The DC Beer Show: Recent Episodes
DC Beer
The official podcast of DCBeer.com! This is a show about breweries: the business, the beer, the craftspeople who run them and the drinkers who love them. Join us as we speak with brewers, brewery owners, and all kinds of folks involved in the craft beer scene.
Join us as we explore the rich history and vibrant craft beer scene at Brewer’s Alley in Frederick, Maryland. From its building's historic roots dating back over 240 years to its modern craft-brewing innovations, this episode features conversations with brewer Karl Knoop and explores the legacy of a pioneering brewpub that’s shaped Maryland’s beer culture.
In this episode:
- The historic significance of the Brewer’s Alley building and its role in Frederick’s story
- The evolution of craft beer styles over 30 years, including traditional styles like Kolsch and modern hazy IPAs
- How Brewer’s Alley balances historic brewing methods with contemporary trends and food pairing
- The importance of community, collaboration, and supporting local breweries in Maryland
- Insights on beer ingredients, including the debate over rice and corn in brewing
- The brewery’s approach to menu diversity, from light lagers to Fruited Sours and American Pale Ales
- Special events like weekly lobster nights and the upcoming Maryland Mead Works visit
- Legacy and future of craft beer in Maryland, including notable figures like Phil Bowers and breweries like Heavy Seas and Brewer’s Art
Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro to Brewer’s Alley’s historic roots and community impact 00:12 - Discussions on popular beers and personal favorites 01:09 - Behind the collaborations: Pilsner Urkel and local brewing scenes 02:17 - Brewer’s Alley’s anniversary beer: 30th Pale Ale and ingredient insights 03:38 - History behind brewing styles and the approach to classic and modern beers 04:13 - The brewery’s food pairing philosophy and menu evolution 05:01 - Ingredients debate: rice, corn, and efficiency in brewing 06:22 - The blend of traditional and innovative brewing practices 08:11 - Food and craft beer pairings, including lobster nights 09:29 - Customer preferences: bitterness vs. aromatics in craft beers 10:02 - Emerging trends: Fruited Sours and lower ABV options 11:19 - Community and camaraderie among Maryland breweries 12:22 - Brewer’s Alley’s dedication to historic styles and local ingredients 13:27 - Weekly lobster nights and unique event offerings 15:51 - The building’s history, including Frederick Douglass and Civil War significance 17:46 - Brewing in a historic setting and the importance of legacy 19:36 - Connection to wider craft beer movements and industry leaders 21:15 - The community spirit in Maryland’s craft brewing scene 22:34 - Celebrating milestones, birthdays, and upcoming events 24:41 - Invitation to upcoming tastings, beer shares, and special occasions 26:20 - Final thoughts on supporting local breweries and brewery’s future 27:15 - Cheers to history, community, and good beer!Resources & Links:
Brewer’s Alley - Official website for upcoming events and history
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Enjoy learning about Maryland’s brewing legacy and the artisans keeping craft beer vibrant! Cheers to another 30 years of brewing excellence. Thank you for tuning in! Follow what's happening in the DC scene at DCBeer.com and @dcbeer on social media. Support us at Patreon.com/DCBeer
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Welcome back to another exciting episode of the DC Beer Show! We have a lot to cover, so let's dive in.
First up, Brandy and Jordan share some of the top events coming up in the DC beer scene, from MegaFest to new releases and, of course, the DC Beer Share.
Amber Farris joins us to review Barrel and Flow, Pittsburgh's black-owned beer festival that celebrates collaborations. Find out how this event (voted America's #1 beer festival by USA Today readers) is a must for every beer lover's festival tour.
Greg Engert takes us behind the scenes of Snallygaster, DC's premier beer festival, and discusses the exciting improvements they've made based on your feedback. From adding more shade and seating to increasing the number and visibility of food vendors, Snallygaster is going above and beyond to create the ultimate beer-tasting experience.
So grab your favorite pint and get ready for an episode packed with beer, festivals, and everything in between. Let's dive into the world of Snallygaster and Barrel and Flow on this episode of DC Beer!
Thanks to our monthly supporters * Michael Rafky * Brad Stengel * Matt Winterhalter * Bill and Karen Butcher * Jordan Harvey * Brandy * Justin Broady * Thor Cheston * Stephen Claeys * Matt B * Julie Verratti * Bill DeBaun
With Mike and Jake out, Brandy leads this episode with Jordan and guest hosts Richard Fawal and Matt Splain. They cover upcoming events, the latest Snallygaster reports, and the news about InBev selling off its craft beer portfolio.
Then Brandy speaks with Alex Lynch, founder of Mieza Blendery in Alexandria, Virginia, about his unique approach and exclusive focus on fruited sours.
Be sure to follow us! @DCBeer and DCBeer.com. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get all the local craft beer news and events delivered right to your inbox!
Thanks to our monthly supporters * Brad Stengel * Matt Winterhalter * Bill and Karen Butcher * Jordan Harvey * Brandy * Justin Broady * Thor Cheston * Stephen Claeys * Matt B * Julie Verratti * Bill DeBaun
In this episode of the DC Beer Show, Papa Beer joins Jake, Mike and Brandy to talk about August events, from the Urban Garden / Red Bear Collab (Peachy Keen) to the Denizens Open House and DC Brau's celebration of Jerry Garcia's birthday.
This leads the gang to demand that local breweries start having Steely Dan appreciation days because STEELY DAN is the best band ever.
Jake has an in-depth conversation with Dynasty Brewing's Favio Garcia, an elder statesman of DMV brewing who's been making great craft beer in the region for over 30 years.
Get all the details about everything happening in the DMV craft beer scene at DCBeer.com or @DCBeer on social media.
Thanks to our monthly supporters * Brad Stengel * Matt Winterhalter * Bill and Karen Butcher * Jordan Harvey * Brandy * Justin Broady * Thor Cheston * Stephen Claeys * Matt B * Julie Verratti * Bill DeBaun
In this captivating installment, our hosts delve into upcoming craft beer events and some crazy news about Valor Brew Pub. On the lighter side, Jordan chats with Elliott Johnson of Soul Mega about the next Summer beer release and their Second Annual MEGAFEST.
On Saturday, July 15, events include the All-American Beer Festival at the Bullpen, the Old Town Pub Crawl in Alexandria with Port City, and Denizen's 9th-anniversary party in Silver Spring. On July 22, head out to Dock 5 at Union Market for the (D)rafts and (C)rafts festival from the DC Brewers Guild and the DC Makers Guild.
But the main attraction in this episode is MEGAFEST, the Black-owned beer festival meets block party in celebration of Soul Mega’s 4-year anniversary, on August 26, 2023.
As the first Black-owned beer festival in the nation's capital, this event will bring refreshing craft beer styles, wines, and alternative beverages brewed by regional minority-owned brands alongside local food vendors. MEGAFEST connects diverse groups of people in a safe environment to network, unwind, create new experiences, and revel in Black culture at one of DC’s historic neighborhoods. Visit https://events.eventnoire.com/e/megafest-2023 for tickets.
Get all the latest news and events about craft beer in the DMV and DCBeer.com and subscribe to the monthly update at DCBeer.com/newsletter.
Thanks to our monthly supporters * Brad Stengel * Matt Winterhalter * Bill and Karen Butcher * Jordan Harvey * Brandy * Justin Broady * Thor Cheston * Stephen Claeys * Matt B * Julie Verratti * Bill DeBaun
Welcome to The DC Beer Show! This week, we're diving into DC's thriving craft beer and beverage scene. Brandy, Mike, and Jake discuss their current drinks, including a black lager and Amaro. Jake shares a recipe for an Amaro-beer cocktail.
Get out and about to the latest events happening in the beer community, including lagers and saisons at Churchkey and a lager festival featuring Schilling, Good Word, and Bierstadt in Alexandria.
But wait, there's more! Jake interviews the founders/owners of the third black-owned brewery brand in Virginia, Strange Fruit Brewing, and discusses their first beer, the hazy Subtle Nod. We'll discuss their background in home brewing, their experience in finding a brewing partner, crafting their recipes, and designing their cans.
We preview DC Beer's July Beer Share and the Women's Brew Culture Club at Denizens.
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Thanks to our monthly supporters * Matt Winterhalter * Bill and Karen Butcher * Jordan Harvey * Brandy * Justin Broady * Thor Cheston * Stephen Claeys * Matt B * Julie Verratti * Bill DeBaun
Welcome to the DC Beer Show, where we celebrate the passion and camaraderie of the DC beer community. In this episode, we're raising a glass to Pride Month and local breweries, and we've got a lot to cover!
We're discussing everything from beer festivals to collaborations among our favorite breweries. We're also highlighting the work of Jamal Lemon, who recently won a James Beard Media Award for his research on oysters and beer.
But that's not all. We're also diving into the challenges of owning a brewery during a pandemic and how to stay afloat. Plus, we're chatting with Simon Bee from Red Bear and Brandon Skall from DC Brau about their experiences in the brewing industry and how they are continuing to support the LGBTQ+ community through the 6th annual Pride Pils, the first that it's a collaboration!
Cheers to a happy Pride Month!
- Favorite beers & events
- Celebrating Jamal Lemon
- Upcoming beer events
- Wheatland Land Beer Fest
- Pride events & support
- Red Bear & DC Brau interview
- Collaboration for Pride Beer
Join DC Beer for discounts at tap rooms and retailers throughout the Metro area! Learn more at https://dcbeer.com/links
Thanks to our monthly supporters * Matt Winterhalter * Bill and Karen Butcher * Jordan Harvey * Brandy * Justin Broady * Thor Cheston * Stephen Claeys * Matt B * Julie Verratti * Bill DeBaun
We love when Maryland gains a new brewery, especially in Prince George's County. We’re so excited to welcome Black Beauty Brewery, PG County’s second Black-owned brewing company.
Jordan sits down with Sheldon Goins, founder of Black Beauty Brewery, to hear how a setback during the pandemic led to starting a brewing company. Sheldon graduated with a criminal justice degree and found himself working in IT. But when he comes home, brewing calls his name. We talk about navigating the challenge of licensing, cold weather beers coming down the pike, and which beer styles Black Beauty will feature most.
In other news, we discuss how a traditional beer style won Best in Show at the 2022 Maryland Craft Beer Competition and other Maryland beers we’re excited to drink in these coming cold winter days.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, and @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
There are many events happening this week! Don’t miss them by checking out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
Mike remembers years ago when Hellbender was just a new brewery in town. Today, Hellbender is now one of our elders in the DC beer scene as they celebrate their 8th anniversary this weekend.
We’re jazzed that Hellbender has been around for us all these years, so we have co-founder Ben Evans on the show. Ben and Mike look back on the first story DC Beer wrote on Hellbender’s opening and reflect on where the journey has taken them. Ben shares what the 8th anniversary beer will be and what’s on deck for the anniversary party happening this weekend. One thing is for sure; it’s a party you don’t want to miss.
In other news, we talk about rice, give details on a new brewery that’s arrived to the DMV, shout out our favorite beers from the Baltimore Craft Beer Festival, and share an upcoming event with our resident favorite beer historian’s (Mike’s) favorite beer historian.
There are so many events happening this week! Don’t miss them by checking out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, and @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
There are many events happening this week! Don’t miss them by checking out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
It’s a competitive time to be a brewery, and Hugh Sisson knows this well. Hugh started Heavy Seas Brewing (formerly Clipper City) 27 years ago and has watched the craft beer scene evolve. In this episode, he shares his wisdom and insights on navigating the craft beer market and making the best damn tasting beer you can.
You might know of Hugh Sisson, but you might not know that the Maryland craft beer scene is flourishing today because of the advocacy Hugh did on behalf of the beer community years ago. Hugh shares with brewers how to navigate this competitive market, if opening a taproom is sustainable, and if it’s worth experimenting with seltzers and cocktails. Jake and Hugh also dive into the news of National Premium returning to Baltimore and discuss controversial issues such as, should breweries produce wacky, dessert stouts?
In other news, we give details on the Lost Generation opening, the Baltimore Craft Beer Festival, and the Mindful Drinking Festival.
There are so many events happening this week! Don’t miss them by checking out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, and @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
There are many events happening this week! Don’t miss them by checking out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
We may be recovering from DC’s biggest beer weekend, but we’re gearing up for more festivities. In this episode, we check in with some favorite DC breweries about their recent victories and triumphs.
First, we talk with Daniel Vilarrubi of Atlas Brew Works about their recent bronze medal for best American Pilsner at the Great American Beer Festival and what it means to be a true American-style pilsner.
Then, we dissect beers with Daniel Terrones of Other Half Brewing DC. Other Half is celebrating their second anniversary, so we talk about the evolution of their lager program and what anniversary beers Other Half will brew for this special celebration.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, and @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Check out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
We may be recovering from DC’s biggest beer weekend, but we’re gearing up for more festivities. In this episode, we check in with some favorite DC breweries about their recent victories and triumphs.
First, we talk with Daniel Vilarrubi of Atlas Brew Works about their recent bronze medal for best American Pilsner at the Great American Beer Festival and what it means to be a true American-style pilsner.
Then, we dissect beers with Daniel Terrones of Other Half Brewing DC. Other Half is celebrating their second anniversary, so we talk about the evolution of their lager program and what anniversary beers Other Half will brew for this special celebration.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, and @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Check out the DC Beer event calendar here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
American Latinos have long been a part of America’s beer history. Today, they’re pushing the beer industry forward with beers brewed with unique ingredients (hello, piloncillo), generations of brewing families, and inclusive taprooms.
Mike got to pick hops with Dr. Theresa McCulla, curator of the American Brewing History Initiative, and heard more stories about the role of American Latinos in our beer history. Dr. McCulla also gave details on an upcoming event at the Smithsonian Museum of American History that will explore the past, present, and future of American Latinos in beer (get your ticket!). Dr. McCulla tells us about the four incredible brewers who will be featuring their beers and gives us glimpses into their diverse stories and how generations of families are a part of their business histories.
In other news, we come live from the first-time-ever winners of the Battle of the Barrel Aged Beers and give all the exciting previews for beloved Snallygaster 2022!
Get tickets to Last Call: ¡Salud! to American Latinos in Beer!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Read DC Beer articles here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
American Latinos have long been a part of America’s beer history. Today, they’re pushing the beer industry forward with beers brewed with unique ingredients (hello, piloncillo), generations of brewing families, and inclusive taprooms.
Mike got to pick hops with Dr. Theresa McCulla, curator of the American Brewing History Initiative, and heard more stories about the role of American Latinos in our beer history. Dr. McCulla also gave details on an upcoming event at the Smithsonian Museum of American History that will explore the past, present, and future of American Latinos in beer (get your ticket!). Dr. McCulla tells us about the four incredible brewers who will be featuring their beers and gives us glimpses into their diverse stories and how generations of families are a part of their business histories.
In other news, we come live from the first-time-ever winners of the Battle of the Barrel Aged Beers and give all the exciting previews for beloved Snallygaster 2022!
Get tickets to Last Call: ¡Salud! to American Latinos in Beer!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Read DC Beer articles here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
In Mike Stein’s stein was Reasonably Corrupt, a Schwarzbier from Great Raft Brewing. So it was only fitting that we talked with former DC resident, DC Beer editor emeritus, and co-founder of Great Raft, Andrew Nations.
Jake and Andrew talk about why seasonal beers come out earlier and earlier every year, the hectic race breweries must endure to be the first pumpkin beer on the shelves and why that even matters, and which beers Great Rafts has up their sleeve for Snallygaster 2022.
In other news, Mike gives us the rundown of several traditional Oktoberfest beers you’ll find at DC breweries, and the gang lets us in on all the beer events happening in the region.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Read DC Beer articles here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
It’s September. Some would say fall has arrived, but that’s up for debate. More importantly, we’ve entered DC’s biggest season for beer.
