Hype can be a very potent weapon in the craft beer world. All it takes is for a handful of beer aficionados to single out a particular nectar as something truly special. Just like that, a beer craze is born. Of course, there is one very big drawback to this process: beer crazes rarely...  more »

The concept of Mikkeller can be very difficult to describe to novices. For anyone familiar with the Mikkeller experience, really think about how to convey it. How do you describe the calculated insanity? We have all experienced Mikkeller brews that pucker faces, scrunch eyebrows, stea...  more »

Founded in 1984, BridgePort is Oregon's oldest craft brewery. Those are some really big shoes to fill and they come with a ton of responsibility, especially considering that Portland held the title of Beer City USA for many years. Much of Portland's status as a craft beer destination...  more »

These days it can be quite difficult for a brewery to set itself apart. Crafting great beer used to be the only requirement, but now there are a lot of breweries out there crafting a lot of great beer, so there has to be a distinction. Some breweries choose to make it in a complicated...  more »

The Magic Hat Brewing Company out of South Burlington, Vermont is often a hit or miss brewery for beer fans. They are unafraid of venturing into uncharted territories, be it creating hybrid styles or brewing with tropical fruits. So going into any Magic Hat brew, you at least know tha...  more »

Most beer fans are intimately familiar with the Dry Irish Stout style and many don't even know it. Guinness has beyond popularized the style, but few beer drinkers can actually name another example. Known for their creamy smoothness and easy drinking nature, these beers are the pinnac...  more »

The Great Lakes Brewing Company out of Cleveland, OH caught my undivided attention last year with their amazing line of perfect beers. I started my journey with the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and have since sampled my way through their Burning River Pale Ale, Dortmunder Gold Lager, Elio...  more »

Barrel aged beers can be somewhat tricky to review because there are just so many ways the base beer can be affected. Certain styles lend themselves better to certain barrel types. Stouts are especially great candidates for barrel aging because they go into the process with a heftines...  more »

I had barely wiped the sleep from my eyes as I started my stumble through the house. The chill of the floor was a bit eye opening, and the anticipation of seeing what the chubby old home intruder had left was enough to make my stumble gain some serious speed. Though I can't swear to...  more »

When beer fans think of the Georgia craft beer scene, Terrapin out of Athens will almost certainly top the list. These guys are crafting some seriously delicious brews. They have been making a big splash in the Southeastern beer scene since releasing their first beer in 2002. Their ar...  more »