The Beer Thread

Yada wrote:

Space wrote:

StoneTheCrow wrote:
Did my first brewery tour of Richmond last week (big mistake not to be there this weekend).

There are a ton of them down there. Am I wrong in thinking that there is a considerable drop-off in quality once you get past the top 2-3 places? For some reason I expected a little more than what I got.

Before I share my thoughts, answer this…which ones did you go to and what specifically were your impressions of each?

Also, what is going on this weekend?

I'm willing to answer prior to knowing… Veil and Answer are the only two making a point to hit. Others may have some high points, but nothing that touches Veil/Answer IMO.

This is another correct answer.

Which DMV breweries would you put on a making a point to hit list?

Space wrote:

Yada wrote:

Space wrote:

StoneTheCrow wrote:
Did my first brewery tour of Richmond last week (big mistake not to be there this weekend).

There are a ton of them down there. Am I wrong in thinking that there is a considerable drop-off in quality once you get past the top 2-3 places? For some reason I expected a little more than what I got.

Before I share my thoughts, answer this…which ones did you go to and what specifically were your impressions of each?

Also, what is going on this weekend?

I'm willing to answer prior to knowing… Veil and Answer are the only two making a point to hit. Others may have some high points, but nothing that touches Veil/Answer IMO.

This is another correct answer.

Which DMV breweries would you put on a making a point to hit list?

Make a point to hit these two:

1. Ocelot (but way too far for some people)
2. Aslin (but way too many shitty rules in terms of how you can acquire beer or even drink there, still waiting for news of their new spot)

Then a very long list of mediocre ones that probably aren't worth making a specific trip to unless you're in the area.

Space wrote:

Julian, wrote:
Richmond definitely has a lot of places that are “places for white people to drink in public” more than “serious brewers trying to make quality beer.”

Veil, Triple Crossing, Lickinghole Creek, and Answer are all pretty legit according to my beer nerd friends.

This is the correct answer.

Yes, this would have been my response, minus Lickinghole Creek.

Answer was a minor letdown. Veil and Triple Crossing were very good. Stone was ok, too, but they didn't have anything mindblowing that I hadn't had many times before.

I think this weekend is the East Coast beer bash at Triple Crossing's non-downtown location. Most of the major VA breweries plus Foam and some other great stuff.

I think that's this weekend, anyway.  Would have loved to go to that.

StoneTheCrow wrote:

Space wrote:

Julian, wrote:
Richmond definitely has a lot of places that are “places for white people to drink in public” more than “serious brewers trying to make quality beer.”

Veil, Triple Crossing, Lickinghole Creek, and Answer are all pretty legit according to my beer nerd friends.

This is the correct answer.

Yes, this would have been my response, minus Lickinghole Creek.

Answer was a minor letdown. Veil and Triple Crossing were very good. Stone was ok, too, but they didn't have anything mindblowing that I hadn't had many times before.

I think this weekend is the East Coast beer bash at Triple Crossing's non-downtown location. Most of the major VA breweries plus Foam and some other great stuff.

I think that's this weekend, anyway.  Would have loved to go to that.

Interesting… what didn't you like about The Answer?

If you don't like flavored stouts/kool aid goses, I can see it being a let down but I'm assuming you went in there knowing about the Andalls, right?

Yada wrote:
Make a point to hit these two:
1. Ocelot (but way too far for some people)
2. Aslin (but way too many shitty rules in terms of how you can acquire beer or even drink there, still waiting for news of their new spot)
Then a very long list of mediocre ones that probably aren't worth making a specific trip to unless you're in the area.

Aslin doesn't have a place you can drink right now…just buy cans and clothes
did talk to someone there two weeks ago and they are hoping to open in December…but it will probably be spring
Also, I think that BlueJacket in DC is really producing some fine brews, not sure why there is so much hate on them
Mexican Radio is fantastic and I loved the Wedding Sour they had (I'm sure that's gone now)

Yada wrote:
Interesting… what didn't you like about The Answer?

If you don't like flavored stouts/kool aid goses, I can see it being a let down but I'm assuming you went in there knowing about the Andalls, right?

I'm not into the flavored stuff too much. Venue is kind of meh. And aside from their own IPAs, there wasn't a lot that I wanted to try. Did have Aslin's Hazy Orange Tears while I was there, and that was good.

Brother wrote:

Yada wrote:
Make a point to hit these two:
1. Ocelot (but way too far for some people)
2. Aslin (but way too many shitty rules in terms of how you can acquire beer or even drink there, still waiting for news of their new spot)
Then a very long list of mediocre ones that probably aren't worth making a specific trip to unless you're in the area.

