Golden Road Brewing | Point the Way IPA

ABV: 5.9% | IBU: 60

I have seen the light on IPA, thanks to Golden Road’s Point the Way IPA. “That stuff is [expletive] incredible,” someone told me recently. Quite a recommendation. As positive as that review is, I feared I might not feel the same way—I usually prefer mellow ambers to hoppy IPAs; I was wrong. I visited the Golden Road Brewery location here in Glendale, CA recently, and I loved their Point the Way IPA. To borrow a phrase, it’s [expletive] incredible. Read More

Great Lakes Brewing – Lake Erie Monster

As long as there have been people living around bodies of water, there have been stories about what lives in the deep recesses of each murky abyss. From Krakens of Greek mythology to the river monsters of the Amazon, to the Crocosaurus of the Sci Fi Channel to the infamous Nessie of Scotland’s Loch Ness, the lore surrounding mythical sea monsters swirls in all corners of the globe and throughout time. The northern Midwest is not excluded from this pantheon of time and geography as Lake Erie’s Bessie (sometimes known as “South Bay Bessie”) has graced this fourth largest of the Great Lakes since its first recorded sighting in 1817. Great Lakes Brewing’s summer seasonal Lake Erie Monster pays homage to the beast with a double IPA that (at 9.1% ABV) will have you telling tales in no time. Read More

Ska Brewing Mexican Logger

It’s summer. I love big, gigantic barrel-aged beers as much as the next bloke but it’s time to put those beasts into hibernation. It’s time to drink refreshing brews made for summer. I know a few other folks that would vouch that Ska Brewing Mexican Logger may be THE go to brew for summer. Plus, there is a zapata-esque dude wielding a chainsaw on the can. EPIC!

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Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. – Kentucky IPA

Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. – Kentucky IPA

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 70 (I couldn’t actually find a reliable source for this, so I ball parked.)

Alltech is responsible for quite a bit of growth in Central Kentucky, not to mention the first contributor to the advent of the Lexington, Kentucky craft beer spring. For years, there were very few local craft brews available in Central Kentucky. Alltech seized this opportunity and in 1999 released what is now a staple across the state: Kentucky Ale. Soon the brewery released yet another delicious creation: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. This beer combined the signature Kentucky Ale with the flavor of Kentucky Bourbon (by aging for 6 weeks in bourbon barrels), yielding a delicious, slightly sweet, and highly potent brew (about 9% abv).

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Passing Afternoon – 100% Brett Mosaic Pale Ale

Since I started homebrewing I have been looking for ways to push flavors and try new things with brewing. Lately, I have been really intrigued by the use of brettanomyces as the primary fermenting yeast strain in beer. I have done a few experimental small 1 gallon 100% brett batches and I have been happy but I really wanted to take it to the next level. As soon as my local home brew store, High County Hombrew, got some fresh Mosaic hops I knew it was time. I felt that the mango, lemon, citrus, earthy pine, tropical fruit, herbal and stone fruit notes that the Mosaic hops produced were made to go with a fruitiness of some strains of brettanomyces. Below outlines the recipe and thoughts behind Passing Afternoon – 100% Brett Mosaic Pale Ale.

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Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero Mexican Style Chocolate Stout

9% ABV

Hola Clown Shoes, welcome to Colorado.  The brewery itself is an enigma, based out of Massachusetts, brewed out of Mercury … Read More

Getting a Woody – Cascade Brewing The Vine

Background

Cascade Brewing The Vine Style: American Wild Ale ABV: 9.73%

Welcome  and prepare to get a woody. This installment of Getting a Woody we will look at Cascade Brewing … Read More

Ultimate 6er – To Boldly Go Where No Beer Has Gone Before!

It was only a matter of time until my love for Craft Beer combined with my (let’s be honest) obsession with Science Fiction. As a girl who sports a Star Trek iPhone case (Science Division, of course – Command is just too pretentious and Engineering is, well, a bit too risky) and a text message tone from Star Trek: The Next Generation, it made sense that I would be inspired to dedicate an Ultimate 6er to the greatest of SciFi traditions, Star Trek, especially with the new J.J. Abrams installation: Star Trek: Into Darkness. So whether you prefer Saurian Brandy, Romulan Ale, or just a good glass of prune juice, here is your hodgepodge 6-pack of brews inspired by Star Fleet’s finest. Boldly go where no beer has gone before! LLAP!

