The Beer Thread

[stevewizzle]

you humble-braggin' SOB, james ford. 

sounds like a great trip! i hear epic is a great visit.  i've been to great divide only, and that place was fantastic.  i also imagine you'll be going to falling rock? not sure if it's family friendly, but they have a nice patio.

[atomic]

I'm going to Colorado next month and will be visiting these breweries (or as many as my daughter will allow me, lol):

New Belgium
Great Divide
Avery
Oskar Blues
Epic

Odell
Crooked Stave
Funkwerks
Dry Dock
River North
Station 26
Prost
Copper Kettle
Comrade

I'm guessing you maybe are familiar with only the first five? If you are familiar with at least eight or nine of them, then indeed you are probably not a craft beer newbie, and I have totally mislabeled you.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being a craft beer newbie, I know plenty of people who are, and they are all fine people.

I repeat, the brewery was in Warrenton VA, not Baltimore. And the person in question was a brewery employee, not a craft beer newbie on a music message board.

We headed out to Shenandoah this past weekend for some hiking and camping (twice I had to pull off ticks that were crawling up my leg and also found a few more in my tent in the morning...fun, fun) and quite naturally had to check out a couple of breweries on the route.

Saturday we stopped at Heritage Brewing in Manassas. www.heritagebrewing.com My wife was very enthusiastic about them, and I though they were solid. Eight beers on draft, and I'd say five of them were winners. Looks like they may have a barrel aging program in the works.

Sunday we stopped at Old Busthead in Warrenton. www.oldbusthead.com My wife and I both agreed the four beers they had on draft were all pretty weak. Their IPA was so bad that I enjoyed their pilsner more (something that would generally never happen). One of the women pouring beer squinted and read my DC Brau t-shirt and commented that she "never heard of them". Really? Really? You're less than 50 miles from DC Brau and you're working at a brewery and you've never heard of DC Brau? She had to be someone's mom just helping out on a Sunday..

DC Brau isn't a well known brewery.   

I would say you're quite wrong atomic. It is most likely the most well known of the many mediocre local breweries.

Not really.  If you go my local beer store that has 100's of german and belgium beers plus just about any beer that distributes they only have 3 beers from DC Brau and it is a small section.  Even that place in Frederick that has the brew pub has a huge display.    Flying Dog and Heavy Seas are both more known and have a lot more brews.  I have never seen any place in Baltimore carry it on tap and Union Craft, Heavy Seas, and Flying Dog is in almost every bar.   You see none at O's games.  DC Brau might be big in DC but no one drinks it in Baltimore 40 miles away.

Who is the craft newbie? You? 

You fail logic just like everything else.  It is like me saying I know 7 women that you don't know therefore I am a better lover.  You know how you can tell a craft beer novice?  They go on and on about IPAs and they read beer advocate to determine whether they like a beer.  I guess if I was a tiny man who got bossed around by his wife and drove an old beat up car and was only allowed a half American sized bottle of beer a night I would be a bitter ass hole on the internet like you.

Did you tell the barkeep she was an idiot for not hearing of DC Brau?  I am doubting you did.  You know maybe if you visit other places you shouldn't think that everyone from there should know about some crap beer from where you are from.

[James Ford]

Yes, I told her I was surprised that she hadn't heard of the largest and most popular brewery in the most important city on earth, Washington Fucking DC. Where Obama lives. I also told her the 10,000 barrels of beer that DC Brau is producing this year will fucking dwarf whatever her shitty little hayseed brewery is producing this year. I also told her that nobody at DC Brau will ever hear of her shitty little brewery because her beer is crap and they no doubt will go out of business. She said I was probably right and gave me an extra free sample, which I of course refused.

I'm going to Colorado next month and will be visiting these breweries (or as many as my daughter will allow me, lol):

New Belgium
Great Divide
Avery
Oskar Blues
Epic

Odell
Crooked Stave
Funkwerks
Dry Dock
River North
Station 26
Prost
Copper Kettle
Comrade

I'm guessing you maybe are familiar with only the first five? If you are familiar with at least eight or nine of them, then indeed you are probably not a craft beer newbie, and I have totally mislabeled you.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being a craft beer newbie, I know plenty of people who are, and they are all fine people.

I repeat, the brewery was in Warrenton VA, not Baltimore. And the person in question was a brewery employee, not a craft beer newbie on a music message board.

We headed out to Shenandoah this past weekend for some hiking and camping (twice I had to pull off ticks that were crawling up my leg and also found a few more in my tent in the morning...fun, fun) and quite naturally had to check out a couple of breweries on the route.

Saturday we stopped at Heritage Brewing in Manassas. www.heritagebrewing.com My wife was very enthusiastic about them, and I though they were solid. Eight beers on draft, and I'd say five of them were winners. Looks like they may have a barrel aging program in the works.

