Beer Cocktails | The Lunchbox

Do you ever come across a pairing so peculiar that it captures your interest? That’s what happened to me when I was exploring mixology channels on Youtube and one video grabbed my attention. The channel VladSlickBartender makes tons of slickly produced shorts talking about cocktails and bartending gadgets. Beer is normally not his modus operandi, but he took one exception talking about an American original: The Lunchbox.

Read More

Beer Cocktails | Diesel Beer & Coke Taste Test

Now that Oktoberfest has ended, what do we do with all the leftover beers? Yes, you could easily drink them but if you’ve grown tired of steins and steins of German beer, then might PorchDrinking offer you a delicious, unique alternative! Presenting the Diesel, a 50/50 mix of Beer and Coca-Cola.

Read More

Bruz Beers | Dame Blanche Belgian-Style Witbier

Although the official end of summer is here, warm fall days are ahead. Dame Blanche, one of the flagship beers from five-year-old brewery Bruz Beers in Colorado, is a Belgian-Style Witbier made perfect for a warm day in the sun and is around all year long.

Read More

Mile Wide Beer Co. Partners with Queer Kentucky to Release First Pride Beer

Mile Wide Beer Company is celebrating Pride Month with the release of Dorothy’s Riot, a Belgian-Style Witbier brewed with raspberries. The Lousiville, KY brewery has partnered with Queer Kentucky to release its first-ever Pride beer. Queer Kentucky is a platform for Queer people from all around our great bluegrass state to share their lives with others.

Read More

Zillicoah Beer Co. | Witbiere

Zillicoah Beer Co.’s latest Witbiere is a bit of mountain springtime in a glass. This 4.2% ABV barrel-aged wheat beer uses coriander, orange peel, chamomile and old-world fermentation techniques to make it interesting and add depth. The brew evokes the fresh scent in the air that appears after one of the short showers that define spring in the brewery’s hometown of Asheville, NC. 

Read More

Whiner Beer Co | Miaou

Lately I find myself gravitating toward a trustworthy core of Chicago craft beers I’ve befriended over the years. Brews like Begyle Blonde, Dovetail Helles and Whiner Miaou. These beers won’t surprise me—something I typically love when trying the latest from local breweries. These days, it’s all about familiarity and reliability. Whiner Beer makes a few beers I’d be content to have in my fridge on the regular, but this singular Belgian Wheat Ale is one of the brewery’s finest. 

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Beer and Dip Pairings

Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year. My friends and I gather for an evening of celebration and friendly competition: the annual Dip Party. The football plays on mute for any plus ones who care about sports, and the game is only un-muted for the half-time show. Everyone attending brings a homemade dip and dunker, with first, second, and third place prizes based on a popular vote. 

From sweet to savory, nostalgic classics to fresh takes, the party is all about the dip — a quintessential snack at any gathering. And as dip is the perfect party food, beer is an obvious beverage choice. This is especially true on Super Bowl Sunday when the industry is inundated with heightened awareness for beer’s biggest players. Whether enjoying a small spread or hosting a dip feast of your own, below are fail-safe beer pairings for some classic party dips. 

Read More

Cape May Brewing Company | Summer Catch

Heading down to the Jersey Shore is a rite of passage for all of those who reside in the Philadelphia area. Summer hasn’t officially hit until one makes the short drive to the Atlantic Ocean, strolls on the boardwalk and enjoys some relaxation in the sand. And obviously, a crucial piece to the puzzle of that relaxation is which beer(s) gets packed. Although now, there is no longer a need to logistically figure out that choice before hitting the road. With new breweries opening up shop all along the coastline, your options when arriving are bountiful. And if you find your way to the southern tip of the state, Cape May Brewing Company awaits you. Read More

Celis Brewery | Celis White

July is one of the hottest months in Texas, but back on July 11 people from all over Austin flocked to get in line for the grand reopening of an Austin legend, Celis Brewery. Anticipation had been building for months when founder Christine Celis, daughter of world renowned Belgian Brewmaster, Pierre Celis, announced the return of Austin’s first craft brewery a little over a year ago.

Read More

2nd Shift Brewing | Hibiscus Wit

Is there a beer out there that has had such a profound effect on you that you remember everything about the first time you sipped it? I do.
Read More

RJ Rockers Brewing Co. | Witty Twister Belgian-Style Witbier

ABV 4.7% | IBU 15

RJ Rockers Brewing Company’s Witty Twister is spring in a glass. A delicious Belgian Wit is the best way to transition from heavy winter beers into lighter summer beers. Witty Twister is RJ Rockers Brewing Co.’s spring seasonal. It features wheat, coriander spice and orange peel that play well with the yeast character on every sip. Read More

