New Beer Sunday (Week 751)

woodychandler · Jul 15, 2019

Happy New "CAN We Visit the Cape & Drink Some Beer, Aunt May?!?" Sunday (Week 751), Part Suzi Quatro!
Man, the Porter saw fit to Stomp all over my happy a** when I came back from emptying the Mop Water!:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25890/147829/?ba=woodychandler#review

but, hey, it takes a LOT more than that to get me to bail on NBS, I CAN tell you! Next, I decided to really hit the surf & see some:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25890/235868/?ba=woodychandler#review

but now, it was time to attend their anniversary party, albeit a little late:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25890/356106/?ba=woodychandler#review

That's it! I'm spent for this week. I still have a few more to go so be sure to check out WBAYDN for updates. In the interim, I'll see yinz next Sunday with more ... stuff!

2beerdogs · Jul 15, 2019

cjgiant said: ↑

I think I'll give a brief pause to line of questioning I've been doing in the openings to these NBS threads. I have another topic that only most recently became of interest and I want to bring into this thread that promotes the new.

Yes, for the 751st week we want to hear about that new beer you are trying today - its good and bad qualities. We don't enforce sticking to the categories of look, smell, taste, and feel - though those are often a good place to start. This thread is for exploring the aspects of a beer as you encounter it for the first time (maybe excluding things like a quick sample taste at the brewery). Give us a little window into your thoughts and experience.

Escaping the new for a second, this week I saw a phenomenon that many of us don't see too often as the US beer community has grown to 7,000+ breweries: a local brewery shutting its doors. I know of a few higher profile closings, but this one hit close to home, literally.

I know I've mentioned in a couple other threads that Mad Fox in Falls Church will be closing its doors for good next Sunday. Mad Fox is (for now) a brewpub and they never packaged their beers. Basically you buy their beers to drink on premise (though they do fill growlers). One of the reasons they gave as to their demise is that they opened having to use the "brewpub model" and had to compete on food and beer, both of which have seen more entries into the local scene in recent years.

Memories are funny; while I knew Mad Fox was an early entrant onto the local craft beer scene in Northern Virginia, I didn't realize it was really one of the forerunners of the most recent boom (opening in 2010). While we visited Mad Fox through the years, by no stretch of the imagination were we regulars. I admit that I had to "grow into" appreciating their lineup of more classic English and German beers (they did make other styles, including classic American and English IPAs). I will miss the opportunity to further my enjoyment of those beers at Mad Fox. Another thing many, including myself, liked and will miss is that they offered cask versions of their beers regularly.

So, for a yin and yang sort of question you can answer (no obligation) along with or in addition to your thoughtful review post of a new beer (obligatory): have you had a local brewery close since you've been into the "craft beer" scene? Has it been one you will miss? Is there a local brewer you maybe neglect a little because "they'll always be around" for you when you eventually get the notion to visit?

Okay, enough of the side show. It's time to offer up your new beer. If it's a good one, hopefully it'll be available to you for a good long time. Cheers!
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I miss the Hofbrau the was spitting duistance from my home in Fullerton, CA. It was an official, licensed and linked to, Hofbrau brewery and restaurant. Yes, that very Hofbrau in Munich. I don’t remember the details on how Russ, the partner/owner got it done. It was glorious. German beers and food galore. But after a few years, kaput.

2beerdogs · Jul 15, 2019

I’m winding down our trip in Edinburgh. It’s actually been a bit challenging to get in here, with you fine folks, during drinking time to share findings over here. I’m the planner, drill Sargent, navigator, coordinator, driver, etc. So I’m not exactly pulling out my phone yo write each time I get to imbibe. Sometimes, I am, but I’m more of the notebook kinda guy. Still coming up with some decent offerings over here.
One highlight was Mills and Hills, from Fyne Ales, in Scotland. A fine impy stout. No barrel aging, just straight up malt and smooth roast.
The brewery was cool too. Be back home for next Sunday. See you then.
Cheers.

2beerdogs · Jul 15, 2019

Roguer said: ↑

Good morning, and thanks for the intro, @cjgiant !

First off, to answer the question: yes, and it was shocking. Red Cypress is (or was) located in the greater Orlando area. While not world-class, they had some very solid offerings (of the four beers of theirs I reviewed, three fell in the 3.9-3.95 range, the other 4.21, so .... that's pretty darn good!).

Back in May, they suddenly announced that they would be closing at the end of the month, and thanked people for their support. No further explanation was given at the time (I'm sure more has come out since then, but I personally do not know the whole story).

Just a huge surprise, given that none of us up here had ever heard that they were having problems in any way. Just one day, poof, gone.

OK, second point of order this fine day: this is a special New Beer Sunday for me, personally.

We sandwich delivery drivers are very proud of our vehicles. Whenever possible, work starts at the vehicle number; we try to stop stopwatches on the exact number of seconds and hundredths of a second of the vehicle number; etc. We're an obsessive group.

I've had the great fortune of working with six different delivery crews and five different vehicles, so I've got a few vehicle numbers to work with, but 751 is one of my most recent, and probably the one about which I am still most proud. Some damn tough deliveries and a lot of drive time, to some pretty sketchy neighborhoods where "my kind" might not be appreciated. That simple three digit number matters a lot to me.

I wish I had a special beer worth cracking to commensurate this (admittedly completely mundane) occasion. Maybe I do. Probably not. I'll have to decide that later on.

Enough about that; I've said more than enough. Those who know what I'm talking about, do, and those that don't, don't worry about it - it's a seeeeeecret (and not a well-kept one, but that's my fault).

Third and final point: I have a long distance run (loooooong) to knock out before I join you all today, so I won't be back until the afternoon at the earliest (and I'm going to miss the Wimbledon final, which has me bummed a little). Thankfully, I do have some new-to-me IPAs a friend bombed me with last Thursday, and I anticipate knocking them back today. So I look forward to catching up on the thread later.

Cheers, friends!
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And we appreciate your work. I’ve always wondered how one would adjust their life to the long “routes” and the time away from loved ones for them.

TongoRad · Jul 15, 2019

Roguer said: ↑

I'm glad you liked Tampa, Mike! The food in particular - the variety and the quality - can hardly be beat outside of obvious choices like D.C. and NYC. And of course, the best breweries in the state are generally regarded to all lie in the Tampa area.

Having lived there twice (and still owning a home there, mostly to my regret), Tampa is kind of my second home (or third, perhaps, behind Connecticut).
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We were visiting friends who moved there about 5 years ago, and really seem to have fit in. And even in a week I could definitely see the appeal.

For beers we hit up the two breweries I mentioned, but I was also quite happy to have access to some good beer bars. Our hotel was right on the Riverwalk downtown, so it wasn't too far of a walk to the Armature Works- 24 or so taps and a well stocked back bar (including several amari) ain't too shabby.

For food we stuck with pretty casual places, but they were all really top notch in their own way- just superb Cuban and Caribbean stuff around town. Plus, some incredible pizza and pasta at Bavaro's.

The only sad part was not having the time to hit up all of my desired spots, but those can wait until next time, I'm sure.

New Beer Sunday (Week 751)

woodychandler Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,184) Apr 9, 2004 Pennsylvania
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
Society Pooh-Bah Trader

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New Beer Sunday (Week 751)

woodychandler Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,184) Apr 9, 2004 Pennsylvania BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey Society Pooh-Bah Trader

woodychandler Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,184) Apr 9, 2004 Pennsylvania
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
Society Pooh-Bah Trader