Notable Releases - DC/NOVA/MD

FW Velvet @ Total wine McLean, Fairfax and Alexandria

 

This one is the weak link of all their boxed beers, imo. I'm going to resist the urge to pick one up.

 

I randomly stumbled across a bottle last week and bought it, but that's about all the effort this one deserves. I wouldn't hunt it out or make a special trip for it.

 

They changed the Velvet Merkin recipe from 2014 to 2015 (I believe it was ~20% milk stout last year), and I found last year's much improved upon the initial version. I'd agree with the sentiments on the 2014 and earlier versions, but the 2015 was stupendous and I'm hoping the 2016 is too.

 

FYI, if you havent been following the singlecut thread itself, the most recent Bon Bon batch is a little off, not up to snuff with past batches. Its usually pretty hazy (not milkshake level or anything) but apparently something happened and it cleared up significantly. Im not one to say an IPA must be hazy to be good, but this one is typically hazy and it clearly had an impact on the beer.

 

Knee Deep at Dominion.
- Breaking Bud
- Lupulin River
- Simtra Triple IPA

 

So was there a decision made to introduce themselves to the DC market with an "off" beer, or did it just happen that way?

 

They do reference it in their blog post, https://singlecutbeer.com/2016/11/01/haze-go-singlecut/ but they seem to think it is okay, despite comments like the guy below (from the SC thread).

 

Picked some up on the Eastern Shore(Salisbury) today.

 

Interesting decision on their part. I, for one, have no intention of buying this beer again, so maybe not the best move!

 

this is exactly what i meant when i expressed my concerns about that. taste, look, and feel were far different than previous batches. not bad, but not Bon Bon

 

Untappd is a pretty good source for me when looking for a certain regional beer I'd say. For example, I was able to find Mexican Cake on draft in Charleston solely because of Untappd. I'm not so sure if I'd give them as much credit for promoting or alerting for new beers though. Beermenus probably deserves a nod for their updating abilities-I get notifications from my two favorite DC bars when they update their draft lists. All of these apps would be very well served to have a beer favorite list of some sort that notifies you when your denoted beers pop up in your vicinity.

 

Anyone seen Captain Lawrence in MD?

 

I agree with @starrdogg's comments on this. Not very happy that I bought an $8 16oz bottle that apparently was a messed up batch that the brewery decided to go ahead and release anyway. It's still fairly hoppy and decent, I must grudgingly admit (though not worth price), but they haven't introduced themselves to DC very well... caveat emptor.

 

Was just at Max's yesterday and saw that they're having an event there soon.

 

Tomorrow it hits, at least in Baltimore County.

 

The price point is definitely a sore one up here in NYC area as well. There has been a rumor that they are pulling a trillium, and moving to cans for the hoppy offerings, potentially by the end of this year. The upside of singlecut is the availability, they are basically everywhere and although expensive, they put out (ususally) great products. They definitely compare with OH and Grimm (in different ways of course), but are far easier to get in "to-go" formats. With regards to Grimm, the going rate for cans is pretty close to the SC pricing. Though the Grimm's themselves suggest an MSRP around $5 a can, thats not typical. The going rate actually aligns pretty well with the Beltway growler pricing oz for oz.

if and when SC goes to cans though, they will be taking a price hit as the going rate for 4 packs is 14-20 most of the time. They also might have to significantly reduce distro as they are putting 4x the beer in a package.

All in all, i dont think you should give up on SC altogether, they are known for the hoppy stuff, but Boots of Lead is their ImpStout and its pretty great, plus the BA one is coming out soon.

 

picked up the Deschutes/Hair of the Dog collab Collage #2 at the MOMs in Arlington... still have a little wicked weed lingering too (amorous and oblivion)

 

Wasn't a trademark law issue, you don't know the details behind what happened...I know the boys at brothers pretty well, your assumption is incorrect.

 

I'm only going on what I know from the public press releases, which seemed to very much indicate a trademark issue. Apologies for not being besties with the brothers like you are!