The Lost Art of the Hot Toddy

Hot Toddy Tray – Columbia Distributing

When cold and flu season rears its head, many people turn to cough syrup and other over-the-counter remedies to find relief. However, did you know there’s a traditional drink that’s been consumed for over two centuries and is said to help alleviate cold symptoms? It’s called the hot toddy. Continue reading…


Best Beers for the Game

Beer- Columbia Distributing

From dedicated football fans to devoted basketball enthusiasts to true American baseball supporters, picking a game-ready beer is not always an easy task. But at Columbia Distributing, we offer a large selection of domestic, imported and craft beer to suit any palate. Keep reading to learn which styles of beer are best for the big game. Continue reading…


Top 3 Recipes to Top Up Your Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate--Columbia DistributingWhen it comes to spiked hot chocolate, recipes with liquor may come to mind. However, did you know that you can make a delicious cup of alcohol-infused hot chocolate using beer? While stouts work best in the following recipes, thanks to their roasted malt flavor profiles that taste of coffee or dark chocolate, you can experiment with other types of dark beer as well. Here are three delectable ways to serve up decadent hot chocolates that blend your love of beer with this timeless cold-weather beverage. Continue reading…


Fermented Strangeness: Weirdest Brews

Fremont glass

Beer drinkers have been embracing microbrews since small, independent brewers began creating their unique hoptastic flavors in the early ’80s. Now referred to as craft beers, microbrews no longer make up a tiny segment of the beer industry. By the end of 2016, craft beer makers accounted for 5,234 of the 5,301 breweries in the U.S. While this is great for beer connoisseurs, craft brewers find themselves in a very competitive landscape. This makes it difficult for brewers to come up with a truly unique beer, so many strive for a little weirdness to grab consumers’ attention. If you’re looking for a slightly crazy concoction, consider one of these strange fermented brews. Continue reading…


7 Ciders and Beers to Keep You Warm

While traditionalists will claim that distilled spirits are the only type of drink that can warm you, we beg to differ. In fact, we are firm believers in the “warming” value of ciders and beers. Here are eight of our favorites that prove the point: Continue reading…


All About Pumpkin Beers

Pumpkin ale
Every year in October, people who love beer celebrate the fall season with festivals, food and fun centered around their favorite beverage.

Pumpkin is the flavor of the autumn season. The bright orange fruit finds its way into pies, coffees and a variety of other foods. Breweries are applying the trend to beer flavorings. When high-profile producers like Rogue and Samuel Adams join the movement, people start to take notice. Continue reading…


Craft Beer Ingredients by Season

seasonal craft beer by Columbia Distributing

 

In the past few years, the rise of craft beer has been startling — in fact, the total number of breweries in the States rose by almost 20% from 2013 to 2014; signaling the growing popularity of the many types of flavor profiles. The market has been trying to meet the demand, and so marketing your craft brew has been easier if you do it by season. Continue reading…


Need an Energy Boost? Try These Energy Drinks

Columbia Dist Energy Drinks

 

A lot of people depend on their morning fix of caffeine to get the day started. For most, this comes in the form of a cup of coffee. In fact, many people may drink coffee throughout the day or even at night as a way to maintain their energy levels so that they can stay productive while at work.

However, coffee isn’t your only option. You can get the energy boost you need by enjoying wellness drinks or energy drinks, many of which also contain caffeine, the essential ingredient to an energy boost. The following are a few examples of wellness drinks and energy drinks that will have the same effect as coffee: Continue reading…


The Best Alcoholic Ice Cream Treats

alcoholic ice cream treat

We all know that an ice cold beer is one of the best ways to cool down on a hot summer day (or night). However, sometimes you might be in the mood for a delicious ice cream treat as well. If this is the case, why not combine the two and enjoy an alcoholic ice cream treat?

Alcoholic ice cream treats have become all the rage in recent years, especially following the sudden burst of interest in craft beer and artisanal ice creams over the past decade. The following are just a few of the alcoholic ice cream treats that are available all over the country that you should try out this summer if given the chance: Continue reading…


Stay Cool With a Summer Ale

Summer Ale-Columbia Distributing

Different types of beers are better suited to different times of the year. For example, a thick stout beer is much better suited to the winter than it is to the summer. So what should you drink to stay cool now that the summer is here? Summer ales, of course!

What is a Summer Ale?

The fact that a summer ale is perfect for the summer weather is kind of a no-brainer. It’s all in the name, after all. But what exactly makes a summer ale a “summer” ale? The main characteristic of a summer ale is a light and crisp taste. Breweries will get this taste by combining wheat and barley together. Every year, some of the best breweries in the world prepare new summer ales for the summer season. Continue reading…