AboutTaylor Laabs, Author at PorchDrinking.com – Page 12 of 13
Taylor Laabs
Event Recap | Windy City Smokeout
July 20, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
The Windy City Smokeout was sold out this year and, after experiencing the event on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Chicago, it’s easy to see why. Music evokes many powerful emotions within people, but there are few greater sounds on a hot summer day than the melodious tunes of a country band. Couple that with copious amounts of craft beer and delicious barbecue, and you have an event that is worth every penny.
Fast Facts on Lucky Dorr, Wrigley Field’s New Craft Beer Paradise
July 13, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Wrigley Field is many things, but it has never been an ideal place to indulge in some local craft beer – until now. Opening this week at the beautiful Park at Wrigley complex, Lucky Dorr offers Chicago craft beer lovers a myriad of delicious, local options along with hand-crafted food from Chef Matthias Merges that are sure to leave many baseball fans with a smile on their face before they even enter into the hallowed grounds of Wrigley Field. Here are the fast facts on Lucky Dorr.
Why DryHop and Corridor Brewery are Embracing the Hazy IPA Trend
June 30, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of DryHop Brewers
For DryHop Brewers & Corridor Brewery & Provisions head brewer Brant Dubovick, the insight to start focusing on hazy IPAs started when he was in DC for the Craft Brewers Conference with DryHop Lead Brewer Adrian Vidaurre and Corridor Lead Brewer Roger Cuzelis. While there, Brant decided to wait in line for up to 2.5 hours for a Trillium and Bissel Brothers New England-style IPA at a tap takeover. Since then, the haze craze has been front and center for both DryHop and its sister brewery Corridor Brewery & Provisions in particular. Corridor has proven to be a particularly good testing ground to test Chicago’s demand for the hazy IPA, and according to Dubovick, the response has been “amazing.”
Fast Facts on Revolution Brewing’s Packaging Moves for Summer
June 26, 2017 | Taylor Laabs 2
Revolution Brewing already has several great summer sipping beers like Rosa and Fist City in their canned arsenal; now, they’re adding a couple new seasonal options to help round out their summer portfolio.
Event Recap | Door County Beer Festival
June 26, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of Taylor Laabs
The folks at the Door County Beer Festival went above and beyond to create a fantastic beer drinking event on a sunny June Saturday that embodied everything that is great about the Wisconsin beer experience.
There were 58 breweries in attendance with more than 35 of those coming from a Wisconsin area code, but it wasn’t just the familiar brews of New Glarus, Karben4 and Capital Brewery that made this former Badger’s heart happy. This festival had great cheese, good people and a fun-loving vibe that exuded throughout every person you met. No brewer was off limits, no question too stupid – Door County Beer Fest welcomed all – as long as you had an empty stomach.
Ultimate 6er | Friday Night (Summer Edition)
June 23, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Oh Friday nights; they offer so much intrigue, so much anticipation for what’s to come. Regardless of the myriad of plans you might have for the weekend, one of my most cherished Friday night activities is cracking open that first beer of the weekend. It just seems crisper, more refreshing and full of unbridled possibility.
Event Recap | Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Chicago
June 16, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of Taylor Laabs
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp put together another impressive showing last Saturday at Navy Pier. Whether it was the pristine location, the bevy of good beer, or the friendliness of the staff and brewmasters, Sierra Nevada knows what it takes to make a solid craft beer festival – and they deliver on that successful formula time and time again.
Event Preview | Door County Beer Festival
June 7, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
*Feature image courtesy of Katie Sikora*
Set on the scenic shores of Lake Michigan, the Door County Beer Festival boasts one of the most unique backdrops of any beer fest in the nation. Door County has been a destination vacation for many years due to its beautiful location, but it’s the recent rise of the local craft beer scene that has added to the luster of the premiere Wisconsin peninsula getaway spot. The Door County Beer Festival celebrates all of this by combining locally sourced food, local beer and a good vibe to create a truly unique beer festival experience.
Event Preview | Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Chicago
June 6, 2017 | Taylor Laabs 1
*Feature image courtesy of Sierra Nevada*
Sierra Nevada is known for some fantastic beer, from their Narwhal barrel-aged imperial stout to their Torpedo Extra IPA, but they’re also known for hosting the nation’s largest traveling beer festival: Beer Camp. Sierra Nevada’s annual ode to nationwide craft beer takes place in a rotating list of 8 cities every year. Last year, I got to experience Beer Camp in Milwaukee; this year, Beer Camp is coming to Chicago’s Navy Pier, and I can’t wait to check it out. Read More
Is the Beer + Yoga Trend Here to Stay?
