Aslin Beer Company (2021)

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by Slack, Jan 1, 2021.

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  1. Slack

    Slack Pooh-Bah (2,018) Feb 14, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cheers!
     
  2. TmaveTebow

    TmaveTebow Zealot (744) Sep 3, 2013 New York
    Trader

    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?
     
  3. Slack

    Slack Pooh-Bah (2,018) Feb 14, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Actually just bought some Dunley and picking up later today. My general opinion is their mainstays are trending in the right direction but I will defer to the regulars.
     
  4. TmaveTebow

    TmaveTebow Zealot (744) Sep 3, 2013 New York
    Trader

    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.
     
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  5. Slack

    Slack Pooh-Bah (2,018) Feb 14, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cracked a Dunley place and it's nice. It's soft with a little bit of malt and resinous on the back end but not overly so. My pallette is not nuanced enough to pick up whatever fruit notes exist but imo it's very drinkable.
     
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  6. TmaveTebow

    TmaveTebow Zealot (744) Sep 3, 2013 New York
    Trader

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

    montman Maven (1,444) Mar 10, 2009 Virginia
    Trader

    Tried a couple of the “shoe beers” and they were some of the most disappointing BA beers they have put out in awhile IMO.
     
  8. joerooster2

    joerooster2 Aspirant (254) Aug 18, 2020 District of Columbia

    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.
     
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  9. RKP1967

    RKP1967 Savant (1,150) Sep 26, 2010 Virginia

    Where does this mythical Richard guy now brew?
     
  10. Slack

    Slack Pooh-Bah (2,018) Feb 14, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It was also nice that they had pretty much all releases on tap on said release day. I got to try all the BF '19 stouts beforehand and was able to get extra of what I liked.
     
  11. TmaveTebow

    TmaveTebow Zealot (744) Sep 3, 2013 New York
    Trader

    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.
     
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  12. Topease

    Topease Crusader (498) Nov 18, 2016 Maryland
    Trader

    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.
     
  13. Goobawl

    Goobawl Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2015 Maryland

    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.
     
  14. barrybeerdog

    barrybeerdog Pundit (941) Aug 17, 2012 South Dakota

    I will be working near by for an extended period of time.
    Can you elaborate on the area's better options? Thanks.
     
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  15. joerooster2

    joerooster2 Aspirant (254) Aug 18, 2020 District of Columbia

    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.
     
  16. Slack

    Slack Pooh-Bah (2,018) Feb 14, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Other Half opened up a location in NE DC and there are numerous stores in the area that recieve quality out of area beers regularly - Dominion Wine and Beer, The Brew Shop, Arrowine, K1, the list goes on (instagram updates all the time). I wouldn't totally dismiss Aslin and definitely would give it a try.
     
  17. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

    look how they massacred my boy...

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. joerooster2

    joerooster2 Aspirant (254) Aug 18, 2020 District of Columbia

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

    BikeChef Pundit (961) Dec 27, 2007 District of Columbia
    Society Trader

    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.
     
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  20. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

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