Thomas Hardy’s Ale | Vintage 2016

I remember being forced to read Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities in high school. To explain the tome’s epic verbosity, I subscribe to the myth that Charlie was paid by the word and have been permanently scarred by the experience. I mention Dickens because he would likely have been an inspiration to the British poet for whom this beer is named – Thomas Hardy. Hardy was a writer of world-renown but unfortunately, thanks to his compatriot’s writing style, there’s zero chance of me putting down Stephen King to pick up Jude the Obscure anytime soon. His namesake brew however, Thomas Hardy’s Ale, that’s a different story.
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Black Lotus Brewing Co. | Ninja Pirate Barleywine

Like many a Pirate’s doomed lusts for treasure, I’ve frequently attempted (and failed) to get my hands on Black Lotus Brewing Ninja Pirate to review it for the PorchDrinking.com audience. Winning a gold medal for best strong ale at the World Beer Cup tends to bring some competition for the bottles.

My first attempt, a week and a half after its release, failed because the beer was sold out. In my second attempt to procure a bottle of Ninja Pirate, a mere two days after the beer release, I was at least laughed at by head brewer Nick Joseph. It took one more failure before I finally got my hands on a bottle and subsequently found time to share the pride of Clawson, MI with you all. Trust me; Ninja Pirate is worth the wait.

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Elite Eight | Barleywine Style

I’ll be real honest with everyone, I don’t know much about basketball. I do, however, appreciate the fanfare and competitiveness of March Madness. I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve heard of people describing, in depth, how well their bracket was doing or how it became “busted.” If I had created a bracket, mine would most definitely rank last.

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Rankings for Goose Island’s 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout

As the calendar gets ready to turn to November there probably isn’t anyone happier than Goose Island as they get ready to release 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout. Following a tumultuous year that featured two separate refunds of four of the six variants of 2015 BCBS, the new lineup has been announced and craft beer fans around the country are getting ready for the Black Friday release.

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Brewery Showcase | Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Beneath the gaze of the iconic court jester, you’ll find a set of glass doors, which bear the number “21.” That’s 21 years of defying expectations. 252 months of eschewing style guidelines. 7,665 days (give or take a few leap days) of perfecting their craft. Read More

Lawson’s Finest Liquids & Otter Creek Brewing Co. | Double or Nothing

Collaboration has been a vital part of countless creative endeavors throughout history. The idea that multiple unique approaches can come together and produce something unique to individual intent and execution has allowed us to imagine and re-imagine countless approaches to art, music, news and just about every other facet of life. Thankfully, beer has been no exception, a perfect example being the Double or Nothing from Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Otter Creek Brewing Company.
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Event Recap | 2016 Vail Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines

This piece was written and composed by PorchDrinking.com staff Tristan Chan, Cory Pelc, Kelissa Heiber, Kara Loo, Phil Joyce, Will Dozier, and Desiree Duzich with special contribution from Brittany Werges of 303 Magazine.

In a lot of ways, looking back on the 2016 Vail Big Beers Belgians and Barleywines festival is fairly cut and dry. Everything was amazing. It really is that simple. And yet, I’d be disappointing not only myself, but more importantly organizer Laura Lodge, by leaving you with merely a singular over-the-top statement about the fest. I dare not use the word hyperbole because while my descriptions may seem gratuitous, they are one hundred percent truthful.
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Vail Big Beers Pour List & Must Tries

Cover image courtesy of vaildaily.com

AC Golden – Kriek Noir

The base sour beer was then allowed to ferment on 800lbs of Colorado grown sweet and sour … Read More

New Belgium Brewing | Blackberry Barleywine

ABV: 10% | IBU: 50

New Belgium Brewing Blackberry Barleywine is just the fruit forward jammy jam beer you needed this winter.

It should come as no surprise that New Belgium Brewing Company holds a special place in my heart. As I’ve documented before, I first fell in love with craft beer in the winter of 2009 while taking advantage of free tasters in the New Belgium Brewing Liquids Center (tap room). At the time, I was an AmeriCorps member serving the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer Co, with a living stipend that was below minimum wage. So free tasters of beer was about all the entertainment I could afford at the time.

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Georgia’s Wild Heaven Brewery Adds Tequila-Aged Twist

Georgia’s Wild Heaven brewery busts into the barrel-aged release game with a tequila twist—and a little bit of heat—with the introduction of Height of Civilization. And true to form for this growing Atlanta-area brewery, Wild Heaven delivers.

