New Belgium Brewing Company: 2 Below

ABV: 6.6%

IBU: 32

I don’t like to shop. I need to have a carrot dangled in front of me in order to even get in a car and head in the general direction of a mall or department store. Typically that carrot is beer. Do I get to get to go to a liquor store? Fantastic. A good liquor store? Even better. Target doesn’t qualify as a good liquor store, or even a liquor store, but it has an aisle that I can wander and at least acts as a distraction from the buzzing overhead lighting and constant eyeball assault of red and happy imagery. We made this trip recently, and I was lured with the promise of a new coffee maker and beer. This is the way to my heart, friends.

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The magical, mystical brewery tour: Cantillon

Cantillon’s cheery yellow façade looks out over a vacant lot in an industrial part of Brussels. If you stand quietly on the sidewalk outside and breathe deeply, you can hear the clinking of bottles and smell the pleasant sourness of yeast at work. You might even feel that sharp pleasant sting of anticipation as you imagine taking a sip of a pale-gold gueuze. Read More

The Ultimate 6er | Black Friday Edition

The most controversial shopping day of the year is nearly upon us. Black Friday (now starting on Thursday evening) is the one chance a year to score outrageous deals on things you didn’t even know you needed. Some people live for this day, planning months in advance and scouring every store’s mailers for the deals of the century. Others avoid it like the plague, refusing to leave their house and risk getting caught up in the cutthroat madness. A select few have even been known to consider it a spectator sport and wake up at ungodly hours to watch the chaos ensue…guilty as charged. Regardless of which group you identify with, at the end of the day, you are going to need to do some serious recovering and reassessing. This will surely call for the Ultimate 6er Black Friday Edition. Read More

The Commons Brewery- Flemish Kiss

I have been on a mission to try as many new beers as possible and have definitely had my fair share of seasonals recently. However, there is something to be … Read More

The Ultimate 6er Guide to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving falls short to only Amurrrcuhhh Day as my favorite holiday because it’s basically the O.G. (original gangsta) of Amurrrcuhhh Days. And there is nothing better about Thanksgiving than the gluttonous consumption of turkey, taters, OFGBC (old fashioned green bean casserole), stuffing, gravy and, of course, beer. This year PorchDrinking wanted to ensure that you had the perfect sixer for your Thanksgiving meal. So, without further ado, your Thanksgiving edition of the Ultimate 6er.

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Brouwerij Lindemans – Cuvee Rene

Brouwerij Lindemans – Cuvee Rene

ABV: ?

IBU: ? Read More

Stone Brewing GABF Booth Set Up

Ever wonder what goes into setting up a major booth, or as the industry calls them, an endcap booth, at the Great American Beer Festival? During this year’s fest, Stone Brewing took us behind the scenes to document the process. This two hour affair has been condensed into 2 minutes of build out fun. Enjoy Stone Brewing GABF Booth Set Up and thank you Stone Brewing Company. A special thanks to Jackie Lincoln for her help on the shoot!

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Interview with Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch

Tristan sat down to interview Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch during this year’s GABF. They talked about Stone, comparing beer to music and Greg’s upcoming hiatus. Please check out Greg’s Movember donation page as well.

Also a BIG … Read More

The Faces of Stone’s Punishment

Last week a group of PorchDrinking.com writers and friends got together to taste Stone Brewing’s Punishment. If you have not heard about this hellish creation, Stone’s Punishment is 2013 Double Bastard Ale brewed with freshly harvested peppers and aged in bourbon barrels. This has created one of the hottest beers that will ever grace your tongue. If you don’t believe us read Cory’s review here.  We decided it would be fun to put our taste buds through the Punishment. Along the way we documented “The Faces of Stone’s Punishment.” Thank you to Billy of BillyBrew for joining us in this fiery ride and a big thank you to Corkscrews Wine Storage of Denver for hosting our tasting.

Corkscrews is the perfect location not just for wine storage but also to age those special beers you’re wanting to hold on to for a while.

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Stone Brewing Punishment

ABV: 12%

IBU: 82

Stone Brewing Punishment is the 2013 Double Bastard Ale brewed with freshly harvested peppers and aged in bourbon barrels. So, when you add those spicy chilies to a big beer what do you get? The result is a chili beer with a tremendous depth of flavor, as well as a legitimate heat.

