Notable Releases - DC/NOVA/MD

Trading our locals can be tough - I have had some luck with OTWOA (just closed a deal for some JK sours, HF saisons, and assorted FW boxed releases), but it certainly does not pull as hard as many other beers. Hardywood is truly the closest thing we have to a "hyped" beer for trade. GBS and BB GBS can pull middling stuff, Trickery and Foolery are way up there if you can actually get them. I understand why you don't count them though, as they really are not in the DMV.

 

semi off-topic: did DC Brau stop dating their cans? The last few times I've wanted to buy Corruption, no date on the bottom.

 

You should be able to get some good stuff for Solar Abyss. I think Double Duckpin can pull some stuff as well. Mad Fox Orange Whip IPA scores very high. I think the Lost Rhino sours and some Adroit Theory offerings will start to get trade value. The LCCD Despot series, Brothers Resolute, and some Alewerks offerings also are tradeable. But, breweries like Port City, Champion, Old Ox, Wild Wolf, Blue Mountain, Legend, Starr Hill, etc have no trade value.

 

although Ocelot doesn't bottle or can, so

 

But still solid locals to include as extras.

 

I feel like I'm walking uphill here, send a growler and save a can/bottle. I agree with a lot of your post.

 

Home is kicked at Ocelot, there are a few kegs left in the wild (I think they will be tapping one tonight at Eggspectation in Chantilly).

 

As a pretty avid trader, in my experience the only local beers that folks from outside the area have ever actively sought out are OTWOA, and that's because it was on the Top 250 for a while, and Orange Whip, which somehow got a ton of hype around it when it was first released (maybe it was the first ever actual good local beer?). Double Duckpin and Solar Abyss are great, but no one is aware of them or seeking them out. I've sent them out as extras and everyone loves them, but they're not really trade bait.

 

Does anyone know if Right Proper plans on bottling/canning at their new location? If they do, I suspect that their berliner weisses and whatever comes out of their barrels will get some hype.

 

Hopefully all the attention around Home will get them to brew it again..not holding my breath

They made a new one called Kiss the Sky that's being tapped around DC for beer week this week..

Look forward to hearing about it

 

I don't like trading growlers because A) They do not travel well and are prone to leaking and B) The beer, especially an IPA, loses carbonation and freshness. Now it depends on the growler, of course. Those air tight lids work pretty well. There are growlers that keep the carbonation locked it, but they are also more expensive and add to the trading cost.

 

I have my doubts about Adroit.....they are ranked pretty poorly overall and I've yet to have a single offering from them that is exceptional. Their marketing is great though. I agree that there are some "tradeable" beers in the area, but all are a far cry from being truly sought after, aside from the ones I mentioned earlier and maybe Orange Whip.....not sure about that one honestly.

 

Agreed. The only things I've ever been able to trade from this area are Wings and Solar Abyss. Everything else draws crickets. I have better luck with Hardywood/Alewerks offerings.

On the other hand I do love having our locals for my everyday enjoyment.

 

How was the most recent batch of Wings? I swear they have some serious consistency issues with the cans, or they change the recipe up with every batch. Those 40 case batches they put out last summer were excellent. It hasn't tasted or looked like this in a very long time IMO...

 

Any Double Duckpin sightings in DC yet?

 

When I went to the brewery the afternoon of the most recent OTWOA release and bought my haul of over 2 cases I decided to relax and grab a draft pour of wings before heading out. I tasted and immediately thought "Shit, did I just waste a lot of money?", because the draft was incredibly mediocre. Luckily I cracked a can later that night and thought it was worlds better. Not the best batch of this beer I have had, but still fantastic. The run or two before this one was considered to be sub-par due to the yeast being at the end of its lifecycle, not how true that is though. This last batch is very good IMO and I have no regrets about buying it.

 

Anyone going to the Green Flash/Alpine event at churchkey tonight? Anyone know whether its Alpine Nelson or Green Flash Nelson they have on tap?

 

i just grab the latest barrel-aged hardywood and latest barrel-aged lickinghole creek release and i can get some pretty decent stuff for them. of course a bourbon gbs or illuminatos or bourbon raspberry with vanilla beans can pull better stuff, but even a fearnought or bourbon cru does decent. and they aren't as hard to seek out. but with so much stuff in the area now, i have less incentive to trade.

 

Alpine made Nelson only served at Alpine Brewing Co.