Midwest
Collaborating for a Cause | Strawberry Arabesque
March 14, 2024 | Eric Griffin
Like many of the other fundraising efforts conducted for Alex Kidd and his family following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis, this benefit from Phase Three Brewing took place during the summer of 2023. On June 22 the brewery announced their newest Ambassador-exclusive release, Strawberry Arabesque. However in an unexpected move, they also stated that they would be donating a portion of all the proceeds from bottle sales, draft pours and an in-person raffle to the GoFundMe set up for the Kidds.
Guinness Goes Big with First-Ever St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Chicago Open Gate Brewery
March 13, 2024 | Taylor Laabs
“Bartender – Guinness please?” It’s an actionable phrase that Guinness brewery ambassador Ryan Wagner says will be uttered more than 13 million times on St. Patrick’s Day weekend this year around the globe. And while the spectacle and celebration concentrated at Guinness’ St. James Gate brewery in Dublin, Ireland is the stuff of legends, local Chicago beer drinkers should get ready for a similar celebration fit for a city that treats St. Patrick’s Day with particular fervor.
Phase Three Brewing | Arabesque & Minutiae Reserve 2024
March 6, 2024 | Eric Griffin
A few weeks ago, those who follow Phase Three Brewing were given a heads up to mark their calendars for a huge release to start out the month of March. Reserve Weekend 2024 celebrated a very special release of two of Phase Three’s most highly sought after beers: Arabesque and Minutiae. PorchDrinking is here to give you all some early insight into these exciting new reserve beers, including an exclusive review of each of these high-gravity beasts.
Collaborating for a Cause | Lua Brewing
February 15, 2024 | Eric Griffin
The outpouring of support for Alex Kidd and his family has been incredible over the last eight months. In particular, when backtracking to those first 30 days after he announced his Stage IV cancer diagnosis, it’s mind-blowing just how quickly so many breweries and individuals banded together to raise funds. Lua Brewing was no exception. Just four days after the unexpected announcement on Don’t Drink Beer’s social accounts, Lua organized a vintage sale offering full sets of their sought-after Destroyer Barleywine, with 100% earned going straight to the Kidd family. Read More
Kicking 2024 Off with Indeed Brewing
January 30, 2024 | Emma Wargolet
With a slew of closures in the craft beer world in 2023, it’s always great to watch a brewery flourish. Indeed Brewing Company, with taprooms in both Minneapolis and Milwaukee, had a huge 2023. Not only were its flagship beers, Flavorwave IPA and Pistachio Cream Ale, big hits in its market, but it donated over $50,000 to various nonprofit organizations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
PorchDrinking chatted with chief business officer Ryan Bandy, who was appointed to the role in 2023 after over 10 years with the brewery, including as director of experiences.
Goldfinger Brewing Company | Vienna Lager
January 25, 2024 | Jason Murphy
In the words of a late, great hip-hop artist, “Lager Lager Lager can’t you see, sometimes your crisp just hypnotizes me.” He didn’t exactly say those words, but we like to think he would. As it turns out, it’s just us. We are the ones hypnotized by a wonderfully crafted Lager.
Collaborating for a Cause | Alex Reserve
January 23, 2024 | Eric Griffin
In this week’s installment of Collaborating for a Cause, we switch gears from beer to mead. On Nov. 14 of last year, Alyson Schramm of Schramm’s Mead announced an upcoming release to represent their participation in GivingTuesday 2023. In an amazing show of kindness and generosity toward a craft beer and industry icon, Schramm’s donated 100% of profits from its Nov. 28 webstore sales to the Kidd family GoFundMe to go toward medical expenses and future needs. Additionally, Schramm’s conducted a pre-order for custom-labeled bottles of Alex Reserve, its limited-batch apple mead.
Hacienda Beer Co. | Back To The Flow Hazy IPA
December 29, 2023 | Jason Murphy
Door County Brewing Company opened in 2013 and started out brewing more traditional styles with a focus on Belgian beers. Those brands were doing well, but the brew team at Door County wanted to start trying some new and more innovative styles, such as Hazy IPAs and Pastry Stouts that wouldn’t typically fit under the Door County brand. Enter Hacienda Beer Company.
Goldfinger Brewing Co. | Original Lager (Helles Lager)
December 27, 2023 | Jason Murphy
Are you ready for a small history lesson today? If you’re anything like us, we not only love craft beer, but we also enjoy hearing and reading about craft beer origins. Let us take you on a journey as we learn about Goldfinger Brewing Company, located in the town of Downers Grove, IL.
Chicago Craft Beer | Best of 2023
December 26, 2023 | Rachel Morrison
You are not alone if you’re wondering how 2023 is almost over. It was another eventful year in the Chicago craft beer scene. The year included endless beer releases, major events, unique membership offerings, newcomers and bidding farewell to a few local favorites. While naming the “Best of 2023” in Chicago Craft Beer is no easy feat, we’re giving it our best shot.