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Getting A Woody | Stone Brewing Crime

Background

Stone Brewing Crime
Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Ale with Chiles
ABV:9.6%

In November, I always look forward to when Stone releases their Double Bastard Ale. This has been one I always seek out. This year they have taken it to the next level. Stone has released three different versions that have been barrel aged. First, and tamest of the trio, Southern Charred which is their Double Bastard aged in various Bourbon Barrels. The next two really take the heat up. Bringing the fire, Stone’s Crime and Punishment are aged on an insane amount of peppers. This has created one crazy set-your-mouth-on-fire experience. So join me for the hottest Woody around, as I torch my taste buds with Stone Brewing Crime. Bring on the Pain!!

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Stone Brewing Southern Charred

Stone Brewing Company- Southern Charred

IBU: 95

ABV: 12.5%

Stone Brewing Southern Charred reminds me of my childhood for a number of peculiar reasons. First, it should be noted that I originally hail from the great state of Kentucky. As a result, I’ve developed a natural affinity toward all beers Bourbon-barreled, and Southern Charred just so happens to fall into that category.

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Stone Brewing Company Digital Tap Takeover

Welcome to the 2013 Stone Brewing Company Digital Tap Takeover of PorchDrinking.com.  Today we will feature a number of exciting posts all devoted to Escondido, CA’s Stone Brewing Company, which … Read More

Read, Drink, Repeat | Great Beer Books

You can’t buy your loved one a 6-pack every year. As holiday shopping begins, here are some great beer books from PorchDrinking for the hops aficionado in your life.

(Readers: Feel free to submit a comment below with your other recommendations. This is obviously not an extensive list.) Read More

Stone Brewing Digital Tap Takeover

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, November 26th as Stone Brewing Company hosts a “Digital Tap Takeover” of PorchDrinking.com.  Tomorrow’s coverage will feature three showcases of Stone Brewing’s most recent new releases, … Read More

Coronado Brewing Company

I happened to be in San Diego during San Diego Beer Week at the beginning of November 2013 and had the pleasure of checking out some fantastic San Diego Breweries. … Read More

Jester King – Das Wunderkind

Jester King – Das Wunderkind Sour Saison

ABV: 4.5%

IBU: ? Read More

UPDATED: Strange Brew vs Strange Brewing Company

This morning it was announced that Marlboro, MA based Strange Brew Homebrew Shop and Denver, CO based Strange Brewing Company reached a mutual settlement on their year long trademark dispute.

“I am glad that we were finally able to come to a resolution which respects our right to the Strange Brew trademark while still keeping Strange Brewing Strange,” said Brian Powers, owner of Strange Brew Beer & Wine Making. “Now we can focus on providing quality home brewing supplies throughout the busy upcoming holiday season, and moving forward with the permitting and construction of our own nano brewery.”

“As a small craft brewery, our objective is to create exceptional craft beer for our local, Denver community,” said Strange Brewing co-founder and head brewer, Tim Myers. “We’re extremely optimistic about the future and look forward to finalizing the agreement so that we can continue doing what we love – brewing quality, small-batch craft beer.”

Despite the settlement which allows Denver’s Strange Brewing to keep it’s name, in the opinion of this blog, Massachusetts based Strange Brew Beer & Wine Making still remains a giant turd. For more background on the dispute, listed below is our previous post:

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Deep Ellum Brewing – Deep Ellum IPA

ABV: 7.0% IBU: 70

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Dallas, but if you ever find yourself in this fair city, make sure to grab yourself one of … Read More

The Ultimate 6er | Barleywine

I love all things barleywine. Although I enjoy them year round, I believe that fall is the best season to sit back with a slow sipper and truly appreciate this robust style of ale. If you are like I am, handsome and mad-funny, barleywine ales stir up a slew of recollections and a certain sense of decadence. I picture a dreamy, dreary evening spent in front of the fire (insert favorite place to hang out) with a snifter of ale being slowly nipped from the glass like a whiskey or fine port. There are few greater occurences than enjoying finely crafted old ales when the weather is less than warm. Traverse the variations of booze-laden bliss with me as I highlight my Ultimate 6er of fall-friendly barleywine ales.

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