Best of Hands Barrelhouse & Matchless Brewing | Family Influence Hazy IPA

I’ve written before about Seattle’s best bottle shop, The Beer Junction, and how lucky I am to live in the same neighborhood so I can access their brilliantly curated selection and knowledgeable staff as frequently as I want. But earlier this year, The Beer Junction gave me and fellow West Seattle residents a new reason to appreciate their craft beer expertise in the form of Best of Hands Barrelhouse.

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Stemma Brewing Co. | Chateau de Stemadia Brut IPA

One of the greatest pleasures in writing for PorchDrinking is the opportunity to introduce new breweries to PorchDrinking.com readers across the country. Today, we’re honored to introduce you to Stemma Brewing Co., a new brewery out of Bellingham, WA and their collaboration with Vancouver, WA-based Brothers Cascadia Brewing. This result, Chateau de Stemadia Brut IPA, weighs in with a 6.5% ABV and 15 IBUs.
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Official Beer of Seattle Beer Week: Aslan Brewing Co. | Washington Gold Pils

Seattlites have tolerated a lot of Mother Nature this year. We endured the snowiest February ever recorded followed by the hottest winter day ever recorded. Then April gave us the longest rain streak we’ve ever seen. Thankfully, the month of May is here to bring us relief in the form of Seattle Beer Week! The event, now in its eleventh year, was created to celebrate and showcase the close, collaborative beer community of the Northwest. This year’s Seattle Beer Week runs from May 9-19 and features hundreds of events across the city of Seattle and beyond, including camel visits, Battle of the Beer Bands, and dozens of beer dinners and tasting events. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Six Beers to Celebrate International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the achievements of women politically, socially, economically, and culturally. The first IWD was held in 1911 and it is celebrated every year on March 8. In addition to commemorating the achievements of women, IWD also serves as a call to action to increase gender parity around the world. In honor of International Women’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of six beers backed by six brilliant women to enjoy on March 8 and beyond. Read More

PorchDrinking’s Best in Beer 2018 | Pacific Northwest

2018 was another exciting year to be a member and supporter of the Washington beer scene. From highly anticipated new openings to heartbreaking brewery closures, PorchDrinking’s PNW team is grateful for the opportunity to cover it all. In honor of our beer-obsessed, flannel-wearing, hop-loving region, we present PorchDrinking’s Best of the PNW Awards for 2018:  Read More

Georgetown Brewing Company | Manny’s Pale Ale

Readers of PorchDrinking.com, I’d like to introduce you to Seattle’s pale ale. That’s right – in the city with the most craft breweries in the entire country, known for pioneering brewers and enthusiastic hopheads, I’m daring to single out one brew as Seattle’s illustrative pale. Please raise a glass and introduce yourself to Manny’s Pale Ale from Georgetown Brewing Company.  Read More

Brewery Showcase | Rogue Ales

Here at PorchDrinking.com, we ran a series in August titled “the OGs of Craft Beer,” in which we featured classic or well-known beers that have helped to define and grow craft beer culture throughout the country. One beer featured in our series was Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Ales, a beer born in 1990 when the craft beer wave was in its infancy. Rogue Ales, established in 1988, is one of the true OGs of craft breweries and we’re proud to be featuring them today. Read More

Matchless Brewing | Built to Spelt with Glitter NEIPA

In case you missed it, glitter beer is a thing. Glitter beers are typically brewed with edible glitter dust – fine grains of glitter made from sugar-based compounds. Matchless Brewing in Tumwater, WA is the latest Washington brewery to venture into this trend. Their Built to Spelt with Glitter NEIPA is a delightfully flavorful interpretation that goes above and beyond the expectations of a simple trendy beer. It’s a juicy, fruity mouthful of liquid pizzazz.
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Island Hoppin’ Brewery | K-Pod Kolsch

It’s hard to overstate the natural beauty of Washington state. The state is home to mountain ranges, temperate rain forests, desert plains, active volcanoes and other natural wonders that are so varied and abundant, you could easily spend every weekend of the year in a new terrain. Even from my home base of metropolitan Seattle, the closest mountains are less than 30 minutes outside the city and you can book a whale watching tour that leaves from downtown.
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Polish Hot Beer | Grzane Piwo

After a cold day of exploring the streets of Krakow in January, my friends and I stopped for lunch at a traditional Polish restaurant and the list of hot beverages caught my eye. “Hot beer?!” I exclaimed breathlessly, and immediately ordered myself a large mug. The menu warned that hot beer would take ten minutes to be prepared and heated, so I sat back and began to research this intriguing beverage. Read More