Sunday we stopped at Old Busthead in Warrenton. www.oldbusthead.com My wife and I both agreed the four beers they had on draft were all pretty weak. Their IPA was so bad that I enjoyed their pilsner more (something that would generally never happen). One of the women pouring beer squinted and read my DC Brau t-shirt and commented that she "never heard of them". Really? Really? You're less than 50 miles from DC Brau and you're working at a brewery and you've never heard of DC Brau? She had to be someone's mom just helping out on a Sunday..

DC Brau isn't a well known brewery.   

I would say you're quite wrong atomic. It is most likely the most well known of the many mediocre local breweries.

Not really.  If you go my local beer store that has 100's of german and belgium beers plus just about any beer that distributes they only have 3 beers from DC Brau and it is a small section.  Even that place in Frederick that has the brew pub has a huge display.    Flying Dog and Heavy Seas are both more known and have a lot more brews.  I have never seen any place in Baltimore carry it on tap and Union Craft, Heavy Seas, and Flying Dog is in almost every bar.   You see none at O's games.  DC Brau might be big in DC but no one drinks it in Baltimore 40 miles away.

Who is the craft newbie? You? 

You fail logic just like everything else.  It is like me saying I know 7 women that you don't know therefore I am a better lover.  You know how you can tell a craft beer novice?  They go on and on about IPAs and they read beer advocate to determine whether they like a beer.  I guess if I was a tiny man who got bossed around by his wife and drove an old beat up car and was only allowed a half American sized bottle of beer a night I would be a bitter ass hole on the internet like you.

Did you tell the barkeep she was an idiot for not hearing of DC Brau?  I am doubting you did.  You know maybe if you visit other places you shouldn't think that everyone from there should know about some crap beer from where you are from.

[James Ford]

Perhaps I'm overambitious, but I have Crooked Stave, Epic, River North, Great Divide, Freshcraft, Falling Rock, and sobering up at the Rockies game all planned for one long all day downtown walking tour. So Falling Rock is in there, in theory. Now whether we make it there or not, we'll see.

you humble-braggin' SOB, james ford. 

sounds like a great trip! i hear epic is a great visit.  i've been to great divide only, and that place was fantastic.  i also imagine you'll be going to falling rock? not sure if it's family friendly, but they have a nice patio.

[James Ford]

Seriously though (and I can't believe you're not grasping this)...it would be like someone opening a brewery in Aberdeen MD and not having the faintest idea who Heavy Seas (larger than DC Brau) or Union Craft (smaller than DC Brau) are. How can you break into a market (presumably a brewery in whose  only nearest large city is DC would be targeting the DC Metro) if you're not even aware of your largest local competitor?

But like I said, she was probably just someone's mom just helping out on a Sunday. I just rolled my eyes, and missed out on the opportunity to open hers.

What would you have done?

[atomic]

Seriously though (and I can't believe you're not grasping this)...it would be like someone opening a brewery in Aberdeen MD and not having the faintest idea who Heavy Seas (larger than DC Brau) or Union Craft (smaller than DC Brau) are. How can you break into a market (presumably a brewery in whose  only nearest large city is DC would be targeting the DC Metro) if you're not even aware of your largest local competitor?

But like I said, she was probably just someone's mom just helping out on a Sunday. I just rolled my eyes, and missed out on the opportunity to open hers.

What would you have done?

I would have said it is a small brewery in DC that has pretty decent Beer and she should try it if she gets a chance.  I wouldn't roll my eyes.   Heavy Seas is a lot more well known than DC Brau and they have been around forever.   I think you have a myopic view.  Most people haven't heard of DC Brau and I didn't try it as all they seem to make is IPAs.  I don't get why you think you are better than other people. 

I have never been rude to wait staff in my life.  And I would never roll my eyes at them.   Your condescending attitude is something I can't understand as even my intern has a much better car than you.   

[Lazer Guided Melodies]

Perhaps I'm overambitious, but I have Crooked Stave, Epic, River North, Great Divide, Freshcraft, Falling Rock, and sobering up at the Rockies game all planned for one long all day downtown walking tour. So Falling Rock is in there, in theory. Now whether we make it there or not, we'll see.

I would also recommend hitting up Black Shirt which is on the north end of RINO, Hops and Pies on Tennyson as perhaps the best beer bar in Denver and you can hit up De Steeg while you are up there.  If you are going to Prost you might as well hit Denver Beer Co. as well.  Others worth visiting:  Strange, Former Future (great empanadas next door), TRVE and Renegade.  If you are going to the Source for Crooked Stave definitely eat at Acorn next door.  If you end up in Boulder definitely check out Sanitas and The Post Brewing Company in Lafayette for chicken and beer on the way.  I would also recommend hitting up Star Bar before or after the Rockies game.

[Yada]

Perhaps I'm overambitious, but I have Crooked Stave, Epic, River North, Great Divide, Freshcraft, Falling Rock, and sobering up at the Rockies game all planned for one long all day downtown walking tour. So Falling Rock is in there, in theory. Now whether we make it there or not, we'll see.

