Denver Beer Co. | Drama Queen Saison Aged in Wine Barrels

ABV: 8.3%

I don’t mean to be dramatic, but I think they’ve named this beer wrong. With a name like, “Drama Queen”, you’d expect this 8.3% barrel-aged saison to be too boozy, quick to fly off the handle with overly pronounced flavors. No, she is far too balanced to be called a drama queen.

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Avery Brewing Discontinues Dictator Series in 2017, Expands Barrel Program

From IPA to BBA, craft beer continues to evolve, and Colorado’s Avery Brewing is unafraid to ride that wave of transformation and help influence its direction. In 2017, Avery Brewing will offer fans far more fermented pleasures from its Botanicals & Barrels series, as well as a add to its year-round selections. While that is exciting news for many fans of Avery, it comes with a price — a few long time favorites will have to be retired.

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Revolution Brewing | Deep Wood Series: Ryeway to Heaven

ABV: 14.5% | IBU: 20

Revolution Brewing explains its Deep Wood Series Ryeway to Heaven as perhaps a “doorway to an existential awakening, or maybe it’s just a damned fine beer.” One could argue it’s a little bit of both. This rye ale aged in rye barrels serves as the quintessential example of how the art and science of barrel-aged brewing can result in elevated deliciousness – and it’s a perfect treat for Thanksgiving and holiday festivities.

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Southern Brewing Co. | Southern Woodpile: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Finally, the season is changing. The days are shorter, the nights are cooler, and the leaves are making a quick exit from the trees. I mean let’s face it… this was an unending summer. It’s all anyone talked about. We needed low alcohol brews that were loaded with fruit, because if we drank anything heavier, we may have literally died. Or melted. Or burst into flames. It was seriously hot out there.

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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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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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Powder Keg Brewing Company | Quartet

This showcase is sponsored by Small Batch Liquors.

ABV: 7.8%

Bottle: Crown Capped 375ml

The Brewery

Powder Keg Brewing Company is a brewery and tap room in downtown Niwot, … Read More

Event Recap | Brooklyn Brewery’s Chicago Beer Mansion 2016

On August 13, 2016, Brooklyn Brewery brought their A-game to Chicago and threw down one of the more unique beer festival experiences. The Brooklyn Brewery Beer Mash, which was part of a … Read More

Paradox Beer Company | No. 40 Pineapple Upside-Down Sour

ABV: 7.6%

It’s no secret that 2016 has been quite the year for sour and wild beers; some even argue it is THE style category of the year. You can’t turn your head in a decent bottle shop without spotting a new flavored Gose, Berliner or raspberry sour blend. It is the key for many breweries to stick out in this new wave of names and labels. Read More

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

Gillian | Goose Island Beer Company

ABV 9.5 %

The sun shined brightly on a Sunday afternoon as my girlfriend and I cruised lazily the back streets of Chicago. Through some force of nature, we happened upon the Goose Island Fulton Taproom. Suddenly, those same forces guided us to a parking spot. As we opened the door, we were greeted by kind, soft and welcoming faces. Looking around inside, our DIY intuitions were stirred by the hand-made, Chicago-themed woodwork covering the walls. My eyes were drawn to a wooden barrel repurposed into a water dispenser. What a brilliant idea!

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Atom Brewing Co. | Arlo Farmhouse Inspired Ale – Batch One

Atom Brewing Co. | Arlo Farmhouse Inspired Ale – Batch One

ABV: 6.5% | IBU: 21 Bottle: 750ML corked and caged

The Brewery

Atom Brewing Company (Erie, CO) started brewing beers … Read More

Goodwood Brewing Company expands to Chicagoland area

Louisville-based Goodwood Brewing Company will begin distribution in the Chicagoland area as early as next week. It’s the first time the brewery’s beer will be available in the area.

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Brewery Showcase | Banded Oak Brewing Company (Denver, CO)

Special thanks to Stephen Adams, The Colorado Beer Geek for assistance in research for this post.

Great ideas are often born from great beer, such was the case with South … Read More

Schlafly Beer | Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

St. Louis is quietly becoming a hub for some of the country’s best craft beer. Currently Schlafly Beer is available in 13 states and Washington DC. They feature a great variety of year-round beers, seasonals and special release brews. The process of aging beers in bourbon barrels is no longer a novelty, but a norm in the craft beer industry now. Schlafly has two beers in their wood aged series and one of them is their Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

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Zipline Brewing | BA Chocolate Double Stout

Photo Courtesy of Zipline Brewing Co.

ABV: 11.5%

When Zipline Brewing Co. first opened its doors a few short years ago, I instantly became a fan. From the get-go, they were turning out solid beer in a number of styles, with many featuring a creative twist that made them unique and especially interesting for craft beer lovers. Like the sense of fun and adventure the brewery’s name suggests, these guys love to push the envelope without being reckless. The result? Some damn good beer from a place you wouldn’t expect—Lincoln, NE.

While I’m now a Denver resident surrounded by some of the country’s premiere breweries, it was still critical that I showcased the quality beer coming out of Zipline. I chose one of their latest creations, the Barrel-Aged Chocolate Double Stout, because, well, it’s amazing. Read More

The Unknown Brewing Co. | Dirty Commie Heathen

ABV: 12.4%

Unknown Brewing Co. is brewing some great beers out of their Charlotte-based brewery located on 1327 S. Mint Street. Right now, they are excited about one thing. Unknown Brewing Co. has recently released their Dirty Commie Heathen and, according to Head Brewer Brad Shell, it is even better than last year. Read More

*Updated with beer list* Event Preview | LowDown Barrel-Aged Beer Festival

Beer festivals can be amazing, but in many ways they can be overwhelming: from the ticket price to enormous crowds and even the long waits in line to catch a glimpse of the brewers of your favorite beers. Last year,  LowDown Brewery held their type of beer festival with no lines and no entry fee; just great barrel-aged beer.

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Uinta Brewing Co | Port O’ Call

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes

ABV 9.4%

Beer is an adventure! We have been incredibly lucky to have explored new beer all over this country. Craft beer has pushed the … Read More

Puff and A Pour | Oliva Cappuccino Nub Café & Oskar Blues BA Ten Fidy

It’s been a long time coming but FINALLY we have dedicated some of our ‘free’ time to talking about one of our guiltiest of pleasures, cigars AND beer. The Puff and a Pour series will showcase world-class cigars paired up with some of the finest craft brews. We aren’t professionals (we kind of are) and so much like our devotion to all things craft, it will be geared towards being fun and educational first and foremost. For our first entry into the series, we take a torch to the Cappuccino Nub Café from Oliva and pop the top on the Barrel Aged Ten Fidy from Oskar Blues.

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