Brew Gentlemen | DoubleMex

Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout | ABV: 9.9%

Brew Gentlemen’s bottle release of DoubleMex took place on Saturday, September 17, 2016. This was my first ever bottle release that I have attended so I made sure I did my research on the event. I followed BG on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and even signed up for their newsletter (pssh stalk much?!) just so that I could stay current with the brewery.

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Six Pennsylvania Beers for Yuengling Defectors

Beer drinkers in 32 states may have never been exposed to D.G. Yuengling & Son, but the Brewers Association distinction of craft independent brewers, the North Eastern regional brewing legend (especially in Pennsylvania) is currently the country’s largest craft brewery. This family-owned brewing company’s Pottsville location began production in 1829 and is the oldest continuously operating brewery in America. Fifth-generation owner Dick Yuengling made waves recently by informally endorsing Donald Trump during Eric Trump’s visit to the brewery on Oct. 25, which led to a flood of Yuengling defectors, because you know… politics.

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Pennsylvania Beer Law Reforms

The last major liquor law reform in Pennsylvania came just after Prohibition. Suffice it to say, that purchasing beer, wine or liquor in the Commonwealth could be a confusing undertaking. If you wanted to purchase a case of beer, a 6-pack, and a bottle of wine, you would have to go to three separate stores. Three. Beer in volumes greater than 192 fluid ounces had to be purchased at distributors, while 6-packs and 12 packs were only sold in bars, restaurants, bottle shops and certain grocery stores. Liquor and wine are sold only at the state-owned “Fine Wines and Good Spirits” stores. The system was antiquated, inconvenient and confusing. Luckily, starting last year, a series of reforms began to update the Pennsylvania beer laws.

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The Veil Brewing Company | Child Support

ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 25

In my experience, there has been no brewery to grow faster from its amazing quality and devoted fanbase than The Veil Brewing Company. Thirsty audiences would flock across the state to Richmond every Tuesday to get their hands on The Veil’s collection of canned jewels. Those of us familiar with the East Coast trading scene would see The Veil’s collection of juicy, New England-style IPAs to give them a breakthrough of success on the level of Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Vermont or Tree House Brewing Company in Massachusetts.

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Coney Island Brewing | Hard Root Beer

ABV: 5.8%

A nostalgic fave is coming back–hard. Root Beer is definitely one of those new craft beer-craze styles I’ve been hesitant to try. Mainly, I am not a huge soda drinker. However, I’v always loved a cold, rich, full-bodied birch beer whether it be on a hot, summer day or cool, autumn evening. So, if you fall into the “I’m new to craft beer” or “I like to try everything” or simply “I need a wow-factor for my taste-buds”, I’d suggest giving this one a go!

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Vinyl and Beers | Beatles or Elvis?

Once a month, the Vinyl and Beers crew will pose a musical question and, with all the inspiration a couple of good beers can provide, share our thoughts via pairings of records and brews. This month’s question comes from esteemed music-lover and director Quentin Tarantino: In a scene deleted from Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman’s Mia posits that everyone can be classified as a Beatles person or an Elvis person, and all other musicians can be divided into one of those two categories. In theory, Beatles folks tend to appreciate the integrity of the musical creation process, while Elvis admirers are wooed by showmanship and the characters that create the music.

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BREAKING | Kirin Acquires Stake in Brooklyn Brewery

Earlier today, it was announced that Kirin Holdings Company Limited and its subsidiary Kirin Brewing Company have concluded a partnership agreement with Brooklyn Brewery, through which they have acquired a 24.5% stake in the New York-based brewery.

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Tired Hands Brewing Company | Ourison

It’s been hotter than Hansel in Los Angeles the past few weeks and when the temperatures rise, I start moseying into the sour/saison realm for refreshment. Luckily, I had a bottle of Tired Hands Brewing Company Ourison to help cool me. Straight out of Ardmore, Pennsylvania, I enjoy Tired Hands for its unfiltered yet refined farmhouse and sour ales that regularly have unusual style and ingredient combos. For instance, Woodlahands, a Flanders oud bruin with mushrooms added, is an example of the type of beer that emanates from the Tired Hands Fermentaria, and I’m all about it.

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Stillwater Artisanal Ales | Hopvine Bling

“Ever since I left the city to collab with Hudson Valley Brewery, you got a reputation for yourself now.”   – Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Stillwater Artisanal Ales out of Baltimore, Maryland and Hudson Valley Brewery out of Beacon, New York released a collaboration beer earlier this year inspired by, you guessed it, Drake! If you’re not familiar with Drake’s work as a musician and artist, you’ve no doubt seen these hilarious dancing GIFs. If you haven’t, well, that can only mean one thing. You probably have a life and don’t sit around laughing your ass off to dancing GIFs like I do. Let’s talk beer. Read More

Event Preview | Lickinghole Creek 3rd Year Anniversary Party and Magnificent Pagan Beast Release

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is the definitive example of farmhouse brewing on a breathtaking scale one has to see to believe. This 290-acre vibrant farmland nestled in Goochland, Virginia grows hops, fruits, barley and herbs to create a fantastic catalog of beers ranging from IPAs to Russian imperial stouts. Most Virginians love their reputation for creating barrel-aged behemoths contained in gorgeous 750 mL bottles that feature stunning label art and memorable liquid. So how fitting is it that the largest farmhouse brewery in the Commonwealth of Virginia creates the biggest beer in the state’s history?

