Mountain
Only in Colorado Does the Governor’s Residence Host a Beer Festival
August 22, 2017 | Zoe Lanterman
The golden rays of the Colorado setting sun cast shadows upon laughing faces at this year’s Brews and Bites event. Set to the backdrop of the Governor’s sprawling backyard garden, some of Colorado’s finest breweries and dining establishments were paired together to bring event goers unique and flavorful tasting experiences while mingling with Governor Hickenlooper himself.
Elevation Beer Company | Elevation Pilsner
August 22, 2017 | Sue Bjorkman
Created for celebration—that’s the genesis of Elevation Pilsner. And it shows. It may not seem like the reason for creating a beer would make a difference in the taste, but somehow it does. It’s a light gold, thirst-quenching beer with surprising bursts of fruity (is that honeysuckle?) and earthy flavors. With an IBU level of 40, it’s more of a happy beer than a hoppy one. And that’s alright with me.
Elevation Beer Company opened their doors in Poncha Springs (“Crossroads of the Rockies”) in Chaffee County, Colorado in 2012. When it found itself doing very well indeed four years later, the brewers said, “Hey, let’s celebrate!” For brewers, the height of celebration is getting really creative by unleashing their considerable chemist and artist skills.
BREAKING | 2017 GABF’s New, Returning & Missing Breweries
August 19, 2017 | Tristan Chan 1
Each year one of the most exciting aspects of the Great American Beer Festival is the ability to explore and sample some of the country’s best new breweries that have emerged on the scene. Additionally, it can be equally as rewarding to revisit some familiar faces you may only get to try once each year at the country’s largest beer showcase. However with the growing nature of the festival, and the Brewer’s Association’s move to a lottery system, we also tend to lose some familiar friends. As we’ve done each year, we’ve broken down the new / returning breweries as well as those who sadly aren’t coming back for this year’s Great American Beer Festival.
BREAKING | 2017 Great American Beer Festival List of Attending Breweries
August 18, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Over 800 Breweries. 4 Sessions. 3 Days. Nearly 4000 beers. 60,000 attendees. This year’s Great American Beer Festival is back and primed for its 36th Anniversary. The field has finally been set, and we … Read More
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | August 16, 2017
August 16, 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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Denver Rare Beer Tasting IX Pour List Will Make You Drool
August 15, 2017 | Tristan Chan
More than 60 of America’s leading craft breweries have committed to take part in the Ninth Annual Denver Rare Beer Tasting to raise funds for the Pints for Prostates campaign. This June we shared the initial brewery lineup, which already whet our palates and today we’ve got the full pour list. All we can say is, hold on to your butts.
Woods Boss Brewing Brings Outdoor Escape to Downtown Denver
August 11, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Nestled in the underbrush of Denver’s thicket of cranes and sprouting skyscrapers, lies a different kind of forestry. Woods Boss Brewing, who’s nondescript exterior unit on the outskirts of Downtown Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood, opens into a log cabin-esque interior, reminiscent of the same kind of vacation lodges one could find dotting the mountain sides of the Rockies, Smokies or Appalachians.
Woods Boss Brewing, which officially opens to the public today at 5pm, aims to brew a wide variety of styles to provide a little something for everyone.”Our focus is high quality beer and that can range anywhere from traditional to completely esoteric beers, that transcend any one style,” noted co-founder Jordan Fink.
New Belgium Brewing Group Acquires San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing Company
August 10, 2017 | Chea Franz
There is never a dull moment in the world of craft beer. Today, it was announced that a group led by New Belgium Brewing Company has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing as part of a bankruptcy proceeding. This partnership will be a majority-owned subsidiary of New Belgium, with Elysian founder Dick Cantell as well as Belgian lambic producer Oud Beersel as minority partners. Both Magnolia locations, their existing brands and staff, will continue to operate, working alongside Magnolia founder Dave McLean, who is included in the partnership. This will be Cantwell’s first brewing project since leaving Elysian in April of 2015.
Sneak Preview: New Belgium’s Specialty Brands & Single Foeder Oscar No. 65
August 10, 2017 | Chea Franz
A little over a month ago, we reported on New Belgium’s decision to reimagine their specialty brands with the suspension of their popular Lips of Faith series and the implementation of their Wood Cellar Reserve series. Two weeks ago while attending the debut of Le Kriek Noir, the first entry in their new cork & cage Wood Cellar Reserve line, we were also treated to a sneak preview of what’s coming down the pipeline as well as a familiar brand that will also receive some fresh new packaging.