May 30, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of Great Divide Brewing Company
Drinking a beer while sitting on a bar stool is an image that many people have in their heads when they envision the craft beer scene. Now, times are changing. The craft beer boom has changed people’s perceptions towards beer in general, and on a more finite level—what you can do when you’re drinking one.
Event Recap | CCBW Putt-Putt at Revolution Brewing
May 22, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Chicago Craft Beer Week means beer lovers can expect a bevy of fun and unique events from local craft brewers. One of those events, hosted by Revolution Brewing over the weekend, had both good beer and mini golf – which is something that no other brewery could offer.
Fast Facts on Ravenswood’s Newly Branded Malt Row District
May 22, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
*Feature image courtesy of Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
Ravenswood is embracing the vibrant beer culture within its Northside neighborhood by re-branding a two-mile stretch of road into Malt Row, which will feature six local breweries along with one distillery. That two-mile stretch, mapped here, will expand from Balmoral Avenue to Irving Park Road.
Event Recap | Craft and Cuisine at The Park at Wrigley
May 18, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
*Feature image courtesy of The Park at Wrigley
On a glorious Saturday evening, Chicago beer lovers got to experience the first ever non-baseball event at The Park at the Wrigley – and boy was it a good one. The inaugural Craft and Cuisine event had everything you’d want in a beer festival – great beer, access to brewers and unlimited pours. Read More
Event Preview | CCBW Putt Putt at Revolution Brewing
May 16, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of Revolution Brewing
Beer and golf are a perfect combo. So, if you’re the masterminds at Revolution Brewing, combining the two for a 9-hole putt putt course at their brewery only makes sense—which is exactly what they’re doing May 19-21 for CCBW. Revolution Putt Putt will give beer patrons the opportunity to play nine beer-inspired holes throughout their Kedzie facility, all with a can of their new Sun Crusher wheat ale in hand.
How DryHop Brewers is Helping to Save the Polar Bears
May 11, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of DryHop Brewers
DryHop Brewers is known for making great beer in the Lakeview community; they are also known for some pretty cool collaborations. One of those collaborations is the charitable partnership they have with the local Lincoln Park Zoo. Now in its fourth year, this creature-inspired collaboration is all about benefiting the animals – and brewing a special beer each year in their honor.
Event Preview | Craft and Cuisine at The Park at Wrigley
May 10, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Feature image courtesy of The Park at Wrigley
Over 40 craft beers, 60° temps (fingers-crossed) and a one-of-a-kind setting is what you can expect at the first-ever Craft and Cuisine event this Saturday. Hosted at The Park at Wrigley, the Craft and Cuisine event will offer over 40 local pours along with delicious food from renowned local eateries like the Girl and the Goat – all under the gorgeous backdrop of Wrigley Field.
Revolution Brewing | Amarillo Hero
May 2, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Featured image courtesy of Revolution Brewing
ABV: 7.2% | IBU: 75
Amarillo Hero is the newest addition to Revolution Brewing’s much-acclaimed Hero IPA series. Much like a well balanced superhero squad, each beer in the Hero series stands out with their own unique flavor that complements the group, a sudsy “superpower,” if you will. For Amarillo Hero, that superpower is juicy citrus.
Half Acre Beer is Experimenting with Mixed Fermentation
April 25, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Featured image courtesy of Half Acre Beer Co.
Half Acre Beer Co. is expanding and it’s a good sign for Chicago craft beer drinkers. Their new Balmoral Brewery space, a massive 60,000 square foot expansion, is getting closer and closer to opening to the public. Not only does this mean more real estate, but it also means more opportunities to brew beer, including the newly announced mixed fermentation program at their original brew spot in Lincoln Square.
Brewery Showcase | On Tour Brewing
April 19, 2017 | Taylor Laabs
Known for its expanse of warehouses and industrial vibe, the West Town neighborhood in Chicago has become a hotbed for craft beer, including the recently opened On Tour Brewing. Positioned within walking distance of Forbidden Root, All Rise Brewery and Goose Island, On Tour Brewery is the perfect midway point for any West Town brewery crawl due to its relaxed vibe and its exceptionally well-rounded beer list.
Why Are Blood Orange Beers Suddenly So Popular?
April 7, 2017 | Taylor Laabs 2
*Photo from 21st Amendment Brewery
If you read over almost any tap list these days, you’re bound to find a fruity IPA or Wheat Ale sandwiched between a bevy of other tasty options. And while many breweries these days make fruit-forward beers due to their general appeal and drinkability, there seems to be one fruit being listed more and more in the ingredients list: blood orange.
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