Aslin Beer Co. (2019)

I don't think Aslin makes the best IPAs in the DMV. I prefer Ocelot's IPAs. I prefer Ocelot as a brewery too since they make lots of killer styles. Plus, I don't need boozy, diabetes stouts filled to the brim with adjuncts.

 

I'd assume so, case limits on everything (except bottles and high ABV stouts) and I don't think anything packaged in October has sold out. Today's IG post leads you to believe that's the case as well.

 

Anyone have feedback on the older Aslin beers brewed on the new system (DOS, MoK, MtH, Ontario)?

They must be brewing a ton of beer now, 13 can options available and nothing has sold out in a while aside from bottles. That or nobody's buying it.

 

I suspect both the reasons you floated explain the large current inventory. They're pumping lots of beer out, but most of their customers are hesitant to serve as guinea pigs, especially given Aslin's history of taking some time to dial things in after ramping up production sizes.

 

I'll be a guinea pig if they want to move stock by offering it to me at a 50% discount. Otherwise, my fridge is overloaded with Other Half.

 

Feedback and thoughts from my visit to Aslin today:

Let down and disappointed. Went there planning to buy A Small Town in Ontario plus something else. Got a small town and a baby shark on draft. Both were not good. They had that “hop burn”, which I’m convinced has just as much to do with too much yeast in suspension as it does hops. Baby shark the whole glass tasted like the bottom of a can with too much yeast sediment. Small town had a hop burn and a nondescript hop character up front that faded quickly into muddled haze BS.

I much preferred the 2 IPAs I had at bluejacket 2 days ago, which were still very hazy but had a more distinct hop character and no burn. Still not top-top tier but very enjoyable compared to the Aslins.

Also, I had Bissell Brothers substance that was recently distributed to NOVA. They had a much cleaner haze going on. A testament to how this New England haze thing can still be done in a refined and expertly crafted manner. Maybe with the increased volume and capacity Aslin should consider investing in a centrifuge, like other half.

This is the second time I went to Aslin and got IPA on my first round and ended up going back for a lager or sour on my second round despite initially planning to try more of the IPAs.

Ended up leaving empty handed. Went home and enjoyed my Oxbow Pilsner in my fridge. Will spend the money I planned to spend at Aslin at my local beet store.

I am not completely writing them off at this point. I do hope they improve their quality. I have been a long time fan and supporter. Will re-visit periodically partly because there are not many better options locally but also because I have hopes things swing towards the right direction.

cheers

 

Nice that there are other options in the DMV besides Aslin, hope they get locked in again as when they are on they pump out top notch stuff. Just not worth the drive for me anymore when I can get different OH cans every week only twenty minutes away.

 

I guess but I’d rather see them putting out refined beers at this point, not shit that looks like a science experiment. They should be able to get the core beers they’ve been brewing for years down before doing all these one offs.

They started building something on the downtown Herndon location.

 

I'm just wondering where that local beet store is.

 

It's where you source your sugar for your hard seltzer.

 

Some discussion here: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/dc-md-nova-beer-updates-2019.600997/page-8

 

I grabbed a crowler over the weekend of babyshark, again massive hopburn. I liked the crowler option for something that wasn't currently canned, it was $9 for 32 oz.

I also got cans of How Now Brown Cow, as i'm a sucker for peanut butter adjuncts. There's been some small variance in cans, with one feeling thin and the others normal, but I enjoyed it.

I think at this point I'm just going to drive to Ocelot for IPAs, their stuff is always just so clean. I've never had a harsh flavor in anything I had from them.

 

Does OH distribute to DC?

 

They've been doing bi-weekly (or most recently, weekly) drops in nearby Gaithersburg at Downtown Crown.

 

How about that private barrel price tag? Really wanted to go in with a group for it, but after seeing the cost, no way! Insane. Someone was saying on FB you can do a private bourbon barrel for cheaper lol

 

Damn. Was very excited to check out the new location and stock up when I come down to NoVA for Thanksgiving. Are Bluejackets NEIPAs consistently solid nowadays?