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Bell’s Brewing Co. | Saturn – The Bringer of Old Age

Bell’s Brewing Co.

Saturn – The Bringer of Old Age

Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine

ABV: 11.5%

Deep, rich, robust, and smooth. These are all flavors that make up Bell’s fifth … Read More

Peticolas Brewing Co.| The DUKE

ABV: 12% | IBU: 35

They say Texans are crazy and indeed we are. For one the weather in Texas can be quite temperamental, going from incredible warm sunny days and then dropping to freezing temps on another.

Luckily for us, the weather has been in our favor lately. So good, that it’s allowed for nights on the patio accompanied by great friends, a craft beer in hand and Cards Against Humanity mayhem. Causing for one heck of a hilarious and memorable game night! Read More

Vail Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Craft Beer’s Best Kept Secret

*This post has been updated to reflect the 2016 Vail Big Beers Event*

Laura Lodge is a pro. Checking in at a slender 5’4”, with conservative short locks, a … Read More

Perennial Artisan Ales | Vermilion Barleywine

ABV: 10% | IBU: 60

Perennial Artisan Ales’ Vermilion Barleywine is a big, sweet softy. Little to no heat from its big ABV, this is a smooth drinking English Barleywine you can drink on the dark days of winter or on a warm day while barbequing.

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21st Amendment | Lower De Boom

ABV: 11.5%
IBU: 92

I normally do not drink things out of small cans. The only things that come in small cans are energy drinks and pineapple juice. I was, however intrigued when I spotted a four pack of 21^st Amendment’s “Lower De Boom” Barleywine on an endcap. It was on sale – the deal was sealed. Read More

Evil Twin Brewing Freudian Slip

Evil Twin Brewing – Freudian Slip
ABV: 10.3%
IBU: ??? People still tabulate this bullshit?! Stop Analysing things, Sigmund!

A Freudian slip, also called parapraxis, is an error in speech, memory, or physical action that is interpreted as occurring due to the interference of an unconscious (“dynamically repressed”) subdued wish, conflict, or train of thought guided by the super-ego and the rules of correct behavior. They reveal a “source outside the speech”. The concept is thus part of classical psychoanalysis.

Blah, blah, blah . . . Outside of psychoanalysis, Freudian Slip, should only refer to a beer made with no mistake, no error, no subdued wishes, no conflicts, no trains of thought derailed . . . And if my super-ego wants to delve into a delicious American Barleywine like Freudian Slip, so be it!

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The Ultimate 6er | Barleywine

I love all things barleywine. Although I enjoy them year round, I believe that fall is the best season to sit back with a slow sipper and truly appreciate this robust style of ale. If you are like I am, handsome and mad-funny, barleywine ales stir up a slew of recollections and a certain sense of decadence. I picture a dreamy, dreary evening spent in front of the fire (insert favorite place to hang out) with a snifter of ale being slowly nipped from the glass like a whiskey or fine port. There are few greater occurences than enjoying finely crafted old ales when the weather is less than warm. Traverse the variations of booze-laden bliss with me as I highlight my Ultimate 6er of fall-friendly barleywine ales.

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Corkscrews Wine Storage of Denver | A Beer Cellar Home Away From Home

1845 W 12th Ave, Denver, CO 80204

Although they may not have “and Beer” in their moniker, they have been appropriated with that name by yours truly.

We all know much like wine, beer has the ability to age, evolve and develop complex new aromas and flavors. Think that Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine is a loaded treat right now? Try it in 10 years, when it has smoothed out into a melodious elixir commendable only by a snifter. Time, along with yeast and bacteria, can polish a beer’s rough edges and unlock its full potential—or, given a few months too many, create a liquid best sent down the drain. I found the perfect place to help me prevent most drain pours and it is right down the street from my employer. Enter Corkscrews Wine “and Beer” Storage of Denver and how they are changing the face of craft beer and long term storage.

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Southern Tier Brewing Co. | Back Burner Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale

ABV: 9.6% | IBU: 53

Southern Tier calls Back Burner an “imperial barley wine style ale.” As it turns out, barley wine is not something hobbits drink. I know, I feel completely betrayed too. It took me, like, a half an hour to get my Frodo costume together. It is, however, a super tasty beer with a respectable alcohol content. Read More