Mountain
Makin’ Noise: A Pussy Riot Beer Project Celebrates Anniversary After Raising $25K
January 19, 2018 | Brian Phipps
Just over a year ago, five Colorado female brewers joined together for a series of collaboration beers made to raise money for charity and support a protest. Today, the Makin’ Noise: A Pussy Riot Beer series is starting its second year and releasing Version 5 on Saturday. To date, the movement has garnered 20 brewers to participate, and generated over $25,000 for various charities across Colorado!
Brewery Showcase | Brewability Lab
January 18, 2018 | Kara Rowland
Many breweries begin with a familiar story: a homebrewer who’s tired of a desk job and decides to make a go at scaling up.
Brewability Lab is not one of those stories. Founder Tiffany Fixter had neither brewing experience nor a business background. What the former special education teacher did have, however, was an ambitious—even radical—idea. Why not tap into Denver’s affinity for craft beer to create jobs for adults with special needs?
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PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | January 17, 2018
January 17, 2018 | Jeremiah Cornelius
The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Previewing The Brewtography Project’s Discovering Colorado Breweries Book Release
January 17, 2018 | Tristan Chan
If you’ve attended any Colorado beer festival over the past four years, chances are, you’ve at some point encountered photojournalist Dustin Hall, who shoots under the moniker, The Brewtography Project. Sporting his traditional short trimmed beard, signature Brewtography Project Dickies work shirt, flat-brimmed brewery cap turned backward, with his trusty Canon 5D Mark IV draped around his neck, Hall is both iconic and unassuming at the same time.
Breaking Down the 30 New Colorado Breweries that Opened in 2017
January 16, 2018 | Brian Phipps
Last year, Colorado added 30 new breweries to its already impressive arsenal. That means all new recipes, taprooms and beers to explore throughout the Centennial state. How many of the new breweries did you visit last year? How many of these have you heard of? Either way, it’s time to welcome Colorado’s new class of brewers.
Event Recap | 2018 Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Brings Out Country’s Best
January 12, 2018 | Kara Loo and Kelissa Hieber
Take Great American Beer Festival, skim the layer of cream off the top, and you get the Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines festival, held annually the first weekend in January in Breckenridge, Colorado. The “cream” metaphor is literal; by far, only the deepest, richest, dankest or most prolific beers make the cut as offerings from the breweries involved. This festival is truly not for the faint of heart. Sling back a few too many mini-pours consisting predominantly of 7% ABV and above beers, factor in the elevation (over 9000 feet at the venue location), account for a probable lack of sleep from event-hopping all weekend, and you’re likely in for one wickedly miserable end-of-weekend hangover. But this past weekend was the 18th consecutive Big Beers fest, proving that a wide range of beer lovers, both industry members and consumers alike, love coming back to challenge their palettes (and drinking prowess) time and time again.
Event Preview | LowDown Barrel-Aged Beer Fest 2018 with Pour List
January 12, 2018 | Brady Akers
If you have attended the Barrel-Aged Beer Festival at LowDown Brewery in the past, you remember the laid back, line-free day of great rare beers. This year’s third annual event will be better than ever with more barrel aged beers, more breweries, and more time to drink them. LowDown will again host the event this weekend, January 13 and 14 with beers from 15 other breweries, including Black Project, River North, Funkwerks, Station 26, Lagunitas, Dry Dock, Odell, Ratio, Elevation, Left Hand, Platt Park, Banded Oak, Spangalang, Little Machine and Declaration.
WeldWerks Brewing | Peanut Butter Cup Achromatic & the Pastry Beer Debate
January 11, 2018 | Chea Franz
Lately, there has been quite a few articles about the rise of pastry stouts and why this is a problem, such as this recent article from the Chicago Tribune that argues we’re forgetting what beer tastes like. In case you did not know, a pastry stout is beerspeak for liquid dessert. Most often, pastry stouts include cacao nibs, vanilla, coconut and other adjuncts that help enhance the stout to emulate sweet treats.
The pastry stout debate, IMO, is moot. As craft beer continues to diversify, so do our taste buds. What is beer supposed to taste like nowadays? The answer is no longer “hoppy,” but subjective. It could be barrel-aged and malty, super hazy or fruity. The craft beer landscape is vast and ever-changing, with new hop varieties, ingredients, and techniques that pop up every day. Whether you’re a Reinheitsgebot beer purist, or you prefer your beer to taste like a chocolate bomb, the beauty of craft beer is that there is something for everyone. And pastry stouts, much like other styles of beer, if done well, are fantastic. WeldWerks Brewing‘s Peanut Butter Cup Achromatic Imperial Stout is one such example.
