The Veil Brewing - Richmond

That was not the case at all today. You had to be in line around 3 to get the full allotment, and (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone) but I believe people who lined up round 3:45 could only get Dirt Nap (nothing against Dirt Nap).

 

i figured it was earlier today.

 

Yeah, didn't mean to sound snarky there -- just wanted to highlight how preposterous today's hype was.
Also, from what I could tell the line was moving slower due to the lack of the usual guy taking orders before you got to the counter (not sure why his position was removed).

 

He was there when I got in. I got there at 3 and got the full allotment, I think a good number of people behind me did too (probably about 100).

 

Oh good, I was hoping it was just a quirk that he wasn't there when I was in the building grabbing cans.
And I got there at 3:20, missed out on Crucial Aunt (and was still outside when they announced it). MMSS ran out shortly behind me (I'm assuming based on some sad "oh well..."s from people exiting with only Dirt Nap).

 

Ah ok, I miscalculated the number of CA allotments, I was thinking there were 300+, there were 240. I think I was around 200 in line.

I love the Double Shredder, Crucial Aunt is awesome too. I haven't tried the new Dirt Nap yet.

 

So how is this batch of Dirt Nap?

 

Dirt Nap is still my favorite Veil beer yet. I think its better than MMSS and Crucial Aunt.

 

no, that was my identical twin Raul.
I told him to change his uni....

 

I was impressed with how this went yesterday. I got there right at 4PM and I counted/estimated about 300 people in line. Was pretty clear I would wouldn't get Aunt if everyone got their allotment - it ran out with about 30 people in front of me. But I got MMSS and Dirt Nap and had Aunt on tap (if I had to miss one I'm glad it was Aunt). I appreciated that they had someone come out and say "we're out of Aunt but we have plenty of the rest left." As I was leaving someone offered to trade me an Aunt for a MMSS as I was loading my cooler so I even wound up getting one anyway.

Had to wait about 45 minutes for the line to get to the lot so we could grab beer but MMSS was perfect for the wait. Folks in line were really nice and I saw no line cutting or anything from where I was. I don't think the staff could have been any more efficient.

I was able to try IdonteverwanttoBU, Aunt, Taunt, and MMSS on tap. And I met someone who was able to hook me up with a few cans from the last 2 releases so I left with at least 1 each of Dirt, MMSS, Aunt, Idontever, Sprizite, Taunt, and Yung Blud. Really, I don't think I could be happier with how it was run and how it all worked out. I can't do that every week or anything but it was a really good time yesterday, even if the hype is a bit out of control. They are great beers.

I have to look pretty hard to find something to complain about. The only thing was that once inside, the guy scanning cards and printing receipts at the door ushered a group of us to a line at the register. He then went back to printing receipts for people behind us who just walked up and grabbed their allotments. Not the end of the world because it wasn't like they got something I didn't, but people who got in line 15-20 minutes after me got their beer before me because he didn't scan and print a receipt for us (which I just thought was weird) but I guess helps the overall line in back move faster maybe?

I asked a few folks what time they got there and happened to ask the guy who told me he got the last full allotment - he was in line at 3:10PM.

The line really seemed to stop growing at about 5PM and seemed like you could have gotten there around then, waited about 45 minutes and gotten the other two.

 

Cool thanks for the info! Cant imagine next weeks release will be this hyped but ill show up an hour early just to be safe. Gives me more time to enjoy them Andalls at Mekong.

 

Really was cool talking to folks in line - some had been to every release. Apparently the line gets longer each week so I wouldn't necessarily count on next week being less hyped. But man, Andalls before the line, Veil brew in the line for the win. That's an awesome Tuesday.

 

Yeah should be an awesome Tuesday, Mekong for Andalls, Veil then back to Answer brewpub for more Andalls. Then an uber back to my hotel.

 

Ok - this thread is nine pages in and it's late enough I can't read through it all. I've heard some news of The Veil up here, and it's been intriguing. I look at the brewery's page here, and see an impressive initial showing. We've been down to Richmond/Williamsburg a few times, and have gotten to sample the local flavor enough to return, as stated, a few times. So I have a few questions, for those who can answer (and I am basing this off the limited reading I have done in this thread; feel free to direct me to previous points in this thread or quote them):

For the Richmond area, what are they producing compared to, say, Answer (from whom I have had a nice couple of IPAs)?
Has anyone been up to NoVa and tried Aslin or Ocelot? Are there any similarities in our southern neighbor's brews to either of my local brewers?

I have no doubt The Veil will be high on the radar our next trip down, but I am curious what oters are thinking at this point. Cheers, all!

 

They are making the hazy, low-bitterness, super hoppy NE IPAs (with a few other beers). Its a totally different style than what Ocelot does, and I always find it hard to describe The Answer's beers. I would say The Answer brews beers that could be seen as having similarities to both Ocelot and The Veil.
I'm not sold on Aslin as a quality brewery, I think their beers look disgusting, you drink it in spite of how it looks. The Veil's beers actually look very appetizing. Its a subtle difference because they both brew beers that you can't see through, but Aslin looks like a full pour of bottle dregs while The Veil looks bright and inviting.

 

This is truth and probably the best way I have heard the super unfiltered insanely dry hopped brews described. I'm going to spend more time tweaking my ratings as the appearance is a hard thing for me to judge with them - but the lacing on everything I've had from them is immaculate even if they closely resemble Simply Orange juice in appearance.

I haven't had Ocelot or Aslin but I completely agree with your assessment.

 

I think Aslin is really good, i will say that most of their IPAs taste very similiar. Ive had a couple crowlers have oxidation issues and instead of that bright orange color it turns almost brown. Not exactly appetizing but it was still really good. Ocelot makes more of that traditional IPA, recently some of their IPAs have been a little hazy but not in a thick juicy way. I really enjoy both of their beers but I am stoked to try Veil stuff. I will say ill put RAR IPA's/Pales up there with the best in the DMV area as well.

 

Anyone want to take a stab at comparing Dirt Nap B1 vs. B2? I was not able to get the 1st release, but did get batch 2. Looking at the untapped check-ins it looked like batch 1 was straight hazy pineapple / orange juice. The can I opened last night had a much more amber to red color profile. It also had a hash bitterness and oniony thing going on.

Not complaining, just curious if the pictures were misleading or the batches were just very different.

 

Double batch (guessing 180-200 cases) of Master Shredder is one of the cans releasing next week.

 

As impressed as I am with their beer, The Veil's marketing and business strategy is almost just as admirable. They know exactly what they're doing. Revealing upcoming beers one at a time (and so diligently on social media) they definitely know they're building hype.