Holiday
Christmas Classics | New Belgium Brewing Foeder Frambozen
December 18, 2019 | Jaclyn Menendez
When it comes to holiday beers, New Belgium Brewing had the market cornered for years with Frambozen: a medium-bodied brown ale awash with fresh raspberries and a delightfully festive pinkish head. The seasonal release was eagerly anticipated every year, and when they discontinued this brew back in 2015, I mourned the loss deeply.
Luckily, though, fans of the tartly fruited brown ale have been treated to new iterations of the classic over the past few years. An imperial version with cocoa was delightfully similar to the original, with subtle hints of chocolate that deepened the overall flavor without adding too much sweetness. I suspect it was the success of that iteration that brings us to the current limited release: New Belgium Brewing Foeder Frambozen.
Flatirons Soap Works Gives Beer Lovers Another Way to Incorporate Beer in their Lives
December 17, 2019 | Karen Mills
Being able to support small businesses, especially ones that pertain to beer, is a large part of the craft industry. Adam and Katie of Ale Adventures shared some of their favorite beer brands and products and we’ve shared some products beer lovers would enjoy as holiday gift ideas. So, as we approach the holiday season, it’s only fitting that we highlight Flatirons Soap Works, a Colorado-based small business that is well integrated into the beer community and whose product allows beer lovers to further incorporate beer into their lives.
The Grinch | A Holiday Drinking Game for the Whole Family
December 17, 2019 | Scott Grossman
The first few times I watched the beloved 1966 animated version of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” as an adult I could have sworn it was a full-length feature film. This distortion in the time/space continuum came largely as the result of my friends Kathy and Wendy insisting that I play “The Grinch” drinking game with them. In actuality, the running time is 26 minutes—30 with commercials.
For starters, this game is best played with beer, preferably something cheap, because there will be lots of fast-paced, mindless drinking. For everyone. The game’s simplicity is the main selling point, as after 20 minutes it becomes difficult to distinguish the finer points of the film.
Let the brutal Grinch game begin . . . Read More
Christmas Classics | Sierra Nevada Brewing Celebration Fresh Hop IPA
December 13, 2019 | Seth Garland
As I was using a plastic snow shovel to chip away at the glacier-sized chunks of hardened ice in my driveway the other day, I was reminded of just how much I loooove the holiday season. And what’s not to love? Dry, cracked hands that look like a relief map of the Mojave Desert? Check. General sense of terror every time I walk in public because no one got the memo about covering their coughs and sneezes? Double check. But at least there’s good beer.
Christmas Classics | St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
December 12, 2019 | Mathew Powers
It’s great that St. Nick takes care of the kids. But, for grown-ups, it’s all about St. Bernardus. He doesn’t need to send his elf for your shelf because his smiling face and festive hat adorn every bottle of St. Bernardus Christmas Ale. One sip of the exquisite Belgian beer will surely bring an abundance of holiday joy to any beer fan.
Holiday Beers | PorchDrinking.com Explores Christmas Classics
December 11, 2019 | Mathew Powers
We at PorchDrinking.com thoroughly enjoy the Holidays, and the beer that comes with it. From Winter Warmers to Christmas Ales, there’s something for everyone (even if they’ve been naughty). We have decided to showcase a different holiday beer each day the next couple of weeks. Some beers enjoy rich histories while some are new to the scene, but each one has a warm place in the heart of the writers who’ve chosen to showcase their favorites. Even better, for those writers “up north,” the beer is keeping them warm as Jack Frost nips at their noses.
A Christmas Classic beer showcase will publish each day until we approach Christmas. Hopefully we can add to this list next year and in the years to come. And because the Holidays are all about over-doing it, we’ve also added a few extra goodies to your PorchDrinking stocking.
Beervent Calendar | A How-To Guide
December 5, 2019 | Andrew Holcombe 1
The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is supposed to be about enjoying family and friends, but it can quickly devolve into a five week stress marathon. With holiday parties, family gatherings, traveling to see loved ones, and presents to buy the stress can pile on each day. One obvious remedy to the holiday madness is beer of course, and why not make those beers special and surprising? The key to a delicious daily dose of holiday calm is a Beervent Calendar!
Read More
PorchDrinking’s Thanksgiving Beer Pairings
November 19, 2019 | David Nilsen
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. Or—as your aunt insists on calling it—Turkey Day. Of course, this day involves a lot more to eat than just a large bird and therein lies the challenge when it comes to Thanksgiving beer pairings. Which beers are flexible enough to work well with the cornucopia of flavors and textures we enjoy on this holiday?
Many guides to pairing with Thanksgiving dinner suggest course-by-course pairings with one beer matched with one particular dish. No one actually eats like that though. We pile our plates with as much food as we can fit and then dive in. Rather than match beers with dishes, I’ve outlined a beer pairing list that divides the day into stages and offers suggestions for each phase.
Flagship February | Falling Back in Love with the Basics
February 5, 2019 | Seth Garland
“Hype is a funny thing,” Larry Bell told me on his way from Kalamazoo to Chicago. Bell is a craft beer pioneer and founder of the eponymous Bell’s Brewery. “Hype doesn’t come from us. It comes from what people’s expectations are. I’ve seen how hype affects people, but even with 30 years in the business, I can’t explain it fully.”
