Notable Releases - DC/NOVA/MD

Although it's not in DC, Frisco Tap House in Columbia is tapping their keg tonight (10/19). The picture on their facebook page indicates the beer was kegged 10/17. I thought last year this beer literally showed up the day after it was packaged? I even remember someone telling me it came directly from their Lagunitas rep - not through the distributor - so the beer could get to retail that much faster.

 

That would be
1) against the law
2) even if it wasn't, the Lagunitas Rep drove the kegs and cases in his car, from chicago/CA, in under a day, and then personally drove them to all the bars and shops?

I don't know man, that seems like a lotta driving for the rep. I feel like it would be easier to use commercial freight and then the distributors delivery trucks

 

That is what the guy who owned the store told me. He said the Lagunitas rep showed up that morning in the rep's personal (not company) SUV and unloaded cases of Born Yesterday before driving off to his next store. I believe Lagunitas had shipped everything out from the brewery overnight. I also thought about three tier stuff but I don't know. That's just what I was told.

 

I don't doubt you for a second brother!

 

$16 for a 10 oz pour of Rumpkin at P Street WF. Nothing like paying $16 for a cup of pumpkin beer to be consumed at a grocery store.

 

Last week it was $16 for 16oz! You can get as part of a flight, though, which is now only $4 during happy hour (I've become a regular at that 4 seat bar ). 4oz was more than enough for me-- very sweet and boozy. Couldn't imagine downing a pint of it!

They've lowered their formerly high growler prices too.

 

Yep, 16 for 16 when i was in there too (didn't have any). Beermenus is where i got the 10 oz from. Who serves Rumpkin by the pint? I always find it's a crapshoot there, how much beer you get often depends on who is doing to pouring.

 

Fwiw lagunitas has production in IL to handle the east coast.

 

I recall getting Born Yesterday 2-3 days after bottling last year so I'd expect it to be in stores today. I'm hopeful anyway, cause this beer changed significantly after 7-10 days.

 

I picked some up at Shawan on Tuesday...Borned 10/17. Honestly, I think its pretty good but nothing special, and certainly overpriced for a Lagunitas beer. I paid $15.xx total.

 

This has been my observation as well - much friendlier pricing over the last 4-6 months. I recently bought a 64oz growler of Victory Festbier for $7. That's the least I've ever paid for a commercial growler, and that's including inflation over the last decade.

 

Not sure if this was already posted but if you're thinking of stopping at the total wine ballston opening don't bother. Opening is delayed due some kind of inspection delays.

 

I've had conversations with Jeff at the WF Tysons and a couple of years ago they changed their pricing for growlers. It's just a flat % increase(I think 20%) over what they paid for the keg. What really stood out at me was when they had Mad Fox beers on tap and growlers $4-5 less than you would pay at Mad Fox. Which really pissed me off at how much MF was charging at the brewpub when they don't have to give a cut to a distributor.

 

They (TW as well) charge quite a bit less for growlers of Ocelot beers vs getting fills at Ocelot.

 

Wow, I remember paying around 8 or 9 bucks for it last year at Total Wine.

 

Harris Teeter had a ton of Born Yesterday last year for around $12. It seems like if a grocery store carries a lot of the year round stuff, you have a pretty good chance at the limit release stuff being available and cheaper than specialty shops.

 

Farm to Face and Sunday Mole both at Sherry's.

 

Xocoveza hit in N VA yet? Friends down in NC and SC are loving it...haven't seen it up here yet...

 

I saw it at K1 last Saturday.

 

Dominion's had it for awhile, and I've seen it all over the places at various shops. This years batch is great.