Notable Releases - DC/NOVA/MD

Pretty sure the Pure Hoppiness I picked up at Total Wine was two weeks old. Better be good for $18.

 

It is.

 

Yes that is what I figured after tasting both of them, that this can't be what people rave about. I've heard though from here on BA that batches out of GF facility are improving however, so maybe we are getting the earlier ones? Not sure. I'm done wasting my money for now. I'll wait for others locally to chime in to say its great again, then perhaps I'll take another chance.

 

From what I read the only way to get the real Alpine is to go to the brewery itself. There were no statements about kegs, but it probably holds that the draft outside of near the brewery is GF as well. I had both duet and hoppy bday on tap in NY (so i assume its GF distro) but did not try the GF bottles yet and i though both draft were pretty solid.

http://thefullpint.com/breweries/gr...ewers-settling-the-green-flash-alpine-debate/

this article did a taste test of the two from each brewery and they are clearly not the same, not even visually, but GF won one and Alpine the other

 

Duet's one of my all time fav beers, had it many times tap and bottle, had it here and over on the West coast several times.. (I prefer bottle to tap it seems).

While it wasn't as amazing as the first time I had it I was still very impressed with it. Tried the new bottled Nelson and was shocked that I liked it even more than in the past (was never a big fan of Nelson). Had Hoppy Birthday for the first time and was very impressed with it also.

Still others I know haven't enjoyed it, so for others you'll just have to try them (the GF Apline bottles) yourselves and take it from there.

 

I was looking at my old photos of Duet past and present, and the Duet did look a little darker, made me think it missed that little caramel and toast pop finish that I remember... Then again it's always hard to convey a photo with lighting and make it perfect all the time

No I have no news on what's out there since you're all obsessed with IPAs unless they're less than 4 weeks old.

The horror I am sure...
..

I saw a bottle of Bruery 8 Maids a Milking at P street. so there.

 

Whole Foods on P Street has GBS

 

Had Hoppy Birthday on tap at Smoke & Barrel a few weeks ago and I thought it was one of the best beers I had ever tasted. Recently had a bottle (from Arrow Wine) and it did not have the same pop in both aroma and taste. Is there that much difference between tap and bottle? Could the keg have come from the West Coast? Of course it could have just been the moment?

 

I can confirm that the Smoke & Barrel keg did not come from the West Coast.

Had the bottle been warm stored?

Even a day or two of warm storing can affect a hoppy bottle significantly.

 

About a month ago I had a growler of Nelson that definitely came from a GF keg, and it was truly exceptional. Then had a bottle and it was not great, with an unpleasant garlic smell/taste.

 

Pure Hoppiness and Death By Coconut at K-1. Also Velvet Merlin, but that is probably gone by now.

 

I word on if DC Brau will have this available? Would love to get some tomorrow or next week.

 

I'm going tomorrow and will let y'all know.

 

DC Brau is very good about keeping their website up to date with what they have available at growler hours - http://www.dcbrau.com/ It'll be in the rotating content thing in the center of the page.

 

Looks like they have fresh sixers according to that. I'll be there tomorrow.

 

Just sayin', hops contain a lot of volatile oils. Especially beers that are heavily dry hopped, being a discerning customer when it comes to hop bombs doesn't make us pretentious. I loved Nelson when I had it for what it's worth.

 

I'm not trying to compare draft to package, I'm just saying to take home beer equivalent to a six pack (72oz), it would cost me over $20 for ANY Ocelot beer which is why I don't go there as often as I would like. I'm not complaining about the pricing, they are entitled to price their beer as they wish. I would just like to drink their beer more often but due to the format and pricing it doesn't work for me.

 

I hear ya. I typically reserve my overprice growler buying to beer that i consider "special". Meaning superior beer that I can't get in a can or bottle. For me, Ocelot's beers make the cut for that.

 

Anyone know of any Death By Coconut sightings around Arundel Mills, MD area? I'm here for 4+ months for work training and still acclimating to the area with minimal transportation opportunities from my hotel.

 

Someone can correct me, but I haven't seen Death by Coconut in cans in MD yet. It's been on at a couple/few bars, but no packaging yet. It's only dropped in VA and (I think) DC.