Dewey Beer Co. | Sun Camp (West Coast IPA)

Moving from San Diego to a small coastal town in Delaware was not as hard as one might imagine. Arriving to the East Coast in mid-January, I immediately missed the nearly perfect weather, but have now embraced seasonality and the beauty of change. When I find myself longing for SoCal, it’s not the sunshine, the surf or the endless summer that I am missing, it’s the beer. That is until Dewey Beer Co. released Sun Camp, a 6% West Coast IPA I now turn to when I’m California dreamin’.

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Voodoo Brewing | Hydrogen Hop Water

As Sober October quickly approaches, hopheads are scrambling to find an alternative before the fall hiatus. We come to you with Voodoo Brewing’s Hydrogen Hop Water (HHW). Crafted with natural ingredients and zero alcohol, HHW makes a great alternative not only for those just wanting to take a break but also for those health-conscious consumers looking for a hoppy alternative for any occasion.

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Off the Rails Brewing | Yolo IPA

Off the Rails Brewing is situated on historic Murphy Avenue, right by the Caltrain rail station, in Sunnyvale, California, a larger ‘burb in the South Bay area between San Francisco and San Jose. For the longest time, they were draft-only, but all that changed a few weeks ago when they began canning a few of their brews, including Yolo, their signature “fruity” IPA. Read More

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | Cold Chisel IPA

Chicago’s Maplewood Brewery & Distillery just released a new Cold IPA, Cold Chisel, that is fermented and conditioned at colder temperatures, similar to a lager. As the temps begin to drop here in the Midwest, it’s the perfect time to try this new brew from one of the best Chicago breweries. Read More

Modern Times Beer & Pueblo Vida Brewing Company | Arcosanti Fresh Hop IPA

Everyone has a favorite brewery, or a few of them. If the stars ever align and those breweries get together and brew a collaboration beer, then that’s about as good … Read More

2018 GABF Route Guide | Hoppy Beers Route

For the past month and a half our staff has been reaching out to every brewery attending the Great American Beer Festival to try to preview what they’ll be bringing to the fest. As part of that research, we’ve sifted through that list of beers to bring you a series of themed routes to help you plan for your GABF based on various styles and flavors.

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Founders Brewing Company | PC Pils

Founders Brewing Company’s PC Pils has become my summer go-to beer. I’m not certain how that came to be–I didn’t search it out. I simply picked it out one day when looking for an easy drinking brew, and was pleasantly surprised with the light, refreshing style. Before long it became the natural beer to pick up when we were looking to drink something reliable and quenching.

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Equilibrium Brewery | Fractal Citra/Galaxy IPA

Nestled in Hudson Valley, NY, lays a new brewery that has been cranking out some fantastic, flavorful and experimental beers. Founded by two MIT engineering graduates who shared a passion for homebrewing, Equilibrium Brewery began distributing their delicious beverages in the latter half of 2016. They follow the belief that beer can be better when scientific principles are followed that focus on balancing drinkability with the flavor. The beers they are brewing are inviting, just waiting for you to take the next sip. They’ve been able to channel their scientific backgrounds and love of craft beer and create something worth praising.
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Modern Times Beer | Blazing World

ABV: 6.8% | IBU: 85

Seeing that the times are what they are, you know with politics, fake news, real news, climate change, brewery buy outs, you may think that Modern Time’s hoppy amber Blazing World was named after… modern times. Not exactly. “Yeah, we definitely never intended it to be that timely of a name,” said Modern Times communication coordinator Dan Reed.

Despite how depressingly timely the name may be, the “hoppy, dank, amber” is truly an uplifting beer. “The stickiest of the icky,” as Reed described. “It’s a luxuriously hoppy amber loaded up with intemperate quantities of Nelson, Mosaic and Simcoe hops, which are some of the fruitiest, dankest hops sweet, sweet money can buy,” Reed added. Read More

Event Recap | Burnt City Brewing GroundHOP Day IPA Release Party

On a chilly February night, Chicago craft beer lovers flocked to the iconic Logan Theatre to celebrate Groundhog Day with Burnt City Brewing’s newest creation: GroundHOP Day IPA. When I walked into the lounge/bar area of Logan Theatre, I was greeted by the vinyl tunes of Cage and Aquarium productions and a packed room full of beer lovers seeking Burnt City Brewing GroundHOP Day or the other special beer offered that night, Freight Handler Milk Stout.