On Tuesday New Belgium Brewing Company announced that the second beer from its highly anticipated Wood Cellar Reserve series will be released this upcoming Saturday. At 8.5% ABV, single Foeder Oscar No. 65 is an unblended dark sour that has been maturing for 12 months in a 100 percent Missouri white oak foeder. According to the brewery, the beer pours dark walnut red with subtle notes of vanilla and coconut. These notes play beautifully with notes of plum skin and cherry Coca-Cola. This is a first run through using this foeder and only fresh beer will touch the American oak for the first time, thus the flavors for this release cannot be replicated—making this release truly special. Read More
Upslope Brewing | Champagne Saison with Nelson Sauvin
August 10, 2017 | Chea Franz
Sometimes tap rooms can act as testing grounds that can bring unassuming beers to the forefront, allowing for crowd pleasing favorites that otherwise wouldn’t be canned and distributed to share in some of the spotlight. Upslope Brewing’s Tap Room series is just that, offering a rotating series in which larger batches of popular tap room beer is brewed — split between kegs and cans, and then once it’s gone; that’s it for the year. Previous releases in 2017 have included Strawberry Mint IPA, Peanut Butter Porter and Hefeweizen. I was able to get my hands on its Champagne Saison with Nelson Sauvin, a beer that I like to call “fancy beer for outdoorsy folk.”
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | August 9, 2017
August 9, 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.
Read More
Brewery Showcase | Horse & Dragon Brewing
August 9, 2017 | Chea Franz 2
Tucked away in an industrial part of town near the old Fort Collins Airport, you’ll find a bright red building, originally an airplane hanger, and now a family-run brewery called Horse & Dragon Brewing. Inside, long community tables and round tops casually welcome you to put your phone away and have a seat. There are no TVs, live bands, or food trucks for entertainment. Instead, the brewery welcomes you to come in, grab a beer, chat with some friendly patrons or staff, and enjoy the moment. And immediately, you will feel welcome. There is an inexplicable vibe that Horse & Dragon exudes, that can only be attributed to owners Carol and Tim Cochran. Their love of craft beer and the Fort Collins community is poured into the brewery and here is their story. Read More
Linked by Libations: The Ark Valley Libation Society Reboots
August 7, 2017 | Sue Bjorkman
In most small towns, it’s a given that everybody knows everybody’s business. This is a bummer when you’re trying to get away with something but is entertaining when someone else is. But for the Ark Valley Libation Society (AVLS), this small town phenomenon totally works in their favor. For this group of craft libation experts – four breweries, a winery and two distilleries – everybody’s business is everybody’s business.
Or as Andy Astor of Elevation Beer Company and AVLS vice president says, “Rising tides raise all boats.”
Hall Brewing Co. | Juicy Peach Blonde Ale
August 7, 2017 | Kelsey Verdier
It’s official: Colorado peach season is here! While some associate late summer/early fall with blood oranges and others count the days to pumpkin spice weather, I hold out for those … Read More
What the Funk!? Invitational Announces 2017 Breweries & Event Date
August 4, 2017 | Chea Franz
Denver’s premiere festival, What the Funk!? Invitational showcasing wild, spontaneous, sour and barrel-aged beers returns Wednesday October 4 at The Studios at Overland Crossing. Over the years, the events surrounding The Great American Beer Festival have become just as popular and successful as the headlining event itself, and What the Funk!? always ranks at the top of our list as well. Read More
Colorado Brewers Weigh in on Session Beers
August 4, 2017 | Tristan Chan
It should come as no surprise that most frequently, when given the choice, brewers typically reach for easy-drinking sessionable beers over their big boozy counterparts. All week long we’ve profiled the rise of Session beers, generally categorized as beers 5% in ABV or lower, as well as a preview of this weekend’s Sesh Fest, a celebration of Session beers. Sesh Fest features over 50 breweries, food trucks, lawn games, screen printing, water games, a shandy tent, slushie station and much more. Now hear from the brewers themselves!
Beer Showcase | Avery Brewing Ginger Sour
August 4, 2017 | Mathew Powers
August 5, 2017 marks 24 years of brewing for Avery Brewing. To commemorate the achievement, Avery released Twenty Four Imperial IPA — a stellar beer, to be sure. But, the biggest news emerging from the Boulder-based brewery in 2017 involved its decision to substantially alter the beer portfolio by saying goodbye to old standbys and instead concentrating more on barrel aging. Hence, it behooved us at PorchDrinking to look at one of its latest Botanical & Barrel releases, Ginger Sour, while simultaneously raising our pint glasses and exclaiming, “Happy Anniversary, Avery!”
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National IPA Day | Mountain Region Roundup
August 3, 2017 | PorchDrinking.com Staff
What consists of the mountain region of the United States, if you didn’t know, is a highly contested debate. What we at PorchDrinking.com consider the mountain states are Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. Most of the natives from any of these states use the Rocky Mountains as a directional point of either east or west and will happily bring a 6-pack of our favorite IPAs on camping trips or hikes.
Here’s a small dent in the IPAs the mountain region–and us at PorchDrinking–like to call “local favorites.”
PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat | August 2, 2017
August 2, 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.
Read More
2017 Sesh Fest Pour List & Ticket Giveaway
August 1, 2017 | Tristan Chan
Yesterday we detailed the rise in popularity of approachable, easy-drinking session beers. From Vienna lagers to pilsners, Berliners to Irish dry stouts, kolsches to session IPAs, just because these styles may be low in ABV, doesn’t mean they lose out on flavor.
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