DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2023)

Actually disregard this... Reason's been closed for half a year.

 

As a somewhat local, I can say good riddance. it sucks to the staff that worked there, though hardly any were left after most were let go without notice, but the owner's disregard for his staff and how he ran the business will not be missed. When Champion first opened up 10-11 years ago they were really good and put on some awesome events but once they started expanding to new taprooms and trying to go into the restaurant business it went downhill. When they started shuttering taprooms / restaurants just a couple years after opening and then a month or so later finding out another "venture" under their umbrella was opening somewhere else with that cycle going on for a few years I knew it was only a matter of time. Even while the businesses were struggling you would not see the owner rolling his sleeves up to work behind the bar, pour beers, etc. He really didn't show face much. I've ranted enough but glad this long miserable saga is almost over..

Reason's beer lived on in some capacity even if it was simply the label on the outside of the can. Reason was in financial issues about to close but Champion swooped near the end of 2021 not necessarily to save them but to buy them out and take over Reason's production space since it was a lot larger than their "Missile Factory" able to produce enough beer for their large distribution footprint. Champion never cared about Reason or their staff / owners. They simply wanted the bigger space and it was all just a band-aid for the imminent. I'm sure Champion was hoping the Reason name may help them too since they were not looked in a positive light.

Anywho, as Reason's original taproom / production space was about to close down at the end of last year Champion likely called in a favor to their old brewmaster as a last ditch effort for the partnership with Bevana. That pretty much moved all of beer brewed under the Champion / Reason name to Bevana's facility in NC and none of their package stuff has been brewed locally for probably 6-8+ months. There's wasn't much of it. I think Reason's Pale was really the only beer of theirs that stuck around. Champion is/was behind on a lot of $$ and a month or so ago had a court date with the management company that oversees the property in the former Reason space. To the tune of $372k per court records. Champion / Hunter no showed and the property / equipment inside it was seized which was likely the final nail in the coffin. And then a couple weeks ago a social media post by a brewery in Philly (Punch Buggy Brewing) about purchasing the brewing equipment from Champion's original taproom I knew this long saga was about to end, at least from the public perspective.

The good news is I recently caught wind that Reason's original owner/brewer is working on a new project and should be opening up a new brewery / restaurant in the C'Ville area in the next few months.

 

Is this going to be Superfly or something different?

 

It's not Superfly. A different one. They have no social media or even a website yet so hesitant to say the name until they announce it themselves. I only know about it b/c I know one of the other people involved. Last I heard they were planning to open late summer (July / August) but with no marketing / promotion build up I'm not sure how accurate that is.

 

Is there's another relevant thread anyone can point me to, that'd be great, but I did a search and came up empty.

Going to be in Baltimore for a guy's trip weekend this August. Probably going to be staying in mainly the inner harbor area. Any recommendation for best beer places to visit? Going to be with a few other dudes who aren't huge into craft beer, so anywhere that also has good food/atmosphere is a plus too.

 

Go to Other Half in DC! Oh wait, B’more, I didn’t realize that was in the DMV! Max’s Taphouse is probably the place to go.

 

Nothing worth a hoot in the harbor.

Max's in Fells Point is the correct answer and you can barhop around the area afterwards.

 

Here's one from last summer with a few recs. https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/baltimore-trip.667874/

 

Finally made it to here, still has a really nice selection though missing singles. That is unless I completely missed them (which is always the case, my eyes seem to instantly glaze over whenever entering a store for the first time)

looked at these two online and will absolutely be worth a trip soon. Thank you both for the recommendations!

 

Hit up dominion the other day and they told us that all kiddos had to be seated (outside) and can't run around the tent, deck, or parking lot. Didn't really give much of a reason but I suspect liability. I understand it however for anyone with toddlers it sucks trying to keep them in their seat for an extended period with sticking a phone or tablet in their face. Ultimately we won't be going back (with the kiddos) for some time.

 

Yeah, I've seen them go running into the parking lot, so I'd imagine it's because of things like that?

 

I would think so but it is definitely nuanced. I don't see the harm in a parent walking around with their kiddo by hand but I would be super concerned about unattended kiddos running free in an active parking lot. It's definitely disappointing as it was a nice go to for weekend brunch with the family.

 

Just a plug for Black Hoof Brewing in downtown Leesburg. Great location with crispy bois and genuinely kind employees. That back patio is an excellent way to spend a summer evening!

oh, and always a Marzen on tap…always.

 

I always liked Bertha’s Mussels as well. Good food, great atmosphere and decent taplist. Not Max’s tap count but good for hanging out with non-craft beer friends.

 

Grabbed a Landmade single can (Molly Pale Ale) from District East beer store in Frederick, MD. Like Ziggy pale ale this beer was high level. Don’t sit on Landmade, I’m probably going to have to make another road trip down to Poolesville.

 

Berthas was very good but, alas, they went out of business

 

I didn’t know that. It had been around for decades. I remember a friend of mine back in the late 70’s/early 80’s had a sticker on the bumper of their moms van. No one had any clue what that sticker meant. And when I actually visited there a few years ago, the bathroom artwork/graffiti was legendary. At least I got to experience a visit to Bertha’s 2x.

 

You can sit inside again now, so you don't have to be in the tent/parking lot.

 

I posted on the Beer Talk forum about Sierr Nevada’s Fan Favorites Variety 12 pack. I haven’t seen it anywhere in Frederick Co yet. Is it showing up in other parts of Maryland?