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Bale Breaker Brewing Company | Field 41 Pale Ale

ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 38

Recently, at a north Seattle neighborhood taproom, I overheard a patron declare her aversion to “hoppy beers.” Puzzled, I wondered if it was the hop aroma, … Read More

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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Monkish Brewing Company | Really Real Double IPA

ABV: 8.3% | IBU: 75

Beer trading has seemingly taken off in the last year or so with the increased focus on limited release brews. Treehouse Brewing and Tired Hands are brewing hugely sought after beers from the East Coast, however a contender has arisen from California, making waves with their own New England style, hazy IPAs. That brewery is Monkish Brewing Company and that beer is Really Real Double IPA. Read More

Event Recap | Milwaukee Firkin Beer Fest

Pouring rain and beer, the annual Milwaukee Firkin Beer Fest was delayed for 45 minutes. But not even the storms could hinder the event or dampen the spirits of festival goers, as attendees waited out the weather so they wouldn’t lose their spot. There was the slightest chance of lightning canceling the entire event, but mother nature took it easy. The rain settled and the gates opened. Still drizzling, Yajaira and I shared an umbrella as we sped across the numerous booths.

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Anchor Brewing Company | Go West! IPA

ABV: 6.7% | IBU: 75

In my first article for PorchDrinking.com, it only makes sense for me to write about a San Francisco IPA, more specifically Go West! IPA. Although the options are somewhat endless, with new breweries opening seemingly every week, I had to start with San Francisco’s oldest brewery. It just so happens, Anchor Brewing Company is located just a few blocks away from my home. Read More

The Six Best Beers for Summer Backpacking

You have finally reached your campsite after hiking 20 miles over rugged terrain with all of your gear on your back. A heavy band of sweat clings to your head as you finally drop your pack and begin to set up your shelter. Once you’ve eaten and settled in for the night, you reach into your pack and pull out a beer. Beer might not be as essential as food, water, shelter or clothing, but, in your modest camp, it’s nothing short of a luxury.

Since the most important criterion of a backpacking beer is portability, every beer on this list will be canned. Cans are much lighter than glass and don’t require you to pack a bottle-opener. You also do not run the risk of a can breaking and leaving dangerous shards all over the campsite. Last but not least, aluminum conducts heat faster than glass, which means they’ll get cold faster when you stick them in a creek. There are many to choose from, but, if you ask me, these are the best summer backpacking beers. Read More

Chicago Craft Brew Cruises | Brewers of the Western Suburbs

“The true history of the World is the history of great conversations in elegant rooms.” —Tyrion Lannister.

Similarly, the true history of craft beer is conversation, but in any room. Chicago Craft Beer week was a prime example, keeping me jabbing for 10 days straight. One stand-out event was the Brewers of the Western Suburbs Cruise hosted by BrewFest Partners, aboard the Mystic Blue.

It was a perfect spring day when we set sail from Navy Pier for a 3-hour long journey along beautiful Lake Michigan. With the renown Chicago skyline as our backdrop, we were catered delicious finger food, and served refreshing beer by Banging Gavel, Blue Nose, BuckleDown, Church Street, Exit Strategy, Flesk, Hopvine, Miskatonic, Nevins, Noon Whistle, Solemn Oath, and Spent Grain Society (homebrew club).
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Evil Twin Brewing | Hipster Ale

ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 45 (it took me forever to find this and and the site had no proof so… Grain of salt with this one)

While I first knew Evil Twin Brewery was amazing after my first Ashtray Heart, The New York Times’ article on the major rift between its founder Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso and his twin brother Mikkel Borg Bjerso of Mikkeller Brewery is what solidified my love of this gypsy brewery. Throughout the article, Evil Twin comes off as a loveable troll – exposing the ridiculousness that occurs when cool festers to snobbery and the quest for prestige makes you forget that in the end, this is an industry making tasty drinks for customers to enjoy and get buzzed from. It’s what inspired me to start ordering beers and buying six-packs blindly in order to expand my horizons. In my opinion at the very least, Evil Twin is the hero craft brewing deserves AND the one it needs right now. It’s got the brains and the heart. Which brings me to Hipster Ale.

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Westbrook Brewing Co. | India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.8% IBUs: 65

Making the trip to Kiawah Island, South Carolina is not something I’m new to. Whether it’s packed in a car with my family or squeezed on a plane from Denver, I’ve been there and done that. But, as a craft beer-drinking woman in my mid-20’s, I realize that there was something missing from my trips—and that something was Westbrook Brewing Co.’s India Pale Ale. Read More

Peak Organic Brewing | Summer Session

ABV: 5%

IBU: 61

Memorial Day is generally seen as the harbinger of summer. As that final Monday in May comes and goes; as barbecues galore – with their sundry … Read More