Harlem Brewing Company | Renaissance Wit

ABV: 5.8% | IBU: 12

The mere utterance of Harlem likely evokes a myriad of imagery; it’s a section of New York City that’s oozing with history. The name and label artwork adorning a bottle of Harlem Brewing Company Renaissance Wit speaks to that wealth of history – beer history, music history, cultural history, and everything in between. But, when reviewing a beer, one must refrain from being swayed by the story attached to a beer or brewery. Instead, the beer must be judged on its own merits, and that is what this showcase aims to do. Nevertheless, there’s no reason history and culture can’t be included in the discussion. Craft has always been more than just about beer, and this wheat beer personifies that concept.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Refreshing Summer Sippers

There’s a lot going on this week friends. Of course, it’s Shark Week! Olympic trials in swimming, track and field and gymnastics have started. And my favorite holiday is less than a week away. That’s right, Independence Day is my favorite holiday! I look forward to it each and every year. To me, the Fourth of July signifies everything that makes summer amazing. Yes, it’s a day to celebrate our Independence and the birth of Democracy. But it’s also a day to soak up those special moments spent with friends and family into the wee hours of the evening, enjoying cold brew after cold brew as you kick back, relax and take in all that is summertime. (The Fourth of July also kicks off what I call my “birthday week” which culminates on 7-11. Gifts of craft beer are always appreciated! ) Read More

Southern Pines Brewing Company | Blanche de Pines

ABV: 4.9% | IBU: 13

Co-owned by three Army Special Forces vets, Southern Pines Brewing Company officially opened its doors two years ago this month. Since then, they have garnered a loyal following and high ratings (as of this writing 4.5/5 on Yelp and 4.9/5 on Google). Commitment to the community, a pleasant taproom environment, and clean, accessible flavors will do that. Read More

Illuminated Brew Works | Fnord Wit Beer

7.3% ABV | 0 IBUs

I’ve never been a big fan of Wit beer. The true to style witbier seems to have a flavor that reminds me of boiled hot dog water, which in turn reminds me of the Limp Bizkit album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water which then floods me with memories of my 8th grade year. I can’t figure out if it’s the coriander that most seem to feature or a yeast strain issue, but whatever it is, it usually bubbles up some long repressed teenage embarrassment that I haven’t yet reconciled emotionally.

Yeah, I know. A lot to blame on a beer style. But it’s been enough for me to avoid ordering them.

But recently I decided to give wits another shot. There’s been some hesitation, though luckily the few I’ve tried have tasted great. But there is one that has stuck out and given me hope for wit beers. And that’s IBW’s Fnord wit beer. Read More

Port City Brewing Company | Optimal Wit

ABV: 4.9 % | IBU: 15

Availability: Year-Round

How many people have the luxury of drinking a local witbier? Scratch that. How many people have the chance to drink a two-time GABF award-winning local witbier? Port City Brewing Company’s catalog is always quaffable, but none is more exemplary than their flagship beer: Optimal Wit. Many of us can sip enduring classics like Allagash White or Bell’s Winter White Ale, but Optimal Wit brings a unique flavor profile to satisfy all wheat fans in the heart of NoVA. Read More

Literary Beer Collection | Halloween Edition

I am excited to bring you a second edition of the Literary Beers series. Can we call it a series now that there is more than one? Meh, who is counting… I lost count long ago.

This edition of Literary Beers will focus on stories/brews that are centered around Halloween.  I have scoured retail shelves and library catalogs to find you the most intriguing and haunting of literary brewing collaborations. So, light a candle and grab a pumpkin ale because this is about to get real!

Read More

Empire Brewing Company | White Aphro

ABV: 6.3%

After white knuckling it through a rough winter, we’ve finally gotten to the consistently warm weather of May. All across the city, people are sprinting to our parks … Read More

Samuel Adams | Cold Snap

ABV: 5.3% | IBU: 10

Last Tuesday, Ohio University shuttered its doors due to extreme wind chills, giving me a gloriously unexpected day off work. (Thank you polar vortex.) While at the store shopping for dinner, Samuel Adams new seasonal brew, Cold Snap, caught my eye. It’s as if the fates had aligned! For those of you who don’t know, a cold snap is a meteorological phenomenon described as a period of intensely cold and dry weather. If that doesn’t describe what we’ve been experiencing here in the Midwest, I don’t know what does. I’ve never met a Sam Adams beer I didn’t like, so of course I had to buy it. Read More

Crooked Stave – St. Bretta (Fall)

Beer: St. Bretta (Fall)
Brewer: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 25

I hate to admit that I had never really heard of Crooked Stave until the end of this past August. I was attending a homebrewer’s competition for a local non-profit and was invited to guest judge. (Apparently my credentials at PorchDrinking and my affinity for beer were enough to give me the exclusive rights to judge.) When I arrived, I learned that I would be the only judge that night as the two brewers from “Crooked Stave” would not be able to show. Read More