DC beer lovers are getting jazzed for one event in particular – Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beers, the event that sets off DC Beer Week. Woop woop! Jake sits down with Colin McDonough of Boundary Stone to hear what the 2022 throwdown holds for our favorite local breweries, and how they will battle and joust to brew the best barrel-aged beer. Colin and Jake also discuss the decrease in beer events in the District, if they will make a comeback, and also dabble on the subject of barrel-aged barleywine.
In other news, Brandy isn’t quite sure what she was thinking as she is going out of town and missing one of the biggest weekends for DC Beer in September. Jake kindly reminds her of all the fun events she is going to miss and also announces new brewery locations opening up and delicious new beer releases.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Read DC Beer articles here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
It may be a scary time for breweries in DC right now, with closings and partners parting ways. But one team isn’t afraid. DC, welcome your newest neighborhood brewery, Lost Generation.
Brandy sits down with co-owners Annie and Jared and lead brewer Cody to hear all about what Lost Generation Brewing has in store for us. They tell us the story behind the name, what beer styles they’ll be focusing on, what they’ll do to make Lost Generation a community-driven, neighborhood staple, and, most importantly, when we’ll be able to taste the goodness of their beer!
In other news, the gang recounts their brewery road trip through Maryland and tells you which beers up north you need to try, they share why the upcoming Megafest is going to be amazing, and they give a sneak peek to upcoming Oktoberfest 2022.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Read DC Beer articles here.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
Brandy was roaming the Maryland Beer Festival when she overheard people raving about an Italian pilsner. She followed them to Landmade Brewing’s tent, the DC Beer Crew tasted the pilsner, and it quickly became the favorite beer of the day.
Landmade opened six months ago and completely flew under our radar! So today, Brandy sits down with owner Gabe Scott and head brewers Matt and Kyle to hear the story of how these three came together to start Landmade Brewing on a farm in Poolesville. They talk beer porn to us, sharing why Landmade is focused on making amazing lagers, how they dabble in crafting smoked beers, and why local agriculture is so important to the brewery.
In other news, Mike and Brandy share exciting news about Snallygaster (woop woop!) and why you should seek out the brewery tents you’ve never heard of while at festivals.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
For a lot of us at DC Beer, there’s nothing like finishing up the work week, heading to the local brewery for a fine brown ale, and headbanging to your local favorite heavy metal band. Years ago, the DIY metal scene of DC was looking for a place that metal fans could call home. Where did they find it? DC's beer scene.
The DC Beer ecosystem goes far beyond the brewers and taprooms. In this episode, the DC Beer Crew talks with Metal Chris, founder of DCHeavyMetal.com, to hear the story of how DC breweries became the haven for heavy metal fans to gather under the common love of heavy riffs.
In other news…well, there’s bad news. But there’s also good news! We share both, tell you which beer events you should hit this next week, and cheers the DC Beer community for all the highs and lows it’s currently experiencing. We’re also joined by beloved Jordan Harvey, DC Beer’s own Man-About-Town, for some fun shenanigans.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
It’s July in DC AKA it’s hot and muggy. So grab your most refreshing beer and slip slowly with us as your neighbors light off their leftover fireworks. In this episode, we’re sharing what beers are quenching our thirst driven by summer’s heat and catching up on the most exciting things that are going down in DC’s beer scene, including a beautiful collaboration between Soul Mega and 3 Stars, the outcome of the MD Craft Brewers Games of 2022, and a sneaky release of the potential date for DC’s favorite beer event!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
50 episodes ago, beloved hosts Brandy, Jake, and Mike took the microphones and relaunched the DC Beer Show. Since then, it’s fair to say that the DC Beer scene has gone through a lot 一 a global pandemic, fighting to keep each other safe while keeping our businesses afloat, and confronting discrimination in our local industry 一 it hasn’t been easy. But together, we’ve overcome much. And in this episode, we celebrate!
The gang comes to you live, in-person, TOGETHER from The Dew Drop Inn, the site of the historic Chocolate City Brewing Company, the first black-owned brewery in D.C. We reminisce on the milestones of DC’s beer scene over the last two years, have a surprise guest appearance from the DC Beer Daddy himself, revel in delicious in-person pints, and let you know what you should be most excited about in the near future of DC beer.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Slowly but surely, our favorite annual beer events of the past are making a comeback after taking a pandemic pause. What are we especially excited about? Savor.
Savor is an experience for beer lovers and foodies that pairs flavor-forward, independent craft beer with small-plated culinary delights. Jake sits down with Bill Butcher of Port City Brewing to get the story behind Savor and hear why it’s so worth attending this year. Bill is also a member of the Brewers Association and dives into where craft beer currently stands with local legislation and how possible it is to put on more unique regional beer events across the country.
In other news, the gang shares beer releases from 3 Stars, favorite beers they’ve been trying from Hellbender and Streetcar 82, an upcoming event with the DC Abortion Fund (DCAF), and MANY anniversary celebrations coming up at Union, City State, and Old Ox. One of these anniversary celebrations may or may not include a special appearance by Fred Armisen.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
It’s patio season. Dunkels and tripels are overflowing. But you know what we’re most excited about? One of our favorite neighborhood breweries is back.
Mike sits down with Ben Evans and LT Goodman from Hellbender Brewing Company after the brewery’s period of intense trials. Back in March, Hellbender lost their ABC license and was unable to operate. But they are back!
Ben and LT tell us about the reopening process, the triumphs they’ve seen, and the challenges they still face. Ben also shares about new beers coming out this season and how business owners can take care of mental health when not tending to their breweries. We revel in why we need our local neighborhood breweries and discuss how people can currently support Hellbender.
In other news, the gang announces a beer release from Three Stars, tries an amazing collaboration from Streetcar 82 and 7 Locks, and gives details for Land Beer Fest, and LGBTQ+ events coming up like Proud to Say Gay, and Queer Beer Fest.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
‘Twas the day before the Maryland Craft Beer Festival, and all throughout the DMV, DC Beerists were getting restless, waiting to travel for beer and Maryland’s finest yeast.
Brandy ventures outside the DC border to get a sneak peek taste of Maryland’s delicious beer, and talks with Earl Holman from Crooked Crab. Crooked Crab beer has been booming in the DC area over the last year. But the last time we talked with Earl, it was just before the pandemic started, and we had no idea what was ahead of us for the next few years. Earl tells us how Crooked Crab adapted to changing times, how they work to brew beer that every person will find satisfying, and what exciting things are coming up in Crooked Crab’s future.
In other news, we are in full force beer event season! The gang shares everything you need to know about events coming up at Rocket Frog, Silver Branch & Old Ox, and gives sneak peeks into DC Pride happenings at DC Brau and the Queer Beer Festival.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Carly and Brian Ogden met on a blind date that started going south quick. Until beer saved the day. And along came beloved Attaboy Brewing.
Brandy sits down with Carly and Brian, founders of Attaboy Brewing in Frederick, MD. Carly and Brian recount that fateful night of their first date and share how they made it from the Bay Area to Maryland, and how Frederick became the unexpected surprise of a location for Attaboy. They share the story behind the name “Attaboy” and the shenanigans that come out of being in such close quarters with their neighbor brewers in Carroll Creek, Frederick.
Then, we have TONS of exciting things going down in the DC Beer world. Brandy, Jake, and Mike give the details for all the beer releases and events you need to know about, including events at Right Proper and new things coming down the pipe from Aslin Beer Company.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
There are towns where everything feels right. Sperryville is the little town tucked in the Shenandoah mountains where you run to when you need to escape the city. Yet a trip to Sperryville is only made whole when you taste the goodness of the native beer, natural cider and wine of Pen Druid Fermentation.
Mike sits down with Jennings Carney, co-owner of Pen Druid Fermentation. Jennings is one of three Carney brothers who operate the company. He shares about the evolution from Pen Druid Brewing to Pen Druid Fermentation, how long the brewing process takes to get the beer from the barrel to the glass, how the seasons truly affect the brewing process, the intention that goes into the ingredients of each batch, and why it’s so worth making the trip to Pen Druid in beautiful Sperryville. Lastly, Jennings tells us all about Yeaster, an upcoming event that includes a delicious lamb roast, cider release, and wine & food pairings from Domestique Wine and Sumac Restaurant.
In other news Jake, Brandy, and Mike revel in the wonder of dry beers & ciders, and share exciting news about ChurchKey, Silver Branch, and Old Ox. Other shoutouts and beer releases include Red Shedman Brewery, Manor Hill, and Other Half.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Winter is ceasing its ugly gloom, and behold! Spring is upon us! Commence the release of cherry blossom beers, baseball beers, and best of all, beer festivals.
Beer events in the DMV have been on hiatus since the pandemic started, making the upcoming festivals all the more special. In this episode, Jake talks about the upcoming Maryland craft beer festivities with Brett Snyder, president of the Brewers Association of Maryland and co-founder of Waredaca Brewing Company. Jake and Brett also discuss the ins and outs of true farmhouse breweries, why selling beer at farmers’ markets is so important, what legislative action is happening on the MD beer front, and why the Maryland Craft Beer Festival and Love Thy Beer events are worth attending.
In other news, Jake and Brandy share beer releases, including baseball & Pride beers from DC Brau, and punny beers from Astro Lab.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Alfred Rotimi was studying all things psychology, biochemistry, and neuroscience when he decided to start a brewing business with his family. Right after they launched, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and Alfred quickly had to pivot his business. To hear this story, Jake sits down with Alfred, founder and president of Joyhound Beer Company in Baltimore.
Alfred shares how his background in biochemistry influenced him to get into brewing back in his college days, how confusing it can be to start a business, and ultimately how he learned to adapt Joyhound to rapidly changing times. Among other things, Jake and Alfred discuss the quality & caliber of beers we drank back in our young adult days and the resurgence of the west coast IPA.
In other news, Brandy, Jake, and Mike give details on upcoming beer events this weekend, including events at Three Stars, a Meet & Greet Women in Craft Beverage at Other Half Brewing DC, and Love Thy Beer in Silver Spring, MD.
Other Brewer Shoutouts:
Vibrissa Beer
Streetcar 82
Check out Episode 125 with Lily Schulz, head brewer of Right Proper Brewing.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
We hear a lot of claims in the beer world, but Bryan Roth is here to set things straight, especially when it comes to the hard seltzer vs beer debate. Jake sits down with Bryan, director of North American Guild of Beer Writers and writer for Good Beer Hunting. Jake and Bryan discuss the upcoming domestic challengers to Guinness as St. Patty’s Day approaches, the mind of the craft beer drinkers, how Americans can’t stick to just one type of alcohol, if hard seltzers are beating beer in the market share competition, and where is all the hard cider?? Lastly, we end with some hopeful answers and discuss why craft beer is so meaningful.
Brandy also comes to us live from Silver Branch Brewing with Brett Robinson to say goodbye to an old favorite and hello to a new release, Dr. Juicy, the beer voted in by the people.
In other news, we want you to take a roadtrip with us! Travel with us to the Maryland Craft Beer Festival. Get tickets, transportation, and more all right here. Brandy, Jake, and Mike also give details on Silver Branch’s and Red Bear’s upcoming anniversary events and beer releases that you don’t want to miss this weekend.
Also, the DC Beer Share is back this month! Want to attend? Don’t be intimidated by “invite only”. Just DM us here for details and formal invite!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
Breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and others who want us to announce new releases can provide that information at DC.beer/releases.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
The roots of beer run deep, going back to before America’s beginning. Unfortunately, some of these roots have damaged our beer culture. But, people are tearing down the bad and rebuilding for good. To discuss this, Mike talks with Jamaal Lemon, award winning writer for Good Beer Hunting, good friend of DC Beer, and long-time pourer of beers in the DMV.
Jamaal tells us an important story about the roots of American beer culture, starting in South Carolina at a festival called Schützenfest. Schützenfest was a German gun and beer festival, originally designed as an inclusive event to bring together slaves from West Africa and German immigrants. But as time went on, Schützenfest became an event full of exclusion and racism, driving these two groups apart. Jamaal shares how he investigated this history to show how its racist tradition lived on today and how beer culture can move on from it. Jamaal also explains the importance of Gullah Geechee culture in beer and food, the ongoing effort to tear down American beer inequalities and rebuild something better, and how he has confronted whitewashing in beer culture in a way that allows people to learn and move forward.
In other news, the DC Beer fam tells you which beers they’re drinking this week, including drinks from ANXO, Silver Branch, and an Ocelot and Wheatland Springs collaboration.
Check out Jamaal’s full catalog of work on Good Beer Hunting.
Read or listen to Jamaal’s work on the history of Schützenfest, Black Endurance, and Beer Culture in Old South Charleston:
Listen here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Watch a panel on the history of Schützenfest and racial hierarchy in beer here.
Check out the Edmund’s Oast collaboration, 8 and All, with Jamaal Lemon, Dr. Brian Alberts, Good Beer Hunting, and Lost Lagers.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
One year ago, we were itching to travel, but we couldn't. So we used beer to venture outside the DMV. While travel may have opened up since then, beer is still the most accessible way of trying the various brewing styles from all over the world.
We're back in the Alps with Jeff Ramirez, Chief Beer Officer of Denizens Brewing. Denizens will be releasing a new edition of their Hike the Alps series, and Jeff shares which delicious beers will be making a comeback and which will be new. Jake and Jeff geek out about lagers, discuss Denizens’ other releases coming out before Hike the Alps, establish why Denizens Hard Seltzer is worth supporting, and discuss which Denizens beers are best for certain local basketball players with shotgunning needs.
Beer releases galore! The gang shares about a sneak peak of a new beer from Silver Branch, and highly anticipated new releases at Capitol Cider House, Three Stars, and Red Bear. Northeast DC will be popping off in beer events in the coming weeks and Brandy gives all the necessary details.
If your brewery has an upcoming beer release you can let us know so we can tell the world in a future episode of the show. Just visit https://dc.beer/releases.
Keep up to date with Denizens Brewing on social media.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Even in the midst of the pandemic, we have things to celebrate. Today, we raise a glass to the recently founded, first Black-Woman owned brewing brand in DC.
Mike sits down with Eamoni, aka the Vibe Queen, and now CEO and co-founder of Urban Garden Brewing. Eamoni's story has captivated the DC beer scene. In this episode, Eamoni shares what it was like starting her business in her uncle's backyard, the most difficult and discouraging parts of starting a brewing brand, the most positive moments that pushed her forward, and how in the end, she kicked down doors and barriers to fulfill a big dream.
In other news, we hear rhymes, Jake predicts the future, and we share new breweries opening in the DMV!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Everyone should feel welcome in the craft beer scene. But does everyone feel they have a seat at the table? A movement is making sure they do. Brandy sits down with Charles Rominiyi, co-founder of the Black Brew Movement. The Black Brew Movement works to connect Black American culture with craft beer culture. Charles shares the story of how he, his wife, and close friends began noticing peculiar things about the demographics of craft beer drinkers, how they used sociology to introduce new consumers to craft beer, and how the movement is now working to elevate and amplify black beer brands while promoting inclusivity in taprooms. \
In other news, the new year comes with new beers, and good news! Jake and Brandy share which breweries are opening new locations in the District.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
It’s time for merry shenanigans in the DC area, and that means an overflow of holiday events and the festive beers that come with them. Brandy sits down with friends from Red Bear Brewing, co-owner Bryan Van Den Oever and resident drag queen Desiree Dik. Bryan and Desiree spread holiday cheer as they announce Red Bear’s upcoming seasonal beers and events, including drag shows, a New Year’s Eve Drag Ball complete with go-go dancing, and the first ever Red Bear Brunch that’s hitting DC with a deliciously killer menu.
