Santa Fe Brewing Company | Imperial Java Stout

8% ABV

Anthony Trollope wrote “What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?” Well, I guess he never considered wrapping a rich, creamy stout around that cup of Joe. Sure, it was the 1850’s and Santa Fe Brewing didn’t exist yet, so perhaps I should give him a pass. Regardless, I’m almost positive old Tony would change his mind if handed a delicious imperial stout brewed with locally roasted coffee beans sourced from East Timor and New Guinea. Read More

Jackie O’s | Paw Paw Wheat

Jackie O’s Paw Paw Wheat has been a summer staple here in Athens for some time now. Kelly Sauber, a major influence in brewing in Southeast Ohio, first brewed Paw Paw Wheat in 2003, but only recently did it become available statewide. Read More

Coney Island Brewing | Seas the Day

ABV: 4.8

IBU: 55

How excited am I that I get to be the first one to review this fantastic new offering from Coney Island Brewing, their Seas the Day India Pale Lager? So excited. I like everything I have had from these guys; the Coney Island Lager is classic; the Mermaid Pilsner is super fun; and the Tunnel of Love Watermelon Wheat is no slouch either. But those are for other showcases. Today we are here to talk about the Seas the Day IPL. Read More

Cigar City Brewing | Jai Alai

ABV: 7.5% | IBU: 70

Last summer I was lucky enough to check out Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida. It was by far one of the best brewery tours I have ever been to, and their beer is phenomenal. Since it’s a small brewery, they only sell their beer around Tampa. Fortunately, I have an amazing friend who came up to visit me in Columbus, bringing with him a 6 back of Cigar City Brewing’s Jai Alai Indian Pale Ale that he bought while in Tampa. I could not have been more excited to try this beer again, and showcase it here. Read More

AleSmith Brewing Company| Speedway Stout

AleSmith Speedway Stout, 12% ABV, 70 IBUs

After enjoying a couple different beers from AleSmith, I was very excited to see Speedway Stout at my local beer shop. … Read More

Grassroots Brewing and Anchorage Brewing Co. | Arctic Soiree

ABV – 6% “The times they are a-changing”. When faced with extreme change, one can react in in various ways, I find that the best way for me to take … Read More

Highland Brewing | Gaelic Ale

ABV: 5.6%

IBU: 30

I was invited to a party recently. It had been a while since my last party so I opted in. As this would be a barbecue-centered … Read More

Sierra Nevada – Blindfold Black IPA

ABV: 6.8%
IBU: 70

This past winter was a long one but thanks to the never ending options for stouts, porters and other dark delicious brews, I survived just fine. In fact, it could be said I went a bit overboard. Peanut butter milk stout? Check. Smoked vanilla porter? Check. Why drink a regular dark beer when you can add all sorts of fun ingredients to see what tastes come together? Frankly, I could not imagine not drinking the deep dark beers I’d come to love over this past winter, all year long. Enter Blindfold Black IPA.

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Brauhaus Hartmannsdorf GmbH | Döllnitzer Ritterguts Gose

Döllnitzer Ritterguts Gose

ABV: 4.2%

I think I’m biased against ‘summer beers.’ I don’t dislike them on philosophical grounds: I love a good Helles, and summer Sundays practically beg for <5% brews in an ice bucket (when they beg for brews at all). But the beers of summer tend to attract gimmicks that I don’t especially like, and that information informs my opinion – fair or not. Every summer I find myself surfing the chilly beer cave of a local packie, mentally un-checking more bottles than I’ve dismissed in the past eight months. Sunflower label? No. Hoppy wheat? No. Apple Crisp whatever? Uh, no.

Arcane-looking German fellow with a tophat…?? Check-a-roo.

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Keweenaw Brewing Company – Pick Axe Blonde Ale

I’m sitting here in the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, sipping on a Pick Axe Blonde Ale from Keweenaw Brewing Company. There’s snow on the ground, and I just hacked down a tree with a hatchet for the bonfire. I’ve got some good friends with me, and our dogs are chasing each other in circles.I’m counting on my pooch’s body heat to keep the tent warm tonight.

This camping trip is a going away party of sorts.  Read More

Sun King Brewery | Fistful of Hops

6.5 ABV, 77 IBU

Welcome to Indiana, home to my back porch. I’m excited to bring all the fermented wonders that this great state has to offer to you PorchDrinkers. Around here Sun … Read More

Stone Brewing Company | Spröcketbier Debut

Two regular guys set out to brew a simple beer that ended up taking over the world. Well, that is, if you call two Stone Brewing Company veterans with a … Read More

Rhinegeist Brewery | Citra Tooth Tiger

Rhinegeist Brewery – Citra Tooth Tiger Imperial IPA

9% ABV

95 IBU

Today’s breweres have taken beer, above and beyond being just beer. In some cases this has evolved to near obsession, especially when it involves tracking down a rare brew. Sometimes keeping tabs on these fleeting offerings can be difficult, but the challenge just adds to the overall experience – that is if you can manage to actually land a bottle or two. Another trend that has helped provide a positive impact on the craft beer scene is taking an already great beer and enhancing it with the addition of one or two more ingredients. Yeti Imperial Stout, by Great Divide Brewing Co., is a great example of this – oatmeal, chocolate, espresso, oak aged, barrel aged.

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El Segundo Brewing Company |Two 5 Left

ABV: 8.2%

Ah, Los Angeles.  Main Street, mom and pop shops, and shuffle board courts. Or wait, LA has oil refineries and aviation? Yes and no. Enter El Segundo, quite possibly the strangest, most awesome small town in America and the home of a darn fine brewery. Read More

Negra Modelo | La Crema de la Cerveza

Tis the season to drink my favorite beer from Mexico, Negra Modelo. I know there aren’t many write ups on here featuring Mexican brews, so I’m happy to add this … Read More

Hill Farmstead | Daybreak Imperial Stout

Hill Farmstead Brewery

10% ABV

Driving up the snow covered dirt road to Hill Farmstead Brewery brought flashbacks of days growing up in the green hills of Vermont. Once the … Read More

4 Hands Brewing | Contact High

4 Hands Brewing
ABV: 5%
IBU: 28
Style: Wheat Ale

The name of this beer, Contact High, had me looking. The trippy label design had me reaching. And the 80 degree weather had me buying this brew with promises of a bright, warm weather feel. On top of that, it seems to be for sale everywhere PLUS my brother was in town for a visit. Noticing a six pack on display, he excitedly pulled me over while nodding his head up and down and smiling like The Joker. Who am I to refuse? Read More

Terrapin Beer Company | Wake ‘n’ Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

ABV: 8.1%

There truly is something special about drinking a beer that’s not available in your home town. Granted, Colorado has a wide array of world class breweries and … Read More

Solemn Oath Brewery | Kidnapped by Vikings

6% ABV | 75 IBU

Just yesterday, I was having a conversation about beers with the best names. Beers that taste amazing AND have a twist making them fun to … Read More

Brewery Ommegang | Gnomegang

ABV: 9.5%

IBU: 26

Everyone’s journey into craft beer begins differently. Perhaps you favored light beers and then one day stumbled upon a particularly refreshing Kölsch that made you look towards beers not readily available in the supermarket coolers. Or maybe it was a break you took from Blue Moon to try that German hefeweizen. For me, the turning point came with my first taste of La Chouffe. There was just something about that gnome that changed me. So when I learned that Brewery Ommegang teamed up with my favorite little gnome to brew the adorably named Gnomegang Belgian Blonde Ale, I knew great things were ahead.

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