Ocelot Brewing Co. (2020)

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by Sheppard, Jan 3, 2020.

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  1. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was apprehensive about starting this thread in the middle of last year, but with a new year, I might as well. They had a great 2019 and I'm sure they'll build on that in 2020.

    Relevant information

    Address: 23600 Overland Dr #180, Dulles, VA 20166
    Hours:
    Monday 1–10PM
    Tuesday 1–10PM
    Wednesday 1–10PM
    Thursday 1–10PM
    Friday 1–10PM
    Saturday 11AM–10PM
    Sunday 12–7PM

    Current Beer List: http://ocelotbrewing.com/#beermenu
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocelotbrewing/
     
    #1 Sheppard, Jan 3, 2020
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  2. RKP1967

    RKP1967 Savant (1,150) Sep 26, 2010 Virginia

    They need to put a tap room in Alexandria, or somewhere else more accessible. Or get more widely distributed like Solace.
     
    #2 RKP1967, Jan 3, 2020
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  3. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Either of those would be nice.
     
    #3 Sheppard, Jan 3, 2020
  4. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If I'm not mistaken, Reverie (The Veil) has the rights to Ocelot distribution in Central VA. They are a very small operation, very selective about what breweries they will work with and who they distribute too. I split my time between Richmond / Charlottesville area and see a few RVA shops get deliveries once a month or so while they may get out to C'Ville every 6-8 weeks to just a couple shops. Usually very small allotments

    I think Hop & Wine handles distribution of them (as well as Solace) in NOVA and Tidewater but not sure the frequency of their deliveries. Don't think Ive ever seen Solace in RVA or CVille but would love to see them out here. Any ideas why Ocelot does not distribute more than they do? With seeing how many beers they can and how often I gotta believe they definitely have the capacity to get their stuff out there more while still keeping supply in the taproom and their local area pretty healthy.
     
    #4 TomCat11, Jan 3, 2020
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  5. joerooster

    joerooster Initiate (0) May 15, 2018 Virginia

    They really don't can a lot of beers, like 1 beer per week on average and it doesn't seem like huge canning runs as most canned beers don't last too long at the brewery (they currently have 5 cans available vs. Aslin who has like 25). Afaik, they don't distribute any cans locally either, just kegs.

    I wish they would go back to brewing more WC style IPAs, I thought their beers were better a few years ago before they started making nearly all their IPAs hazy.
     
    #5 joerooster, Jan 3, 2020
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  6. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I am not sure how much additional tank space they have acquired between the first time I went in January 2017 to the most recent in May (just from a observation stand point). Selling out of the brewery is the most profitable so if you can do it on a timely basis, then what's the point of sending out for lower margins? Despite not getting to the brewery as much as I want to, I do get to try their beers regularly because Brew Shop usually will have at least one Ocelot beer for growlers, the Clarendon Whole Foods will have Sunnyside or Lamp or an IPA (although they stopped regularly updating their Untappd), and I can go to other bars. Would I love to have Ocelot every which way possible (cans, draft, taproom)? Yes. However, they still have a solid footing in my consumption portfolio right now.

    I've also never been to the brewery during peak times. I don't know how busy the taproom gets on weekends, but it is large, and the patio is nice. I typed out "I would hardly call them an IPA factory" but checked the current list of which half are IPAs. They do usually have a more diverse taplist than other breweries that have a strong focus on IPAs. Right now, they have several stouts, their stable of lagers, and a farmhouse ale. In the past, I've been able to have a quad and a barleywine. There's a lot to offer once you're there (AND Solace is around the corner).

    I actually like the newer profile of their IPAs a lot more than the old ones. The softer profile, IMO, better accentuates the hops they're featuring.
     
    #6 Sheppard, Jan 3, 2020
  7. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Arrowine & Cheese now has growlers and has a couple of Ocelots on tap. I was able to grab a growler of Mi Corazon at The Brew Shop. Dominion has 3 Ocelots on tap. I feel like there are plenty of places throughout NoVA closer to DC where you can get Ocelot for home consumption, even if it isn't in the preferred way to get it.