In other news, Mike, Brandy, and Jake celebrate National Lager Day, talk crazy American beers, and reveal a local DC beer that recently went through chemical analysis and approval to receive a very special title.
Wanting to work at an awesome DC brewpub? Red Bear Brewing is hiring! You can apply here.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Just over the Bay Bridge lies a brewery that people across the nation have tasted the goodness of since 1995. That brewery is Dogfish Head.
Today, Jake sits down with Dogfish Head’s Mariah Calagione and Andrew Greeley. They recently published The Dogfish Head Book: 26 Years of Off-Centered Adventures that shares the story of Dogfish Head, the lessons learned, the first beers, and the stories of employees who have made the dreams of Dogfish come true. Mariah and Andrew bring back the memories of old beers, reflect on how far the craft beer industry has come, and share the newest happenings at Dogfish Head, including staying at the Dogfish Inn, chocolate lobster beers, and the pale ales that bring the fresh taste of the 90s.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
This week, we dive into some of the most creative and passionate beers you’ll find in DC一Soul Mega. Mike sits down with Elliott Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Soul Mega. Soul Mega operates as a contract brewery. Elliott explains the challenges they’ve faced operating as a contract brewer during the COVID-19 pandemic, reveals if they’ll eventually open a brick and mortar facility, and lets us know where DC beer drinkers can find Soul Mega beers. Elliott and Mike also discuss what beer trends have been taking off in DC and the thrill of hoppy black lagers.
Then, Jake, Brandy, and Mike debate if December holiday beers should be promoted in early November, and give us a rundown on all the DC beer events coming up. It’s also DMV Black restaurant week, and Mike lets us know which amazing breweries, distilleries, and wineries are participating!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Brandy sits down with Lily Schulz, new lead brewer at the Right Proper Brewing Shaw Location. Lily shares her story of how she left an office job to work at a brewery. Then, she tells us what it’s been like switching brewing locations, moving to a more manual form of brewing, which beer is her favorite to brew, and what happens to her sense of smell after smelling hops all day in a brewing course. Lily then leaves us with parting thoughts and shares what brewing collaborations are coming up at Right Proper.
Then, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike plead with the DC area breweries to make dark beers. Mike then tells us all about Brave Noise Beers--an anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-discriminatory beer movement--and shares how you can be involved.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
For this episode, you’ll want to find the nearest fireplace, grab a beer, and get cozy. We have two interviews that both focus around beer history and the stories you may have never heard.
First, Mike talks with Brian Alberts, a Seattle-based beer historian and writer. Brian tells us about some unique moments in beer’s history, including the rare reasons why Oktoberfest has been cancelled, aside from COVID-19. He also shares about the tournament bracket he made for Oktoberfest beers, and the surprising beer that came close to winning.
Then, Mike talks with Theresa McCulla, the curator at the American Brewing History Initiative at the National Museum of American History. Theresa shares how the Initiative uses beer as a lens to view American history, and how the upcoming event Beer Histories, Now will explore the stories of beer that aren’t widely told. Theresa tells us which filmmakers, journalists, brewers, and beer historians will be involved in the event, and gives us a sneak peak of how these people are creating new paths in beer’s future by looking at the past. Details and tickets for Beer Histories, Now can be found here.
In other news, Jake and Brandy recap the Snallygaster weekend and give us the rundown of upcoming DC beer events, including DC Beer Brewer’s Jam.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
This is a mighty special episode of The DC Beer Show! First, Jake speaks with Greg Engert about the return of SNALLYGASTER, DC's top annual beer festival. This year's lineup includes 450 highly sought-after brews on draft from over 200 of the finest American and international breweries, along with local food trucks and two stages of live music. Jake and Greg talk about what attendees can expect and highlight some of the top breweries in the lineup. Tickets are still available (as of October 1) at Snallygasterdc.com.
In the second half of this extended episode, you'll hear Brandy and Jake speaking with each of the seven breweries at the 2021 Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beers, one of the most popular events of the DC Brewers' Guild's annual DC Beer Week. Brewers from Port City, Hellbender, 3 Stars, DC Brau, Other Half, Right Proper, and Atlas talk about their entries in this year's contest and the barrels they used to create their concoctions. Recorded live at the event! Congrats to DC Brau for winning this year!
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Prepare yourself, because it’s fall in DC. It’s the season of beer. And this means, there’s an amplitude of beer events. Today, Brandy, Mike, and Jake give you the rundown of brewery-hosted events in these upcoming weekends, where to find new DC beer brands, and, of course, the DC Beer Week rundown!
DC Brewers’ Guild President Leah Cheston and Executive Director Kim Bender join Jake for an overview of the week’s events and look forward to some of the highlights. Be sure to check it all out for yourself at DCBeerWeek.net!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
This week, take a break from your go-to beer and have a cocktail instead. We’re talking with Jade Aldrighette, the General Manager from ANXO. Jade has spent a significant time throughout her career studying how drinks allow us to deeply connect with people. She’s mastered this art, her cocktails have been featured in local publications and national broadcasts, and now, Jade is proving this mastery by heading up the cocktail program at ANXO. Jade shares about foraging botanicals to infuse in drinks, how she matches people with the cocktail they’ll love most, and what cocktails she’s planning for the newest ANXO location.
After the interview, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike discuss the great joys of Oktoberfest, specifically which breweries are crafting Oktoberfest beers. Spoiler alert: there are a lot.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
DC Beer is shouting a friendly “hello!” to our neighbors up Interstate 95. Mike and Brandy share a pint with Nick Fertig, co-owner of Full Tilt Brewing in Baltimore, MD. Nick, along with his cousin Dan, started as homebrewers, then moved to contract brewing while working full-time jobs, and eventually opened the Full Tilt brick & mortar location. Nick shares how they navigated these different phases of brewing, what kinds of challenges they faced opening a location in early 2020, and shares about their recent collaborations with pop-punk band All Time Low and baseball analyst writer Eno Sarris. Nick shares about big events coming up at Full Tilt that may or may not include surprise tattoos, and then reveals his favorite beers that have emerged from the Baltimore brewing scene.
In other news, it’s never too early to start talking Oktoberfest. That’s right! Brandy reveals the Oktoberfest events coming up this fall that you cannot miss.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
We leave DC and travel to Montana, land of the Scotch Ale, but more importantly, home of Kate Bernot, the beer journalist and writer of Good Beer Hunting. Kate is in the leadership of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and is an award-winning author who writes for other publications such as Craft Beer & Brewing.
Kate reveals why Montana’s regional peculiarity is the Scotch Ale. Jake and Kate then take a birdseye view on beer in America and discuss some of the greatest beer comebacks and whether the Boston Lager will make a reprisal, the rise of hard seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails, and canned wine, and how these trends may lead to buyer confusion. Then, Kate shares about the #MeToo reckoning in the beer industry and how beer journalists should approach it. Jake and Kate discuss why victims’ stories were not shared through traditional media and what the role of beer journalists should be in this era.
In other news, Brandy gives us the rundown on all the beer events and happenings in the DMV, and shares which breweries are currently hiring!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
African-American brewers have been producing beer in America for centuries. So why did it take until 2011 for the first black-owned brewery to open in DC? Today, Jacob, Mike, and Brandy dive into the systemic issues that resulted in exclusionary brewing scenes across the nation and whether or not the contract brewing model is beneficial. To understand these concepts, Mike shares research on the South Carolina brewing scene and the gang discusses why a state that began with enslaved brewers has no black-owned breweries today.
Be on the lookout for openings, including Earth Tap Brewing, a black-owned brewery coming to DC soon!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
It’s the dog days of summer. Thirsts need to be quenched. What do we recommend? Your local homebrewers summer pints.
Today, Brandy hangs out with Mike Lastort, lover of ska AND the incoming president for the DC Homebrewers Club. Mike tells us if his first homebrew was good or not, what he did to become a better homebrewer, and who ended up drinking all his crafted brews during the pandemic. Mike also shares how he plans to incorporate more women and people of color into the DC Homebrewers club, a space that has typically been with mostly white men.
After, Mike, Jacob, and Brandy discuss the first beer made from all-Virginian ingredients, reflect on Brandy’s merry birthday shenanigans and finicky DC brewpub vs brewery laws, and debate over a certain local brewery who may or may not have cursed a Washington sports team.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Today, we shared a beer with Jesse McNew, co-owner of Cult Classic Brewing which sits just across the Bay Bridge in Stevensville, Maryland. Jessie shares the tale of how he and his brother went from homebrewing as teenagers (don’t tell anyone!) to opening a brewery. Jessie gives us the lowdown on Cult Classic’s wide range of beers that includes more than the popular hazy juice bombs, and also explains how the brewery plays into the Cult Classic theme with intimidating open mics, live music, and cult classic cinema events.
Before we go, Jake gives exciting updates on which beer bars are reopening in DC! The gang also discusses if “ bottles-to-go” will stick around as the world opens up, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (it’s a DC thing), and all the breweries they’ve visited in the last couple weeks they believe you need to check out.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
The DC Beer family is expanding! Today, we sit down with the newest DC Beer member Sarah Jane, host of Beer Me! Sarah gives us the lowdown of the Beer Me! relaunch, shares the story of how she got involved in the food and beer industries, and explains her goal of showing the world of beer through diverse insights from all over the world. Then Sarah answers a curious question: has there ever been a hard seltzer pairing on a fine dining menu?
Beer Me! is relaunching June 18th, don’t miss it!
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
City State Brewing is coming to the Brookland/Edgewood neighborhood. Today, Brandy chats with James Warner, owner of City State. James gives a compelling answer to the frequent question: why are you opening another brewery in DC? Then, he shares the parts of DC that inspire City State the most, how local art and community will be incorporated into the atmosphere, and how the City State team will create a sense of home in DC’s neighborhoods.
After the interview, Jake addresses the damaging behavior taking place in breweries across the country.
Don’t miss City State’s Opening weekend, on Memorial Day Weekend! Stay up-to-date by following them on Instagram.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
This week, we toast to the ups and downs life brings, and to...cicadas. You had to know it was coming, but with the emergence of Brood X comes the emergence of cicada-themed beers in the DMV.
But before our cicada friends start singing from the trees about their 17-year journey, we venture back even further to the early dawn of brewing in America. Mike sits down with Frank Clark, Master of historic foodways at the Colonial WIlliamsburg Foundation. Frank has studied beer history for years. Frank and Mike discuss how the 18th century beer realm preserved and flavored beer without hops, the archaeological sites that reveal America’s first brewing companies, and the highly anticipated Ales Through The Ages Conference.
For cicada-themed beers, check out Silver Branch’s Brew’d X IPA and Hellbender’s Deafening Chorus American Stout.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Today, we find out what it truly means to brew authentic, local beer. But first, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike bring some exciting news on the ever-anticipated Snallygaster, discuss tasty beers that make up for bad dates, and share what excellent new beers they're finding now in post-vaccination brewery expeditions.
Jacob then sits down with Josh Chapman, co-owner, co-founder, and brewer at Black Narrows Brewing Company, a brewery that brings a much deeper meaning to “locally crafted” beer in Chincoteague, VA. Black Narrows is highly intentional to partner with the Eastern Shore community and express the local foodways through their brewing process. Josh discusses the stories behind their famous oyster beer “Salts”, how breweries can better represent their geographic location, and specifically how Black Narrows allows the community to guide the ingredients and brewing process.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Hurrah! It’s the first podcast where we're all vaccinated! To celebrate, we talk with the great Erika Goedrich, owner of Craft Beer Cellar DC which has been serving Washingtonians the finest craft beer in Northeast Washington D.C.
Before the interview, Brandy, Mike, and Jacob discuss a potential controversy between Flying Dog and Beer Kulture, an organization committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion in the craft beer space.
Then, Brandy brings us the interview with Erika. Erika shares the story of how she decided to open a beer store, discloses if Mike has a “grandpa taste” in beer or not, and talks about “hype beers” and if they sell. Brandy and Erika also discuss the bestseller beers of the DMV, Erika’s decision to donate to National Guard Troops, and the importance of businesses being involved in their communities.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Hazy IPAs have erupted in the DC beer scene. But rather than quickly joining the hype, one DMV brewery chose to methodically approach the creation of their Hazy IPA. Today, Jacob sits down with our friends at Port City Brewing — Area Sales Manager Will Bruder and Brewer Jon Harahan. Jake, Will, and Jon get to the bottom of why Port City chose to brew The Hazy IPA and how their research and development (RND) affected the end result. They also discuss the Port City Lager series, the upcoming release of the Mexican Dark Lager, and what in the wild west Smoke Beers have to do with anything.
After the interview, Brandy, Mike, and Jacob talk about Whale Pod. Not the large group of mammals, but a new service that ships craft beer across the U.S., including into DC.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Today, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike honor the women at the helm of the brewing scene in the DMV.
Brandy grabs a virtual pint with Erin Karla Young, the Marketing Manager at Silver Branch Brewing. Erin tells us all about the Pink Boots Society DC, an association for women who work in beer from brewing to the taproom, to marketing and sales. Erin and Brandy discuss how the scene of beer is changing as more women and people of color enter the industry. Erin parts with advice for women wanting to go into brewing.
We end the episode with a list of breweries around the DMV who are releasing Pink Boots beer in honor of Women’s History Month, including Silver Branch’s Power Boots 2021 Sour IPA.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and join our new DC Beer Discord community! Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
It’s been one year since lockdown started. But Jacob, Brandy, and Mike don’t dwell on this today. Instead, they tell us about several DMV breweries celebrating anniversaries that are worth pouring many delicious, overflowing pints.
Mike then sits down with Jeff Ramirez, Chief Beer Officer at Denizens Brewing. Jeff takes us to the German-Austrian countryside, a place nestled at the foot of the Alps. Since we can’t actually be there, Denizens is bringing it to us through the Hike The Alps series. Jeff shares the inspiration behind Hike The Alps, reminisces on old travel days during his brewing education, and reveals the first beer of the series and the role he hopes it will play in the DMV.
You can grab the first beer in the Hike The Alps series at Denizens Brewing starting on March 12th.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and join our new DC Beer Discord community! Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
We believe Black History Month is to be celebrated all year. Today, we celebrate black-owned businesses in the DC area.
Mike sits down with Eamoni, aka The Vibe Queen aka The Traveling Beer Babe of Right Proper Brewing. Eamoni is an independent artist who works to share stories of women and people of color in the DC beer industry. Eamoni tells us about the black-owned businesses in DC that deserve all the recognition.
Jacob returns to his conversation with Justin Cox of Atlas Brew Works to conclude their discussion on the woes of distributing DC beers to other states. Justin then tells us about the exciting beer collaboration with Miles Gray, a pillar of the DC beer scene and founder of Smith Golden Rule. Look for the release of the Jobs & Freedom IPA around the end of February.
*Atlas Brew Works’ spring seasonal Apricot IPA was re-released on February 1st.
Keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and join our DC Beer Discord community! Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
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This week, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike bring the interviews.
Brandy sits down with the founders of Streetcar 82, Mark Burke and Jon Cetrano. Streetcar 82 is a 100% deaf-owned brewery in Hyattsville, MD. Mark and Jon tell us about their latest collaboration with Lyon Rum Distilling and why cask ales are so great.
Jacob talks with Justin Cox, co-founder of Atlas Brew Works about the controversial canning sensation that keeps selling out, the 2021 Inauguration collab with Occasion Ales. Justin lets us in on how Atlas continued distribution when demand skyrocketed.
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Transcript
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This week, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike talk about some of the inaugural beers that have been released to coincide with the Presidential Inauguration. They discuss breweries re-releasing beers previously released brews under a different name and ask, "Is it okay?"
Mike gives a short history about the breweries that were not yet established in 2009 when President Joe Biden was previously inaugurated, as Vice President.
