I just moved to Courthouse from Chicago and am looking to get a better idea of the area. I've searched lots of threads and the places database so I feel like I have a decent handle on some good stores and bars. However there is still tons of things I feel like I'm missing out on to get up to speed with the beer scene here. So I'm hoping you guys might be able to help fill in the gaps! Examples of things I feel like I'm missing: Twitters to follow: Had a number of good stores and bars around me in Chicago that used twitter really well to let people know when they had new/interesting stuff in. Beer releases: Every place does their releases differently. It took me a while in Chicago to figure out the lay of the land and how the different breweries did releases. An example is, how was Wings on the Armageddon released? Beer events: Are there any big events that are "can't" miss in the area? Such as Dark Lord Day at FFF. I'm just not overly familiar with the breweries around here. (side note... I literally JUST saw that it's DC beer week. AWESOME!) Beers: any upcoming one-offs I should know about? Even any seasonals that are around the corner would be great Really any info would be great. Just settling in here and trying to feel at home... it feels weird to not know the beer scene inside and out like I felt like I did in Chicago! Also, if anyone is in my area and wants to grab a beer or two, let me know! Thanks!
I'll be at Big Hunt today if you want to meet up and maybe I can fill you in on a couple of the answers you seek.
Twitter, @the_beermonger (beer buyer for Arrowwine) @rusticoVA @churchkeydc @dcbeer @betterbeerauth @portcitybrew Norm's beer and wine in Vienna is worth following on facebook, they will post new beers as they come in. Beer Events, keep up with those and they should fill you in, but every early February, Heavy Seas near Baltimore has an amazing oyster and beer events, so you'll want to find out when tickets go one sale. Fireworks Pizza in Court House has beer dinners so follow them on Facebook and get their schedule. ChurchKey gets a lot of one off Kegs so keep an eye on them. We have a lot of newer breweries like Port City and DC Brau, so it's a bit early to tell about their one-offs just yet that are worth skipping work for. We do get a healthy dose of Bell's and Founders. Savor Week has always been good, but the event is moving to New York. However, I've hard that the Craft Brewers convention is coming to DC in 2013 and I bet that week there will be amazing events. Hope this helps, welcome to the area, DC is like the wild west when it comes to beer and overall has an amazing variety to choose from.
Great thanks for the tips so far guys. I'm trying to convince the gf to hit up Big Hunt tonight as we speak.
Beer releases: An example is, how was Wings on the Armageddon released? Wings of Armageddon or as it is commonly abbreviated on here as OTWOA (on the wings of aramagedon) had a release at Churchkey sometimes ago one of the premier beer bars on the East coast. They also bottled a few quite sometime ago, and what few you would find now would be very old. DC Brau does plan to release OTWOA though in cans "supposedly" according to their FB feed in late August.
They do. That said, DC Brau releases typically follow a pattern of: Sneak preview at the brewery the weekend before it's released @ Growler Hours > Followed by a release party somewhere in the city > followed by a city-wide release of kegs (and cans or bottles if it is being packaged) the next day > followed lastly by distribution outside the city.
I wonder if the recent problems with their boiler will delay this release. Although if they planned to release it in late August, I would assume it was probably already brewed before the boiler broke down August 8th.
followed up by damn near every place being out of the ridiculously small amount that trickles out lol. Im really liking the direction DC Brau is going I just hope they can begin to make a dent in the demand. They could have easily sold exponentially more OTWOA. That shit was waaaaaaay tasty, especially for an East DIPA.
Read the sticky, brah! Just getting prepared. I don't think they utilize twitter, but Mad Fox has some pretty cool events throughout the year. And of course, welcome to the area
