Ultimate 6er | The Evil Villains Prefer Dark Beer

In the comics and movies, evil villains spend both day and night obsessing with how to topple our lives and destroy the good guys. However, after a long day of plotting and scheming, these villains still need a beer to help unwind. As you would imagine, many of them prefer brooding Stouts in one form or another: The darker side draws them in and makes them feel warm.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | December 13, 2019

The year is quickly coming to an end, which means it’s time for all the holiday celebrations. Naturally, you’ll need a list of great beers to take with you to all the festivities. Luckily your PorchDrinking team has you covered. Here is a list of the perfect holiday beers to help you celebrate the season.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | July 19, 2019

Depending on how you look it at, summer is just about halfway over. If that isn’t cause for a beer or two, then I don’t know what is. But while we still have another half to go, let’s send it off in style and have some great beers. Here’s what we’re drinking this week. Read More

Ultimate 6er | “Cuz I Love You” California Women in Beer

Melissa Viviane Jefferson was born April 27th 1988. Almost 31 years to that date, she would drop her 3rd studio album, “Cuz I Love You” under her stage name of Lizzo. The album is a beautiful and fun ode to womanhood. She has willingly and knowingly set America up for a summer of putting her record on repeat. Since her first album in 2013, Lizzo has been putting out feminist, body-positive songs that make you feel in her own words “Good As Hell”. Her songs scream female-empowerment; and we are here for it.

Read More

JuicyBrews West Fest Brought Out the Rarities Over 420 Weekend

April 20th started out overcast and gloomy in Oakland, CA. With a chilly wind blowing off the Bay, it didn’t seem like the sun was going to come out to … Read More

Event Preview | Juicy Brews WestFest

On April 20, 2019, Hop Culture Magazine will return to Oakland for the second year in a row to host Juicy Brews WestFest Craft Beer Festival. Hosted in partnership with Drake’s Brewing Company at Drake’s Dealership ( 2325 Broadway, Oakland, CA), the crew has put together an impressive lineup. 

Read More

What We’re Drinking | March 1, 2019

Where did the time go?! How is it already March?! I’m always the one that forgets February is a “short” month (28 versus 30 days) so I totally forgot to throw our article together and here we are – Saturday! I promise to do better guys but today is my Thursday (yay Industry week) so I am now off to provide tours of the brewery where I work. Grab a cold beer and see what we’re drinking.

Read More

Brewery Showcase | Drake’s Brewing Co.

Drake’s Brewing Co. was founded back in 1989 by Roger Lind in what was half of an old Chrysler Dodge factory powerhouse in San Leandro, CA. Back then, the brewery was named after Lind, Lind Brewing Company, and he brewed English-style ales. Lind built the original gravity-fed brewing system himself (10 barrels) but he left the brewery in 1998. Drake’s was owned by JBR Coffee Company from 1998-2008 and then John Martin, who Lind used to previously work for at Triple Rock Brewery, purchased Drake’s in 2008.

Read More

The Weekly Buzz | June 29 – July 5

This week has been an absolute nightmare. I have been working ridiculous hours at my day job, and the cell service in my office isn’t even good enough to load Twitter. Luckily, Wednesday was Independence Day, so I had plenty of holiday posts to choose from. Prepare to feel very patriotic. It’s time to crack open The Weekly Buzz.
Read More

Bike Dog | Nameless Brut IPA

Summertime in Sacramento is hot. This coming weekend, it’s going to be triple digits and everywhere from the industrial park of West Sacramento, through the highway 50 corridor, up into the foothills, beer lovers will be flocking to their favorite brewery to find some shade and enjoy a brew or two.

If you find yourself at Bike Dog, you may notice a new subset of the ever-loved IPA, their Nameless Brut. Compared to the loud, bold and anything but subtle juicy IPA’s that have been all the rage for the past couple of years, the Extra Brut IPA is a super dry, clean-cut IPA that is crisp, clear and offers the perfect blank canvas to feature the almighty hop.

Read More

The Weekly Buzz | May 4 – 10

I need to wake up at 4 A.M. to go to the gym. I’m not sure that this is the best way to live my life. I should be staying up late, drinking beer and waking up for work at the last possible second. What’s happening to me?! Anyway, here’s a bunch of stuff I found on Twitter and Instagram. Just because I’m not drinking, doesn’t mean you can’t have your own Weekly Buzz!
Read More

What We’re Drinking | April 13, 2018

Did any of you get a chance to celebrate National Beer Day? I was working nights and was too exhausted to even think about beer. My fellow PorchDrinkers, however, poured a few amazing beers down their throats. It goes without saying that I am jealous. Very jealous. This is What We’re Drinking.
Read More

Cask Taproom & Wine Bar Grand Opening March 23, 2018 (Berkeley)

Brian Sheehy and Doug Dalton own three Cask Store locations: the flagship downtown on 3rd and Market, and another spot in the old Rincon Postal Building near the Embarcadero, and Cask on College in Rockridge. Sheehy and Dalton own a handful of other great bars in the Bay Area, including Bourbon and Branch, Pagan Idol and Local Edition. They have been influential to the cocktail scene in this area for the past decade and many great bartenders who have gone on to open their own establishments came up through the ranks of this company. Cask Taproom and Wine Bar is the name of the new drinking establishment within the Cask on College Shop. I spoke with taproom manager and beer buyer Josha Baker about the history of Cask, herself, and the Grand Opening on March 23, 2018.
Read More

Drake’s Brewing Co. | Tart Breaker Sour Blonde

Drake’s Brewing Co has been releasing a steady stream of 500ml bottles of specialty brews this year and their newest, Tart Breaker, is out to steal your heart. Members of Drake’s ’89 Club, named after the year they were founded, are able to snap up bottles a week before the public.

Read More

Drake’s Brewing Co | Hopocalypse (Green Label) DIPA

ABV: 9.3% | IBU: 101

Some people may claim that West Coast IPAs are dead, but not according to Drake’s Brewing Company. While it does offer a few hazy IPAs, Drake’s Brewing pumps out a heavy dose of bitter, West Coast brews during San Francisco Beer Week. Hop Heads rejoice each February when this San Leandro brewery unveils its Hopocalypse lineup — each year more bitter than the last. Many fans even line up outside the brewery as early as 3 a.m. in anticipation for the release. Read More

Beer & Book Club | #GIRLBOSS

Welcome to the third installment of the Beer & Book Club series! I love the idea that each month a new individual can highlight a great read and a delicious brew to go along with it. When one pictures the craft beer world a few common themes repeat: beards, barrel-aged and hops (lots of hops). That is why for my first Beer & Book report I wanted to highlight some serious girl power. Read More

Drake’s Brewing Company | Denogginizer

ABV: 9.75% | IBU: 90

Drake’s Brewing Company, founded by Roger Lind, started in 1989 with two stainless steel dairy tanks, a fifteen barrel kettle, one fermenter, and a few British pub cellar tanks. The goal was simple: create good English-style ales. Eventually with the addition of fresh Pacific Northwest hops, top quality malt, and a neutral California ale yeast strain, the ales started to take a more distinct, west coast style. Years passed, recipes refined and evolved and in 2004 Drake’s created Denogginizer, a perfect nod to their English style roots along with a toast to their West Coast hop evolution, tying their past to their present.

Read More