WoodGrain Brewing Company | English Breakfast Stout

ABV: 5.1% | IBU: 53

One of the best things about visiting my in-laws in the Midwest, besides enjoying all of their fresh from the farm veggies and napping in … Read More

Holiday Beer Cocktails

It’s about that time everyone. You know what I’m talking about. It’s about that time where you’re going to be snuggled up close and personal with your family for an extended amount of time. And whether you love em’ or could live without em’, a tall, stiff drink does a body (and peace of mind) good! When a cold glass of beer won’t scratch that ugly sweater party itch, enter the beer cocktail as a very important part of your Holiday survival guide!

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Stillwater Artisanal Ales | Hopvine Bling

“Ever since I left the city to collab with Hudson Valley Brewery, you got a reputation for yourself now.”   – Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Stillwater Artisanal Ales out of Baltimore, Maryland and Hudson Valley Brewery out of Beacon, New York released a collaboration beer earlier this year inspired by, you guessed it, Drake! If you’re not familiar with Drake’s work as a musician and artist, you’ve no doubt seen these hilarious dancing GIFs. If you haven’t, well, that can only mean one thing. You probably have a life and don’t sit around laughing your ass off to dancing GIFs like I do. Let’s talk beer. Read More

Festival Recap | Old Bust Head Brewing Company Bleu & Brew Festival

September is a tricky month for outdoor beer drinking in Virginia. You pray for a break in the heat, for those fall-like temperatures to appear and bring with them the perfect weather for enjoying a brew or two at your favorite festival. “No more warm beer!” you cry. “Bring me fall!” Sadly, more often than not, you have to get real, accept that for some reason it’s still 90 freaking degrees outside, slap on your sunscreen and roll with it. The second annual Old Bust Head Brewing Company Bleu and Brew Beer and Cheese Festival was held this month on, you guessed it, a steamy, sunny September day! Lucky for us we’ve been blessed with some of the best beer coming out of Virginia, making that late summer heat much more bearable when you have a variety of beer styles at your fingertips. And when you pair local cheeses with local beers? The only heat you end up feeling is from that Smoked Gouda Jalapeño cheese bite sizzling in your mouth!

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Brewery Showcase | Jack’s Run Brewing

“Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. And they’re always glad you came.”

Sound familiar? I know, some of you young whippernsappers are probably going uh … … Read More

Stone Brewing Co. | Stone IPA Virginia Brewery Prototype

During a trip to Richmond, VA, earlier this spring, I was lucky to receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Stone Brewing Co.’s new East Coast operation. Located in the Fulton neighborhood east of downtown Richmond, the 220,000-square-foot facility was very much in the building stages during my visit, with both hard hat and vest required for walking through the construction site. None the less, it was exciting to see an operation of this size being built from the ground up. Read More

Daytrip to Sperryville | 2 Days, 2 Nights in D.C.

Located about 65 miles west of Washington, DC, you’ll find yourself in Sperryville, Virginia, a charming and picturesque town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Dedicated to everything being as local as possible, you’ll immediately feel a sense of home and community as you enter the town. With antique shops, art galleries and a plethora of other unique locally owned and operated businesses, the creative soul inside of you will never want to leave! Don’t consider yourself a creative-type? Not to worry, the hungry and thirsty soul inside of you will be more than satisfied with all of the eating and drinking options at your fingertips! 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

Event Recap | 2016 SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience

PorchDrinking.com has been fortunate to attend SAVOR the past few years, an event presented by the Brewers Association in Washington, D.C. where over 4,000 craft beer lovers have an opportunity to taste brews from 76 emerging and independent breweries from all over the country. In addition to the craft beer being poured, small bites and appetizers are perfectly paired with each of the brews to provide the ultimate culinary experience. I dare say this year, the ninth year for this premier craft beer and food pairing event held at the National Building Museum, may have been its best yet. Now I know that’s a bold statement with this year being my first year attending, but based on feedback received from attendees and breweries alike, this year truly stood out as one of the best yet. Read More

SAVOR Event Preview | Adroit Theory Beer & Cheese Pairing Salon

If you’re in the DC area or headed into town this weekend, you are in luck. There are a plethora of craft beer drinking options at your fingertips courtesy of … Read More

Adroit Theory Brewing Company | The Devil Made Me

ABV: 7.5% | IBU: 33

The beers at Adroit Theory Brewing Company are, as they say, “not for the faint of heart.” In keeping with their slogan of “Consume Life. Drink Art”, one might consider their beers quite the artistic achievement.

Art is about looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary and finding the unfamiliar in the familiar. It stirs up emotions. It might make you uncomfortable, or maybe you forge a deep and lasting connection with a certain piece that speaks to you. I’d say Adroit Theory is doing just that with their beers, adding what might be to some the “unfamiliar” (like fresh basil, various peppers or hibiscus) into what’s familiar to all of us (IPAs, porters and saisons). There’s a lot of creativity and imaginative thinking going on at Adroit Theory, and they’re forcing the craft beer drinker to move outside their comfort zone with unique and bold beer flavors. Read More

Starr Hill Brewery | Lemon-Lime King of Hop IPA

ABV: 7.5% | IBU: 50

Here in Virginia the trees are beginning to bloom, bright yellow daffodils line the sidewalks and roadways, and warmer temperatures have started luring us outside off of our blanket-covered, couch-sitting butts. Spring has finally sprung! In my house, springtime begins with an annual retirement of our porters and stouts, making way for the refreshing, citrusy beers that are perfect for porch drinking! To celebrate the beginning of spring, Starr Hill Brewery out of Crozet, Virginia is releasing one of the best IPA packs I’ve seen in quite some time — the Four Kings IPA Pack. In this twelve-pack sampler you’ll find different variants of their King of Hop Imperial IPA  which include a grapefruit, habanero, and lemon-lime version alongside the original. With Citra hops providing a strong citrus characteristic to the base of the IPA, the fruit and spicy variants bring a new level of complexity to the beer. Read More