Aslin Beer Company (2021)

Need to pick up some beer tomorrow. Debating if I should head all the way up to dominion or go to Aslin, which is half the distance for me.

Can anyone speak to some of the recent offerings available from Aslin?

How is this new batch of Dunley Place? I haven’t had an Aslin DIPA in a long time.

What about the astro zombie and orange starfish out now?

 

Thanks for the info. I’ve been happy with power moves and business showers I’ve had in the recent past. Had a DIPA that was pretty bad awhile ago and haven’t tried any since.

I opted to pick up at other half actually today. I know OH DC has their own quality issues since opening the new location (The first batch of Mylar they released out of there was a little off)but I just trust their product a little more at this point. I think their quality will be dialed in quickly as they work out the system and have a feeling it already improved since the first batches.

I had some really awesome IPAs at Aslin I believe when the guy Zac from Marlowe ales was there. Experimental series called Liberosis and elucidation that I don’t believe ever made it past the first iteration. I have a theory (with no evidence to support it) that he had something to do with those. He left and the series never continued. I know he was part of the barrel program but still. Can anyone confirm or deny my suspicion. Anyways, cheers and happy new year.

 

Nice. Dunley was my favorite Aslin beer along with neutrino. Will consider trying them again

 

Tried a couple of the “shoe beers” and they were some of the most disappointing BA beers they have put out in awhile IMO.

 

They (Aslin) haven't put out consistently good beers since Richard left a couple/few years ago. Obviously this is just my opinion and I don't drink Aslin on a regular basis anymore (I used to buy every release). Their single IPAs seem to be ok, not really worth the price as they are about on par with something like SN Hazy Little Thing which is significantly cheaper.

 

Where does this mythical Richard guy now brew?

 

I don’t believe Richard had much to do with the quality of the IPA to be honest. I think it was just a coincidence that he left around the time of a scale-up. I remember hearing that Richard was more of a barleywine and stout guy.

I think the original IPA recipes and techniques did not translate to a larger scale system. Other breweries have experienced this as well. I think hazy IPAs specifically are very sensitive to scale and increasing the size of batches can change the final product dramatically. Adjustments in recipe and process need to be made to produce the same beer you were getting on the small scale.

 

To me, the quality of their core non BA stouts has taken a hit as well. Latest batches of Glamping, Dreams, Belly Shirts and Juan de Bolas (the worst offender) were all sugary messes. Bale was solid but no where near where it was a few years ago. But then again maybe I'm just coming down with a case of batchonewasbetteritis, who knows.

 

There are better options in the area for the same price point, used to really enjoy Aslin beers but have not had one in a while that I needed to buy again. Bringing extra sexy back was the best thing I had from them in a long time, used to make the hour drive weekly to Herndon but now I skip over the cans at my local beer store 15 minutes away.

 

I will be working near by for an extended period of time.
Can you elaborate on the area's better options? Thanks.

 

I can't say for sure if he was responsible for the original IPAs but he was always brewing/wearing brew gear (boots and coveralls) at the original location. He appeared to be the head brewer. At that time, they weren't doing too many stouts or bws, maybe like 5-10% of their beers.

Not sure what happened, he is/was family with the 2 current owners. They are/were married to 3 Aslin sisters, hence the name of the brewery.

 

look how they massacred my boy...

 

Doesn't look like the Stellar I've had, taste off as well?

 

Yeah, that Stellar was off... It's been great being able to get Aslin so easily (hell, the Safeway here in Petworth now has it regularly!) But I agree about the quality and consistency problems on the IPAs noted here. Never sure what I'm going to get. The last batch of Astro Zombie was lame (like they forgot to add half the hops), but some recent Double Orange Starfish was really good. Been mainly buying their 5.5% series (Baby Shark, Velocirabbit, Soaking the Dishes, etc... $12.90 at Safeway!), but there is serious variation between batches of the same beer, unfortunately. Hopefully they iron all this out eventually.

 

It was nice to see the 5.5% show up at grocery stores, but I stopped buying it for reasons mentioned above.