Referend Bier Blendery

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Just to note, those are for (I believe) 6 oz pours. Maybe the glass was 8%, but either way, it's a bit pricey. Definitely a cool place to experience, but it's not a place I would go back to regularly, like Conclave or Troon.

 

Thank you both. Plan on hitting Troon likely too. Was even thinking of crossing the bridge to Vault.

anywhere you recommend reasonablly close by?

 

Visited a few weeks ago (April 8). I got there shortly after 2 PM and it was very quiet. Started with a glass of Jung (superb, just superb) and took a seat along the wall looking in on the barrels. I sipped and read a book, staying for nearly two hours with glasses of Alleluiavers, Gloria, and Veni Sancte Spiritus along the way.

Traffic definitely picked up pretty quickly. Sitting where I was, I overheard a bunch of conversation and there certainly seemed to be a good many people doing some combination of Troon, River Horse, Vault, and Referend. A lot of people for whom this was their first exposure to beer of this style, as well.

Most of all, I was incredibly impressed by the owners. While I didn't engage with them personally aside from ordering my beer (I was focused on the Dickens I was reading), I caught a lot of their conversations with other patrons and was incredibly impressed. They're fantastic advocates for the work they do and the beer they make. There was one patron, from one of the groups touring multiple breweries, who was frankly a total jerk. Loudly dismissive of the beer, insistent that they need to brew stout, chugged his glass "to get it over with," and so on. The owners took it stride, with an aplomb that was far more than the man deserved. I was cringing for them and yet they were completely cool.

It's a unique place and one that I plan to revisit. Considering the remarkably good quality of the beer, I found the prices completely reasonable.

Oh, one last note: the narrow, stange-like glasses they use are absolutely wonderful. They felt great in the hand and are beautiful, as well.

 

Anyone who was at Saturday's release pop a bottle of Agnus Dei yet? If so, how was it? I may pop one of my bottles tonight.

 

I got a bottle and didn't pop it. I ordered it on draft first and then got it and the dude pouring said it's very "different" in the bottle than on draft. I'm guessing there's carbonation in the bottle hence the cork...

 

Well popped a bottle last night and you sir are correct. Very effervescent. Champagne like in fact.

Great beer as well. Maybe my favorite of the Berliner Messe variations that I've tried. The influence of the vidal blanc grapes and juice is very noticeable. Works well with the biting carbonation.

 

did these bottles sell out too?

 

We are excited to announce our extended open hours! Beginning this week, The Referend will be open on Thursdays & Fridays from 4 -7 PM. Our Saturday hours remain in effect.

Cask pours by the glass, growler fills, and bottles of Berliner Messe - Agnus Dei are all available during all open hours.

 

I was surprised by how mellow and well-integrated Veni Sancte Spiritus was when I had it on cask. Interestingly, it might have been the most "approachable" of the beers available on that given day.

 

I like where this is going...

 

How's the place look, today? Any news?

 

I was just there and it's dead with plenty of bottles left.

 

Great day at referend, as always. It's amazing that more people aren't there, but I can't complain. Sanctus lasting this long is absolutely wonderful. It's so good. Someone called it "st lam light" and I think that's 100% accurate

 

I was there Thursday night for about an hour between 5 and 6. When I arrived, there was one patron there. In the hour I was there (reading and drinking lovely glasses of Nelson Sauvin Jung and Liber Novus), one other customer came in.

It's is bonkers that Referend isn't busier. In a sea of hazy IPA and overpriced can releases, they're doing genuinely interesting stuff, with an incredibly high level of craft. And they seem like genuinely nice (and hyper-literate) people.