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In this first episode of 2021 Jacob, Brandy, and Mike talk about two flavorful beers from Jailbreak Brewing Company, White Russian and Dusk till Dusk.
Mike sits down virtually with Robert Fink, a brewer from Jailbreak Brewing Company. They talk barrel-aged beer, proprietary blends and the impact of furloughs as a result of the pandemic on the employees of breweries.
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Beer is people. It’s made, distributed, delivered, sold, and served by people. For our final DC Beer Show of 2020, we wanted to take you, dear listeners, back to that. What better way to do so than to turn the mic over to Jamaal Lemon? Lemon penned “Mutated Anxieties — Living (and Parenting) While Black in the Face of Law Enforcement and COVID-19” for Good Beer Hunting, which won the award for Best Criticism or Commentary from the North American Guild of Beer Writers earlier in the year.
Jamaal has been on the podcast before, but we thought his experience as a Black man in America during a time of social upheaval--brought on by both an increased focus on police brutality and a pandemic that has exacerbated inequalities in this country--would be an appropriate way to close out the year. As such, there isn’t much “beer” in this episode. But there is "people".
Jamaal talks about his article, about being Black in America in 2020, about why the Black community might distrust a COVID-19 vaccine, and yeah, a little bit about beer.
We’ll be back with new episodes of The DC Beer Show in 2021, with more focus on beer, but also more on people. Thanks for listening, and have a happy, healthy, and safe end of the year.
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This week, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike dive into why Small Business Saturday and Small Brewery Sunday put a lot of pressure on us, the consumer. Jacob makes a case for why they will not solve the problem of small businesses and breweries surviving the pandemic.
Paul Dean for the DC Brewer's Guild has announced that he will be stepping down in his role, leaving an opening. Brandy has a great idea on who should take over his role.
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In this Thanksgiving episode, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike talk about some of the great new releases available in the region right now and share some of the recent news about brewery happenings for Thanksgiving. They also give their favorite beer-and-turkey pairings — except Brandy, who is a ham...person.
As is the tradition, they share all of their gratitude for the local craft beer community and you, dear listener, who makes all of this possible. Happy Thanksgiving!
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This week, Jacob, Brandy, and Mike talk about some of the recent staff shuffles at local breweries, affecting Right Proper, Red Bear, Aslin, and Other Half.
The DC Beer team celebrates the new members of the Michael Jackson Foundation board, including Other Half’s Breeze Galindo, Dr. J Nikol Jackson-Beckham, founder of Craft Beer For All, and friend of the show and Executive Director of the Chicago Brewseum, Liz Garibay. We also congratulate Markus Baskerville of Weathered Souls brewing in Texas for his new position on the Brewers Association Board. Markus is the brewer behind the Black is Beautiful movement in independent beer.
Veterans Day was this week, so go out and support our local veteran-owned breweries, including Valor, Heritage, Manor Hill, Fair Winds, and Red Bear. Thanks to all Veterans for your service!
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Jacob and Mike run through some of the local breweries who won Medals at the (virtual) Great American Beer Festival this year, with interviews with some of the winners thanks to special guest host Richard.
Brett Robison from Silver Branch Brewing talks about the brewery's first medal (but not the first for brewer and co-owner Christian Layke), a Gold for their Beyond the Gnome World Saison. Emma Quinn celebrates Port City's Bronze medal in the Vienna-Style Lager category, for their Octoberfest, and Matt Hagerman from Lost Rhino celebrates their Rhino'fest, which won Gold in the same category. Finally, Rocket Frog co-owner David Hartogs talks about their Silver medal for Wallops Island Brown Ale, the second medal they've won for that beer in the few short years they've been open.
All this and shout outs to Red Bear, Wheatland Spring, Elder Pine, and more!
Join Brandy, Mike Stein, and Jacob Berg every Friday for a new episode of The DC Beer Show, and keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and join our new DC Beer Discord community! Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
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The DC Beer gang dives into controversial topics: Pumpkin Beer and Hard Seltzer. Love 'em or hate 'em, everyone agrees that the best policy is to Drink and Let Drink, e.i. "don't yuck someone's yum."
Brandy Holder chatted with Neighborhood Restaurant Group's Greg Engert about their newest concept food hall, The Roost, and its low-ABV beer hall section, Shelter, and what it's like to open a new drinking and dining experience in the middle of a pandemic.
Join Brandy, Mike Stein, and Jacob Berg every Friday for a new episode of The DC Beer Show, and keep up to date with everything happening at DCBeer.com, @DCBeer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and join our new DC Beer Discord community! Email us at beershow@dcbeer.com.
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Mike Stein looks for the best of the Tmavy and Märzen styles showing up across town and finds what he loves, including the favorite of all your friends at DC Beer, Port City's annual release of RAUCH MÄRZEN. Mmmm, smoky goodness!
Jacob Berg walks us through the 2020 local hop harvest, or lack thereof, with shout outs to the locals who have managed a few wet-hopped options.
Brandy Holder tells us about some of the fun and exciting plans local breweries have for October and the fall, just in time for you to pull out your sweaters and jackets!
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Jacob, Brandy, and Mike return to talk about Port City's big win in the 2020 Boundary Stone Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beer.
Local beer lovers have long anticipated the opening of Other Half in Ivy City. Jake has been there and has news to report!
Things get a bit sad as they talk about the recent rash of bars and restaurants announcing they are closing permanently or indefinitely. It's tough times out there, people, so support your locals and help them — and their employees — make it through the pandemic.
Big shout-outs to Hellbender, Silver Branch, Bluejacket, and Atlas for their LAGERS. Congratulations to NRG for their lower-ABV venues, Shelter and the Roost.
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To close out DC Beer Week 2020, Jacob and Brandy welcomed former DC Beer Show host Richard to Jacob's socially distant porch to enjoy the five entries into the 2020 Boundary Stone Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beer)!
They sample barrel-stored concoctions from 3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, Port City, and Right Proper while sharing tasting notes and memories of past BOTBA. While the event couldn't take place in person this year, Boundary Stone and all the breweries found a way to have the delicious competition virtually, and the DC Beer gang is thrilled about the options.
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As DC Beer Week 2020 continues, join Jacob, Brandy, and Mike as they mourn the closing of too many of our favorite bars from the DC scene. They share memories of great food and drink, and all the friends they've made over the years. Curse this pandemic!
Things liven up when Brian Van Den Oever, founder/owner of Red Bear Brewing Company, shows up with drag queen Desiree Dik to talk about Red Bear's special DC Beer Week delivery program Drag-livery. That's right, get your Red Bear beer, cocktails, and merchandise delivered to your home by a talented drag queen who will also do a personal performance just for you!
Don't forget these other DC Beer Week events: Boundary Stone's Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beers is a carry-out event (which may or may not keep people from getting completely hammered), DC Brau is offering Oktoberfest meals + beer to go, there's a Scavenger Hunt designed to get you out to a brewery or six, and much, much more!
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The DC Beer Show has returned from hiatus with a new format and new hosts! Join Jacob Berg, Brandy Holder, and Mike Stein as they discuss DC Beer Week, trouble at Union, and what they are drinking right now.
DC Beer Week 2020 starts Sunday, September 13, and this year the annual celebration of the local craft beer community is mostly — though not entirely — virtual. Boundary Stone's Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beers is a carry-out event (which may or may not keep people from getting completely hammered), DC Brau is offering Oktoberfest meals + beer to go, there's a Scavenger Hunt designed to get you out to a brewery or six, and much, much more!
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CAMRA was established in 1971 as a consumer group representing real ale drinkers in the UK. Today, it is a 200,000 member organization advocating for quality ale and promoting pubs as social and cultural hubs.
In response to the UK’s closure of all pubs due to COVID-19, CAMRA developed a virtual pub called the Red (On)Lion. People from around the world can sign up to meet people while drinking at home, or a group of friends can reserve a table where they can drink together virtually. The Red (On)Lion also hosts a number of virtual events (including tastings and musical performances). And, perhaps most importantly, the Red (On)Lion encourages consumers to continue to buy beer and/or cider to help keep local pubs, breweries, and cideries afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Red (On)Lion is just one of several ways CAMRA is helping consumers and pubs during this difficult time. CAMRA is growing its library of educational materials to help teach consumers about their favorite beers, how to homebrew, and more. It also just recently launched the Pubs, Pints, and People podcast to keep the community engaged. Moving forward, CAMRA is working to launch a new app to facilitate beer deliveries directly to consumers.
Visit CAMRA’s website today to find out more about their efforts to support pubs, breweries, and cideries during COVID-19!
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DC Beer’s Richard speaks with two sets of guests on today’s show: Brendan O’Leary and Brian O’Connor of True Respite Brewing Company talk about the new online beer marketplace Biermi; and Matt Humbard of Patent Brewing Company highlights his new Facebook Live events.
Biermi Platform Continues to Grow
DC Beer listeners may recall Richard’s previous interview with Brendan and Bailey O’Leary when they discussed the launch of biermi.com, a new online marketplace that provides breweries a free-of-charge platform to connect with customers seeking beer deliveries and pickups. In this episode, Brendan and his close friend Brian recount the rapid launch of the Biermi platform.
On Friday, March 13, Brendan gave Brian the go-ahead to develop Biermi. Brian spent 19 hours straight over the weekend to create the platform. By Monday, March 15, Maryland announced restaurant and brewery closings and, soon after, gave approval for beer deliveries. That same day, True Respite publicly launched Biermi.
The Biermi online beer marketplace platform is picking up steam just one month after its launch. It now hosts 71 breweries across nearly 30 US states (and counting), has processed over $430,000 in revenues for the breweries, and (most importantly) has helped breweries retain cash flow and jobs.
In the near term, Brian plans to continue to improve the functionality and offerings of the platform to help breweries and customers get through the COVID-19 pandemic. In the long term, Brendan and Brian hope to expand upon Biermi to offer brewery management functions (such as monitoring keg levels). They also believe the platform can be expanded to a number of other sectors, such as coffee houses, wineries, cideries, etc. In short, Biermi is here to stay.
Matt Humbard Answers All of Your Questions
Matt Humbard of the Patent Brewing Company is a staple of the DC craft brewery scene. He is well-known for his expertise in microbiology and the science of beer. Matt is now taking his knowledge to the people. Every Wednesday, he hosts an “Ask Me Anything” Facebook Live event on Patent Brewery Company’s Facebook page. Topics normally focus on the brewing and distilling processes. If you are free on Wednesdays (and we know you are), check out Matt’s live events!
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Richard holds a virtual happy hour with his good friends Jacob Berg, Michael Stein, and Brandy Holder. The wide-ranging conversation can be summed up in one key sentiment: thank goodness breweries and distilleries are considered essential businesses! Richard and his friends call on DC Beer listeners to buy local beers and spirits to help keep breweries and distilleries afloat during these tough times.
What Are You Drinking for Happy Hour?
Richard is drinking a Macadocious Bock from Denizens Brewing Company. He also has been busy picking up beer from other local breweries, including Silver Branch Brewing Company, Craft Beer Cellar, Red Bear Brewing Company, and 3 Stars Brewing Company.
Brandy is drinking Doomsday Whistle Saison from Hellbender Brewing Company, which also just introduced Serves You Rice, a new collaboration brew between with Black Narrows Brewing Company and Think Rice.
Jacob and Michael brought their second cups of coffee to the happy hour (to be fair, they recorded this episode at 11 am).
New Business Models
The group recaps some of the recent DC-area brewery innovations in response to COVID-19:
- The Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG) is providing high-quality food and beverages to DC, Alexandria, and Arlington through an online hub called “Neighborhood Provisions.”
- True Respite Brewing Company created an online marketplace for brewery pickup and delivery sales called biermi.com.
- Almost every other DC-area brewery is now offering online orders, beer deliveries, and curbside pickups.
In addition, local distilleries are transitioning business models to help keep the community safe. Nearly all distilleries in the area--including Cotton & Reed, Don Ciccio & Figli, One Eight Distilling, New Columbia Distillers, and Republic Restoratives--are making hand sanitizer for first responders and/or the general public.
Richard believes many of these new innovative ways to sell alcohol are going to continue beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The sales and distribution of alcohol in DC (and around the country) will look very different a year from now.
Please continue to support your local breweries, distilleries, and all small businesses (including RavenHook Bakehouse) so they can survive this unprecedented era!
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There is reason for cautious optimism for breweries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Richard speaks with three guests about how the recent signing of the CARES Act will help breweries, how breweries and restaurants are quickly adapting to the new market, and what publishers are doing to help struggling breweries.
The Brewers’ Association Looks to Build Upon the CARES Act
Bob Pease, President and CEO of the Brewers’ Association (BA) gives Richard his thoughts about how the CARES Act could help craft breweries during the coronavirus pandemic. He lists several potentially beneficial provisions of the CARES Act for BA members:
- SBA Emergency Loans could be enormously helpful in keeping businesses afloat;
- Employee Retention Tax Credit and Payroll Tax Delays could help maintain brewery employment and cash flow;
- $1,200 payments to most Americans could result in an increase in consumer purchases of craft beer; and
- Excise tax waiver on alcohol to make hand sanitizer could provide financial incentive for breweries to help assist their local communities.
BA is also hosting Power Hours to educate its members on how to take advantage of these provisions, which are expected to provide much-needed support to craft breweries and brewpubs that generate most of their revenue from in-store sales
BA’s next lobbying target is to include a $900 million tax credit in the next Congressional stimulus bill to help breweries, distributors, and retailers cushion the losses from unused bottled and canned beers that will likely expire during the pandemic.
And, most importantly, YOU can still support your local breweries by ordering delivery/pick up beers and buying gift cards and merchandise.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group Consolidates Resources to Deliver Food and Alcohol
Greg Engert discusses the Neighborhood Restaurant Group's (NRG’s) new effort to provide high-quality food and beverages to DC, Alexandria, and Arlington called “Neighborhood Provisions” (check out if you live in one of its delivery zones).
The Neighborhood Provisions online platform offers beer, wine, spirits, hot meals, grocery items, and more from many of NRG’s 20 locations. All items are locally made and distributed. And, most importantly, it is keeping many employees on the payroll.
NRG’s new platform is hosting several fun initiatives in the coming weeks. For example, local DC chefs will be preparing special family-sized meals on select evenings. NRG will also hold flash sales from some of its breweries, including Bluejacket and Churchkey. Engert believes that Neighborhood Provisions’s new offerings will continue beyond the pandemic.
Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine Is Offerings $100,000 in Advertising Grants
John Bolton of Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine is doing his part to keep craft breweries afloat. His magazine is issuing $100,000 in advertising grants across its online and print platforms for craft breweries negatively impacted by COVID-19. Craft breweries have until April 7, 2020 to submit applications for individual grants worth up to $5,000.
Bolton is also considering offering micro-grants for some small craft breweries that would benefit from smaller, more targeted advertising campaigns. He hopes that this effort can ultimately help craft breweries survive during the pandemic.
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As more Americans are self-quarantining and transitioning to socially distant lifestyles to help contain the coronavirus, local breweries and brewpubs are in a crisis. These small businesses are working to transform their operations from in-house sales to deliveries and takeouts, while facing gut-wrenching decisions about how to do right by their loyal employees. There is little clarity about how long the public health emergency will last.
In this episode, Richard speaks with brewery professionals from DC, Virginia, and Maryland about how they are handling the current challenges and what local, state, and federal governments should do to keep them afloat during and after the pandemic.
Paul Dean Outlines Local Government Actions to Help Breweries
DC Brewers’ Guild Executive Director Paul Dean reviews the current status of breweries and brewpubs in Washington DC. All breweries now are transitioning their business models to take-out and delivery and are looking for government assistance for their businesses and employees.