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Blue Moon Brewing Company – Agave Nectar Ale

ABV: 5.6%

IBUs: 14

I’m not going to lie, I’m not the biggest fan of Blue Moon, but the last time I was at the store I saw their new summer seasonal, Agave Nectar Ale. I originally didn’t pick it up because I’ve tried agave beer before, but I just couldn’t get it off my mind. So today when I went to the grocery I decided to give it a go. Read More

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project: Hop Savant

Hop Savant

Crooked Stave Brewery, Denver, CO

ABV 6.7%

Hoppy beers have been a bit of a target recently. A widely shared article recently stated, “Hop enthusiasts are ruining craft beer.” This is hyperbole to be sure, but it’s still a fairly predictable backlash. Double and triple IPAs are now quite common at most breweries, and some are an absolute assault on the taste buds. Even regular IPAs can go a bit over the top from time to time. And so it’s understandable that people may be a bit hesitant to, at least for the moment, purchase a beer that even has “Hop” in the name. Read More

The Pronunciation Wars- GIF

In case you hadn’t heard, the longstanding debate regarding the notoriously tricky pronunciation of “GIF” has been settled once and for all. Read More

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery: Hoppin’ to Heaven IPA

Once upon a time the city of Akron, Oh was a flourishing place full of promises and opportunities.  Yes, looking at the grey, desolate, nearly abandoned ghost town that remains today, it is quite hard to believe.  However, not so many years ago, Akron was crowned the “Rubber Capitol” of the world.  Companies like Good Year and Firestone called this place their home and exported more tires than any other place in the universe, and in turn, provided the city with plentiful employment.  But, unfortunately those years have passed, and it seems Akron is more famous for what has left it behind than for what is still there (yeah, that’s a Lebron reference and yeah, I’m still bitter). Read More

Night Shift Brewing – Snow

ABV = 3.4%

It’s easy to get jaded about being a “grown-up”. Here at PorchDrinking.com, we try to help you navigate adulthood as best as we can because we understand … Read More

Awesomesauce- #myfriendsaremarried

Being the old, married person that I am, my newest Tumblr obsession may seem a bit odd to you, but bear with me.  We are all familiar with the standard GIF Tumblr layout by now, I’m sure (if for some reason you aren’t, go check out this one and this one right now.  We’ll wait until you get back…) Basically, the author gives a scenario, and then presents the reader with a GIF that mirrors their reaction to the situation.  For example, this, this and this. Read More

This Is Not Magic Hat #thisisnotmagichat

We found out earlier this week that there has been quite a bit of confusion over the interpretation of some of Magic Hat Brewing Company’s products.  Willie’s in Lexington, Kentucky decided to don their good samaritain cap and ensure that there were no further confusions over product branding. Thanks to Facebook user Collin Wallace for posting this picture.

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Left Hand Brewing’s 400 Pound Monkey

Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey

6.8% ABV

An ominous red handprint blazoned on the neck of the bottle: does it indicate pain or does it indicate pleasure? Judging by … Read More

Elevation Beer Company 1 Year Anniversary

Tucked away in an unassuming warehouse at the foothills of towering 14ers, in the small town of Poncha Springs, lies Elevation Beer Company.

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Editorial: Magic Hat Brewing Company Versus West Sixth Brewery

I originally intended to write an editorial in response to Slate’s post earlier this week about how hoppy beers are ruining craft beer.  They made some valid observations but on the whole their argument boils down to taste.  Hops aren’t ruining craft beer, beer is ruining craft beer, namely people in the industry who don’t abide by beer culture.

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Fire Island Beer Company-Lighthouse Ale

With Spring finally in full effect and New Yorkers starting to head off for Long Island beaches, I thought it would be fitting to have a go at Fire Island Beer Company’s Lighthouse Ale. Read More

Magic Hat and West Sixth Brewery Conflict

It is becoming more and more evident that the craft beer industry is no longer just giggles and unicorns.  Today it was announced in Business Lexington that the latest case of brewery versus brewery litigation came in the form of Magic Hat Brewing Company,  claiming that West Sixth Brewery in Lexington, KY intentionally copied their logo and has caused them “irreparable harm”.  They are now seeking damages and all profits made by West Sixth up until this point.

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