Notable Releases - DC/NOVA/MD

I found it somewhat underwhelming this year compared to last - don't know if its the beer or my palate

 

The more I think about this, the more ridiculous I think it is. In any major cities with big craft scenes this is just how it is now. You probably happen to live in the DC area since this has developed. If you went to NYC, Boston, Philly, Chicago, etc I don't think it would be any different than it is in DC. Just a change in the market for better(more breweries could possibly make good stuff) or worse (rare releases are harder to find).

 

No, it's not like this in every large city. I've spent a bunch of time in Chicago and Dallas (and smaller cities like Raleigh/Durham and Norfolk) over the last 2-3 years, and the difference has been pretty stark. People here are nuts.

 

It's all over really, seen it in big cities... rural areas ... Vermont etc.. goes both ways... plenty of good beer out there you don't have to beat yourself up over...

 

Dallas is a big city? I kid, I kid.

I would expect easier experiences in smaller cities. A good friend in NY says it is the same up there, and he travels around for work and see the same thing.

 

I totally agree plenty of beer to get that isn't rare. I'm just saying this isn't only a DC experience in how hard things are to get now....

 

I don't think it's just a DC thing, but I also wonder if places like Chicago/Portland/San Diego, with more established beer scenes and more breweries making great local beer, manage to have enough going on all the time to keep the beer nerds from all flocking to a single place at a single time. In DC, if there's going to be one big beer event, it'll be at ChurchKey, so that's where the people flock. There are other great bars, but they certainly aren't as well-known, nor do they have the industry connections that CK has. Similarly if there were more great local breweries churning out great beer (and let's be honest, they aren't), we wouldn't all line up for the same limited beers again and again.

 

The current demand for craft beer is definitely not exclusive to the DC area. In Texas, Houston in particular, the number of people with the desire for craft beer greatly exceeds the demand. In San Diego, where their shelf beers are the envy of a large segment of the BA community, they still have their versions of catastrophes at Modern Times, Alesmith, etc. releases. Unfortunately, there are simply more of us demanding high quality beer than there are brewers to keep up with the demand. Add to the mix, people purchasing limited releases with the primary intent of trading them and the supply chain becomes further strained.

 

I'd have to agree that it doesn't matter where you are, people will come for "great" beer. Boston, a pretty established beer city I would say, has just as many events bombarded by flocks of beer nerds as any place. Whether it be hundreds of people waiting in line during the middle of a work day for a "special" release beer or a tap takeover event having all the beers kicked in an hour, people will come from all over to drink what they consider "great" beer.

 

You've hit the nail on the head. After living in Portland for awhile, it's very strange being back on the east coast and watching the shit people are OK with dealing with to get their hands on limited releases. Have you noticed how there aren't that many "whales" coming out of Portland, or the PNW in general? The only reason this is the case is because there are so many great beers to choose from that it's difficult to hype any individual one up enough to get people riled up.

I do think that regional culture plays a role as well though. In places where status means something, and DC is definitely one of those places, people will hop on, overfill, tip over and burn any bandwagon that passes by.

 

Stopped at arrowine tonight and found they had Cafe Jesus

 

Well it is about this thread got back on track

 

Still looking for Farm to Face, anyone seen it anywhere yet?

 

Has anyone had eyes on Velvet Merkin or Helldorado in DC? I feel like the beer store have just about had enough of my calling lol

 

Heard that Helldorado came and went last week... I didn't see it either (but didn't really look that hard).

 

Was this in DC? I know that it hit VA, they are 2 different distributors.

 

Try Modern Liquor, they usually get FW boxes, but charge a good bit more than elsewhere. They are under the radar so it may be there.

 

Anyone try the Brothers Eight Bells French Toast Ale with maple syrup and blueberries?

 

Sounds yummy. Might have to go out and find a bottle.

 

also, k-1 on columbia pike in arlington told me they have obtained a growler fill station license from the county. the growler fill station isn't up and running yet, but they may have started installing that already. mr choi said they would be doing tastings as well.