New Belgium/Perennial Artisan Ales | Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout

ABV: 9%
IBU: 35

It seems like every time I talk to someone outside St. Louis about the craft beer here, they ask me about Perennial Artisan Ales.  Either they’ve had it and are raving fans or they’ve heard about it and want to get their hands on some. It’s understandable considering the quality of the brew Perennial puts out and their participation in the overall scene. If you follow them around the labyrinth of the internet, you know they’re up to a LOT of good things. Brewer meet and greets, beer dinners and festivals all over the country. Not to mention collaborations with the likes of Evil Twin, Half Acre, Prairie Artisan, et cetera, et cetera. But if you aren’t familiar with them yet, you’re likely going to be thanks to this new bomber of delicious teamwork – New Belgium/Perennial Artisan Ales Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout, the latest addition to the Lips of Faith series. Read More

Highland Brewing Co. | Thunderstruck Coffee Porter

ABV: 5.8% | IBU: 26

With a name like Thunderstruck Coffee Porter, the expectation is clear. Highland Brewing‘s winter seasonal should bowl us over with its coffee essence. Read More

Cooking with Beer | Pecan Caramel Apple Crisp

Welcome to apple-pickin’ season. Even though I picked these apples right off the supermarket shelf, I used to love nothing more than visiting my local orchard and stocking up on this fall harvest fruit. I would make apple pies, caramel apples, apple streusels… the list goes on and on (do I sound like Bubba from Forest Gump yet?). This time around, I opted for the classic apple crisp. It is easy to make and the results are sure to impress. I have had the idea for apple crisp in my head for a while now; pretty much since I saw Abita’s Pecan Harvest Ale on the shelves. First off, I had never heard of a pecan ale so I was basically obligated to buy it. Second, I knew it would be the perfect brew to make some sort of delicious dessert. So a delicious dessert I made and now you can too with this Pecan Caramel Apple Crisp recipe.

Read More

Event Preview| Denver Bacon and Beer Festival 2014

What: Denver Bacon and Beer Festival
Where: the Curtis – 1405 Curtis Street Denver, Colorado 80202
When: Sunday, November 16, 2014 – 2:30pm to 5:00pm
Ticket link: http://www.wheretoeat.in/2014-denver-bacon-and-beer-festival/

BACON AND BEER! Do not sleep on buying tickets! This event sells out in just a few weeks time!

In past years (we were there both years y’all!), this event has boasted some amazin’ bacon bites and the tastiest quaffs of local craft and this year is no different! For the ticket price, this is my favorite event of the year!  Here are some reasons you should get in on this bacon escape and let the waves of ale take you out to sea!

Read More

Shmaltz Brewing Company | He’brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale

ABV: 5.2%
IBU: 21

Thanks to football season, I spend a lot of time talking with the Lord in the fall. “JESUS F*CKING CHRIST!” I screamed when the Iowa kickers cost us the game against Iowa State. “Goddamn that was too close” when we beat Pitt 20-24 in September. But mostly I am huddled in a corner muttering “OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD” whenever Kirk Ferentz goes for it on 4th. Luckily for me (and all Iowa fans) we have Mark Weisman, our personal Hebrew Hammer of a running back who saves our drives on a continual basis. In honor of Iowa’s own savior, I thought it was time to introduce the PorchDrinking community to He’brew, the Chosen beers made by Shmaltz Brewing company.

Read More

Happy Hour Post | Shakey Graves and Esme Patterson

Have you ever been a part of that magical moment when you witness someone reach super stardom right before your eyes? Whether it’s dropping back-to-back buzzer beating daggers like Aaron … Read More

PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat

As we push closer to the holidays, we will see an increase in more localized tastings, pairings and celebrations. This week is no different. Check out all of the foamy happenings in the greater Denver area this week.

Read More

Ultimate 6er | Koozie Doozies

Yeah, a nice craft beer sipped from a fancy glass is great, but sometimes a little neoprene sleeve around a classic can of suds is even better. The koozie keeps your beer from getting warm and your hand from getting cold. More importantly though, it gets you out of the house, out of the bar, just drinking good beer with good friends with a fun bit of squishy love between your hand and the can. I give you my Ultimate 6er, the beers and the best places to drink them, Koozie Doozies: Read More

Pyramid Breweries | Apricot Ale

ABV: 5.1%

IBU: 11

Since I couldn’t attend GABF this year, I decided to do the second-best thing and write about it. Today I’d like to introduce you to Pyramid Breweries’ Apricot Ale, the 2014 GABF Gold Medal Winner in the Fruit Wheat Beer category. Read More

DC Homebrewers Hosts Fall Barbecue

If you are a homebrewer in the DC region and you’re aching to exchange recipes and improve your techniques, you need to get in touch with the awesome individuals at … Read More

