DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2020)

Regarding Portland/Maine:

We had planned to go to Maine in August. The state is gradually opening back up, with even bars (and seemingly taprooms) opened by July 1 if all goes well. (A huge if)

The sticking point is that for now at least, they are sticking with having a 14 day quarantine requirement for all of out state visitors through the end of August...which essentially means no summer tourism.

Vermont also currently has a 14 day quarantine but hasn't said if they will extend into summer.

Just thought I'd throw that info into the mix.

 

Bummer!
Was thinking about late June, but guess that’s out.

I’ll second the Bissell experience-kinda weak. Gotta hit Industrial with Definitive, Austin St, Battery Steele.
Maine Beer Co newly renovated taproom is super impressive and worth the Uber.

 

Granted, I haven't been there in a while and haven't really been in the mood to grab their beers when they've been sent down here. I have never had a bad experience at Bissell and I actually think they do a great job of cultivating a good vibe at the brewery. Of course, on certain occasions, like on a line heavy Saturday, it can be slow and there might not be enough space to sit down. But when it's chiller, it's great. I should caveat this by saying that last time I was in Portland, I did not go to Bissell. Next time I go, I will not need to go to Bissell like I will "need" to go to Allagash or Oxbow. But I don't feel obligated to chase hops in the same way that I would a well-made lager or saison.

 

To answer my own questions:

1. I'm doing okay. Just wrapped up grad school, everything was done online for the last half of the semester, which sucked. Commencement was postponed, but there's a ceremony online on Saturday. Still looking for a FT job, so there's a lot of anxiety associated with that.
2. I got delivery from Ocelot the first week. I thought that the process was very easy. I can't say that most of the beers, besides Nebulous, fall within my favorite Ocelot beers. The ordering was very simple and they did a good job without making things too complicated. I ordered some stuff from Wheatland Spring so looking forward to that.
3. Ocelot Nebulous
4. I've been basically in social distancing mode since I got back from Europe mid-March, so the top beers I've had got back a ways: Oxbow Saphaus, Ardent Bohemian Pilsner, Hill Farmstead Nordic Saison, Fermentery Form Formation, Ocelot Nebulous.
5. Not looking forward to anything in particular so much as getting together with friends are chatting up a random person at a bar or brewery. I miss the community aspect of things. You pass people right now, and you're doing your best to keep away from them (although some assholes DGAF about personal space still). You don't say hi. You're wearing masks. I'm ready to push past this, but I feel like there are still rough days ahead of us.

 

I missed out on the Foam release at Dominion, but did pick up Barrier's Money IPA, which is quite good. Plus 1-week-old The Substance is nothing to sneeze at.

 

I am watching the Dortmund game and they are playing in front of an empty Siguna Park. Then, I realized that as a fan (I am not a Dortmund fan), your team is playing, you couldn't go to a bar, you have to sit at home and presumably have to watch the match by yourself. It'll be nice to be able to go to a bar and watch the game again.

 

Dominion has the Equilibrium and Trillium collab Climb The Ballmer Peak. High Side got it earlier today but sold out pretty quickly.

 

Snagged a 4 pack of it. Haven't tried it yet.

 

Do they do curbside pickup or do you have to live within their delivery zones?

 

I know you can pickup at bluejacket, pretty sure one (both?) Rustico as well

 

Planet Wine in Del Ray is still open, too, so you can go there to browse the aisles. It looks like web ordering only allows full 4-packs rather than single cans, so being able to drop by the shop is a good thing, assuming they actually have the product you want at that location.

 

Honestly? Color me underwhelmed. Climb The Ballmer Peak struck me as an overly malty mess. The predominate flavor I picked up was caramel, with some undercooked dough in the mix as well. I like the balance on my IPAs to be very hop-heavy, whether those hops be floral, fruity, or otherwise, but a juice bomb this was not. I'm probably going to give it another try, but if the second can is as disappointing as the first, there appear to be enough people loving this that it should be easy to trade.

 

That sounds like all of Trill's beers nowadays. Also, reading the description makes it sound like they made the beer to get paid to hang out.

EDIT: I know this beer was brewed at EQ.

 

Thanks for the review! Looks like I'll use mine for trades then.

 

At the risk of straying too far off topic, is Trillium generally still pumping out disappointing beer? They were once my favorite brewery, but my last trip up to Boston around 2017 convinced me they had lost their magic when scaling up their recipes. The scandal surrounding revelations from a former employee that broke shortly after didn't do anything to improve my impression, and I haven't tried anything from them or kept up on their local customers' perceptions since then.