Paul says that, fortunately, the DC City Council allows all breweries to have to-go services (this is not the case in every state). Mayor Muriel Bowser’s recent public health disaster declaration also gives breweries the opportunity to apply for SBA disaster loans. Moreover, the DC City Council recently authorized a small grant program to offer micro-grants to small businesses. Paul calls for the DC government to maintain these relief measures for small businesses until the economy experiences a full recovery.
Paul also notes that the national-level Brewers Association (BA) is a helpful resource for local chapters seeking to understand current government resources (including the BA’s coronavirus resource center).
Rocket Frog Is Transitioning to Takeout and Delivery, But Calls for Loan and Rent Relief
David Hartogs, co-founder of Rocket Frog Brewing Company, discusses how his brewery is adjusting to the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, Rocket Frog has applied to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) for a beer delivery license. It is also open for to-go sales (including canned beers, merchandise, and gift cards).
David’s biggest concern is for his employees, who have been loyal to Rocket Frog ever since they opened their doors two year ago. He is working to pay them for as long as possible. To-go sales help bring in some revenues, but their business continues to struggle without taproom sales.
David emphasizes that the most impactful government response would be to issue deferments on loans and rent, which would give breweries some breathing room until the pandemic ends.
True Respite Also Urges Rent and Loan Relief for Breweries
Brendan and Bailey O’Leary of True Respite Brewing Company saw the writing on the wall several weeks ago. They prepared ahead of time for the current situation by creating an online marketplace for brewery pickup and delivery sales called biermi.com. Any brewery in America can join the platform for free. Take a look today and order some beers to help ease the pain of quarantine!
The two biggest challenges for Brendan and Bailey during the pandemic are (1) changing business plans from in-store sales to online pickup and delivery services, and (2) doing right by their loyal staff.
Brendan and Bailey also called on the US government to defer rent and loan payments for small businesses. Brendan believes it makes much more sense to give loans to landlords and banks who would, in turn, offer deferments to small businesses, instead of offering deferments to small businesses that would have a very difficult time paying them back.
Brendan, Bailey, and Richard agree that the US government must have a bottom-up response to the crisis--it must ensure that small businesses and their employees will survive. The economy will have difficulty recovering without strong protections for individual and small businesses.
DC Beer Show followers, please continue to order (takeout or delivery) from your local breweries and brewpubs to help them through these difficult times! Tip generously!
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DC Beer’s Richard hosts the first DC Beer Show in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Richard speaks with a number of stakeholders in the local beer community to talk about how breweries are handling the coronavirus amid mandatory closures on all bars and restaurants in DC and Maryland. Richard and his guests also discuss what federal, state, and local governments should do to ease the pain, and how YOU can support breweries during these tough times.
Greg Parnas Discusses Legal Mechanisms for Breweries
Greg Parnas, who is a writer at DC Beer and partner in the DC Beverage Law Group, discusses how breweries can manage the financial implications of coronavirus. Greg notes that many breweries could exercise force majeure provisions within their work contracts. Breweries can also exercise clauses related to impracticality or impossibility of carrying out certain tasks. Breweries should study these contracts to determine how to ease financial burdens as revenues dry up.
Red Bear Brewery Is Open for Takeout, but the DC Government Must Ease Financial Pain
Simon Bee and Bryan Van Den Oever of Red Bear Brewery discuss how local government officials can help ease the financial burdens. They believe that governments should help defer three types of payments: loans; payroll; and rent. Such deferments will help keep Red Bear and other local breweries afloat.
Simon and Bryan also note that Red Bear is offering food and growler takeout from 4:00PM to 9:00PM during weekdays (check their website for weekend hours). They are also doing their first beer canning next week, which they hope will help be added to their takeout menu. Be sure to visit Red Bear soon to buy some beer, as well as gift cards and merchandise!
Denizens Calls for Strong Government Actions to Save Small Businesses
Julie Verratti, Chief Brand Officer / Founder of Denizens Brewing Company, outlines recommendations for how federal, state, and local governments can help breweries and other small businesses navigate these difficult financial times.
On the federal level, Congress must issue an immediate moratorium on commercial debt, mortgage, and rent payments. These actions can help small businesses maintain their workforce, pay their workers, and continue operations. Julie emphasizes that the federal government must focus on helping small businesses to ensure the financial stability of millions of the Americans employed by these small businesses. She also recommends a moratorium on personal debt, mortgage, and rent payments.
In addition, Julie believes that state and local levels should stop collecting taxes and fees until the coronavirus situation ends. Governors should declare their states as disaster areas in order to allow businesses the ability to apply for disaster funds. All government officials must also give flexibility to small businesses seeking new, creative ways to generate revenues.
Julie calls on everyone to urge their elected officials to help small businesses and to ensure a bottom-up economic recovery.
Julie also noted that Denizens is currently offering food and beer deliveries on the Denizens Beer Mobile, which is serving the Silver Spring and Riverdale Park areas. Be sure to order some Denizens beer if you live in the area!
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DC Beer’s Richard and Adam visit Silver Branch Brewing Company to talk with Head Brewer Christian Layke and Marketing Manager Erin Karla about upcoming events and beer releases.
Silver Branch is located in the heart of Silver Spring (just a few blocks from the DC Metro Redline stop). After opening its doors a year ago, Silver Branch has gained a reputation for its excellent dark lagers, along with a host of other favorite brews (including Hazy IPAs and Stouts).
Celebrating One-Year Anniversary This Week
Silver Branch has a number of events this week to celebrate its one-year anniversary. On Wednesday (March 4), Silver Branch is hosting its weekly Trivia Night with a special round on Silver Branch beers. On Thursday (March 5), Silver Branch is previewing its new beer called Power Boots Pilsner during its weekly Gravity Cask Night.
On Friday (March 6), Silver Branch is releasing its Power Boots Pilsner, which was brewed with a “pink boots hop blend” created by the women brewer’s organization, the Pink Boots Society. On Saturday (March 7), Silver Branch is releasing a new hazy IPA called the Deus Ex Machina. Saturday's festivities will also include live music and an outdoor grill area. Be sure to stop by the party!
You can also check out all of Silver Branch’s upcoming events on their online calendar.
Reflecting on the First Year at Silver Branch
Christian and Erin believe that the key to their success is the hard work and flexibility of their team. Everyone is willing to play a variety of roles to get things done. Being part of such a special group is very rewarding.
Richard, Adam, and Erin agree that Obsidian Castle is one of Christian’s best creations in the past year. It is an old-school dark lager that is clean, flavorful, and consistent. Christian is also particularly proud of his Glass Castle Pilsner. And while Silver Branch is known for its dark lagers, its best-selling beer is its flagship IPA, Quantum Shift.
What to Expect in Year Two and Beyond
Looking ahead, Silver Branch is excited to host its first beer festival called Stout Fest on March 21. The event will include participation from at least 15 breweries, with Silver Branch offering its flagship stout beer, Chronicle. Tickets give you access to unlimited tastings, a full-size festival glass, and a food voucher.
Christian and Erin are also excited to announce that Silver Branch beers will be available at the Washington Nationals stadium this upcoming season. Enjoy a Silver Branch brew as you cheer on the defending World Series champs!
Richard and Adam both highly recommend Silver Branch’s flavorful beers (especially the dark lagers) and its large, family-friendly location. Be sure to visit soon!
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DC Beer’s Richard speaks with guests Lyn Holland of 3 Stars Brewing Company and Bryan Van Den Oever of Red Bear Brewing Company about the concept of breweries and brewpubs as community centers, and patrons enjoy the brewery events that are held.
Before prohibition, pubs and salons were popular community meeting places. Since the 1920s, however, most of these establishments lost their “community center” characteristic. But now, things are beginning to change. Over the past several years, breweries and brewpubs around the country (and especially in DC) are again becoming focal points of their communities. Families and groups of all ages are welcome, with breweries holding events from weddings to bingo nights to “plant swaps.”
Plant and Yarn Swaps at 3 Stars
Last year, Lyn Holland spearheaded a plant swap to bring people together for a few beers and to share their love of plants. She was overwhelmed that the first plant swap brought in more than 80 people. She thought it was a great way for like-minded people in the community to meet and make new friends. Since then, Lyn has organized two additional plant swaps, along with a “yarn swap.”
Moving forward, Lyn plans to partner with Cultivate the City to hold another plant swap on March 29, 2020 and another yarn swap soon (TBD). She is also working with a local library to try to host the first “puzzle swap.” Stay tuned!
Events for the LGBT, Deaf, and Boardgamer Communities
Coming up on its one-year anniversary on March 7, Red Bear has already made a huge impact on the local community. The three main groups to rally around Red Bear are the LGBTQ, deaf, and boardgamer communities.
As a 100% gay-owned bar, Red Bear (Bryan and his fellow co-founders Simon Bee and Cameron Raspet) have done a lot to make their brewery a popular gathering place for the LGBTQ community. They hold a number of drag events each month, including drag bingo (on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month), a “Slay Them!” drag competition for drag newcomers (on the first Friday of each month), and a traditional drag show once a month. They also hold “Bear Bust” nights for the community that features bottomless craft beer for one set price.
Red Bear is located near Gallaudet University, a federally chartered private university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing. Red Bear makes sure to welcome the deaf community requiring every bartender to know basic American Sign Language (ASL) (some staffers are even fluent in ASL!) They also hire ASL interpreters for trivia nights and host ASL Queer Nights.
Cameron is a MAJOR board gamer, with over 400 unique board games in his personal collection. He brought his passion to Red Bear, which boasts 200 unique board games. Some of the games are so new/exclusive that they’re not yet out for retail. Cameron, Simon, and Bryan are also trying to educate their staffers (and customers) about board games by hosting periodic staff board game nights.
Other Upcoming Brewery Events in the DC Area
Every DC brewery and brewpub is hosting events to foster community engagement. Some recent/upcoming brewery events in the DC area include:
- Right Proper’s Crowdsourced Beer (happening now!)
- DC Brewers’ Guild Hopfest (March 14)
- The Brewers Association’s Annual Savor (May 15)
- DC Brau’s Pride Pils can design competition (TBD)
Stay updated by following the DC Beer calendar!
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DC Beer’s Richard speaks with the Brewers Association (BA) Executive Chef Adam Dulye about his work to promote the value and compatibility of craft beer and cuisine. Chef Adam also gives a preview of what to expect at this year’s SAVOR (which will be held on May 15 at the Anthem).
The Art of Food and Beer Pairings
Chef Adam is a longtime chef who always had an appreciation for beer. He began collaborating with the BA on food and beer pairings over a decade ago for the annual Great American Beer Festival. His work with BA grew over time, and he eventually became BA’s Executive Chef in 2015.
As Executive Chef, Adam leads BA’s efforts in preparing food and beer pairings for major events across the country. He also engages in educational programs and training sessions to teach craft breweries and restaurants about the art of food and beer pairings. Chef Adam is proud that a growing number of American restaurants now offer beer pairing recommendations on their menus.
A New Venue for a Growing Event
The National Building Museum has been a great host for BA’s annual SAVOR event over the past several years. With SAVOR's continued growth, however, it needed a location change. This year, SAVOR will take place at the popular DC concert hall, the Anthem. Chef Adam is excited to work in this state-of-the-art building that will allow his team to be more creative and flexible.
What to Expect at This Year’s Savor
SAVOR 2020 will continue the tradition of offering great craft beer paired with great food from across the country. This year, 118 breweries will be represented--an all-time high. What’s more, 42 percent of these breweries are joining Savor for the first time. Chef Adam believes that 2020 will be SAVOR’s most wide-ranging and creative beer scene yet.
Chef Adam is thrilled that the local DC food scene continues to increase its involvement in SAVOR. This year will include participation from Mike Friedman of local DC restaurants The Red Hen and All Purpose. SAVOR is also offering a VIP area, where four chefs (including Friedman) will be making one-off pairings at their own separate stations. Outside of the VIP area, the entire crowd will enjoy a diverse set of about 65 menu items. This year’s menu has a heavy focus on vegetable dishes and tropical offerings.
SAVOR tickets go on sale to the general beginning Wednesday, February 19. Be sure to buy your ticket for one of the best DC beer events of the year!
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DC Beer’s Richard speaks with John Ustleton, Cofounder of New Columbia Distillery, and Alex Laufer, Head Distiller and Cofounder of One Eight Distilling, to talk about distilling spirits using local DC beers.
Made in DC, for the Love of DC
New Columbia and One Eight are located in Ivy City, a small neighborhood in Northeast DC that is also home to DC breweries Atlas Brew Works and The Public Option. They take pride in their city and focus on providing local clientele with a broad range of spirits offerings.
New Columbia opened its doors in Ivy City in 2011 as the first of several distilleries to begin operations in DC over the past decade. Its main product line consists of eight gins, all produced under the “Green Hat Gin” label. The Green Hat moniker is a tribute to George Cassiday, a Prohibition-era bootlegger who operated in the Cannon Office Building (House of Representatives) from 1920 until he was arrested in 1925. Soon after his arrest, Cassiday restarted operations in the Russell Office Building (Senate) for another five years until 1930. His signature green felt hat earned him the nickname “The Man in the Green Hat.”
One Eight’s name is also a tribute to DC, as it refers to Article One, Section 8 of the Constitution, which (among other things) establishes a National Capital District for the United States. One Eight set up shop in Ivy City soon after New Columbia opened. Its core lineup includes a selection of vodka, gin, rye, and bourbon.
Distilling Spirits using DC Brews
Distillation from beer is just like any other distillation process: heating a liquid until the alcohol evaporates, and then cooling the vapor to condense it into a distillate. In essence, beer-distilled spirits are highly concentrated forms of beer. These drinks usually end up with a sweet component from malts and a floral profile from hops.
John began distilling beer a few years ago when his friends at DC Brau offered him a leftover keg with which to experiment. Since then, John and his coworkers at New Columbia have made several iterations of spirits distilled from beer, each time improving their craft. One current offering is Eau de Brau, a whiskey-like spirit made from DC Brau beer (technically speaking, spirits distilled from finished beers cannot be labeled as whiskeys).
Alex gave Richard a tasting of three spirits from One Eight. First, the Spirit of Grampus is distilled from Hellbender Brewing Company’s Grampus (a nut brown ale) and aged for a bit less than two years in a charred new oak barrel. Next, the Spirit of the Stone is distilled from DC Brau’s Stone of Arbroath (a scotch ale) and aged for two years in an ex-bourbon barrel that was previously used to age a DC Brau porter beer. Lastly, Hopcreek is a traditional rye whiskey infused with Chinook and Cascade hops and aged in an oak barrel for six months.
Visiting New Columbia and One-Eight in Ivy City
Although distilling spirits from beer is not (yet) in high demand, New Columbia and One Eight plan to continue to experiment with these distillations when they have time and space to do so.
To try out their beer-distilled spirits (and all of their other offerings), check out their visitor schedules below:
- New Columbia is open on Saturday from 1PM - 8PM and Sunday from 2PM - 6PM. It has indoor and outdoor seating and often offers food truck service.
- One Eight is open on Saturday from 1PM - 10PM and Sunday from 1PM - 7PM. It also offers pop-up food options.
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DC Beer’s Richard sits down with Katie Marisic, the Federal Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA), to talk about BA’s advocacy role for the 8,000 craft breweries across the United States. Katie discusses the BA’s craft beer legislative victories in 2019 and previews the exciting activities coming up in 2020.
Recap of 2019: Extension of the Excise Tax Break
Breweries have been subject to excise taxes since the Civil War. Excise taxes are placed on each barrel of beer produced by a US brewery (and foreign beer imports). In 2017, the BA successfully helped pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to lower the per-barrel excise tax from $7/barrel to $3.50/barrel for the first 60,000 barrels for domestic brewers producing fewer than 2 million barrels annually. It also cut rates for breweries producing more than 2 million barrels annually and foreign importers. This tax cut was in effect from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2020.