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | January 10, 2018
January 10, 2018 | Jeremiah Cornelius
The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Colorado’s Best Beers & Breweries from 2017
January 4, 2018 | Tristan Chan
Colorado craft beer has come a long way. While the old guard of New Belgium, Odell, Wynkoop, Great Divide, Left Hand, Avery, and Ska initially thrust the state onto the national scene the early 90’s, it’s been Colorado’s current brewing renaissance that has propelled its meteoric rise to even greater heights of recognition and acclaim. Just in the past 5 years since PorchDrinking’s existence, we’ve seen alleyway breweries grow to become national powers, startups in rural towns grow to become coveted brands, and a countless number of homebrewers who have their desk jobs to become household names among beer circles.
Outside Events Guide to 2018 Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines
January 4, 2018 | Brady Akers
This weekend’s Big Beers festival is one of Colorado’s most awe-inspiring beer events, featuring more than 500 amazing and sought-after beers. If you’re not able to attend the big show in Breckenridge, there are plenty of mountain events related to the fest. From special releases to rare tappings, we’ve compiled a list of happenings for you to start 2018 with a bang.
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | January 3, 2018
January 3, 2018 | Jeremiah Cornelius
The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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The PorchCast | Ep 46 Saying Goodbye to Jesse & Recapping 2017
January 3, 2018 | Tristan Chan
In Episode 46 of the PorchCast we bid farewell to longtime co-host Jesse Brookstein who announced that he’ll be moving to Madison, WI. We’re incredibly bummed to hear that he’ll be leaving us, but can’t wait for him to start a Madison branch of The PorchCast fingers crossed.
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Uinta Brewing Co. | Stompin’ Grounds Coffee Stout
December 29, 2017 | Chris & Sylvia Hollands
ABV: 8.1%
2017 left as swiftly as it came. Year after year, the clock seems to tick more rapidly. Repeating the daily grind of the morning wake up, leaning on a java and finishing the night with a great beer. Did that a few times and BAM! There we were–drawing gape as the Patriots won the Super Bowl, experiencing a total solar eclipse and then suddenly watching the ball drop on the broadcast of New Years’ Rockin’ Eve. Okay, the time lapse may be a bit of an exaggeration, but for real—the past 365 days flew by like no other.
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2018 Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines Pour List
December 28, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Perhaps I’ve become a bit spoiled, or maybe even a little jaded, but its become few and far between that I’ll get downright giddy when it comes to the prospect of attending a beer event. However each year, there’s one event that rivals the level of excitement experienced on Christmas morning as a kid, Big Beers Belgians & Barleywines.
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | December 27, 2017
December 27, 2017 | Jeremiah Cornelius
The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Renegade Brewing Company | The Night Flight
December 26, 2017 | Bryan Oldham
We’ve mentioned Renegade Brewing Company several times here at PorchDrinking. Since 2011, Renegade has been gifting the Denver Arts District with exciting and unique brews. From their Peanut Butter Cup Milk Stout to the Pancakes Maple Porter, you’d be hard-pressed to find something you aren’t intrigued by on the taproom menu.
On my most recent visit to Renegade, which also happened to be my first, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As a sucker for dark beers with malty, roasty flavors, I don’t often find taprooms that have a large variety of these drinks on the beer list. However, when I walked into Renegade, I was pleasantly surprised by the vast array of stout and porters on the list. I knew I wanted to highlight one of their beers, but I simply couldn’t pick. So, you lucky readers get a five-for-one in this beer showcase, as I was a lucky drinker of what I’ve taken to calling the Night Flight courtesy of Renegade Brewing. Read More
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | December 21, 2017
December 21, 2017 | Jeremiah Cornelius
The Denver Beer Beat sheds light on news of brewery openings, special tappings, firkins and one-off batches, bottle releases, dinners, pairings, etc.
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Wit’s End Brewing | The Last Jed-IPA
December 21, 2017 | Kara Rowland
I’ve learned a few cardinal truths in my years of craft beer fandom. Most fall into the category of brewing basics, such as the fact that Brettanomyces imparts a funky flavor or that fresh-hop season begins in late August. But there are some cultural observations, too—like the industry’s fanatical penchant for Star Wars.
Denver-based Wit’s End Brewing owner Scott Witsoe is no exception to this axiom. Witsoe and his crew unveiled three limited-release beers to coincide with the latest installment of the inter-galactic saga: The Last Jed-IPA, Stay On Target Southern English Brown Ale and Kyber Kristallweizen Pale Kristall Weizenbock.
Kannah Creek Brewing Co. | Hop Citrus Zest Sour
December 19, 2017 | Justin Pennel
Personally, one of my favorite beer styles is sours, but not everyone feels the same way I do. I could go on for days about all the different reasons that I like sours, but that still wouldn’t change the opinion of someone that doesn’t like the style. I believe that sours are like IPAs for people that haven’t tried very much of the style. When someone first tries IPAs they tend to be overwhelmed by the hoppiness and intense bitterness, and the same concept applies with sours. Not all beer drinkers are used to the mouth-puckering sourness you get from some sours and that can turn people off. By creating the Sour Beer Project Series, Kannah Creek Brewing Company set out on a mission to help introduce people to sour beers. Read More
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