DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2025)

When my car pulled back into the driveway after a holiday visit to the in-laws.

 

Bought so many crowlers of Ocelot when I lived around the corner from The Brew Shop. Would've loved cans. Miss that spot, legitimately.

 

Norms weekly email has 5 Ocelot cans now available

Ocelot will be at the Arl Brew Shop on Friday 5-7

 

Reminder.....Laudenbach Brewing in Fredericksburg is having their official Grand Opening tomorrow though they've been open since last month. Looks like they currently have 11 beers on tap across a range of styles. https://laudenbachbrewing.com/beers-on-tap

 

So I saw on Untappd that an RaR Brewing beer called 4 Luck got really good reviews. Someone said that the beer reminded him of “Corp Ladder Tie series”, referring to Corporate Ladder Brewing in Palmetto, FL. Someone responded to him “The brewers that were making the Tie series at corp ladder are now brewing at rar....Justin and Angela def had a hand in this”. I did a Google search and discovered that “Justin Slanina and Angela Slanina came as a team and essentially ran the back of the house in Florida” at Corporate Ladder. I managed to score a can of 4 Luck today but haven’t tried it yet. Just thought I’d throw this out there to put it on people’s radar! RaR may be stepping up their hazy game and it may be worth checking out.

 

Confirmed. I'd put 4luck right up there with the best fidens and brujos has to offer.

 

Anyone excited to see Lawson’s distributed in VA now? Sip of Sunshine. Little Sip. Hazy Rays here. love it. And Double Sunshine should be arriving any day now

 

Yeah. If I see Double Sunshine, all over it

 

It has been a few months now, hopefully The Alchemist Heady Topper is next…

 

This is probably a stupid question, but I haven’t had it in years…is Double Duckpin still the great beer I remember it being? And, yes, I enjoy an “old-school” DIPA. Appreciate some feedback from some locals, thanks.

 

Thank you. I’m stopping at State Line (and Human Robot) on my way down to Washington DC and if it’s relatively fresh, I’m picking up a 6-pack.

 

Yeah readily available, I even saw them in Whole Foods a few weeks back.

Such fond memories of that beer also, apparently I haven't had it it in 6 years though if my untappd is to be believed.

 

Dominion has TG Naughty Temple on draft and crowlers.

 

I picked up double sunshine last night at Norm’s. Canned 2/4/25. And tasting great

 

Just thought I’d throw it in here the Double Duckpin were canned 11/15 and bought 2 cans for nostalgic reasons, basically, and have to say, even at 3 months, definitely still a worthy DIPA. Picked up Invisible Art by Adroit Theory because I’m a sucker for Carton’s Epitome and have to say, 6 weeks old, hit the spot. Good black imperial IPA. Danky roast with a smooth taste for 10%.

 

Hell yeah it is. Though I'm not sure how different it is than Sip of Sunshine. Both 8%, Citra-hopped IIPAs.

 

Double Duckpin, I last had maybe 12-18 months ago, and I found it quite tasty as I’ve had in the more distant past. I’ve been seeing a few 6-ers around stores in Frederick area but dates are always old so I’ve put them back on shelves. I’ll keep checking the bottoms of the cans though whenever I see them.

 

Does DC Brau still do an annual release of On The Wings of Armageddon? I haven’t seen it on store shelves for at least 2 years, maybe more. That’s a great beer when I’ve found it fresh in past years.

 

I see it on the shelves at Total Wine several times a year. And it used to be at the brewery pretty regularly. I used to really enjoy Wings as well but the last few times I’ve had it. It seemed like it was a complete malt bomb. Not sure if it’s my taste buds or they modified the beer.