I would also recommend hitting up Black Shirt which is on the north end of RINO, Hops and Pies on Tennyson as perhaps the best beer bar in Denver and you can hit up De Steeg while you are up there.  If you are going to Prost you might as well hit Denver Beer Co. as well.  Others worth visiting:  Strange, Former Future (great empanadas next door), TRVE and Renegade.  If you are going to the Source for Crooked Stave definitely eat at Acorn next door.  If you end up in Boulder definitely check out Sanitas and The Post Brewing Company in Lafayette for chicken and beer on the way.  I would also recommend hitting up Star Bar before or after the Rockies game.

James travels with a camping stove and fresh ingredients on his vacations so he can cook for himself.

[James Ford]

Thanks. I have or will look into all of those options. Colorado just presents too many good options! (I think I remember that you live there...lucky you!)

We are renting a cottage in Estes Park for five nights, and will be cooking our own meals for four of them, after some great RMNP morning hikes and lounging by the river all afternoon. Two nights in Denver and one in Boulder, and a daytrip to Ft. Collins. So a mix of nature, beer, and tasty food both home cooked and restaurants treats.

Perhaps I'm overambitious, but I have Crooked Stave, Epic, River North, Great Divide, Freshcraft, Falling Rock, and sobering up at the Rockies game all planned for one long all day downtown walking tour. So Falling Rock is in there, in theory. Now whether we make it there or not, we'll see.

I would also recommend hitting up Black Shirt which is on the north end of RINO, Hops and Pies on Tennyson as perhaps the best beer bar in Denver and you can hit up De Steeg while you are up there.  If you are going to Prost you might as well hit Denver Beer Co. as well.  Others worth visiting:  Strange, Former Future (great empanadas next door), TRVE and Renegade.  If you are going to the Source for Crooked Stave definitely eat at Acorn next door.  If you end up in Boulder definitely check out Sanitas and The Post Brewing Company in Lafayette for chicken and beer on the way.  I would also recommend hitting up Star Bar before or after the Rockies game.

[James Ford]

Had a lunch date at Foggy Bottom Whole Foods. Got to try Double Jack and Enjoy By side by side. And the winner was....Double Jack.

And at $12 for 64 oz grower or $6 for 32 oz, Double Jack is the bargain of the week. Wish I'd had my growler.

[James Ford]

One quibble with what you said...do you really think that Hops and Pie has a better draft list than Falling Rock?
 

Note: They are both on my must go to list, I was only listing my second day itinerary...Hops and Pie is the first stop on day 1!

Perhaps I'm overambitious, but I have Crooked Stave, Epic, River North, Great Divide, Freshcraft, Falling Rock, and sobering up at the Rockies game all planned for one long all day downtown walking tour. So Falling Rock is in there, in theory. Now whether we make it there or not, we'll see.

I would also recommend hitting up Black Shirt which is on the north end of RINO, Hops and Pies on Tennyson as perhaps the best beer bar in Denver and you can hit up De Steeg while you are up there.  If you are going to Prost you might as well hit Denver Beer Co. as well.  Others worth visiting:  Strange, Former Future (great empanadas next door), TRVE and Renegade.  If you are going to the Source for Crooked Stave definitely eat at Acorn next door.  If you end up in Boulder definitely check out Sanitas and The Post Brewing Company in Lafayette for chicken and beer on the way.  I would also recommend hitting up Star Bar before or after the Rockies game.

[Lazer Guided Melodies]

I meant outside of Falling Rock which I hardly ever go to since I am never in LoDo.  Hops and Pie's tap list changes throughout the day as well.  Another nice spot downtown is Euclid Hall. 

[stevewizzle]

Had a lunch date at Foggy Bottom Whole Foods. Got to try Double Jack and Enjoy By side by side. And the winner was....Double Jack.

And at $12 for 64 oz grower or $6 for 32 oz, Double Jack is the bargain of the week. Wish I'd had my growler.

rating IPAs is like rating which one of your kids is your favorite.   

[James Ford]

Researching my August road trip to Maine, I can across this rather funny review of a place in Portland:

We ordered lunch and beer. I had a liter of the fest bier that was fine. Others in the party ordered different beers that were supposed to be 12 or 16 oz according to their beer menu. They all came in the same size 12 oz glasses. When I pointed this out to the waiter he said I was wrong in an extremely rude manor. I showed him how 3 of their "16" oz glasses filled with water just filled my empty liter mug. He then asked me if I knew how many ozs were in a liter which I did. He had no reply when I told him about 36 fl oz constitutes a liter. This math wiz then explains to me that 3 16oz glasses should just fill a liter and too bad if I didn't like it. To top it off this little punk was wearing a Coors t shirt!

I'll never go back there even though the food and beer were acceptable. You only get 1 chance to make a first impression. If I had been with some of my regular beer drinking friends I would have asked for the manager and made a point. I didn't feel like doing this with some relatives I rarely see.

Too bad but they rip you off there.

[brennser]

Researching my August road trip to Maine, I can across this rather funny review of a place in Portland:

let me know what you find - we're heading up there in July and I think i have my bases pretty well covered but you never know