Aslin Beer Co. (2020)

I won't be able to get over to Aslin until Sunday but would be interested in hearing if the latest iteration of DOS is any good.

 

Just a friendly PSA to any New Yorkers planning to attend Aslin's 1/18 event at the Grand Delancey, Aslin is still trying to translate their formerly successful recipes to the larger production capacity of their new Alexandria brew system. As you will see from the late chatter in the 2019 Aslin thread, the results have beet hit or miss, with many more falling in the "miss" category. You may want to proceed with caution.

 

Anyone have any insight on Aslin having their beers contract brewed for the NYC market and other markets? I have seen Recess (stillwater collab) on tap recently and afaik, they haven't brewed it in years, seemed odd to have it on tap years after the release.

 

Well at this point you could tell the rest of us how it is.

 

I'll take a guess:

it's thick, malty and sweet with a little hop bite on the back end. not the beer it was 3 years ago.

 

Well the derision is quite appropriate. My grand weekend plans were squashed by a cold.

 

Aslin is releasing a triple decocted Vienna Lager. Let's see how this goes.

 

They've released that beer before and other triple decocted (whatever that is) lager(s), untappd ratings seem good for the style.

 

I'm sure it will be world class.

 

Good to know, looking forward to checking it out regardless.

 

Relevant...

http://www.therepublic.com/2020/01/...nquiry_into_complaints_against_local_brewery/

 

I know @RKP1967 and @joerooster have been eagerly awaiting my thoughts but DOS was a bust on tap. It was the same as the previous OS iterations with lots of hop burn. Cocoa Mostra was good as was MoK.

 

Going to be visiting this week by Herndon, and wondering what couple beers are the best bet. I have a lot of beer at home, so I'm not looking to go crazy, but I figured, given the complaints on this thread, Mostra 1-2 cans and double orange starfish four pack is simplest. Wish I could hit Alexandria and try before buying, but is what it is. Thanks for any info/input.

 

To compound on my post above, I would suggest this is an unfortunate time to try establishing your Aslin baseline. I live very close to their Alexandria taproom, but I've decided to stop going until the feedback I'm hearing from others improves, as they're charging their guinea pigs a pretty premium as they struggle to reclaim their former magic. From what I'm hearing, the hops are largely hit-or-miss--mostly miss--and my personal experience confirms the stouts just aren't the same. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they figure it out, but I'm staying on the sidelines until then.

 

Just checked out their to go options, some of the IPA’s are close to 2 months old. Time to lower prices or start distributing cans around the DMV.

 

Also time to start selling single cans, at least at the Herndon location where you can't try anything. I'd think they would sell more beer that way as people would grab a couple extra beers to try, if they weren't forced to buy ~$20 4 packs.

Noticed growlers aren't really an option anymore (not that I really want a growler of anything) and I thought I read a review where the person said they were pouring from cans at the brewery for some beers....kinda lame if that's true.

 

Same as it ever was IMO. When they're "On" beers like Master of Karate quite simply rock but there's way too many off/ weird/ sludgy/ hop tamale burn / too green cans, and at that price point, easy pass for me. I like Aslin more in theory than I do in execution, sadly, and the pricing is just too much (and I'm in Bruery RS). I am also not down with the really expensive mystery abv stouts with (more or less) unfermented cookie dough in them, and I think the amount of beers that have significant amounts of coffee added shows they really like/ need to hide behind these adjuncts/ non-fermentables instead of just doing normal Imperial Stouts with no or one add on. /blog

Like you said it's just too expensive to be their guinea pigs and its too inconvenient to go back (to either locations for me) and say "these can(s) weren't good." I've felt taken advantage of by them and refuse to believe they didn't "know" that xyz batch was "off" but sold it anyways. I hate to bring The Veil into it but every beer I've ever had from them was on point, Aslin, not so much.

I do have to say that when I was buying Aslin regularly because I had some work stuff going on near Dulles, less than 2 weeks old the IPAs were way too green to enjoy, they're refrigerated on their site (I assume) so I don't think you'd be running into any problems drinking cans that were 30-60 days after packaging. Some of the doubles I thought were going INTO their prime 30 days in, IME.

 

F

Funny you bring this up but the Wine Source in Baltimore announced 4 cans for this Friday- MOK, Neutrino, BDINAC, Trite- and correct me if I'm wrong but the last two would be a few months old at this point? They're probably new batches but you never know.

Not sure if this is a one time deal or will be more regular like the Other Half drops in Gaithersburg and Baltimore.

 

I don't see Trite listed on the website for sale in VA, but the current batch of BDINAC offered has a 12/12 date. Will be interested to see if the dates match. I've seen kegs of Trite littered through out NRG bars (Rustico, Partisan).

 

Did they start dating the cans? I didn't think they did but it's been 2-3 months since I bought anything from them.