Ultimate 6er | 6 Reasons to Love Bale Breaker Brewing Company

The Yakima Valley in Eastern Washington accounts for nearly 80% of the United States hop crop, and the team at Bale Breaker Brewing Company have established themselves as leaders in the Yakima Valley hop scene, both as growers and as brewers. The brewery is located amongst hop fields that were first planted in 1932, and the brewers at Bale Breaker have made a point of showcasing Yakima Valley hops in virtually every Bale Breaker brew. Though a relatively young brewery (they opened in 2013), Bale Breaker has become one of the most well-known IPA producers in Washington and is a leader in the Eastern Washington brewing scene. Today we present an Ultimate 6er dedicated the people who made Bale Breaker what it is today: 6 Reasons to Love Bale Breaker Brewing Company. Read More

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

Propolis Brewing | Spruce Golden Saison

Just 60 miles north and a short ferry ride from Seattle sits Port Townshend, a favorite weekend getaway destination for Seattlites at any time of year. Located on the eastern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townshend truly has its bases covered as an ideal getaway destination: it boasts a state park for hiking, a marina for whale watching trips and boat tours, and a charming downtown full of local goodies. Highlights include a seriously legitimate tea shop, waterfront ice cream, an inspiring bookstore, and – last but not least – Propolis Brewing. Read More

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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Official Beer of Seattle Beer Week: Bale Breaker Brewing Co. | Fresh Off the Farm IPA

Photo Credit: Bale Breaker Brewing Company

ABV: 6.3% | IBU: 50

After a record-setting cold, wet winter, Seattleites finally have a reason to celebrate – Seattle Beer Week is here! The event, now in its ninth year, was created to celebrate and showcase the close, collaborative beer community of the Northwest. This year’s Seattle Beer Week runs from May 4-14 and features hundreds of events across the city of Seattle and beyond, including a beer can derby, Mariners Brewery Night at SafeCo Field, and dozens of beer dinners and tasting events.

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Fremont Brewing | The Sister Imperial IPA

ABV: 8.5% | IBU: MYOB

ICYMI, March 8 was International Women’s Day. This yearly event celebrates women’s contributions to society, from the political to social to cultural spheres. In the U.S., International Women’s Day serves as a kickoff to Women’s History Month, which spans the entire month of March. In honor of all the hardworking women in the craft beer industry and beyond, we’ve decided to devote this showcase to a beer that celebrates the influence of women: The Sister Imperial IPA from Fremont Brewing. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Love & Beer Edition

Photo Credit: Judy Dean

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of 6 love-inspired beers for every stage of the relationship spectrum. Whether you plan to spend Valentine’s Day falling head-over-heels or prefer to spend it ruing the day you met your ex, this list has something for everyone.   Read More

Holy Mountain Brewing Company | Witchfinder

ABV: 6.1%

It’s not easy to stand out in Seattle’s booming craft beer scene, but Holy Mountain Brewing Company has made a name for themselves with their focus on mixed-fermentation ales. Though they brew a wide variety of styles, Holy Mountain’s farmhouse ales have quickly earned the brewery a cult following. The tasting room is regularly packed and Holy Mountain’s well-known saisons and barrel-aged brews have become favorites at bottle shares around the country. In honor of their success, I’d like to introduce you to the beer they describe as “possibly our most traditional saison to date,” Witchfinder.

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Cloudburst Brewing | Remember the Maine Smoked Pumpkin Porter

ABV: 5.1%

As our own writers have demonstrated, pumpkin beers can be a divisive topic. But despite the controversy attached to this particular category of beer, West Seattle’s beloved beer bar and bottle shop The Beer Junction has devoted an entire week to celebrating this type of beverage with an event titled Pumpkin Junction 2016. This event features 30 taps devoted solely to pumpkin beers and ciders for eight straight days (Oct. 15-23). I attended the Pumpkin Junction on opening day and chose Cloudburst Brewing’s Remember the Maine Smoked Pumpkin Porter as my inaugural pumpkin beer for the season. The Beer Junction’s promise of pumpkin did not disappoint.

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Seattle Cider Company | Golden Tonic Third Anniversary Cider

The craft cider revolution has claimed a permanent spot in the hearts and appetites of Seattleites, and no one is more responsible for cider’s huge boom in popularity than Seattle Cider Company. Hailing as Seattle’s first cidery since prohibition, Seattle Cider’s flagship Dry and Semi-Sweet ciders can be found in virtually every beer bar, cocktail bar and grocery store in the area. Their diverse array of ciders manages to showcase bold, refreshing flavors without tasting sugary or overly sweet.

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