Katie and Richard discussed the wide-ranging benefits of the excise tax cuts since the original passage in 2017. Local craft breweries have reinvested the tax savings into their business operations, hired new employees and increased benefits for employees, and improved quality control and assurance mechanisms. Breweries are also using tax savings to invest into local and national charities.
The entire beer supply chain has felt the effects of the tax cuts. The agricultural industry (specifically hops and barley growers) continue to expand operations and create new products. The BA also helps these growers apply for R&D grant funding to improve cultivation.
The number one legislative goal for the BA is to make these excise tax cuts permanent. Although the BA did not achieve this ambitious goal in 2019, it was able to secure a one-year extension of the tax cut when Congress passed the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019 in late December.
Looking Forward to 2020: The Fight for A Permanent Excise Tax Cut
The BA has the same goal for 2020: to make these beer excise tax cuts permanent. Katie will continue to tell the story of small craft breweries that continue to help grow local economies and play positive roles in their communities--but need legal and regulatory certainty to thrive. As such, the BA seeks to either make the tax cuts permanent, or at the very least, ensure that tax cut extensions are passed earlier in the year, as opposed to another “last minute” December bill passage.
Katie noted that some in Congress have expressed a few concerns about permanent tax cuts. First, some believe that the tax cuts will lower the cost of beer (and thus promote excessive drinking). Second, they believe that the tax cuts will result in a large loss in government revenues. Katie laid both concerns to rest by noting that tax savings instead lead to reinvestment into beer operations and more jobs, while the tax cuts will yield only minimal revenue losses for the US government.
Upcoming Brewer’s Association Events in Washington
Part of the BA’s mission is to bring breweries to DC to speak with their local representatives. In May, the BA will hold its annual “Hill Climb,” in which breweries from across the country will descend upon DC to lobby members of Congress and their staff. The Hill Climb coincides with the annual SAVOR Week.
In November, the BA will also host its annual Homebrew Contest, in which Congressional staffers will compete in a homebrew challenge. This is a great way to spread the word about the BA and its affiliate, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA).
To help support the BA, you can call your Representative and Senators to advocate for a permanent excise tax cut for brewers. You can also sign up for the “Support Your Local Brewery” initiative to stay in touch on federal- and state-level policies that are important to your local breweries.
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No prep? No problem! On Sunday, January 26, 2020, DC Beer’s Richard, Adam, and Brandy visited Silver Branch Brewing Company for a live DC Beer Show recording. The co-hosts brought up members of the audience to talk about a range of Washington DC craft beer topics, including the latest retail trends, recent legislative “wins”, and upcoming FeBREWary events.
First Guest: Eric Kintner of Wardman Wines
Eric Kintner is a Certified Cicerone and a trusted source of beer knowledge for his customers at Wardman Wines. Eric’s clientele range from local college students to established residents in the area to new move-ins. Wardman provides 3-4 free beer tastings a week for its customers--check out their calendar and stop by for a free tasting soon!
Eric and the DC Beer Show hosts discussed the latest trends in beer retail. Eric observes that while smaller DC craft breweries consistently sell their “tried and true” brands, large distributors always look to sell the most “trendy” beer styles. Today, large distributors continue to sell Hazy IPAs, but Eric has noticed that many breweries are taking more creative approaches to these brews, helping to broaden the brand.
Second Guest: Clay Palmer of Silver Branch
The DC Beer Show next welcomed Clay Palmer, bartender/certified beer server at Silver Branch. Clay discussed a few of the new beer releases at Silver Branch, courtesy of Head Brewer Christian Layke. One popular choice is Obsidian Castle, a dark Czech lager with roasty malt flavors. Another is Full Tweed Jacket, a medium-bodied Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy with a rich, malty flavor.
Silver Branch currently has around 20 drafts currently on tap, with plans to continue to release new craft brews and expand their offerings. Their beers are also available in cans in a number of local Maryland locations (and beyond).
Third Guest: Greg Parnas of Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws
Greg Parnas, legislative counsel for Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws and DCBeer contributor, closed out the session by discussing legislative successes for breweries in 2019.
Maryland breweries received more favorable contractual rights when dealing with large distributors and wholesalers. The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild blocked a proposal by Anheuser-Busch that would have expanded the dollar value of marketing “gifts” they could provide to bars. DC craft breweries reduced a number of restrictions to help them become more competitive against larger wholesalers. And most importantly, Congress extended a tax break for all American breweries under the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act. Looking forward, Greg hopes that the recent good news on US-China trade talks and the USMCA (or the “New NAFTA”) will help bring about more predictability and stability to the market.
Greg and Richard also previewed the months-long Maryland festival of brewing, FeBREWary. One of the main events is the February 14 “Love Thy Beer,” where 30 breweries will compete to brew the best “Cupid’s Curse” beer. FeBREWary will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment by debuting the “Suffragette Stout,” brewed by a team of female brewers from across Maryland. You can grab a Suffragette Stout at Denizens Brewing Company.
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DC Beer’s Richard is joined by Mari Rodela of DC Brau and Paul Dean of the DC Brewers’ Guild (DCBG) to recap the Guild’s 2019 activities and to preview what’s in store for 2020.
New Faces to the DC Beer Scene
DCBG is a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents the interests of DC breweries and taprooms. The DCBG family grew by two members in 2019, with Red Bear Brewing Company and Valor Brewpub both opening their doors last year. Mari and Paul noted that several great breweries also began operations in the region (but outside of DC-proper).
The turn of the decade is also bringing about leadership changes in DCBG. Mari is stepping down as President, a role she has held since the group’s inception seven years ago. She is handing over the presidency to Leah Cheston of Right Proper. Joining Leah on DCBG’s leadership team are Justin Cox of Atlas (Treasurer and Vice President) and Barrett Lauer of District ChopHouse (Secretary).
Updates on DCBG’s Legislative Advocacy
DCBG had one major legislative “win” in 2019. A DC government bill passed in 2018 cast doubt upon DC brewpubs’ ability to sell beer in all types of sealed containers (such as cans, bottles, kegs, growlers, and crowlers). Last year, however, DCBG was able to work with the DC City Council to clarify that DC brewpubs are still able to continue selling all forms of sealed beers.
DCBG seeks to continue to advance some legislative priorities in 2020. It is advocating for the DC City Council to allow brewpubs to self-distribute its beers. Mari and Paul anticipate that this legislation will pass before the end of the 2020 session. In addition, DCBG also supports the Manufacturer’s Satellite Taverns Amendments Act, which would allow DC breweries to establish up to two satellite taprooms in DC (an allowance that only outside breweries currently enjoy).
DCBG’s Ever-Growing Flagship Events: HopFest and DC Beer Week
DCBG holds two annual flagship events to help fund its operations: HopFest and DC Beer Week. Both events were highly successful in 2019 with record turnouts, expanded offerings, and even participation from some DC City Councilors.
Mari and Paul announced that HopFest 2020 will occur on March 14 (Pi Day!) at DC Brau. They are anticipating building upon last year’s turnout of over 700 guests, 40 breweries, and outside vendors (including DCBeer.com). Buy your tickets here!
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DC Beer’s Richard and Adam speak with Earl Holman and Dan Messeca about the history and beer offerings at Crooked Crab Brewing Company in Odenton, Maryland. Approaching its two-year anniversary, Crooked Crab has found its identity as a brewery that offers something for everyone. It always has at least a dozen beers on tap and will continue to create more high-quality brews in the future.
A College Dream Come True
Earl, Dan, and their friend Alex Josephs became close friends while attending the University of Maryland in the mid-2000s. Over a few rounds of golf and a few more rounds of beer, they started talking about eventually starting a brewery. Ten years later, in August 2015, they began developing business plans to open their brewery. Two and a half years later, on February 15, 2018, they officially opened Crooked Crab.
Despite its name, Crooked Crab does not cook crabs, nor does it brew crabs (as the owners have informed disappointed inquirers). Instead, Earl, Dan, and Alex came up with Crooked Crab as an alliterative tribute to Maryland’s crab scene.
Something for Everyone
Crooked Crab hosts a 15-barrel system brew house, which allows the brewmaster, Adam Osborn, to constantly brew new beers, while also maintaining five flagship beers served year-round. The Maryland brewery also hosts a large tap room that has become a popular gathering place for Odenton locals.
Crooked Crab’s five flagship beers are Crooked Cream Ale (a light, easy cream ale), Haze for Days (a hazy IPA), I Fought the Claw (a traditional west-coast IPA), Chuck Brown Ale (a brown ale), and High Joltage (a coffee stout). In addition to these year-round beers, Crooked Crab usually offers around ten seasonal/experimental beers on tap at all times.
The Crooked Crab team likes to get creative when creating beer names. Many are music-inspired, like Chuck Brown Ale (the Godfather of go-go music), Started from the Bottom Lager (a tribute to Drake), and I Fought the Claw (a spin on The Clash’s I Fought the Law). Some other favorites are a Bohemian Pils called Pils Bo Baggins and a locally sourced pumpkin brew called Straight Outta Odenton.
Coming Soon to Crooked Crab
In the coming months, Earl, Dan, and Alex look to continue to build a diverse offering of brews, possibly looking to focus a bit more on barrel-aged beers and lagers.
Crooked Crab is available in draft and cans in over 100 locations in Maryland and DC. And their canned offerings are growing. They just recently had a canned release of two flagship beers, High Joltage and Haze for Days, and are looking to do a canned release of an imperial fruited sour and hazy double IPA in early February.
Crooked Crab is also celebrating its two-year anniversary on February 15. Come and join the party at the Maryland brewery!
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DC Beer’s Richard and Adam visit Reckless Ale Works in Columbia, Maryland to talk about the brewery’s emergence onto the Maryland beer scene and how it is promoting its “reckless” brand.
A Maryland Brewery on the RiseThe story of Reckless Ale Works starts with its owner, Adam Carton, a former two time NCAA gymnastics champion and seven-time all-American athlete. After his gymnastic days, Adam went into the restaurant business. In 1996, he opened Frisco Tap House in Columbia, Maryland. Twenty years later, he opened Reckless Ale Works next door as a spin-off to Frisco’s brewing operations.
Another key figure in Reckless Ale Works is Brewmaster Tim Mason. Tim has a long history of brewing, having previously worked for Magic Hat Brewing Company in Vermont and then Lagunitas Brewing Company and Revolution Brewing in Chicago. He eventually moved back to the East Coast to be closer to family and to join the Reckless Ale Works team.
Another key figure is Brewery Manager Zach Price. Zach and Tim work closely together to brew and distribute the beer across Maryland. They brew larger batches at their Reckless location and brew smaller experimental batches at the Frisco Tap House brewing facility next door.
Beer and Axes: A Winning CombinationThe Reckless Ale Works taproom, managed by Mike Cermatori, is essentially an adult playground. In addition to its billiards table, foosball table, basketball court, and dartboards, the “reckless” taproom is best known for its ax-throwing lanes. Groups can make reservations to have ax-throwing tournaments while enjoying some excellent beers.
The taproom currently accepts group reservations, but it is not yet open to the general public. Mike expects the taproom to have a public opening sometime in the near future.
“The Best Brewers in World Keep Learning”Tim and Zach have developed a diverse beer selection at Reckless Ale Works. They are always looking for ways to tinker with and improve the beers in each iterative brew. One highlight is Cascade Falls, a California-style IPA that uses Cascade Hops to deliver a clean, consistent, and high-quality bitter taste. Another popular beer is a citrus pale ale called Action Figures, a tribute to Adam’s passion for motocross (“Action Figures” is the title of a Travis Pastrana movie on Motocross). In addition, Death Metal Diva is a coffee milk stout that captures flavors of coffee without its bitter aftertaste.
You may also notice that the Reckless Ale Works canned beers have some pretty impressive illustrations. These are the work of Daniel Govar, a talented comic artist who works at Marvel.
Moving forward, Reckless Ale Works hopes to continue to improve its current beer offerings and experiment with new brews. Its beers are now distributed throughout Maryland, including in Montgomery County (near Washington, DC). It is poised to continue to expand its distribution in the region.
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DC Beer’s Richard and Mike speak with Elliott Johnson and Jahi Wartts of Soul Mega, one of the newest breweries in DC. Elliott and Jahi talk about the philosophy behind their company and their grassroots efforts to promote the Soul Mega brand.
The Embodiment of GreatnessElliott and Jahi met through work about ten years ago. Both novice homebrewers at the time, they quickly began trading beers, then collaborating on brews, and finally scaling operations. After receiving positive feedback from a number of friends, they began making plans to establish their own brewery.
When Elliott and Jahi started their brewery last year, they chose the name “Soul Mega,” which means “the embodiment of something great.” Indeed, they see Soul Mega not only as a brewery but as a lifestyle brand. Both co-founders embody this philosophy in their operations, as each uses his unique strengths to help bring excellent beer to the customer.
Building Relationships Directly with DC CustomersElliott and Jahi have been working at the grassroots level to build their customer base since it began operations a year ago. They have presented their beer at several DC-area events, including Trill Grill Fest, and they are planning a number of popup events in the future (including a December 21, 2019, Festivus celebration). Soul Mega’s beer is also available at Pub and the People, HalfSmoke, Mr. Braxton Bar & Kitchen, Present Company, and Capo Deli.
Elliott and Jahi continue to improve the Soul Mega brand recognition by introducing themselves to as many locals as possible. As beer wholesalers, they recognize that customer relationship-building is the key to success in establishing a following in Washington DC.
A Global Spin on the First BeerSoul Mega’s first beer on the market is the Worldwide American Pale Ale. Jahi explained that Worldwide is a stylistic mix of several beer types from around the world, including American Pale Ale, American IPA, American Wheat, and Belgian. Its diverse flavors appeal to multiple flavor palates so it can be enjoyed by all.
Elliot and Jahi are currently working to put additional beers on the market, including a Black IPA, Red Ale, and Rye Porter. Stay tuned for these new beer releases, as well as upcoming events, by checking out Soul Mega’s website and Instagram.
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DC Beer’s Richard and Adam sit down with Richard Cauble and Brent Turner to talk about Midnight Run Brewing in Frederick, Maryland.
Humble Beginnings in Richard’s Garage
Richard and Brent are family friends who began brewing together in Richard’s garage about seven years ago. Over time, their homebrewing operations expanded in scale and frequency. As garage space dwindled, they started looking to relocate.
The first major breakthrough for Richard and Brent occurred four years ago when they obtained a permit from the Brewers Association of Maryland to provide beer samples at the Maryland Craft Beer Festival. After receiving enthusiastic feedback from festival beer drinkers, they decided it was time to move operations into a new facility.
Expanding Into an “Overgrown Homebrew System”
Richard and Brent opened Midnight Run Brewing in Federick, Maryland in late 2017. The brewery’s name is a tribute to their late nights of brewing and bottling beer in Richard’s garage. They describe their brewhouse as an “overgrown homebrew system,” which includes three barrels, a hot liquor tank, a mash tun, and a brew kettle.
Richard and Brent are splitting time between their “day jobs” and the brewery. They are able to brew once or twice a week, serving mostly their taproom and a limited number of locations around Frederick. With the help of an excellent staff, their taproom is open Wednesday through Sunday (check their website for hours).
Chef-Inspired, Flavorful Brews
Richard is a chef by trade. He was introduced to Belgian-style beer early in his cooking career and was immediately drawn in by its complex and flavorful taste. Since then, he has taken a culinary approach to beer by integrating the best ingredients and not constraining himself to strict brewing guidelines or labels. Richard and Brent both see themselves as non-conformist brewers who make strong, flavorful beer.
