Notable Releases - DC/NOVA/MD

Seriously, that beer is so damn inconsistent batch-to-batch! I really don't understand it. It can be great or totally mediocre and it's anyone's guess which one it'll be each time they release it. So frustrating.

 

Schneider's tweeted out that all of their pumpkin beers are in. Pumking etc. Still no sign of Warlock or Rumking.

(Insert common grumbling on time of year for pumpkin ales)

 

I saw Warlock at TW Springfield a few days ago. I didn't see Pumking, so I was curious if it was this year's batch of Warlock or last year's, but I forgot to check.

 

I had a Trillium Double Dry Hopped Melcher Street and it was like an orange juice with extra pulp. Bright orange, cloudy, thick, chewy.

It was the best IPA I had ever had. I preferred it over Heady or Pliny. Just so flavorful. I hope more breweries do that.

I had a manor hill flight at Victoria's in Columbia a month or so back. Nothing from them reminded me of Trillium. I liked their saison the best.

 

For the sake of avoiding disinformation and confusion, I'm sure you meant Alpine Beer Co., as Alpine Brewing Co. is located in Oroville, WA.

 

Fucking Autocorrect. Correct.

 

Not true dude, I had the real Alpine Nelson at blind tiger during an event. The fucking brewers flew in with it, so quit with your misinformation.

 

I question how often their lines are cleaned or some other factor with their draft setup. When Solar Abyss first came out in draft only ~1.5 years or so ago I had a sample and loved it. I quickly bought a growler of it which was filled out of another tap. Then I decided to have a pint out of a 3rd tap. That pint was pretty meh and I was worried about my growler purchase. Fortunately I got home and it was great but really seemed like their were some issues with taste depending on what tap it came out of.

Another time when I was there with a few friends we noticed some pretty striking differences in flavor based on what tap the beer was poured out of. I've just chalked it up to some of their lines needing to be cleaned more often.

 

Ask Pat. He was there, so in regards to if there is a chance that Alpine Nelson that was brewed at Alpine Brewing co is on tap at Churchkey, I'd say there is a chance at least.

 

That was my exact thought. I would hope that a brewery of all places would understand the value of having clean lines, but mistakes happen everywhere. I'm glad that I am not the only person to have experienced this, as it seems most beers I get on draft at their brewery fall short of what I take home in a can.

 

Sonofabitch, Blind Tiger not only told me it was indeed the real Nelson from Cali, but that Pat had the stuff sent freight. I suppose I'm the victim of not taking something like that with a grain of salt. I apologize and stand corrected. Apparently, the only real way to tell is by looking at the keg collar. Alpine Nelson & GF Alpine* are what you want to be looking for on keg collars to be sure.

And just to clarify it is Green Flash that is perpetuating this sort of lack of distinction, not Alpine. Why? Nobody really knows...

 

Any chance those Alpine beers will still be pouring tonight?

edit: nevermind, looks like there's that DC Total Tap Takeover tonight

 

Heard the Ocelot head brewer say that they're planning to brew Home* again, FWIW.

 

Were you referencing my post sir/ma'am?

 

I was fed some serious misinformation when I attended a Blind Tiger event that Pat himself attended. I apologized. Its pretty obvious who I was referencing.

 

Well this thread went way off course.

 

Yeah I saw this, didn't want to get into it. I had Alpine Nelson years before the deal was ever made, and man that was a great IPA.

 

Sure thing. So I will restate. Probably 95% of what is made at the Alpine Beer Co in Alpine Ca is poured onsite at the pub and for growler fills, the rest goes to places like obriens, blind tiger, toro, brouwers, etc.. Most other places receive GF brewed Alpine.

 

Solar Abyss is that good. Quite frankly I understand why people trade, but there is so little of some of the stuff it would be nice if more locals could get it.

Whether or not it is hyped, I honestly think Solar Abyss is that damn good and would easily hold up in blind taste tests where people aren't influenced by label.

 

Got it. After checking the pacific thread and getting some PM's it seems all of this is pointlessly confusing and that it actually has to do with an incredible lack of transparency partly from Alpine Beer Co, but primarily Green Flash.