Category Archives: VA

Beer options in Washington DC

The Washington Post has a couple articles talking about craft beer options in the city.

Beer Paradise in logan circle

Rustico in Alexandria

Winter Beer

If you like strong winter beers then The Washington post has some suggestions for you. The Author had a chance to sample the following large selection of beers,  Anchor Brewing’s Co Our Special Ale, Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale, Clipper City Brewing Co’s Winter Storm, Old Dominion Brewing Co’s Dominion Winter Brew, Wild Goose Brewery’s Snow Goose, Fordham’s Scotch Ale, Brooklyn’s Winter Ale, Michelob’s Celebrate Chocolate and Michelob Celebrate’s Cherry and finally Mad Elf Ale from Troegs Brewing Co. I wonder how long it took the author to sample all those beers.

SPBW 4th Annual Real Ale Festival

This years Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood Real Ale Festival was a great success. Over 400 tickets were sold, with additional tickets being sold at the door at The Wharf Rat. With over 30 Cask beers and unlimited sampling, everybody left happy. I was one of the volunteers inside pouring beer so I didn’t get a chance to sample everything but here is my list

Du Claw Bad Moon Porter
Victory Hop Devil (This was one of the most popular inside) +++
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout
Oliver Mad Monk (One of my favorites had a new sweet taste) ++
Oliver Dark Mild
Victory Donneybrook Stout (Another favorite at the table)
Gales Prize Old Ale (This was just an amazing barley wine beer) ++++
Troegs Hop Back Amber +++
Brooklyn Bright Golding (7.5% another fruity tasting beer) ++
Gordon Biersch Schwarbier (4.3%)
Rock Bottom Oatmeal Dry Stout with Vanilla (Arlington)
Brewers Alley I.P.A (I left with a growler of this, 5-5.4%) +++
Clipper City Loosse Cannon (very hoppy)
Brewers Art Le Cannard
Franklin’s I.P.A.
Brewers Art Beacon Ale (mmmmmm) ++++
Yards Extra Special Ale (6%)

Smithsonian National Zoo + Beer = Brew at the Zoo

The Smithsonian runs a fund raising event every year called the Brew at the Zoo. I got a last minute ticket for this years event. They had beer from over 20 microbreweries, and served hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants. The price of the ticket included a Beer Glass, Food, and all the beer samples you can drink.

As you can see there was a large turn out from the local brewers

Capitol City Brewing Company, The District Chophouse and Brewery, Wild Goose Brewery, Clipper City Brewing Company, Great American Restuarants, Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, Hook & Ladder Brewing Company, Shenandoah Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant, Fordham Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Old Dominion Brewery, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Cristal, Cusqueña, Aguila, Boston Beer Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Harpoon Brewery, Brewery Ommegang, Magic Hat Brewing Company, Paleewong Trading Company, Anchor Brewing Company, Dogfish Head Brewery, EX. Matt Brewing Company, Abita Brewing Company, Allagash Brewing Company, Victory Brewing Company, Rogue Ales, North Coast Brewing Company, Belekus Imports, Premium Distributors, Captial Eagle, Inc., and Global Brewers Guild.

I didn’t have as many beers as some of the people I was there with but my personal beer list was

Clipper City’s Loose Cannon

Ommegang’s Hennepin

Brasserie Lefèbvre SA’s Blanche De Bruxelles

Brouwerij Riva SA’s Lucifer

North Coast’s Red Seal

Cusquena

Dog Fish Head’s 60 minute

Clipper City’s Oxford Raspberry

Sweet Water’s American Pale Ale Thanks Nick for the end of night fill my glass beyond the sample line.

Must resit the urge…..

I need to stop shopping. This time I am in Whole Foods in Arlington and they are carrying large selection of beers that you might find interesting. For Clipper City they are carrying, Mchenry beer, Peg leg and the Oxford branded beer. They also have Dogfish Head: 60 min, 90 min and indian brown. For Smutty Nose: Shoals Pale Ale, IPA. Dominion: Hop Poocket and Ale. Legend had had 5 of the beers on the shelf. They also have Arrogant Bastard Ale and Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing Company and finally Avery’s Hog heaven and Rogue’s Brutal bitter. I probably missed a few on the shelf 🙂

Coastal Brewing Co apply for a brewery license at Old Dominion Site

The

Washington Post; is reporting that Coastal Brewing Co, which is made up of Anheuser-Busch and Rams Head Tavern have applied for the Old Dominion Brewery license. The article doesn’t go into a lot of detail other than saying this is a sign that the sale is close.

Dominion’s Spring Brew

This year Old Dominion is producing a Belgian style Golden Ale. They have brewed it using pilsner and wheat malt, along with Saaz and East Kent Golden hops. They have used authentic Belgian Ardennes yeast to give it a true Belgian flavor.

Special Price on Dominion October Fest

Dominion has a limited supply of Octoberfest which they are going to be selling at the brewpup for $16 per case. The beer is close to the end of it’s shelf life and they say that it is is showing slight signs of oxidation but is still delicious.

Chadwicks in old town Alexandria

I am having dinner at chadwicks in old town and they have some beers you might be interested in.
On tap
Fordham Tavern Ale, Annapolis MD
Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Portland OR
Chadwicks Hefeweizen, Baltimore MD
Chadwicks Amber, Chippewa Falls, WI
Bells Brown Ale, Michigan
Bottled
Magic hat Ale, Burlington VT
Smttynose Old brown dog ale, Portsmouth NH
Dogfish 60 Min IPA, Milton DE

Gordon Biersch Season Schedule

Kelly from Gordon Bierch was kind enough to give me a heads up on their seasonal beers for the year. For VA and DC they will have the following on tap….

April 10th – May 27th, MaiBock

June 26th – August 5th, Kolsch

September 18th – October 28th, FestBier

November 27th – January 6th, 2008, WinterBock

I need to get out and try more of their beer now that they have a restaurant in Tysons Corner Mall.