General Topics
Everything else discussed on the porch.
Ultimate 6er | Great Beers to Guzzle While Watching the Boys of Summer
April 12, 2017 | Jordan Palmer
Few things go better together than baseball and beer. In my hometown of St. Louis, having your first beer at a Cardinals game is a right of passage enjoyed by generations of St. Louisans. There is nothing better than sipping a cold one on a hot summer day while cheering on your team, or jeering your team’s opponent. But only in recent years has craft beer started taking off at ballparks around the league, offering new and better options for baseball-loving beer fans other than those from the largest breweries in the land.
Shut Up and Brew: How Do We Deal with Brewery Politics?
April 12, 2017 | Danny King 4
On March 10, 2003, Natalie Mains of the Dixie Chicks told a crowd of concert goers in England that she was ashamed that President Bush was from Texas, because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The backlash was immediate and harsh when the statement was taken out of its anti-war context and presented in the light of ‘we are ashamed of Bush’. It led to a near industry-wide blackout of the Dixie Chicks, who at the time were arguably the biggest country music act to obtain success beyond Nashville since Garth Brooks. As we move along through the first months of the Trump regime, with all the protests and boycotts that have come along with it, it looked like the craft beer world may be dragged into the fray as well.
The Dixie Chicks spoke for themselves, but what happens when a corporation speaks for one of its members? Just ask Ballast Point.
PorchDrinking Playlist | Mraz Brewing Company
April 11, 2017 | Chris & Sylvia Hollands
Featured photo courtesy of Mraz Brewing Company.
For this PorchDrinking Playlist we reached out to one of our favorite California natives, Mike Mraz, owner and head brewer for Mraz Brewing Company in El Dorado Hills, CA. We had the pleasure to meet Mike a few years back during the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO. It was a wonderful experience to walk the great halls of the Colorado Convention Center with such a knowledgeable master of beer. An expert craftsman showing us the way was both thrilling and a tad bit intimidating. Mike welcomed us into his crew for the weekend, resulting in an adventurous time. The following year we hung out again, inspiring a portion of our Are You GABF Experienced? playlist. Read More
Beerstagram | March 30 – April 6
April 7, 2017 | Holly Gerard 1
Happy April, Beerstagram followers! Did you get tricked into anything on April Fools Day? From the looks of it you did manage to drink some pretty spectacular beers this week. You also weren’t hesitant to include your pets in the shots, either and that is more than fine by us. Ahhh… that shot with the goat melts my heart, too darn cute! Have a great weekend, see you back here next week! Cheers!
Ultimate 6er | The Masters Golf Tournament Edition
April 5, 2017 | Mathew Powers
The first golf major of the year is one that’s filled with mystique, nostalgia and fierce competition. The Masters, held at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, is defined by its majestic blooming azaleas and fast greens that test the nerves of even the most accomplished veteran golfer. It is, as Jim Nantz proclaims, “A tradition unlike any other.” For die hard golf fans, few things surpass Sunday at the Masters, capped off by the presentation of the famed green jacket to the tournament winner. As golfers worry about picking the right club, fans must be sure to pick the right beer. So, let us be your beer caddy.
PorchDrinking Playlist | Be Kind, Rewind (A New Year’s Resolution Check-In)
April 4, 2017 | Sarah Boisen
How has 2017 been treating you so far? I think it has been a pretty rockin’ year. I fully expected 2017 to commence in a far more miserable fashion judging by the speed at which people determinedly blotted out the remainder of 2016 with an impressively steady flow of champagne. To my (personal) pleasant surprise, even the hangovers in 2017 appear to have resolutions which I’m convinced have something to do with showing a little bit of mercy. Read More
Chicago White Sox Stadium’s Craft Kave Boasts 75 Craft Beers
April 3, 2017 | Mathew Powers
The Craft Kave at Guaranteed Rate Field has taken the traditional baseball and beer concept and improved it mightily. Fans can enter the bar, order any of the 75 craft/quasi-craft beers, eat chef-inspired food or order from the full bar menu. Early indications are that the new relationship between the Chicago White Sox and its new stadium owner, Guaranteed Rates, are taking craft beer seriously. This is no gimmick, this is a celebration of good beer.
Beerstagram | March 23 – 30
March 31, 2017 | Holly Gerard
Hello, Beerstagram friends! Hard to believe that March is already winding down. Orval Day happened this past week, did you get to enjoy any of that? We have quite the selection of mighty fine beer-tography for you this week, please enjoy Be sure to keep tagging us @porchdrinkingco for your chance to be featured. Until we meet back here again next week, cheers to you!
PorchDrinking Playlist | Stickman Brews
March 28, 2017 | Dan Bortz
Featured photo credit: Stickman Brews
It’s no secret that Ethan Buckman of Stickman Brews is one of my favorite figures in Pennsylvania beer. His open fermented, style-defying beers are delicious and inventive, and Ethan himself is an all around good dude. When I bothered him in the middle of a work day to ask about his brewhouse music selections, he responded quickly and enthusiastically.
Event Preview | Big Texas Beer Fest
March 27, 2017 | Kezia Ibarra
When: Friday, March 31 from 7 – 11 p.m. (VIP entry 6: p.m.)
Saturday, April 1 from 2 – 6:30 p.m. (VIP entry 1 p.m.)
