DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2018)

Those folks speak the truth. I’ve lived here just shy of 3 years (from New England). Things have changed dramatically in that time. The bars they mentioned are legit. Besides clutch choices, the locals have improved greatly, so hunt these down: Ocelot, Aslin, Crooked Run, Vanish, Solace, Right Proper, Pen Druid are some of my favorites.

 

Just saw Aslin beers showing up on a handful of these taplists. Is this a common occurrence in the DC area to get a good selection of Aslin on draft? I was thinking I'd have to try to figure out a way to get out to NoVA out west- it looks pretty dang far without a car.

 

That's likely just a short-term thing while Aslin is in-between taprooms. The DC spots that have been getting kegs--mainly Churchkey, Meridian Pint, Brookland Pint, and (I think) Smoke and Barrel--tend to only have 2-4 of their beers at a time, but they're pretty chill, and the kegs last at least a few days. They've also been doing sporadic tap takeovers around spots near and far in Virginia, and those tend to have more like 8-10 Aslin brews, but they're usually a madhouse, and everything kicks within hours of tapping.

 

McGintys also has a nice local selection and good food in Silver Spring.

 

It's not just Churchkey, fwiw, but also several of the NRG spots including Red Apron in Union Market, EatBar, The Partisan, etc. And Smoke and Barrel has definitely been getting their stuff, last time I was there a few weeks ago they probably had 3-4 Aslin beers on tap. This has been going on since the late summer/early fall and honestly I'd be pretty surprised if this is a "short-term thing" at this point.

 

I was wondering this after reading that post as that possibility hadn't occurred to me. I think it's possible MP and others go from, say, 4-5 Aslin options down to just 2-3, but I don't think it'll dry up entirely. At least I hope not. Who knows though.

 

The building where the new tap room is supposed to go has been almost completely leveled. No chance the tap room is open anytime in the next couple months. Pure speculation but looks like they may have run into some issues with the buildout.

 

Yea sounds like the taproom is NOT imminent given their recent hearing with the town of Herndon (see Aslin thread). Jace announced that MP would have at least one dedicated Aslin draft line going forward and I read somewhere that their restaurants (MP Brookland and Smoke) would keep getting distro once the taproom opens while the other spots would be either severely reduced or eliminated from supply. But it sounds as if everything Aslin is fluid right now. Can’t complain though, awesome to have 4-6+ cans readily available four days a week.

 

Anyone go to Ocelot today? Line? Sell out?

 

As of an hour ago, someone on FB posted that the line was gone and they have plenty, including Home. Blows my mind that they still have Home cans left. Not complaining at all though. Nice to have a brewery that doesn't bring all the Hazebro's out in full force, and makes amazing beer.

 

Nice, the Home cans are fantastic, I'll definitely grab some more of those if they are available later today.

 

More Prairie Bourbon Paradise at Calvert. It’s delicious

 

Firestone Walker Sucaba landing now, yesterday at CBC and today at Magruders.

 

Sucaba at Schneider's. Also had some BCBS, BCBBW, and a bunch of 50/50 Eclipse.

 

Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout hitting Maryland this week. Wine Source in B'more for one

 

If you're looking to build a vertical/kill your liver, last year's release is still on the shelf at TW Springfield.

I know it may not be the most limited of releases, but has anyone seen SN Bigfoot around NoVA or DC? My cellar is running low on American barleywines, and it feels like we should have seen this one by now.

 

Last time I saw them was November 4th 2017 (I just checked this forum because I remember purchasing two Sierra Nevada Hop packs then), at Rodman's they had the whole case on sale for like 21.99 (and they had just been delivered that day). Not sure when those come around again.

 

Small quantities of Maple Bacon Coffee Porter, Prairie Pirate Noir and Prairie Vanilla Noir in the fridge at Irving St in Mount Pleasant.