Craft Beer News
PorchDrinking brings you the breaking in craft beer news.
Cigar City Set to Begin Chicago Distribution
January 31, 2018 | Mike Zoller
Chicago beer drinkers, whose only hope of grabbing a Cigar City Jai Alai IPA involved a flight to Florida, can now save themselves a trip when the brewery begins Chicago distribution February 19.
WeldWerks Invitational Announces Impressive Preliminary Brewery List
January 30, 2018 | Tristan Chan
To say that WeldWerks Brewing has had a big year simply would not do enough justice to the meteoric rise experienced by the two and a half-year-old Greeley, CO-based brewery. At last year’s Great American Beer Festival, they earned their second GABF medal with a gold medal victory in the Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout category for Medianoche after previously earning a silver medal for their Hefeweizen in the American Style Wheat Beer with Yeast category in 2015 as.
The Founders Factor | How All Day IPA Became a National Hit
January 30, 2018 | Taylor Laabs 3
Founders Brewing has been around for more than 20 years, but they didn’t find their staple beer until 2012. Since its introduction, Founders’ easy-to-drink All Day IPA has been a smash hit. The beer hit a nerve for many people across the U.S. due to its outright drinkability and convenient packaging formats, making it a beer that could be consumed on land, on water, and anywhere in between—and sales have reflected that. Five years since it was released nationwide, All Day IPA just had its most successful year ever, growing an incredible 50.3% in 2017. All Day is now the 3rd best-selling IPA in the nation, an incredible feat for any beer over such a small period of time. The crazy sales numbers of its stalwart beer have lifted Founders to new heights, with volume sales up 51%, but if you ask co-founder Mike Stevens about All Day, he’ll say that the session ale has only begun to reach its potential.
Mountain Sun Announces Stout Month’s 25th Anniversary Lineup
January 29, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Time of uncertainty, political strife, globally warmed winters, and division. But if there’s one constant in our lives that we can all rally around and it’s the return of Mountain Sun’s Stout Month, one of the most heralded of Colorado beer traditions.
A Look at What Minnesota Craft Brewers are Doing for Super Bowl 52
January 29, 2018 | Taylor Laabs 3
Next Sunday, the champions of the NFC and AFC will convene on Minnesota’s U.S. Bank field for Super Bowl 52. And while the Eagles and Patriots are sure to provide a lot of on-field entertainment, the trip to Minneapolis will also offer both fervent fan bases a chance to experience Minneapolis’ dynamic craft beer scene. Whether you’re a football fan or just a lover of craft beer, a variety of downtown breweries will be rolling out the red carpet to impress this sudden surge of visitors. Here’s a quick look at what to expect.
Texas Craft Brewers Guild Forms CraftPAC
January 26, 2018 | Pam Catoe 1
Beer Laws in Texas are Broken. That is the headline of the newly formed Political Action Committee aimed at protecting the rights of Texas breweries and championing for constructive, common sense legislative reforms. CraftPAC was established by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild earlier this week to raise funds that will be used to support various political initiatives designed to improve job growth and the economic impact of the Texas brewing industry.
Fast Facts on Surly Brewing’s First-Ever Variety Pack
January 24, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Coming off a strong 2017, Minnesota’s Surly Brewing is betting on its growing momentum with the release of an ambitious 2018 release calendar. Along with two new year-round offerings, Hopshifter IPA and +1 Golden Ale, Surly also intends to appeal to the curiosity of the average craft beer drinker with their new Innovation Series, which will feature the likes of Damien and Furious Black in tall boys, and the announcement of their first-ever Variety Pack. The Variety Pack has become a popular format for other large Midwest brewers like Revolution and Summit, so it makes sense that Surly would dip their toes into this popular packaging venue. Here are the details.
Charlie Papazian Announces Upcoming Exit from Brewers Association
January 23, 2018 | Tristan Chan
The godfather of American homebrewing will soon be saying his goodbye to the very organization he helped launch. Charlie Papazian, who famously penned The Complete Joy of Homebrewing has announced that he will be exiting his role with The Brewers Association on January 23, 2019, to coincide with his 70th birthday and 40 years serving the craft beer community.
Midwest Drinking 2018 | Mark Twain Brewing News
January 23, 2018 | Jordan Palmer
As we finish up another year of beer, it’s time to look ahead to what we’ll be pouring, sipping and loving around the Midwest in 2018. I’ve reached out to a few of our town’s best brewers to see what we can expect from them in the next Year of Beer.
Up in Hannibal, MO, the team at Mark Twain Brewery is gearing up for some serious growth. Read More
Three New Hazy IPAs You Can Find Nationwide
January 22, 2018 | Taylor Laabs 1
Let’s face it, the haze craze is here to stay. Amid slowing sales in the craft beer market, the incredible popularity of the Hazy IPA has butted the trend, as its juicy approachability captured the hearts (and wallets) of both brewers and consumers across the country in 2017. What started as murmurs among beer blogs is now a nationwide phenomenon and can be lauded (or scoffed at) as one of America’s major craft beer creations over the past decade.
