there seems to be more talk about FoBAB than in recent years.

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Ranking & Reviewing the 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout Lineup

Surrounded by bottles of past years’ Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout and the Sisters in their Barrel Warehouse, about 30 people or so prepared to taste the entire lineup of 2017 BCBS. After a conservative release of just four variants in 2016, in front of us were six snifters of the black liquid that so many covet every Black Friday.

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