DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2024)

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I much preferred regular Speedway over the Vietnamese Coffee variant. And I generally love coffee BA stouts.

 

Has anyone been out or heard anything about Stone Silo brewery near Mt Airy/Damascus area yet? Seems they opened this year. Haven’t heard any reports yet. If not I may take one for the team and pay a visit in the next week or so and report back.

https://stonesilobrewery.com/

 

I don't have any firsthand experience with them, but the Untappd ratings aren't exactly giving me FOMO.

 

Yikes

 

Looks like Snallygaster vip tickets quietly sold out some time since they announced the low ticket warning. You don't see it until you try to buy them! Got mine, but was looking for someone else who is out of luck!

 

Does anybody know what they cap ticket sales at for VIP and for the basic ticket?

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/b...&cvid=18f555164cbc4a91901932438f1c6066&ei=266

Good move by Oliver's Brewing, including the addition of a new taproom. Hopefully it will strengthen and expand their lineup. Before the Shannon Dr address where they are now they worked out of a small space in the Pratt Street Alehouse. Fondly recall their hosting cask ale festivals.

 

https://northernvirginiamag.com/foo...7-brewing-a-new-ashburn-brewery-opening-soon/

 

I hear the campus at Bear Chase is great but how are the beers?

 

They've won a couple awards for their Kölsch - and on a personal note, I do think it's quite good.

Across the board? My experience is that they offer quite solid beers. If the concern is that it's all about the location and not the beer, I don't think that should be a worry. If you want it to be all about the beer - I'm not sure it's really that kind of place, either. I'd argue it's a decent brewery with a great location (that is often quite busy, in my weekend visit experience).

I'd be curious if others have strong opinions otherwise.

 

Sounds right to me. Makes reasonable beers and a nice day out to the virginia countryside. I'd want to pair them with stopping at one other place if I were going but if you got you and your family and more it's a decent trip out.

 

I agree with the bear chase posts above. if you're out that way dirt farm is close by. it probably has a better view and less of the craziness associated with bear chase, but bear chase probably has better beers.

belmont station is also right there too. no view but nice place.

 

I picked up Magnetic Tape today at Whole Foods on H St (canned 8/14) and it's soooooo good. Unfortunately their stuff isn't usually fresh when I see it. But it's a buy every time if it is.

 

I think you're spot on with your "view vs. beer" opinion of Bear Chase. Beer is ok, but the location & view are spectacular.
Dirt Farm brewery is close by, same views, but a little better beer...IMO

 

Baltimore help needed.

Heading into town tomorrow to see Pearl Jam. Swinging by Sapwood Cellars on the way in and will have time to probably hit 1 other brewery in Baltimore proper before the show. Diamondback? Wet City? Union? I`m a big IPA guy and my wife goes for the lagers/pils.

I must say I`m kind of surprised by the lack of beer scene in town from the research I`ve done.

 

Baltimore has many meh to fine breweries but Sapwood is definitely at the top (you probably already know this but it's 20-30 min SW of the city proper.)

Honestly, I would just hit up Max's (one of the top beer bars in the country) in Fell's Point. Wet City is similar to Max's with guest drafts but on a much, much smaller scale.

I personally would skip Diamondback and Union.

I do agree that we miss that one, premiere brewery in city limits...one day...

 

Unfortunately, I don`t think Max`s is in the cards. We are likely going to check-in to Royal Sonesta after Sapwood, grab crab cakes and beer at Fradley`s, then fight the crowd at Pratt St. There is an outside chance we make it to Wet City, but will avoid Union and Diamondback if both those are no-go's.

 

Understood, I'd just make Max's your outside chance instead of Wet City.

And keep your head on a swivel around Lexington Market (Faidleys). Far worse neighborhoods in Baltimore, but still.

 

Union, in my humble opinion, would be a good choice for the styles you like, but it's not too close if the concert venue is at the Baltimore Arena. What is closer is M8's, just south of M&T Stadium or Checkerspot, a little west of the ballparks. Diamondbacks is easy to get to and their beers are evolving for the better, but just before that there is a beer bar called Wiley Gunter's (on Fort Ave) that has a really good tap list and some decent food.

 

Wiley Gunter was def not on my radar but is now. Their tap /can list and food fits our needs better than Max's for sure. Thanks for the recommendations.