In Colorado, which was once (and perhaps still) considered the craft beer capital of the world, there are some legendary flagship brews we haven’t had easy access to until very recently. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Founders’ All-Day IPA and Brooklyn Lager are just a few. This all changed at the end of 2018 and Midwest and East Coast transplants living in Colorado celebrated the return of their long-lost favorite brews.
PorchDrinking’s 2018 Christmas Cookies & Beer Pairings
December 21, 2018 | Jessica Spengler
Christmas time is a time of year filled with tradition, from holiday parties, to caroling, to big, hearty, meals filled with comfort food. For many families, traditions also include baking all the cookies. All these cookies are given out during cookie exchanges, to the mail carriers, to uncles, aunts and cousins, and certainly, they will also end up in gifts to you from others as well. With all these cookies, it doesn’t take long before you are sick of all that sugar. That’s when it’s time to break open some less-than-obvious beer pairings to make those cookies seem new again.
Ultimate 6er | 6 Beers to Leave Out for Santa Claus
December 19, 2018 | Taylor Laabs
Thanks to the amazing array of barrel-aged brews and hearty ales available in December, many of us are growing bellies that even the man at the North Pole would be proud of. While many of us don our own red hats and honor the big man with our own gift-giving exploits, it feels like Santa might be extra stressed this year for a myriad of people-produced reasons. I’m sure Santa still appreciates a good batch of cookies and a tall glass of milk, but this year, I think Mr. Claus might appreciate something with more of a bite to quell his nerves during the big night. Here’s a look at six beers that are sure to put you on the nice list with Santa Claus this year.
Guide to New Year’s Eve Parties at Chicago Craft Breweries
December 17, 2018 | Mathew Powers
New Year’s Eve is a time for renewal, a time for hope. And, a time for beer and drinks. Don’t miss out on some of Chicago’s best craft-brewery NYE events. Each one invites drinkers to have some food, beer, fun activities and, of course, a midnight countdown. This summary gives you the scoop, but we encourage you to click on the links to read some of the finer print.
Here’s to 2019!
A Holiday Brewski at the Zooski | Denver Zoo Lights Tap List
December 14, 2018 | Seth Garland
In a city like Denver where the craft beer market is insanely competitive, party planners and marketing teams now build events around a top-notch tap list—it’s no longer an afterthought or bonus. Take Denver Zoo, for example. Not so long ago, patrons would have been stoked to have any kind of beer available as they peered at Pachyderms. But now, during the 28th annual Zoo Lights, the park proudly presents its visitors with a carefully cultivated beer menu, which includes over 20 craft brews.
PorchDrinking’s Beer-Themed Holiday Gift Guide
December 13, 2018 | Rachel Morrison
The season of giving is undoubtably among us and instead of relying on 2-day shipping on Amazon, or participating in the “classic” gift-card exchange, let’s get people what they really want – beer. There are seemingly endless options when shopping for your beer-loving significant other, friend, or family member, so we’ve broken it down based on what type of beer-lover they are.
The PorchCast Ep 56 | Novel Strand Brewing
November 21, 2018 | Tristan Chan
The PorchCast team of Tristan, Sam and Sami gathered to bring you a Thanksgiving treat. For episode 56 of the PorchCast, they spoke with Novel Strand Brewing co-founders, Tamir Danon and Chantel Columna, who were sadly without their third co-founder Ayana Coker, to talk about their brewery/coffee shop, their unique approach toward beer and community, as well as some more controversial views on Instagram culture, flight boards and Untappd.
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Ultimate 6er | Great Winter Beers that Aren’t Stouts or Porters
November 14, 2018 | Michelle Thomas
‘Tis the season for a good winter beer.
What if you’re not a fan of stouts or porters, but still want to get into the festivities of winter beer releases? We’ve got some suggestions for you! Read More
Black and Tans | A Reminder of a Dark Period in Irish History
March 14, 2018 | Mathew Powers 3
The layered Black and Tan beer cocktail routinely accompanies American St. Patrick’s Day festivities. However, for the Irish, the subject of Black and Tans is nothing to celebrate; the term refers to a notorious British group sent by Winston Churchill who brutally murdered and tortured the Irish, and regularly destroyed their property, during the Irish War for Independence (1919-1921).
Cooking with Beer | Corned Beef Stew with Yards Love Stout
March 12, 2018 | Samantha Story
There are many dishes that have come to represent St. Patrick’s Day. From shepherd’s pie to soda bread, colcannon to boxty’s, these forms of Irish fare exemplify the simplistic nature of living off of the crops and the land in Ireland. There is one dish that stands out in many people’s minds as being the epitome of true Irish cooking; corned beef.
Ultimate 6er | Fun (and Crazy) Presidential Beer Connections
February 19, 2018 | Mathew Powers
Though American societal and political chaos has dominated in recent months, President’s Day remains a day to honor the few who have operated as the Chief Executive of these United States of America, whether they be good or bad, deplorable or laudable. And as we celebrate, it behooves us to have a little fun, too, including discussing those times when presidential culture and American beer culture have converged. From Billy Beer to Duff Beer, presidential beer connections are a part of our nation’s history.
Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Christmas Ale
January 5, 2018 | Pam Catoe 1
The holidays are behind us and it’s time to put away the tree and restore the yard to it’s former non-whimsical state. While most folks are scouring stores for deeply discounted wares or decorations for next year, I’ll be driving around town looking for the last of the Saint Arnold’s Christmas Ale. Even though Christmas has officially past, this rich, malty old ale pairs perfectly with cold weather and hearty meals and is only available from October through December each year.
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