Snallygaster DC - Top Beers

Oh good lord. They've added over 100 beers since I last checked! I had a spreadsheet with the stuff I wanted to drink and everything. Now I've got to go back through it. Alas. The Breakfast Stout with the Chilis was at the top of my list with the old list. Let's see what this adds to the mix.

 

Wait, shit, the Breakfast Stout with the chilis is no longer on the list! Noooooooo!!!!

 

Looks like they swapped it with FOUNDERS ALL DAY IPA (W/ KAFFIR LIME LEAVES & SIMCOE HOPS
IN THE CASK) : /

 

The first list (100) was crazy enough. Now all this?! This is easily the best beer list I've seen at any beer fest.

 

kinda mad at myself for not going. i did end up going to DC Brau for some Wings and Alpha Domina Mellis though.

 

It was a great time again this year. This really is one of the best run beer festivals out there. My highlights were the Flanders Drive and Kulmbacher Eisbock. Parabajava ran out before they opened the doors at 1. The Bluejacket beers I had were all mediocre at best. I'm starting to worry about whether they're going to be the quality brewery I'd hoped they would be.

 

Glad you had a good time. Disappointing to hear regarding Bluejacket though. Their lineup for the festival was intriguing.

 

I wish I had known about this festival. I didn't see the threads until today. :/

 

was it crazy packed with long lines

 

Wife and I thought it was a huge CF. Unbelievably long lines, tons of cutting, not enough bathrooms. Were just WAY too many people. Was like standing in a mosh pit the whole time. My guess, there was no limit on the number of people allowed in. The more desirable beers were mostly gone with 2 hrs still remaining. Prices...9 tickets ($) for short pours (4oz) is insane. $9 for 4oz of Oude tart...I had it on Friday at meridian pint, $9 for a full pour. Of all the fests I've been to, would definitely rate this near the bottom...prices for rarer beers mixed with the lines were killer. Was at Extreme beer fest in Boston earlier this year, that was a well run fest. Quick lines, unlimited pours, room to breathe, non prohibitive pricing...

You know it's a shit show when the most common statements you're hearing are about how drunk people are and a bunch of hammered "beer geeks" are on a euro butter dance floor making fools of themselves. Was a cool venue, good food options, metro accessible, but wouldn't go back next year. More for everyone else I guess.

I know we weren't alone in our feelings; talked to people who had the early entry tickets, they were thankful to have had those given the conditions by 2pm and were headed out. Heard others saying "this is awful, let's just use our tickets on beers with short lines and leave." Waited for 30 min for a beer more than once. Just very disappointing.

 

I had the early entry pass, and was very glad for it, got everything that I wanted and didn't wait for anything. There were definitely some expensive short pours, but most of the ones that I had were $4. I had the two IPAs from Bluejacket and thought that they were terrible, maybe their other styles were better.

I had a great time overall, but I think I would have been quite disappointed if I hadn't gotten the early entry.

 

Parabajava was quite good. It probably kicked so early because they were pouring full glasses worth =).

The wet hopped wild Racer 5 was the highlight of the festival for me.

 

Also was thankful to have the early entrance ticket. Dont think it was worth it to show up at 1 due to the huge lines. James Bean by Allagash was absolutely fantastic.

 

And then a 5 minute drive to DC Brau for wings was also a highlight.

 

Unless you were waiting for a bbq taco, the lines went fairly quickly. Between 3 people we had 275 tickets and no issues using them in time.

Big winners for me were Old Raspy XV, Avery Bad Apple and Mango Habanero Raging Bitch

 

I really enjoyed Allagash Avance, all the flavor of strawberries without the sweetness. James Bean was tasty, too. Parabajava was good, but Parabola is better. That wonderful coffee nose translated to a bitterness on the back end that wasn't fantastic. +1 on the Bad Apple, fantastic.

 

Entire post well said. It was cool to try some, but most of everything kicked so quick. I found myself having to chug samples to get ready and search for/taste another before it kicked. It was too hard to move around, deal with lines. Disappointed they didn't ration the Parabajava better. I entered at 1 PM, primary because OTWOA release was on my list too.


I skipped the first years because of reasons like this, 2013 was a last minute decision and it seems that future years will be the same. Especially having been to Savor

 

My old man and I were lucky enough to be pouring the Parabajava. He was taking tickets and I was pouring the cups in case you saw us. Couple notes... we weren't pouring full glasses, only filling the smaller cups. Apparently we weren't suppose to fill those up though? Thinking back on it the tasters were suppose to be 4oz right? The smaller cups said 7oz on the bottom. woops. It kicked right about 1PM. We only had one sixtel of it and in all it was a decent volunteering event. We got 2nd shifters to take our spot around 130pm I think, supposed to be 3pm, and we stuck around and used the rest of our tickets, but it was a bit a shitshow. We ended up eating at the oyster place inside the market where I apparently got food poisoning from. We left the whole place around 3pm to get pizza/beer at Fireworks back here in Arlington. I'd volunteer again, but not attend as a patron.

Got to taste the uncle jacob too. holy chocolate beer.