Collaborating for a Cause | Life Jacket
December 22, 2023 | Eric Griffin
As 2023 nears its conclusion, many families and businesses feel the strain and chaos of the holiday season and the deadlines associated with the final months of the year. Fortunately, the support for Alex Kidd and his family has not even considered pumping the brakes, and we are happy to welcome Revolution Brewing to this week’s installation of Collaborating for a Cause.
(Read: Collaborating for a Cause Series)
Adjusting the spotlight to a beer that Alex himself helped co-create with the Revolution team, this well-known Chicago brewery organized an incredible gesture spanning the month of November involving their Life Jacket Barleywine.
Casks & Camaraderie | Cask Craft Spirits and Beer Lounge
December 14, 2023 | Eric Griffin
Breweries are always looking for new and unique ways to share their beers. Recently, one way that many have looked to showcase their barrel room in particular has been through barrel picks.
BuckleDown Brewing | Barbaric Blood Red Ale
December 12, 2023 | Rachel Morrison
BuckleDown Brewing and Vault Comics recently collaborated on Barbaric Blood Red Ale, launching Friday, Dec. 15. It’s an American Red Ale, offering rich malt flavor, subtle sweetness and a blood-reddish hue. It’s a well-balanced, approachable beer, clocking in at 6.5% ABV. Fans of BuckleDown Brewing and Barbaric can be the first to taste the beer at the BuckleDown Brewing taproom in Lyons, Illinois, on Friday, Dec. 15.
Half Acre Beer | Green Torch Lime Lager
December 1, 2023 | Jason Murphy
We are rapidly approaching the winter season. The mildly warm nights have turned into crisp night air. Summer is long gone, and beach trips now are only to get away from the frosty air. If you find yourself feeling the winter blues already, we have a solution for you. Of course, it is in the form of a delicious craft beer. Read More
What They Do Best | Funkytown Brewery Is Crafting Dreams
November 27, 2023 | David Nilsen
Funkytown Brewery founders Rich Bloomfield, Zack Day and Greg Williams met in 4th grade in Chicago and grew up together. They went to historically Black Grambling State University in Louisiana together, and returned to the Windy City together to begin their lives and careers. While attending parties, backyard barbecues, baby showers and other get-togethers in their twenties, they realized something else together: they were the only Black people bringing craft beer to these events.
Speciation Artisan Ales | Underbru Saison
November 14, 2023 | Eric Griffin
In an ever-changing industry with constantly varying trends, breweries often struggle to figure out how they can stand out. Michigan is a particularly competitive state when it comes to craft beer, and Underbru is a perfect example of some of the unique and exciting products that have been coming out of the Midwest. More specifically it’s a testament to Speciation Artisan Ales as a whole, a brewery rooted in the idea of displaying nature’s creativity and diversity.
Brewery Spotlight | Sandy Valley Brewing Co.
November 6, 2023 | Brian Margiotta
Sandy Valley Brewing Co., located in Hillsboro, MO, is a family-owned and operated brewery making waves with its unique foraged beers and commitment to sustainability.
Read More
2023 FoBAB Results | Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers Award Winners
November 4, 2023 | Tristan Chan
It may not have fully felt like barrel-aged beer season this year in the Windy City. However, the onset of November always signals the perfect time to down some barrel-aged Stouts, Porters, Wilds and Sours to commemorate the return of one of the festival’s best showcases of barrel-aged beers.
The results are IN and we now know all of the big award winners from this year’s 2023 Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB). This year’s 21st annual FoBAB was once again a spectacular success showcasing the country’s absolute best producers in the wood and barrel-aged beer categories.
Collaborating for a Cause | ALEX KIDD IS LIFE!
November 3, 2023 | Eric Griffin
While Mikerphone Brewing out of Chicago is the latest brewery in this series, they were one of the first to take action in support of Alex Kidd and his family following the news of his cancer diagnosis. Just like what we saw most recently with Bob D’Angelo and Esker Hart Artisan Ales, Mikerphone Brewing was founded from a passion for homebrewing. Now, eight years since their first commercial beer, Mikerphone has become a Chicago beer staple and Owners Mike and Lisa Pallen have been fortunate enough to travel the world making and sharing beer. Upon hearing Alex’s devastating news, they knew they wanted to do what they could for him and his family during this unprecedented time. We were able to talk briefly with Mike and discuss a little more about the special single barrel English-style Barleywine released for the man behind the Barleywine is Life movement.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery Now Open in Chicago
October 10, 2023 | Rachel Morrison
While Guinness originally hoped to open its Chicago taproom in time for Saint Patrick’s Day, it experienced some delays, which moved its official opening date to Sept. 28. Immediately stepping foot into the new Chicago location, it’s easy to see that the wait was worth it.
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery is now open in Chicago. This marks the second U.S. location for Guinness. The other U.S. location is in Baltimore, Maryland.
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