Allagash Brewing Co. | Little Grove Sparkling Session Ale

Welcome to a new year: You made it. Although the past year turned out far, far different from anything anyone could have imagined, some things remain the same. One consistency, in particular, is the anticipation of a fresh start the new year brings. Whether celebrating with loved ones or hunkered down at home, every New Year’s Eve bubbles over with eagerness, hope, reflection and new goals.

In 2020, many learned the importance of self-care in a way that the onslaught of viral blogs and articles could never have accomplished. Self-care takes shape in many different forms and looks and feels different for everyone. With a year filled with unprecedented events and challenges, carrying that self-care energy forward is undeniably a part of this year’s beginning. One avenue some may take to accomplish this goal is to be more cognizant of the food and beverages consumed. If the idea of thoroughly drying out your cabinets does not “spark joy,” Allagash Brewing Company’s Little Grove sparkling session ales offer a lighter step in that direction.
Read More

2020 Utah Best in Beer Year-End Honors

Well, 2020 was certainly one for the books! And, while most of these year-end reports could go on about how difficult the year has been, there is a lot to celebrate. Of course, with lockdowns, restrictions, and curfews all contributing to a down year, we are happy to say that our local breweries have so far made it through by weathering the elements and persevering.

Read More

Colorado Beer Beat | Bi-Weekly Beer Release Guide 12/31

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction, and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.

As we wind down the final hours of 2020, you may feel like cracking a beer to celebrate the start of a new, more hopeful year. The craft beer community lost many great breweries to the pandemic this year, but there are still countless breweries that need your support — now more than ever. Take a look below and discover a wide selection of canned beers that can help you ring in 2021. Happy New Year!

Read More

The History Behind Riot | Revolution Brewing

Good beer tells a story. A brewer could be inspired by a personal experience or possibly by their surroundings. For Riot, it is the latter. The city of Chicago has a dense and complex history. Chicago is known for major historical events such as The Great Chicago Fire, The Columbian Exposition (shout out to the amazing book Devil in the White City), and the Haymarket Affair. But, the story behind this Revolution Brewing beer is hidden in the depths of history.

Read More

5 Questions with Co-Owner & Head Brewer of Athentic Brewing Co.

While Athentic Brewing might be the most recent member of the Athens, GA craft beer scene to open in August 2020, they certainly are not strangers to brewing. Or to setbacks. For anyone who doesn’t know, though, take my word when I say that many people would have likely called it quits before opening. Fortunately for the Classic City beer scene, Paul Skinner and Mark Johnson didn’t quit. I sat down with Paul and head brewer Chris Willis over a beer (Insubedience Black IPA) to discuss all things Athentic and what it meant to be part of the growing Athens beer scene.

Read More

21st Amendment Brewery Celebrates 20 Years

How many breweries have taken this route? Start as a San Francisco brewpub in 2000; add contract brewing in Minnesota to the mix in 2008; in 2015, when the time is right, build the first production facility in San Leandro. Read More

PorchDrinking’s 12 Beers of Christmas 2020

The holidays are a season for revelry and joy. Few things do more to bring those qualities out than good beer, and few things express them more beautifully than song. So this year, plan your good tidings and cheer by taking inspiration from the classic carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” We may not have much need for seven actual swans a-swimming, but here are some great beers that call to mind the song’s lyrics and will have you as jolly as ol’ Saint Nick himself.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | December 11, 2020

December took decades to get here this year, but now it’s speeding by at an ungodly rate. The next few weeks are going to continue this trend I fear. I think I need a beer now in preparation and probably a few when the end of the year does come. The 2021-22 NBA season is right around the corner. Cyberpunk 2077 dropped yesterday. The Mandalorian is every Friday, and Season 4 of Netflix’s Big Mouth is only a week old. There’s plenty of content to fill your time off, so fill a mug with some cider or a spiked eggnog and let’s get the holiday celebrations started. While you get those cocktails going, here is What We’re Drinking.

Read More

Colorado Beer Beat | Bi-Weekly Beer Release Guide 12/10

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction, and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.

Now that the holidays are in full swing, you’re probably wondering what you should pick up to drink as you’re wrapping gifts…or while you’re waiting for the holidays to be finished. Well look no further! Keep scrolling to find out all of the newest releases as we approach Christmas.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | December 4, 2020

December is here, so let’s light the trees and count down the days until 2020 are over. This week started with a wintry mix, which is rare in Georgia, but brought a week’s worth of surprises. An elf seemingly wandered from the North Pole to my house as decoration. From the string lights on most surfaces, to the garland-wrapped bar car, I think I’m only missing the sleigh and reindeer. Maybe those are coming in the next few weeks? Until we get there, here is What We’re Drinking.

