DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2020)

Tripping Animals is the real deal.

 

I don't mind looking up one or two beers on my phone when I'm at the store. When I have to look up several to sift through, then that becomes problematic. I guess the advantage of the current situation (online ordering) is that there isn't necessarily the pressure to make a spur of the moment decision. You can study inventories and decide that way.

If I were running the stores, I would explore putting together some mixed four packs of the new releases. There are plenty of people obsessed with trying the new new. I'm sure a "restocking" adder could be included in the price too. IDK what places are allowing singles but it could be a good way of letting people try things, increasing margin, and possibly move more product.

 

Last summer’s porch beer for me was Bitburger in 16oz 4-packs for $6.99. This summer I’ve switched to the Schloss Eggenberg $6.99 4-packs that have shown up. A great alternative to $13 craft lager 4-packs (though I will say that the Bruery Helles is very good).

 

Aslin no longer uses lactose in their sours? I haven't had one in a while (apizza was the last) and I thought it had lactose, actually thought all their sours had lactose. I really enjoyed their Gose's but they have seemed to stopped brewing those.

 

If you look at the Instagram announcements for the last few, you'll notice the beer descriptions are identical to those used for prior batches, except they now omit lactose in the listed ingredients. Someone in their Facebook fan page indicated Aslin switched to maltodextrin for their lactose intolerant customers.

 

In terms of anything in particular? I have been out of the DC area for a couple of weeks, so haven't really been keeping up. I know Brew Shop was turning over product, but not kegs. Noticed some of the same at Arrowine.

 

Bitburger is a staple in my fridge even with the price increase from $5.49 to $6.99 recently. I've also seen 4 packs of Gaffel Kolsch for $8.99 and that is a perfect summer beer.

 

I've never been because I am too close to Brew Shop not to go there. I have followed Arrowine on social for a while and don't think too much has changed besides the focus being on weather appropriate beers. Also, I think it took them a while to get their web store reflecting their full inventory. Not sure though. I feel like their inventory has seemed cleaned out from time to time.

 

Seeing no responses, I felt it was my duty--nay, my privilege--to deliver answers. I snagged Coastal Sunshine: Dragon Fruit, Passion Fruit, Mango and Coastal Sunshine: Tangerine, Passion Fruit, Mango, Soursop. Both shared characteristics differentiating Humble Forager's sweet 'n sour offerings from others available here. For instance, both had a sweetness more closely resembling real fruit than the more dessert-like brews from Drekker. The Humble Forager beers both reminded me of Tang--very similar to actual fruit juice but without quite hitting the mark. The Humble Forager sours were full bodied, but they didn't have that milkshake-like goopiness that so many from Drekker deliver. Overall, I'm glad I tried them, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy others.

 

Can you get Rothaus Pils in DC proper? If so does anyone know who distributes it?

 

I got a six-pack at the total wine in McLean a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t know about dc proper.

 

I generally have Rothaus in stock at Odd Provisions in Columbia Heights and do at this time. Legends distributes it in DC and MD.

 

This may be old news to some, but apparently Melvin is now regularly distributing to DC. CBC has the IPA, 2x4, Pilsgnar, and a couple of others. I am pretty happy to hopefully have new, continuous access to world class west coast IPAs (and Neighborhood Provisions had Alpine Duet recently).

 

Have tried the Melvin IPA and Hubert pale ale so far— they’re good. Was really impressed with the Alpine stuff, though— way better than when Green Flash was contract brewing and distributing it here a few years ago.

 

Craft Beer Cellar on H Street usually carries (and I usually buy)