DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2020)

Let me better rephrase my question. Can you pick up a Churchkey Beer Store order at Churchkey or is it delivery only? I don't mind driving there and getting it but delivrry is not a. option for me since I'm out of the zone. Thanks

 

I only go to Trill now when I'm back in Boston if I'm meeting friends. I don't go out of my way for it, so I can't really attest to them pumping out "disappointing beer." My most recent experiences with Trill have been disappointing though. Even if it is on tap at the bar I am at, it's not something I'm ordering. I say that as someone who had been going to Trill since they only filled growlers. They were my favorite hop producer, this side of Hill Farmstead.

A lot of people will point to the fermentation profile change, but there were issues before too. They also have gone through quite a few head brewers. Regardless, every one has a different take about them. I stopped going because I expect more consistency for that price point. I know several friends who stopped going as well. Other still go. Some still tout it so YMMV.

I think one of the greater issues that Trillium has is that other hop shops have caught up or replicated what they do, so you could go to to your local brewery and get something similar. Tree House has their house yeast blend so it's harder to replicate. Hill has some wizardry going on which again is hard to replicate. Trill's strength was getting distinct hop character out of their beers when I revered them. I think that Trill is doing that worse now and there are a lot of breweries around the country that are getting distinct hop character out of their beers locally so you don't have to trade for Trill.

 

FWIW:

My parents live in MA so I visit there frequently. Once upon a time I would go out of my way to visit every time I was in town and always bought cases.

We have good friends who live within walking distance of the Canton location and are longtime hazy IPA devotees and have several Trillium growlers hanging around their house. Now when we’re in town and go to visit them they never have any on hand and we never bother to head over. We went to Castle Rock for beers last time we went to a brewery together.

As others have said there’s just so much good beer out there today whether other breweries caught up or they slipped or both just don’t have any interest. And the way they handled the employee wage thing and the early COVID response doesn’t make me interested in giving them additional chances.

 

Where is Castle Rock?

 

I think he meant Castle Island, which is in Norwich, near Trillium.

 

Yes, sorry. That’s is correct.

 

I realize this gets asked like every 5-6 weeks but anyone know how the Other Half Ivy City location is progressing? In mid-April the owners said it was still on schedule for a summer opening but haven't heard much since.

 

I still love some of their beers - DDH Congress, DDH Melcher are a couple of favorites that are not heavy ABV. Vitamin Sea has taken their crown in that neck of the woods, IMO.

 

Down to my last can of Corn Crib and I am very sad about it.

 

Circling back to this after perusing some reviews of Ballmer Peak and Juice² on Untappd, it sounds like there may be some can-to-can variation on both beers. A few people noted differences in taste, color, and clarity between cans within the same 4-pack. That might explain why I was so underwhelmed by a beer that seemed to be blowing away so many others. If that turns out to be the case, I'm probably going to sit out on Equilibrium releases for a while. There's too much great beer available to be playing Russian roulette on inconsistent brewing.

 

I mean, I'm 100% for your sentiment of not playing Russian Roulette with an inconsistent brewer, but these were one off collaborations, not a recipe they've have dialed in. If you feel burned by them (these beers aren't cheap), then I totally understand.

 

Some of the posters in the Equilibrium forum are complaining about issues with recent batches of some of their core beers, so this may extend beyond the one-off collabs. It sounds like they are in the process of scaling up with a larger brewing system, so that may be to blame.

 

That makes sense. I don't keep up with the EQ thread. I had tried some of their stuff when they sent down stuff a few months ago because I wanted to try everything. It was great, but their beer is PRICY by the time it gets down here so I passed on the most recent drop.

It will be interesting to see how they scale up. I feel like a lot of the breweries of that kind who have tried to scale up have had consistency issues.

 

I have no inside info but will be in that part of the city at least once this week

book me for a little recon from the street (not that I'll get anything juicy but honestly I'm grasping for activities that at least delay me watching old movies and drinking down the "cellar").

Come to think of it I have some bottles to pick up at the Bruery too (5 bottles down - 15 bottles added!)

 

Re: Equilibrium - I haven't been v impressed with their beers the past few years as I've been drinking more OH and Triple Crossing. I got MC2 and Equilibrium a couple weeks ago from the bruery (I think $22+ tax each) and was underwhelmed with both and I think both were $22/4+tax. With Triple Crossing IIPAS at $17-19+ tax and OH at $18-20+ tax I'd choose those over the higher price EQ stuff all day. I laughed when I saw that $26/4 price.

 

^ Triple Crossing has been my favorite of the hype-hazies for a few years now.

 

Same. Getting their cans shipped to my door has spoiled me lately. Enjoying it while it lasts.

 

Agreed on the Triple Crossing. I can’t get it shipped but Down Town Crown is doing a great job. Hard to beat Falcon Smash at 13$

 

FYI for my admo brothers - teeter has multiple thin man brewery beers (three ipas and a sour) randomly on the shelf for $10/4pack. Not a huge stock. Just grabbed a Minkey Doodle sour which I think most other places that have it are selling low 20s