Midnight Run Brewing offers a wide selection of high-ABV beer, ranging from Hazy IPAs to Blonde Ales to Spicy Stouts. They typically have ten beers on tap, and continually rotate production. One favorite currently on tap is Gingerbrent, a holiday beer made with molasses, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and milk sugar. Check out their website for a full listing of beers on tap.
Plans for Future Growth
Richard and Brent consider their current location to be a “proof of concept brewery” and plan to continue to grow operations. They recently began offering crowlers and plan to begin canning beers in the near future. They anticipate continued growth--possibly even to new locations--as demand increases.
With rich, flavorful beers and growing operations, don’t be surprised to hear more and more about Midnight Run Brewing across the DMV in the coming years.
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Richard teams up with DC Beer contributors Jacob Berg and Michael Stein to look back at the 2019 DC-area craft brewing scene and to speculate what’s to come in 2020. They say goodbye to a few cherished DC beer establishments, while also sharing optimistic outlooks for the continued growth of craft brewing in the region.
Casualties and Opportunities of the Changing DC Beer Market
2019 witnessed the closing of Meridian Pint and Mad Fox. These two brewpubs, which relied heavily upon “beer events” to generate revenue, struggled to compete against the influx of local craft breweries.
At the same time, there were a number of craft brewery openings in DC including Red Bear, Astro Lab, Valor, Silver Branch, Sapwood, which are already producing high-quality brews. Established breweries like District ChopHouse, Churchkey, The Sovereign, and DC Brau continue to make great beers.
The DC Beer team has also noticed that several breweries are beginning to produce more low-ABV/low-calorie beers (and even some Hard Seltzers) in an effort to meet customer demands and expand their customer bases.
The Year of Beer Collaborations
In 2019, DC Beer’s 10 Beers for 10 Years series featured a number of beer collaborations with local breweries, including the District ChopHouse Decade Dunkel, the Denizen Bock to the Future, and the Sapwood Cellars 3.8 Special Session IPA. DC Beer is currently collaborating with Right Proper and Black Brew Movement to create a peach-flavored Saison, which will be available in January 2020.
Richard promised that DC Beer will continue to partner with local breweries for more collaborations in the future. Stay tuned!
Expect More Excitement in 2020
The DC area will welcome some new breweries in 2020, including the City-State Brewing Co. In addition, Atlas Brewing and RAR are opening new sites in Navy Yard, while the Other Half is expanding into Ivy City.
After another successful SAVOR in May 2019, the annual beer event hosted by the Brewers Association will hold its May 2020 event at The Anthem in Southwest Waterfront. The DC Beer team believes that this location change will help to reinvigorate the event with an improved food selection.
Overall, the DC Beer team has a lot to be happy about in 2019, and is expecting big things as we approach 2020.
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DC Beer’s Richard is joined by Drew McCormick, Executive Beverage Director at Pizzeria Paradiso, which is a top restaurant in the DC with five locations in the DMV area. Drew talks about her beer program at Pizzeria Paradiso and her efforts to support the local community.
Drew’s Evolving Role in the Pizzeria Paradiso Beer ProgramOriginally from Maine, Drew has worked with Pizzeria Paradiso for seven years. She began as a server and worked her way up the ranks to her current position as Executive Beverage Director. She is responsible for coordinating the beverage options across all five locations, constantly seeking to provide customers with a balanced selection of craft beer.
Drew is building upon a rich beer legacy at Pizzeria Paradiso, which opened its first bar in the basement of its Georgetown location in the 1990s. Today, Pizzeria Paradiso has a dynamic beer program, with a diverse offering of beers from both inside and outside the DC area. Each location offers a unique drink list consisting of at least a dozen beers on draft and over 200 packaged beers at any time. Pizzeria Paradiso only sells beers made by breweries that fit the definition of an Independent Craft Brewery as defined by the Brewers Association.
Drew’s work to provide customers with a balanced selection of good beer has not gone unnoticed. Pizzeria Paradiso’s beer program has been nominated as the best beer program by both the Maryland Restaurant Association and the Restaurant Association of Washington.
Drew’s Take on Recent Beer TrendsRecently, Drew has noticed that many craft breweries are focusing on providing more approachable beers with lower ABVs and fewer calories. She is excited about the low-ABV lager movement that gives drinkers a crisp and clean taste. She also sees breweries expanding their offerings of low-ABV IPAs. Drew and Richard agree that this trend allows breweries to attract a broader customer base.
Drew, however, is not sold on the recent Seltzer craze, which still lacks the craftsmanship seen in small, independent breweries. Time will tell if the beer community will begin to experiment with more creative and complex Seltzer offerings.
Upcoming Holiday Events at Pizzeria ParadisoDrew highlighted several events and offerings coming up at Pizzeria Paradiso that will give you a chance to help your local community. It is partnering with DC Brau to offer a “brewers’ grain crust” for its pizzas from November 29th through December 24th, with all proceeds going to Bread for the City.
It will also be holding a “Give a Can, Get a Can” event at its Dupont location on December 12th and its Hyattsville location on December 20th, where you can get a free can of beer if you bring a can of non-perishable food for Martha’s Table. Lastly, each location has adopted a family through the Healthy Babies Project, where you can join the staff and fellow customers at any location to donate gifts to a local family for the holidays.
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DC Beer’s Adam and Richard visit Brendan and Bailey O’Leary and Kenny Allen in Montgomery County to talk about their up-and-coming brewery True Respite Brewing Company.
A Long, Fraught Road to the Opening of True Respite
Brendan and Bailey began drawing up business plans for True Respite in 2014 while living in Colorado. When searching for a brewery location, they found that Montgomery County was a perfect spot: a “beer friendly” local government; few existing breweries; and close to family. Soon after, they met Kenny, a local brewer who was eager to join forces.
Like many beer entrepreneurs, however, Brendan and Bailey had initial difficulties finding the right location for True Respite. Finally, in April 2018, just as they were planning to abandon their business plan, they found a willing landlord in an office park in Derwood, Maryland.
A Growing Brewery with a Commitment to Sustainability
Less than two years later, True Respite is increasing production and expanding distribution. It employs a Blichmann 3.5-barrel system used primarily for experimental beers and a 15-barrel A.B.E system that can produce two brews in 10-12 hours. The brewery just bought two new 30-barrel fermenters and a canning line, looking to maximize production. It now distributes beer throughout Maryland, Delaware, and DC.
Bailey is leading True Respite’s sustainability efforts. She is instituting recycling and sustainable waste generation efforts and is looking into composting the brewery’s waste. The brewery has also teamed up with the Rockville Watershed Committee to help keep the area’s water clean-- while also brewing a new beer using locally foraged spicebush called the “Croydon Creek Spicebush Amber.”
A Focus on Beer Variety
True Respite rarely brews the same beer twice. While focusing primarily on Hazy IPAs, its brewers are constantly creating new iterations to provide their customers with fresh, new brews.
One recent beer is called “Hey Bud,” a fruity and complex Double Hazy IPA using fresh Strata and Mosaic hops. Another is the “Hazelnut Mocha Latta,” a balanced Imperial Milk Stout using Muntons light chocolate malt, lactose, and coffee, hazelnuts, and vanilla.
You can check out True Respite’s current beer listing here.
Upcoming Local Events
True Respite has some fun beer activities in the coming months. On Black Friday, it is putting up a biergarten at the Clarksburg Premium outlets. The brewery is also hosting the second annual Holiday Artist Fair on December 7. You can find a full calendar listing of events here.
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DC Beer’s Richard and Adam sit down with Jon Zerivitz and Kevin Blodger of Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss how their brewery has become a pillar of their neighborhood over the past eight years.
Simple, Good Beer for Baltimore
Jon, Kevin, and their business partner, Adam Benesch, founded Union Craft Brewing in 2011 with the vision of making good craft beer for the enjoyment of local Baltimore residents. It was the first new brewery built in Baltimore in 30 years.
Kevin, the Director of Brewing Operations, brought a simple concept to Union Craft Brewing: make good quality beer that anyone can appreciate. Today, Union Craft Brewing offers a wide variety of beers, with Kevin encouraging his staff to experiment with new, innovative brews.
Many Union Craft Brewing beers are creatively named after Baltimore-area landmarks. Some popular names include Blackwing (a tribute to local sports teams Ravens and Orioles--both black-winged birds) and Anthem (invoking Francis Scott Key’s penning of The Star-Spangled Banner just outside of Fort McHenry in Baltimore).
A New Home at the Union Collective
Jon, Kevin, and Adam wanted Union Craft Brewing to become a vibrant hub for the neighborhood. In 2018, they moved into an old industrial building and transformed it into the Union Collective, a business park that hosts a number of independent businesses, including Charmey ice cream shop, Earth Treks rock climbing, Baltimore Spirits Company, Vent Coffee Roasters, Well Crafted Kitchen, and the Wine Collective.
They haven’t stopped there. Union Craft Brewing now hosts a number of concerts and parties to bring the community together. The brewery boasts a massive taproom with a concert stage and plenty of room for large crowds. It has a capacity for 35,000 barrels (and they currently produce about 13,000 barrels per year).
Union Craft Brewing is a family-friendly environment that allows anyone to enter until 6pm, when it then becomes a 21-and-older facility.
Upcoming Beer Releases and Events
Kevin has some new, exciting beers on tap for this winter. On November 1, he released the Cold Pro, which riffs off their summer seasonal wheat beer Old Pro by removing coriander and adding cranberries and a touch of cinnamon. He will also begin selling mini-kegs of Snowpants, a winter seasonal oatmeal stout, as part of the brewery’s winter beer release event called The Cornucopia.
Union Craft Brewing has a few other exciting events on the horizon. On November 16, it is hosting their sixth annual Oyfest in collaboration with The Local Oyster and True Chesapeake Oyster Co. And on January 19, it is celebrating “Zay Day,” the 100th birthday of Adam’s grandfather who still works at the brewery--perhaps the oldest brewery worker in the world!
You can find a full list of Union Craft Brewing’s upcoming events in November here.
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DC Beer’s Richard sits down with Julie Verratti of Denizens Brewing Co. and Mike Stein of DC Beer and Lost Lagers to talk about the upcoming release of a new American-style bock beer called Bock to the Future.
An 80-Year Old Brew
Bock to the Future is the result of a collaboration between Mike Stein and Denizens’ Chief Beer Officer, Jeff Ramirez, as part of the DC Beer’s 10 Beers for 10 Years series. The inspiration for this beer came from the archival collection of American brewer Walter Voigt, which is located within the National Museum of American History’s Archives. Voigt, who studied brewing at the famous Siebel Institute Of Technology in Chicago, left behind a recipe for an American-style bock last brewed in the 1930s. Mike and Jeff resurrected this recipe and began to brew Bock to the Future in September.
A New Take on the American Bock
This Voigt-inspired beer is a craft American-style bock brewed with a combination of pale malt, crystal malt, black malt, and rice; an Andechs yeast from Jasper Yeast; and Nugget and Willamette hops. Mike expects this simple grist to create a complex taste to give drinkers a traditional American bock flavor.
Check out More History of American Craft Beer
Bock to the Future brings alive the deep and rich history of American craft beer. You can find out more about the history of American craft brewing at the American Brewing History section of the National Museum of American History’s “Food Transforming the American Table” exhibit. You can also check out DC Beer’s recent conversation about American brewing history with Exhibit Curator Theresa McCulla.
Bock to the Future will be available this month at Denizens’ locations in Silver Spring and Riverdale.
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DC Beer’s Richard sits down with Jamaal Lemon and Myron “Shep” Jenkins to talk about their journey from beer novices to hosts of the podcast Help the Pour.
The Early Beer Days
Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Jamaal and Shep are longtime friends living in the DC area who share two passions: beer and travel. Several years ago, they began a travel blog called the Wayfarer Study that chronicled their travels to European cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Rome.
Later, they expanded their blog by creating a Youtube channel called One Beer, in which they reviewed a new international beer every episode. In a creative twist, they also named a music album that reminded them of each beer.
Drink It Internship
In 2016, Jamaal and Shep beat out thousands of competitors for the World of Beer’s summer-long “Drink It Internship.” This program sent them around the world to drink beer and promote World of Beer events on social media. Some highlights of the internship included running a Chicago Beer mile, camping out at the Ommegang beer festival in Cooperstown, NY, and drinking beer at the world’s oldest brewery, Weihenstephan, in Germany.
Help the Pour Podcast
Over the past several years exploring and promoting beer, Jamaal and Shep noticed that, although they met several women deeply involved in the beer scene, the stereotype of “women don’t like beer” persists. To challenge this stereotype, Jamaal and Shep created theHelp the Pourpodcast that interviews women about different topics in beer.
For the latest on Jamaal and Shep’s efforts to explore and share their passion about beer, you can follow them on Twitter at:
- The Wayfare Study: @thewayfarerstudy
- Jamaal: @sweetgrass3
- Shep: @soundbwoy.shep
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DC Beer Show hosts Adam and Richard travel to Alexandria, Virginia to visit with John Gartner, Sales Director, and Adam Reza, Lead Brewer of Port City Brewing.
Port City Brewing opened its doors in 2011 and is the oldest package brewery in the DC Metro area. They just won their 11th Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medal earlier this month for their German Pilsner.
Brewing Abilities and Backgrounds
Adam and Richard talk to the Port City Brewing guys about their six flagship beers and how they focus on keeping a great quality of beer while also improving at the same time. John and Adam touch on how some of their top beers came about and the story behind the Optimal Whit flagship beer.
Port City has a secret weapon that they utilize when making their beers. John and Adam explain the invention - the Hopzooka - that the brewery owner, Jonathan Reeves, came up with. They explain how it affects the dry hops that are added and how it makes the end result better.
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On October 25, 2019, a new exhibit will be opening up at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History that highlights the American brewing history. Exhibit Curator Theresa McCulla joins Richard on this episode of the DC Beer Show.
Theresa explains how beer fits into a longer timeline in history and shares how she collected items for this exhibit. From sheet music to a 1970s vibrating football table, some items from the exhibit are not your typical beer-related items, but they hold meaning. Theresa also previews some of the items beer industry gurus like Michael Lewis, Fritz Maytag, and Charlie Papazian donated to the collection.
Smithsonian's Last Call
On November 8, 2019, during Food History Weekend, the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian will feature an event called Last Call from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. This year's event will be exciting as it is the first time that four of the most influential individuals in the beer industry will be together. Theresa will be emceeing ann amazing panel that includes some of the most important names in craft brewing: Charlie Papazian, Ken Grossman, Fritz Maytag, and Michael Lewis. Along with these industry-shaping individuals, there will be five different breweries serving two specialty beers each, including:
- Anchor Brewing Co.: Anchor Porter and Anchor Steam Beer
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Pale Ale and Celebration
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: 60 Minute IPA and Slightly Mighty
- New Belgium Brewing Co.: Fat Tire Ale and second beer is TBA
- Raleigh Brewing Co.: New Albion Pale Ale (Jack McAuliffe’s original recipe) and Hell Yes Ma’am Belgian Golden Ale
This is an event that Theresa is excited about and one that you will not want to miss. For more information and to purchase tickets visit http://s.si.edu/lastcall.
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This special episode of the DC Beer Show is all about the 8th annual Snallygaster, happening Saturday, October 12, 2019.
Snallygaster, a one-day beer festival put on by the beer minds behind Bluejacket, Churchkey, Sovereign and more, takes place directly on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC and will showcase 400 different beers from around the world. While it can be a bit overwhelming to know how to navigate and what to try, the DC Beer Show has your back!
Out of the 400 beers at Snallygaster, 100 of them will be Hazy IPAs, Hazy Pale Ales, or Double Hazy beers. There will also be 110 sour beers with adjuncts, and 55 stouts either barrel-aged or adjunct. These are the top three types of beers that will be showcased at the Snallygaster event, but so many more will be on-site to try - from pilsners to ciders, lagers, saisons and more.