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Trillium Brewing | Skimpy Sparrow

ABV: 5.4%

Two months ago, I had the pleasure of traveling to Boston with my wonderful girlfriend. It was our very first time going and we were able to stay with our amazing friend, Jackie. The great thing about Jackie, besides having two super adorable dogs and living in Salem, is the fact that she is a beer lover just like us. So we spent the better time of five days exploring the East Coast for craft beer and fresh lobsters; yum! Nothing pairs better on a hot day than fresh caught lobster and a cold beer. Throughout our mini vacation we were able to try numerous new breweries and even attended the Microbrewery Invitation. All brews considered, one brewery stood out to us above all others: Trillium Brewing (including its Skimpy Sparrow American Pale Ale, or APA).

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Event Preview | Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest

It’s that time of year again! Something about fall makes it perfect for drinking an amber lager and listening to beerhall music among several thousand of your closest friends. For many, making the trip to Munich for Oktoberfest may be a financial or logistical impossibility, but there is still hope! The Oktoberfest at the Reading Liederkranz in Reading, Pennsylvania, aims to recreate those traditions and warm, cozy feelings of Gemütlichket right here on the East Coast.

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2016 GABF Pour List Preview

With 775+ breweries in attendance and 3,500+ beers available for sampling, the dazzling array of choices at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival could overwhelm even the most seasoned beer enthusiasts. Are you looking for all the sours? IPAs? Barleywines? Look no more!

Continuing one of our favorite GABF traditions, we reached out to every brewery attending the festival this year to get a preview of what they will be pouring. We hope our exclusive pour list preview will give you a head start on planning the best route possible through the maze of GABF breweries in order to gain the best beer for your buck. Read More

Craft Beer News | Rhinegeist Expands to Massachusetts

Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist is headed for Massachusetts.

The “Ghost of the Rhine” brewery that breathed life into the old Cincinnati brewing district resides in the old Moerlein bottling plant (1895) – a facility so large it hosts motorcycle shows, dances, concerts, and wiffle ball tournaments. But, even that expansive space wasn’t large enough to contain Rhinegeist. The brewery needed to expand, and Massachusetts is where it is landing.

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Devils Backbone Brewing Company | The Family Beer Project

Devils Backbone Brewing Company may be best known for its Germanic, lager-centric catalog, but the brewery also takes time to put unique beers into the market. Nearly every season, Devils Backbone releases up to four new beers ranging from common styles to experimental fusions, and the Family Beer Project is an example of that. So it’s safe to say that whether I’m heading to my favorite bottle shop or Costco, I’ll be able to satisfy the intrepid beer fan within.

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Ultimate 6er | Manassas Beer Love

Instead of just attending the Bands, Brews and Barbecue event on September 10th in Manassas, Virginia, my husband and I decided to volunteer and get to know some of our neighbors (who also happen to love music, beer and smoked meats).

It was a sweltering Saturday for the 6th year of the event, which was again located in Old Town Manassas, near its picturesque small-town train station, Civil War museum and local bars and causal restaurants. Despite the heat, folks turned out; we passed out wrist bands, glasses and sent eager imbibers on their ways. Read More

Manayunk Brewing Co. | Coconut Crunch Porter

ABV: 6.0% | IBU: 30

Growing up most of us got very familiar with the taste of peanut butter; it was put on our sandwiches, paired with apples and hopefully … Read More

2 Days, 2 Nights | NYC Craft Beer Scene

Ah, New York City. You’ve made it! Even if only for a weekend. As you read our guide, keep in mind that although we have enough recs to heavily stack your stay with activities, NYC is best enjoyed in small doses. Pace yourself to what feels doable, OR, do it BIG style. Read More

Old Bust Head Brewing Co. | English Style Pale Ale

ABV: 5.6% | IBU: 21

Old Bust Head Brewing Co. has appeared on taps throughout bars in my new hometown and because it’s made in Warrenton, which isn’t far from me, I knew I had to give it a shot. At my glorious Harris Teeter, I bought a 6-pack of their English-style pale ale, interested in both the beer but also the beer category itself — I’ve circled around English pale ales, but never dove into the style. Read More

Dogfish Head | SeaQuench Ale

ABV: 4.9 | IBU: 10

Dogfish Head has a knack for marking time — 60, 90 and 120-minute intervals. But, in the case of SeaQuench Ale, it’s not mere minutes that matter, it’s centuries. Five hundred years ago, the German brewing purity law, or Reinheitsgebot, gave birth to the prominence of the German lager we’ve all come to know and love. Sea Quench Ale honors that anniversary by simultaneously celebrating German brewing and ignoring that law.

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