Read More

Colorado Beer Beat | Black Friday Week Beer Release Guide

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction, and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursday’s to find out what’s new in the Colorado beer scene.

With the holidays kicking off this week, now’s the time to find out what new release is the most interesting to you for your next holiday party. Take some time to peruse this page to see when and where all these drops are happening for Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend.

Additionally, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5th as our friends at Barquentine Brewing will be hosting a Holiday Toy Drive from 1-6pm. Barquentine is working with Denver Dream Center to help provide gifts for over 10,000 Denver kids this year and are seeking unwrapped gifts for kids aged 0-18. Barquentine will also be donating 20% of all sales during the event. Come out and help make a difference during this difficult year.

Everyone here at PorchDrinking.com wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Read More

The Blackest Friday with Black Calder Brewing Co.

Black Calder Brewing, a new brewery opening in Michigan, launches on Black Friday. As the first Black-owned brewery in Michigan, owners Terry Rostic and Jamaal Ewing recognize how significant this is for representation and diversity in craft beer. PorchDrinking chatted by email with Rostic and Ewing to find out more about Black Calder Brewing and what to expect from the brewery.

Read More

Yakima Chief Hops Announces the Pink Boots Blend for 2021

Typically the ladies of Pink Boots Society (PBS) come together at the Great American Beer Festival for the Annual Hop Rub. The tradition began in 2017 when PBS partnered with Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) to bring the best of their hop harvest, carefully laid out on tables for attendees to smell, touch and taste, with the goal of selecting the annual Pink Boots Society hop blend.

Read More

Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery Re-Imagines Timeless Brewing Traditions

Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery in Waterford, VA sits on 30 acres of rolling Virginia farmland approximately 50 miles west of the urban bustle of Washington, DC. This working farm is a beautiful spot to enjoy a pint in the repurposed, 200-year-old tasting room and century-old brewhouse barns nestled amidst the charming bucolic countryside. These are the parts of Wheatland Spring most guests experience, but they only hint at the revolutionary approach to brewing that is blossoming within these unassuming rustic walls.

Read More

Cheers, Yinz! A Beer Fest That Gives Back to Breweries

The culture of craft beer has always had a strong connection to the communities in which it thrives. For many of us, our neighborhood brewery is far more than merely a place that produces the things we enjoy drinking–it is a community center, a gathering place, and an intrinsic part of our daily lives, not to mention a foundational element for hobbies, relationships, and fostering a sense of place. Enter Cheers, Yinz!, a beer festival built to help beloved local breweries weather the economic (and emotional) effects of decreased sales and temporary closures.

Read More

An Interview with GABF’s Biggest Winners, Sun King

When one thinks about the state of Indiana, a few things may immediately come to mind. Corn, basketball and the show “Parks and Recreation” are all likely answers but for many, craft beer is not necessarily one of them. That is a shame, considering that at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival competition, the Hoosier State picked up an impressive 10 medals and was home to the brewery with the highest number of winning beers overall: Sun King Brewing.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | November 6, 2020

Wow. Just wow. What a week it has been. I probably don’t need to tell you about the elections that are going on across the country. As of the moment of this writing, we’re all still waiting for the votes to be counted in Nevada and Arizona, as well as in Pennsylvania and Georgia. Needless to say, it’s been a long week and I think it’s probably best to keep this one short and sweet. Here’s to one of the most participated in elections in our history, and here is What We’re Drinking. Cheers.

Read More

Lo Rez Brewing | El Paseo Pale Ale

Why do people love craft beer? You could narrow it down to a few major factors: Quality ingredients, community support and promoting a local economy. Those reasons are why people gravitate to craft beer, to be a part of something bigger. If any beer can hold all of that under its belt, it’s El Paseo Pale Ale from south side Chicago-based Lo Rez Brewing. Read More

Veteran or Current Military? Locavore Beer Works Wants to Buy You a Beer

If you ask, most veterans are willing to share at least some details of their military service with you. However, Locavore Beer Works co-owner Jason Reinhardt isn’t allowed to say very much.

Read More

Phase Three Brewing to Deliver Halloween Beer Bag to Limited Areas

If this year’s Halloween has you bummed, Phase Three Brewery in Lake Zurich, IL is here to cheer you up! This year to spread Halloween cheer, Phase Three is making local deliveries to limited Chicagoland zip codes in the form of Trick or Treat beer bags. This might be beer fans’ last chance to get Phase Three’s popular Bushel of Apples. Order yours before it’s gone! Read More