    The Mi Corazon was excellent by the way. I mean, Citra and Galaxy is one of the best hop combinations (see Society and Solitude #4) and Ocelot did not do it a disservice.
     
    #7 Sheppard, Jan 17, 2020
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  8. MRN

    MRN Crusader (471) Jul 20, 2007 Virginia

    Norm's Beer and Wine in Vienna currently has three Ocelot beers on tap. I'm guessing Ocelot's 5th anniversary will be celebrated in April. I've enjoyed their past anniversary parties.
     
    #8 MRN, Jan 23, 2020
  9. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

    I think they make the best IPAs in the region. I just wish I had easier access to their stuff. I rarely get to try it unless I see it on tap in DC somewhere.
     
    #9 hoppytobehere, Jan 24, 2020
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  10. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I obviously agree.

    I'm lucky in that The Brew Shop frequently has them on tap. Also, Arrowine now does growlers so I could get them there. I can get them with some effort instead of the full fledged effort of making it to the brewery. Draft tends to be a little harder, since the bars in the Courthouse/Clarendon area seem to care less about beer lists.
     
    #10 Sheppard, Jan 24, 2020
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  11. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #11 Sheppard, Apr 11, 2020
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  12. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

    That's great news for me in DC!

    edit: nvm looks like they revised the map and are not delivering to DC :slight_frown:
     
    #12 hoppytobehere, Apr 11, 2020
  13. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sorry dude. :slight_frown:

    It always seemed like a stretch for them to deliver to such a wide range.
     
    #13 Sheppard, Apr 11, 2020
  14. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, doesn't look like VA ABC will allow them to cross state lines.

    Doesn't look like a huge selection initially, either. I am pretty sure Port City started with a 10 mile radius and then I checked later and it was lowered that to 5. I assume Ocelot will be adjusting as they go along, as well.

    Their Facebook page indicates they just drew what they thought were reasonable lines, sort of indicating they would even go a little outside them (but still in Virginia) if it made sense to. We'll see.
     
    #14 cjgiant, Apr 12, 2020
  15. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, I'm interested to see how this evolves. I will definitely be trying to get in on the first round if it means I can get some cans without having to drive all the way out to Sterling. I live in Arlington, so I could see us being one of the first cut from the delivery range if the demand outpaces supply. I have a car, but I'm not driving 30 miles to get beer in the current climate. In that scenario, I will hope they send more kegs our way for crowler fills.
     
    #15 Sheppard, Apr 12, 2020
  16. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone else place a delivery order?
     
    #16 Sheppard, Apr 13, 2020
  17. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Not the most technologically advanced system, but probably will be effective. Current lineup didn't make me want to order at this time. Hopefully they make enough to offer a few more options to get me to $70 easily.
     
    #17 cjgiant, Apr 14, 2020
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  18. VABA

    VABA Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,735) Aug 8, 2015 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah

    I actually did order 1 pack of each, I have not had Ocelot in a while, and don’t see myself going out there in the foreseeable future. I’ll be getting the shipment tomorrow, I’ll give feedback on this thread.

    ps- @cjgiant , thanks again for alerting me to Ocelot’s delivery program.
     
    #18 VABA, Apr 15, 2020
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  19. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,516) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll be getting my shipment tomorrow too. Thought the ordering process was simple but easy. Might order again in...3 weeks?
     
    #19 Sheppard, Apr 16, 2020
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  20. VABA

    VABA Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,735) Aug 8, 2015 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah

    I received the shipment a little over an hour ago. No problem, no contact. Person rang doorbell, stepped back about 10 feet. I opened the door peeked out, he asked if I was VABA who ordered from Ocelot, I stated that I was and thanked him. I wiped every beer can individually, and put them in the fridge. Very smooth transaction. I will most likely order again in three weeks.
     
    #20 VABA, Apr 16, 2020
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