Oxbow (2020)

if you went Sunday you wouldnt have been able to do curbside at Blending, they are only doing it Tuesday through Saturday

I think the more important question is what about rest stops and its good to see the maine rest stops on 95 are still open.

 

The "Oh, crap I didn't see this" option. Further to @Janeinma though I didn't really miss it since it wasn't an option on Sunday anyway.

 

Is there anyone consistently drinking Oxbow though whom I can live vicariously? How's all the new beer tasting?

 

Grabbed curbside from them last week. All of the new beer collabs have been awesome/unique. Hexen was delicious, very dry and refreshing. Wish they packaged it in 4 packs. From Beyond (Holy Mt Collab) was the standout. Super wine forward and balanced acidity. I appreciate that a lot of the newer releases are focusing on barrel treatments instead of fruit. Some of the newer fruit beers have been very high acid. Luppolo is drinking on point as always.

 

Seaworthy was so good. Might have to pick up more if Julio’s has any tomorrow.

 

Picked up a case of Surf Casting today. That’s all. That’s the post.

 

They made a surf casting variant this winter (I think it was winter) with blood orange instead of lime. As nice as the lime version, but a bit different as you would expect.

What’s the State Lager like? I haven’t seen much about this beer other than it exists. It’s a 4% ABV lager made with Maine malt and hops (IIRC). Beyond that, no clue.

 

If you're talking about the Northern Lager -- and I don't think you are (I do believe there is a Maine-specific beer) -- it's really good. Just a straight up, easy-drinking beer. No real frills. A little sweet, reminiscent of a macro heavy.

 

Yes I guess I did mean Northern Lager, but I know there is yet another one.

 

As with most Oxbow stuff, I'm happy to try it. The four-pack stuff Oxbow does has ranged from "not my thing" (Black Light) to "yeah, I'm gonna just take the whole case" (Surf Casting). I think they truly shine in their 500 mL format beers, but given that Maine isn't an option, I'm stoked to have found a place that consistently has Oxbow.

The Northern Lager was good, but Oxbow is pricey, so I probably won't buy it again especially when I can go home with 18 High Life's for the same price.

 

Ha ha nice. The Champagne of Beers, indeed. Always loved beer marketing slogans like that. Agree 100% on Black Light—not bad, just not for me. BAFPA is a real gem and maybe my favorite of their regularly available beers. Oxbow beers are either wonderful and I want tons of it, or a one and done for me.

Not sure if you’ve ever done Goods from the Woods. I think you would love it. You can do half and full pours so if a beer is a miss for you, no big deal. Wife and I have done the last four years in a row. We look forward to it now like Christmas. Wondering what will happen this year—just got a sinking feeling that it might not happen. They released this year’s date months ago, but...you know.

 

You know what? It's always been a weird weekend for us. Ever since we went up there in the spring of ... 2017 (18?), we've wanted to return. GFTW has always been on our radar. One year we were in Chicago, the next a wedding ... it's just been a comedy of "who can plan something the weekend of GFTW" for us.

We always cross our fingers that this year is the year. I know that I'd love it. I love goods. I love woods.

 

Did you try their 4 pack of Dance Language? I picked up one back in March that had 4 variations, Black Sage, Japanese Knotweed, Meadowfoam, and Blueberry. I thought it was quite interesting, perhaps not their best stuff but interesting. The surprise for me was Blueberry, I normally dislike any beers that have fruit but the flavor was just subtle enough to make it enjoyable. Granted I'm not sure I'd buy a case of any of those but I'd certainly have them again given the opportunity.

 

And year-to-year the Oct. weekend changes. Sometimes it’s Columbus Day weekend, some years it isn’t. This year IT IS Columbus Day weekend. If it actually happens this year, it will be Oct. 10. IMO, it’s better when it isn’t the holiday weekend. Returning from ME on Columbus Day is like a slow death. The traffic is...it’s just unbelievable.

 

Agreed. It’s definitely our favorite event of the year and we count the days until it happens.

I don’t know why, but I have a really good feeling they’ll have it this year as long as things keep progressing positively. It’s a huge outdoor property with very few actual lines waiting for pours. Fingers crossed.

 

I hope you are right. Plenty of space on that property for sure.

 

It might be more about the categorization as a festival and less about what the actual spacing is like.
It would probably be impossible because of the sheer volume of would be interested parties but I wish there was a way to submit an event or brewery for some sort of review. If they show their plan is responsible and follows all guidelines then approve it without lumping them into a category that might not fit.
I feel the same way about this MA brewery food permit requirement. If they could show some sort of approving board that they have table seating and a server, having a food permit shouldn't really matter.

 

Update: Took six Surf Casting's out to Bradford Country Club yesterday and they were gone by the fourth hole (there were two of us, so three each). Damn this beer is something special.

Shot a 95 for 18 (gotta get rid of those 7's and 8's) with three pars. Came in after 18, played another 9 holes as the sun set. 27 holes is a lot of golf. Too many some would say. I'm feeling it this morning.

 

I'm gonna be all over that if it reaches distro in Northern VA.