Aslin doesn't have a place you can drink right now…just buy cans and clothes
did talk to someone there two weeks ago and they are hoping to open in December…but it will probably be spring
Also, I think that BlueJacket in DC is really producing some fine brews, not sure why there is so much hate on them
Mexican Radio is fantastic and I loved the Wedding Sour they had (I'm sure that's gone now)

Yes, I'm in agreement on the Aslin piece which I said above… but their beer is a "must try" if you're in the DMV area.

I actually really like Blue Jacket too and considered putting them on the list, however, my issue with them is they typically have 20+ drafts on tap and maybe five of those drafts are A+ with the majority being mediocre at best.

I do love the greg wedding beer and I'd say the barrel aged mexican radio is as good as any of the big dogs in that arena.

Double Duckpin better than Heady Topper, Sip of Sunshine, and the Veil's Idonteverwant2bu? Triple Crossing with two of the top 5 DIPA's? LOL

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/10/176-of-the-best-dipaimperial-ipas-blind-tasted-and.html?a=1

I spoke briefly with Greg Engert yesterday at the Owen's Ordinary anniversary event.  He said to expect Bluejacket to start canning beer around March and to expect an announcement around that time related to a barrel aged beer club. 

First time for the Founder's Doom last Friday on tap at WOB Rockville.  It's an expensive, one and done type brew but what a pleasurable experience.  Pours a beautiful bourbon-like amber hue and tastes like you're sipping whiskey when it warms.  Exquisite!

So what beers were on your Thanksgiving menu? For us:

Space Homebrew 3.0 DIPA
Lagunitas Born Yesterday
New Glarus Cran-bic (last one :()
Goose Coffee BCBS 2013 (last one :()

How's that 2013?

Master of Oranges. Backwoods Bastard. 3rd TBD.

StoneTheCrow wrote:
How's that 2013?

Master of Oranges. Backwoods Bastard. 3rd TBD.

My wife said it was "musty". Which is her way of saying it was past it's prime. No complaints from me, it paired well with the homemade chocolate pecan pie. Hoping I can score a bottle of Coffee tomorrow, though 2013 was the last time I accomplished that feat.

Personally, I think they peak after sitting for one year. Two years takes too much of the edge off. Still delicious, of course.

Did not even consider going out today. The coffee is really good tho.

StoneTheCrow wrote:
Personally, I think they peak after sitting for one year. Two years takes too much of the edge off. Still delicious, of course.

Did not even consider going out today. The coffee is really good tho.

I went to my local Total Wine. They had all five variants (Regular, Barleywine, Coffee, NorthWoods,, Reserve). I waited in line for 30 mins (was #29 and #30 in line") with my wife and picked up one of each, and my wife grabbed and extra Coffee. Honesty, they had so much of everything i can only imagine we could have arrived at the opening time and picked up everyrthing (thanks to AB InBev for that?)

I'm not one to stand in long lines for beer, but a 30 min break from my bratty kid hanging with my wife is sometimes a nice thing!

I do miss the days when the stuff was $15 a four pack instead of $15 a bottle. At least i had a 10% off coupon.

I went to my local Total Wine and got a few bottles of the classic, one of the barleywine and one Northwoods. The prices are fairly outrageous and it varies from store to store. Luckily I also had my trusty 10% off coupon!

Space wrote:
So what beers were on your Thanksgiving menu? For us:

Space Homebrew 3.0 DIPA
Lagunitas Born Yesterday
New Glarus Cran-bic (last one :()
Goose Coffee BCBS 2013 (last one :()

I brought up a bunch of Veil IPAs and goses, Hill Farmstead Anna (paired GREAT with Thanksgiving dinner), and a '16 KBS. Brother-in-law also brought a few cans of M43 since he was flying in from Michigan.

This is probably the first year where I didn't even bother going out for BCBS. It also didn't help that the entire state of New Jersey was devoid of variants. I will say that Wrench by Industrial Arts is a quality NEIPA that gets distro in the NY/NJ area.

Anybody going to Churchkey tomorrow for the CBS/KBS/bunch of other Founders beers tapping?

Space wrote:
Anybody going to Churchkey tomorrow for the CBS/KBS/bunch of other Founders beers tapping?

No.

Yada wrote:

Space wrote:
Anybody going to Churchkey tomorrow for the CBS/KBS/bunch of other Founders beers tapping?

No.

Can confirm.