Event Preview| The Grand Coffee Bazaar

What: The Grand Coffee Bazaar – A coffee-centric event celebrating Denver coffee roasters.
Where: Our Mutual Friend – 2810 Larimer St, Denver, Colorado
When: Sunday, October 19, 2014 – 10am-2pm

We here at PorchDrinking.com believe in all of our libations being well-crafted, and this doesn’t fall short in the AM when we need a quick pick-me-up. Denver is seeing a resurgence of craft coffee and artisan roasters, and we aren’t the only ones taking note. So, it only makes sense that we are getting hella stoked on Denver’s upcoming caffeinated invitational, the Grand Coffee Bazaar. Our down-ass-homies over at Imbibe are throwing this first-of-its-kind event, promising deliciously roasted beans, brews carefully prepared from a variety of mechanisms and methods, brunch foods via food trucks, specialty coffee libations and craft beer.

Read More

Founders Brewing Co. | Dark Penance

Imperial Black IPA

ABV: 8.9%

IBU: 100

October is finally here! And half gone at that! But, there is still plenty of time to drink some of the best seasonal beer selections breweries have to offer. Now, it is no surprise that pumpkin beers have been taking over the market selection for seasonal brews this year. However, there are a ton of other great beer styles to drink this October, such as Harvest Ales, Brown Ales, Black Ales, really any full-bodied dark beer with toasty notes to keep you warm by a fire. Founders Brewing Co. introduced one such brew to their autumn line-up, a bold new speciality beer, Dark Penance Imperial Black IPA. From appearance all the way to flavor, Dark Penance sets a fresh new tone for beers this season, capturing all the right characteristics of fall. Read More

Happy Hour Post | Doe Bay Music Festival with NBB

If you haven’t learned by now, I get no greater joy in life than great music, great beer, and Kentucky Basketball. And while I try to make as many references … Read More

Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Instead of bringing you a bunch of small beer news stories, this week I’m bringing you four HUGE beer news stories. As an added bonus, most of them have videos included just in case you don’t feel like reading today. To sum it up: Dogfish Head promoted a new CEO, Stone announced its new brewery location, New Holland broke ground on a new site, and breweries are teaming up to bring us cleaner water. Read on to get all the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

Read More

Nebraska Brewing | Brunette Nut Brown Ale

ABV: 4.8%

IBU: 15

Although I typically write about Northeastern craft beers, I could not resist ordering a Nebraska Brunette Nut Brown Ale this past week while at happy hour. If not solely for the name, then surely for the implication of it’s flavor. Being that I have been a brunette since birth, I firmly believe that we do it better — whatever “it” may be — which in this case, is choosing the most delectable craft beers from a remarkably curated menu.

Read More

The Ballard Brews Cruise

Craft beer thrives on a few key factors. High quality, small batches, unique beers, and local breweries act as the natural foil to the big bad macro-brewery where distribution, the … Read More

Schlafly | Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 8.0% | IBU: 16

Pumpkin beers have been a contentious issue on PorchDrinking over the past six weeks. Opinions certainly differ on the propriety of drinking pumpkin beer in August, but since we’re well into October, I hope I’m not in the minority in calling pumpkin beer season officially open for business. They’re not for everyone, these pumpkin beers. They tend to offend the Reinheitsgebot in nearly every way possible. Not only do they have adulterating spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, but they’re usually chock full of “pumpkin”. Read More

Awesomesauce | Subscription Boxes

We all have those moments when we realize that we’ve turned into a full-fledged adult.  For most of us, it’s the first time we decide that we’d rather not drink Natty Light, or the time when we say “it was a really long week, can we just stay in tonight?” on a Friday at 6pm.  Read More

Beer Cocktails | Pumpkin Citrus Smash

Seattle, Washington is the destination of the beer that is used in this beer cocktail. The Pike Brewing Company has been making beer since 1989 in Seattle. They are housed in the famous Pike Place Public Market and have a pub as well as a brewery. They brew many different beers, some of which include:

• Pike Place Pale Ale: Heirloom amber ale with nutty and malty fruit flavors. ABV: 5.00% | IBU: 32
• Pike Kilt Lifter: Ruby ale with subtle smokiness and rich malt flavor. ABV: 6.50% | IBU: 27
• Pike Naughty Nellie: Golden artisan ale with fruity and soft malt flavors. ABV: 4.70% | IBU: 24

Read More

Perennial Artisan Ales | Saison d’Alina

ABV: 5.2%
IBU: 20

You know that guy from college that was, like, a champion beer drinker? You know, the guy who, no matter how you trained, prepared, or strategized, could single-handedly win Beer Olympics on his own – who you watched in awe as he made his way through a case of Natty completely unfazed? Well, for me, this guy is my friend Andy Hille. And from the moment I met him, I knew he had to be destined for beer greatness.

Read More