From what I can tell, the last time they released Trite was on 9/7 so either those kegs/cans are 4 months old or they brewed a batch that was not sold out of the brewery. Also, they are supposed to have Pew Pew cans at the NYC event this weekend so unless it's releasing/canning this week, those are some really old cans (August). Not sure why they would be brewing extra beer for those events when they have almost 30 to go options at both locations.

 

I haven't bought Aslin cans in forever, so I haven't looked at dates. I was just looking at website dates.

 

Hahah I left that out of my analysis too- no can dates is laughable at that price point.

 

I don't think they've dated cans for quite some time. Probably 2018 or earlier.

 

$35 stout coming this weekend...

 

Gotta keep up with inflation, $30/bottles aren't going to pay the bills in 2020.

 

Have to make up for all those IPA sales slowing down.

 

So I'll be spending a few days in DC for work a couple weeks from now, and I'd been planning to head down to Alexandria to check out Aslin. Do you all think it's still worth it? Any specific things to avoid or definitely check out if I go? If I don't go to Aslin, any other recommendations for places that are relatively easy to access via public transport? I've probably got 2 nights I could head out and explore, I'll be myself and can take or leave food, and I'll have a checked bag, so I'm up for bringing stuff back home - if any of that makes a difference.
Thanks!

 

I can't speak on Aslin but the place everyone will recommend is Churchkey. Right Proper has a brewery in Shaw and a production facility in Brookland and they do a lot of funky beers. Bluejacket is owned by the same group as Churchkey and do a lot of hoppy beers (amongst some other things) and is in an old Navy building.

Are you staying in DC proper?

 

Just a heads up that Aslin is not in downtown Alexandria.

 

Aslin is worth the trip if you like the styles of beer they make (NEIPAs, adjunct/additive heavy stouts and sours), I'd just recommend trying stuff before you buy cans as they have been a little inconsistent for a while now. Personally, I prefer Port City (also in Alexandria) these days as they make 'cleaner' beers in a wider variety of styles. Rustico is a good beer bar/restaurant in Alexandria so if you head that way, I'd recommend going there to eat and drink unless you are only looking to drink local stuff.

Haven't been overly impressed with beers from DC breweries but haven't had too much outside of DC Brau and 3 Stars, both are pretty average.

 

Yeah, the conference/hotel I'm at is right by the Zoo and a couple minute walk to the Woodley Park metro station, so I'm hoping to find stuff that's either walkable or short Uber from the train. I checked out Churchkey's beer menu and holy hell do they have some awesome stuff.

Thanks! This is good info. It sounds like if I do decide to take a trip to Arlington there are other options if Aslin is a bit of a bust.

 

I think you are better served to visit as many NRG restaurants in the area. You'll get a wide range of exposure to local and non local beer, then if something stands out, you can go visit.

For instance, Churchkey has Aslin and bluejacket on now (plus way more quality non-locals as you mention)

The Partisan has Aslin on, The Soverign has Pen Druid (localish) and Crooked Run.

Other bars are Smoke & Barrel, they have tons of local (Port City, Ocelot, Fair Winds, DC Brau, Crooked run) and Roofers Union which seem to focus on local as well (3 stars, dc brau, union, port city, atlas, rar, ocelot, aslin, right proper, denizens). Both are in adams morgan which isn't far from woodley, walkable if it wasn't so damn cold.

Unrealted, Dukes Counter (they have other establishments too) in Woodley will get you the best burger in the city.

 

Awesome. This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for!

Sorry - scrambled the A names and mistyped. I figured I'd take the train to Alexandria and a quick Uber/long walk to the brewery, but you all have me reconsidering. I'm heading out for work and will be by myself, so any time outside of my hotel is welcome, even if spent on the train.

For the last couple years I'd been under the impression Aslin was a destination brewery, but it seems those days may have passed, so I'm thankful for everyone here helping me out and providing lots of alternatives. If you all are ever in Nebraska, give me a shout!

 

If you've never been, sure it's worth a trip (if you have a lot of time to spare).
Personally, I'm with the rest of the group - go to Churchkey or other NRG spots. Probably better ambiance and better selection. I've only been to the Alexandria Aslin location for their anniversary party, but I've spent a lot of time in that area of Alexandria. There's really nothing else around it, so you're kind of on an island if you do go.
If you're picking up cans to bring home, then maybe it's worth a trip? I'm sure the group can advise better on that for the Woodley Park area. My go-to places are pretty far (Dominion Wine/Beer, Downtown Crown).

 

If you’re headed to Arlington, The Brew Shop at the Courthouse metro stop and Rustico at the Ballston metro stop (both on the Orange line) are a great bottle shop and bar/restaurant, respectively.

 

The Brew Shop does crowlers.