Upland Brewing Announces Limited Colorado Distribution
January 22, 2018 | Tristan Chan
One of the country’s most well-established markets for sour and wild beers is about to get more robust with a little help from the Midwest. Upland Brewing, announced this morning that it would begin limited distribution to Colorado through Elite Brands beginning in March.
Makin’ Noise: A Pussy Riot Beer Project Celebrates Anniversary After Raising $25K
January 19, 2018 | Brian Phipps
Just over a year ago, five Colorado female brewers joined together for a series of collaboration beers made to raise money for charity and support a protest. Today, the Makin’ Noise: A Pussy Riot Beer series is starting its second year and releasing Version 5 on Saturday. To date, the movement has garnered 20 brewers to participate, and generated over $25,000 for various charities across Colorado!
Summit Brewing Adjusts to the New Age of Craft Beer
January 15, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Minnesota can attribute a lot of its craft beer heritage to St. Paul-based Summit Brewing. Founded in 1986, Summit is Minnesota’s second oldest brewery behind Schell’s, with beers like its Summit EPA being a stalwart on local shelves for decades – even before “craft” preceded its title. Now, Minnesota and the larger Midwest markets are shifting. The Land of 10,000 lakes has 150 local craft brewers, which has led to a dramatic increase in competition from newcomers like Surly and Fulton. Summit felt the pains of this competition firsthand, as they recently announced layoffs amidst a decrease in production. So, how does Summit plan to rebound? We asked Summit’s PR/Content Coordinator, Brendan Kennealy, to find out.
Surly Brewing Sees Longevity in the Chicago Market
January 8, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
While Surly Brewing resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, its second home lies within the Windy City. In a move to meet growing demand in the Chicagoland area, Surly is shifting its distribution relationship from Windy City Distributing to Lakeshore Beverage, which also distributes the likes of Bell’s, Founders and AB-InBev’s High End group to the Chicago region. While the shift in local distributors might not seem like much on its face, it’s actually an intriguing signal of Surly’s larger Midwest strategy and emphasis on gaining market share in Chicago.
Creature Comforts’ Get Comfortable Campaign Aims to Make an Impact on Athens
January 4, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Craft beer is leaving its adolescence stage and venturing into adulthood. The maturing of craft brewers bodes well for the average consumer, but it also opens the market up to judgement by a higher societal standard. Craft beer can no longer skirt by as an emerging economic trend; it is now a prosperous and influential part of the U.S. economy, and it deserves to be treated as such. Outside of bottle releases and new taprooms, craft beer can make a verifiable impact on their local communities through outreach programs and charitable donations. Athens-based Creature Comforts is doing just that through their Get Comfortable campaign.
Four Breweries Place Collaboration Wager on College Football Playoffs
December 29, 2017 | Tristan Chan
When Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma take the field for this weekend’s college football Bowl Championship Series playoffs, four breweries will be watching closely with bragging rights and a collaboration beer on the line.
America Now Boasts Over 6000 Breweries in Operation & More Beer Stats
December 13, 2017 | Tristan Chan
The Brewers Association published its end of year report this morning announcing that there were over 6,000 breweries in operation across the United States in 2017. That number reflects an increase of over 438 operational breweries since their mid-year report was announced in August, and an increase of approximately 1000 breweries in operation since last December 2016.
Brewer of Beyoncé-Inspired Beer Told to Hold Up
December 13, 2017 | David Nilsen
Despite a late night signal boost from Seth Meyers, production of a beer named in honor of singer Beyoncé has been forced to re-brand. Lineup Brewing, a Brooklyn-based brewery known for their clever beer names, had brewed Biëryoncé since opening in late 2016, and recently canned the beer for the first time in 16 oz cans. The small brewery received a cease and desist letter last week from Beyoncé’s legal team ordering them to stop production.
Scofflaw Brewing Plans to Expand a Third Time
December 12, 2017 | Eric Jackson
A little over three months ago, highly celebrated, IPA driven and high gravity specialists, Scofflaw Brewing, celebrated their one year anniversary. From their inception up until that celebration, they tripled their production capacity and here we are again with plans to expand. Prior to their second expansion, it was rare to find cans in the market and once they upgraded the canning line was back up and running, but here we are again, expanding. I wonder what great things are coming this time.
I recently spoke with Jonathan Ingram, Media Relations at Scofflaw. He share some great news concerning some upcoming projects as well as what might make its way into cans this time around. Read More
How Craft Beer Gave Back in November 2017
December 12, 2017 | Brian Phipps
Welcome to the beginning a new monthly roundup! I will be sharing some of the great, creative and impacting community efforts that our brewery friends conducted over the past month. My goal with this column is to hopefully inspire you—our beautiful, motivated reader—to start your own partnership with a charity and begin a long-lasting, top-notch fundraiser. Whether you own a brewery, work at a brewery, or just drink at a brewery, you can make a positive change in other people’s lives.
So, let’s see what’s been happening around the nation during November. Read More
recent comments