Location: Fair Park Automobile Building, 1010 1st Avenue Dallas, TX 75226
The 6th Annual Big Texas Beer Fest is back and bigger than ever. Spanning two sessions, this year’s festival features beers from 120 breweries with 500+ beers to sample from. This festival is well known to feature exclusive/rare beers, one-offs and special firkins. Truly committed to making each year bigger and better, this year delivers with a fresh new concept. The festival has partnered with local favorite Noble Rey Brewing Company and Free Play Richardson (a vintage arcade) to bring attendees with a one-of-a-kind experience that will take them back to their youth. An “Arcade Alley” will be on site and will allow attendees to relive those childhood memories with an array of those favorite vintage arcade games loved so much. Let’s see how those Galaga skills holds up after a couple of beers.
Read More
Elite Eight | Barleywine Style
March 27, 2017 | Samantha Story
I’ll be real honest with everyone, I don’t know much about basketball. I do, however, appreciate the fanfare and competitiveness of March Madness. I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve heard of people describing, in depth, how well their bracket was doing or how it became “busted.” If I had created a bracket, mine would most definitely rank last.
Beerstagram | March 16 – 23
March 24, 2017 | Holly Gerard
Hey, hey, Beerstagram fans! Another week has already rolled by but we welcomed spring this week, so that was very exciting. With the turning of seasons it always means new seasonal beers to enjoy. Have you gotten your hands on any spring-inspired brews yet? Looking forward to what you’ll be drinking this upcoming week but, in the meantime, let’s take a look at what you enjoyed this week. Until next week, Cheers!
Ultimate Sweet 6(teen)er | 2017 March Madness Sweet 16
March 23, 2017 | Brad Hartsock
Feature Image Source: Chapel Hill Recorder
Once again, here we are on the brink of the Sweet 16! For a couple of days, it sure seemed like the tournament might end up being kind of boring, even if we had no lack of good, competitive games. And then the games were played on Saturday and Sunday and we see Tom Izzo’s Spartans, the overall #1 seed Villanova, and five out of the top six regular season ACC teams (Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia, Louisville and Duke) get dropped in the Round of 32.
News from the Still | The Whiskey Film Reaches Its First Funding Goal
March 22, 2017 | Cory Pelc
Crafting A Nation bubbled up from the brew kettle of life in 2013. The film champions craft beer and is a feature length documentary and new media project about how the American craft brewers are rebuilding the economy one craft beer at a time. Now, Thomas Kolicko and crew are looking to peer into the whiskey still with their new project, The Whiskey Film.
PorchDrinking Playlist | Neon Noir
March 21, 2017 | Sarah Boisen
Featured image photo credit: 280steps.com
It’s almost time to thaw yourself out from the dark depths of winter and spring ahead to the synths and sunshine of the futuuuure! From what I’ve heard, the future is filled with all things groovy, galactic and…totally tubular? You heard right! The 80’s are working their righteous way back into our ears with a retro-futuristic fusion of neon noir. Read More
Ultimate 6er | The Simpsons
March 20, 2017 | Mike Zoller
Since 1989 The Simpson family has been a mainstay on American television. It is the longest running animated show, sitcom and most recently primetime scripted series. The family of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Grampa are the most beloved family on TV today.
Beerstagram | March 9 – 16
March 17, 2017 | Holly Gerard
Happy Friday, it’s time for Beerstagram! How’s everyone doing this week? Some of us still seem to be basking in that sunshine I mentioned last week and many others are still digging out from snow, welcome to it being (almost) spring. With St. Patrick’s Day upon us, how will you be celebrating? Dry Irish Stout, perhaps? Hopefully only your dessert will be green and not your beer. Either way I guess we will see what photos you snap. Sláinte!
PorchDrinking Playlist | When Irish Eyes are Smiling
March 14, 2017 | Danny King
St. Patrick’s Day is upon us. A day where you celebrate Irish heritage by getting drunk enough to exhibit all the worst stereotypes of Eire: unhinged drunkenness, hot-tempers, and boiled-based cuisine. You’ve probably attended one of the many different St. Patrick’s days where smaller towns hold their own parades to give pipe and drum bands some practice before the main event already. As such, you’re slowly starting to remember the transitions in Celtic Symphony. Maybe you even remembered that the chorus is “Up the RA” and not “Up their ass.” PorchDrinking wants to make sure you enter this festive season with the right tunes. Because of this, they have bestowed this sacred duty to their resident potatoey-looking writer. Read More
Beerstagram | March 2 – March 9
March 10, 2017 | Holly Gerard
How is it going Beerstagram followers? It seems like many of across the country are a experiencing an early Spring and from the looks of this week’s feed, many of you are already enjoying some seasonal beers outdoors. I wonder if winter will return or if spring in here to stay? Hmmm… until next week. Cheers!
Ultimate 6er | Big Little Lies
March 8, 2017 | Hannah Carlson
Photo by Variety
This last December, I became incredibly, completely, over-the-top addicted to a story involving three women in Australia who were wound-up in classroom drama, violent relationships, helicopter parenting and – of course! – a murder mystery. If anyone has read Big Little Lies, I have no doubt that they understand the feeling. Once you read the first page, you are on a mission to solve this mystery – and to get to the bottom of who did what, with who and when. Lucky for us, HBO has turned this page-turner into an equally transfixing show.
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