To help you make a decision on where you may want to start, or beers you can’t miss, Sarah Jane Curran, host of Beer Me on Full-Service Radio and Jake Berg, Editor of the DCBeer.com join Richard to share their top picks. They each give their overall top five beers you need to try, while also giving the top beers to try in each category (IPA, Sours, Stouts, even Line Beers).
Make sure to check out the Snallygaster Power Rankings to help you navigate, located on DCBeer.com! While VIP tickets are already sold out, it’s not too late to snag your General Admission Snallygaster tickets. For more information on the event, visit the Snallygaster website.
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Adam and Richard travel to Rockville, Maryland to visit 7 Locks Brewing.
In this episode, Richard and Adam chat with 7 Locks Brewing Brewmaster, Michael Linzmeyer, about the upcoming Cigar + Beer Pairing event. On October 12th, from 2pm-5pm, 7 Locks Brewing will be hosting the pairing event with Davidus Cigars. For only $45.00, enjoy three cigars, two pints, and the first release of 7 Locks new Barrel Aged Bottle Program, the Lockhouse Cellar Reserve.
Cigar + Beer Pairings:
- Lord Baltimore Mild Cigar with the Rock Creek Kolsch Beer
- Lord Calvert Medium Cigar paired with the Grubby Thicket Brown Ale
- Sear Knight Low-end Full-bodied Cigar paired with the first barrel aged bottle - Bannockburn Islay Ale
7 Locks Beer Lineup
Michael shares how 7 Locks Brewing goes about doing their barrel-aged beers. They utilize bourbon whiskey barrels. The barrel-aged beer they are going to be releasing in bottles is a Scottish Ale.
The hosts and Michael touch on a few of 7 Locks beers, including their Grubby Thicket Brown Ale and a New England Style IPA, Shattered Glass.
Richard and Michael explain “Beer Math” and the “Golden Ratio.” If you are an avid beer drinker then you won’t want to miss this discussion.
Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice?
Richard isn’t on board with pumpkin spice in beer, however, Adam and Michael disagree. The three go into a discussion about pumpkin beer versus pumpkin spice beer, and each of their thoughts on it.
For more information on the event, visit the DC Beer event calendar.
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For this episode, Adam and Richard travel to Halethorpe, MD and visit Heavy Seas Beer.
Officially named Clipper City Brewing Company, Heavy Seas Beer, was established in 1994 by Baltimore brew-pub owner Hugh Sisson. Brewmaster and Operations Manager Chris Leonard and Brewing Team Lead Brett Hagood join Adam and Richard in this episode of the DC Beer Show.
Beer Breakdown and History
Richard and the Heavy Seas Beer team give a rundown on the history of Heavy Seas, including how it sprang from the first brewpub to open in Maryland since the Prohibition Era. They also discuss the impact that founder Hugh Sisson has had on the DC, Baltimore, and Virginia craft beer scene.
Adam asks Chris and Brett about two of their very popular beers, Loose Cannon IPA and Peg Leg Imperial Stout, and the breakdown of each. Heavy Seas also has moved outside of traditional beers and is now producing experimental brews in a fifteen barrel experimental brewhouse. Chris and Brett talk about what goes into making a beer and how they determine if an experimental batch should be produced or not.
Guinness Moving In
Recently, Guinness moved in down the street from Heavy Seas. The four discuss how the “new kid on the block” has impacted their business, and if any changes had to be made when they came in. They also mention how having a “big name” brewery has brought people into Halethorpe.
Looking Ahead
Finally, the four discuss the new beers that will be released soon. They are currently working on Night Swell, a dark IPA, and a 24th Anniversary ale that will be a Hazy IPA with a 14% alcohol content.
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In this episode of the DC Beer Show, Jace Gonnerman, the Beverage Director for Meridian Pint, Brookland Pint, and Smoke & Barrel drops by and chats with Richard. Jace shares with the DC Beer Show how he sources craft beer for each of the three restaurants, and how they all have their own personalities and customers.
Craft Competition
Richard gets Jace’s opinion on the competition that his businesses are faced with as craft beer is becoming more common in restaurants and bars throughout the area. There is not only a spike in restaurants but also a spike in restaurants that are looking to serve local craft beer to their patrons. Jace goes on to share how this impacts Meridian Pint and the other two restaurants.
They also discuss how more and more breweries are focusing their energies on the tasting room experience and thus, in turn, the arc of where customers are going to get their beer is shrinking. They chat about the concept of a restaurant-first business that has craft beer, where customers can get food and enjoy the atmosphere in order to stay a while.
Craft Beer Trends
Jace tells Richard his view on the craft lager and pilsner revival that seems to be happening in the DC area, and if it is a local or national trend. He shares his thoughts on certain craft beer trends that he is and is not on board with.
Jace goes on to tell Richard that he is loving Silver Branch and Astrolab right now and shares that he does not remember the last time he opened a beer at home.
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Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated recording artists Nappy Roots chats with Richard, in this episode of the DC Beer Show.
You may be asking yourself why are rappers on the DC Beer Show? The Nappy Roots artists are the owners of the Atlantucky Brewery outside of Atlanta, GA, and were in town on their Great American Beer Run tour across the US.
Atlantucky Beers
They share with Richard their evolution from drinking beer in the early 2000s to now being craft beer connoisseurs and brewers. Currently, Atlantucky doesn’t have an official spot to brew but they have brewed with various breweries across the United States. Nappy Roots tells Richard about some of the brews they have made - many named after some of their hit songs - and which breweries they are brewed from.
- Front Porch Pale Ale
- Watermelon Chiquen & Gritz
- Kentucky Mud Chocolate Stout
- The Humdinger Imperial Rye Stout
- Good Day IPA
Nappy Roots TV Show
Nappy Roots is getting ready to release a TV show called 40 Akerz and a Brew. The show follows them around the country and documents them trying different beers, learning more about the beer-making process and the efforts that go into trying to open a brick-and-mortar brewery.
After Richard gives them a brief history of the origins of the IPA, the group discusses their favorite types of craft beer. They also disclose some of the collaborations they have coming soon.
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DC Beer Week kicks off September 8 through September 15, 2019.
DC Beer Week is an annual celebration of the craft beer culture and industry that is in DC. The celebration is in its 11th year, and serves as a fundraiser for the DC Brewers’ Guild and is full of beer events at many different breweries in the DC area.
DC Beer Week is a great chance to take friends out and experience beer if they aren’t avid beer drinkers. There are close to 30 events taking place throughout the week, including a Marquee event each night. All of the events are listed on the DC Beer Event Calendar.
The Marquee Events for the week are:
Sunday, Sept 8: The Official DC Beer Week Kickoff Party at Bluejacket, beginning at 12pm. During the Kickoff Party, the Solidarity Brew will be released at 4pm on tap and will also be available in cans. The Solidarity Brew is a collaboration brew from the different breweries.
Monday, Sept 9: Peabody Heights Brewery’s Farmhouse DIPA Release Party at Chuch Hall at Georgetown Park. The event will take place from 4pm-7pm.
Tuesday, Sept 10: The 5th Annual DC Total Tap Takeover at ChurckKey will be happening. All 55 of ChurchKey’s draft and cask lines will be highlighting beers brewed in DC. This event goes from 4pm-11:30pm.
Wednesday, Sept 11: Roofer’s Union Kick the Keg Contest. 7 DC Breweries will have a keg of their choice on tap. The first Keg to be tapped out will win, and that brewery will receive $400 to donate to the charity of their choice. The event takes place from 5:30pm-11pm.
Thursday, Sept 12: Women-In-Beer! at Red Bear Brewing Company. This event will celebrate the women in the craft beer industry. There will be a panel with a discussion of all things beer and will include a special beer release, brewed in collaboration with the Pink Boots Society - a Belgian Blonde. Proceeds of beer donated to the local DC Pink Boots Chapter. The event takes place from 6pm-10pm.
Friday, Sept 13: Sail down the Potomac at the DC Brau Poppin’ and Yacht Rockin’ Sunset Cruise. The event goes from 5:30-8:30. For the full lowdown on tickets, please visit https://www.potomacriverboatco.com/sightseeing-tours/sunset-dc-brau-cruise/.
Saturday, Sept 14: Brewer’s On the Block, hosted by Buffalo & Bergen and sponsored by DCBeer.com. This event takes place at Union Market, where 40+ local breweries will be on hand. The event starts at 2pm for VIP ticket holders and at 3pm for general admission.
Sunday, Sept 15: Right Proper Brewing will be hosting their 3rd Annual DC Beer Week Record Fair at the Brookland Production House from 1-5pm.
To find a list of ALL of the events going on during DC Beer Week and to purchase tickets for events make sure to check out http://www.dcbeerweek.net.
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DC Beer Show hosts Adam and Richard find themselves in Columbia, Maryland at Hysteria Brewing Company and are joined by Director of Sales Ty Kreis. The three discuss how Hysteria’s start is different than a typical brewery, and the path that Ty took to join the Hysteria team.
From Production to Canning
Hysteria Brewing Company is a production brewery that runs a 20-barrel system but will soon be upgrading to 40 barrels as they move towards becoming a distribution brewery. By adding canning to their name, the brewery will continue to grow their organization just as they have over the past two years.
The three discuss how the market is moving away from bottles and growlers, and headed to cans and crowlers. They weigh the pros and cons of each consider how the canning industry will continue to grow.
Bold Flavors and IPAs
Hysteria Brewing Company is constantly pushing the envelope on their beers. They pride themselves in providing bold flavors and never leaving their patrons searching for it. Adam, Richard, and Ty discuss their hazy IPA and Richard learns a thing or two.
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Adam and Richard find themselves back at Dynasty Brewing Company, but not to talk about Dynasty. Instead, they are talking to Alex Lynch, from Mieza Blendery. In 2011, Alex began focusing on sour and saison beers in his unfinished basement, which is where he fell in love with the mixed culture fermentation beers.
What is a Beer Blendery?
Mieza Blendery contracts out the wort production process of making beer and focuses solely on fermentation. A beer blendery creates multiple beer components with the intention of blending those components together to create the final product. This can come mixing together diverse barrel flavors, fruits, nuts, spices, and more.
Since blenderies can focus all their energy on the fermentation process, they often create beers that are more complex and tend to lean on the sour side of craft beer.
Expressions of Terroir
Historically focused on wine but making its way into the craft beer industry, “terroir” refers to specific characteristics and flavor profiles that result from the specific location where ingredients are grown and fermentation takes place. Adam and Richard ask Meiza Blendery’ Lynch to explain how he utilizes “expressions of terroir” in his blendings and the opportunities that it provides him.
What Makes the Perfect Beer Blend?
There is a magic that takes place in the process of blending beers together. Alex speaks about having to rely on his gut when putting blends together as well as the diversity and reliability of his product.
With Mieza Blendery being only a year old, Richard, Adam, and Alex look ahead to the future and what might be in store.
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Adam and Richard sit down with Favio Garcia, Partner and Director of Brewery Operations at Dynasty Brewing Company, in Loudoun County.
As one of the “Godfathers of DMV Brewing” Favio worked at various breweries in the DC area before opening Dynasty Brewing Company. When he got his start in the brewing industry many years ago, it was still referred to has micro-brewing. At that time, beer was not allowed to be sold directly to customers within the breweries; the only revenue that could be made was during beer tours.
Brewery Business Models
The three converse about the evolution of the craft beer industry. They consider the various brewery business models and the advantages to the popular model that is now spreading across the craft beer community.
Dynasty Brewing Company's New Beers
Favio divulges about how the beer known as “Tuppers” came to be and how it has traveled from Old Dominion Brewing Company to Dynasty Brewing Company with minor changes to the recipe and the future of packaging for the beer.
Recently, Dynasty has started to dabble in making barrel-aged beers with local bourbon and whiskey barrels to give their taps a variety of flavors.
Adam and Richard ask Favio what breweries and beers in the area he is currently enjoying and excited about. Listen to find out which breweries and beers made his list.
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Adam and Richard visit DC Brau, the first production brewery in DC since 1956. They sit down with brewery founders, Jeff Hancock and Brandon Skall, to discuss the history surrounding the brewery and brewery legislation that had to take place in order for beers to be served in the brewery itself.
Brewery Market Evolution
When DC Brau opened its doors in 2011, there were only 1,500 breweries open country-wide. Today, that number is upwards of 8,000. Given these statistics, Adam, Richard, and the DC Brau founders speculate if the market is becoming too saturated as well as what breweries are needing to do to stand apart from the rest. They touch on the evolution of brewery models - the distributor model to the taproom model.
DC Brau + Jameson
Recently, DC Brau has started working with Jameson Irish Whiskey and has been releasing two beers every year that are aged in Jameson barrels. Jeff and Brandon share their decision to sustain the flagship beers for so long before making changes earlier this year. One of those major changes being the new brewing system they have put into place that has significantly improved their brewing processes.
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For the first time ever, the DC Beer Show episode highlights a yeast business. Jasper Yeast is located next to Ocelot Brewing Company in Dulles, Virginia.
Adam and Richard visit with the team - Jasper Akerboom and Travis Tedrow. They discuss how the company was established and the experience that each team member brings to the company.
What exactly does Jasper Yeast do?
Yeast is one of the most important parts of the brewing process. It adds flavor and body to a beer. Without it, nothing would work.
Jasper and Travis explain how yeast growing is a completely different world than brewing. They take their explanation to the scientific level by explaining the isolation process of yeast.
Jasper Yeast offers about 300 different yeast strains to its customers. Adam and Richard learn about the different flavor notes that yeast can bring to a beer.
Jasper and Travis also theorize about what new styles of beer may be coming our way based on the yeast being yielded.
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The DC Beer Show heads to Ocelot Brewing Company for this episode. Adam and Richard visit with Adrien Widman, owner and founder. Previously an IT guy, Adrien began brewing beer after a trip to San Diego where he got hooked on craft beer.
Ocelot Brewing Company is a 15-barrel brewhouse and unlike a lot of other breweries, it does not have a flagship beer. Rather, Ocelot is known for its special and unique IPA and Pilsner beers. Adrien explains why he decided to not have a flagship beer and the advantages that come from this decision.
Ocelot Brewing’s Phishy Relationship
Adrien shares where the name ‘Ocelot’ came from as well as how he goes about naming a majority of his beer. He mentions that he and his staff are quickly running out of ideas after naming more than 270+; Richard and Adam give Adrien ideas for upcoming beers and his unnamed Saison.
Pinball and Beer
Ocelot has a large taproom and an arcade area with several pinball machines, and more on the way. They enjoy hosting concerts and this fall they will be hosting a Pinball League for local residents. For details on upcoming events and pinball games, make sure to check out their website.
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The DC Beer Show visits Sapwood Cellars in Columbia, Maryland, where Adam and Richard speak with owners Scott Janish and Michael Tonsmeire.
Scott has recently released the book The New IPA: Scientific Guide to Hop Aroma and Flavor. Michael is the author of American Sour Beers. These two styles — hoppy IPAs and sour barrel-aged beers – define the majority of the beers the team is creating.
Sapwood Cellars runs a 10-barrel set-up designed to give their beers definition and body. They serve almost exclusively in their taproom, where they have ann unusual approach to serving sizes they feel presents their products in the best possible light.
Sapwood Cellars also offers some special experiences we haven't seen anywhere else. Beer lovers can work with Scott and Mike to make their own custom beer, sign up for a "blending day" where they can help the brewers blend and formulate the final product to be served.
Scott and Michael share their thoughts on 3.8 Special, their collaboration with DC Beer, why they love Calypso hops, and the unique properties of their all-Mosaic brew.
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Fall is always a busy season for craft beer festivals and this episode serves as a preview of what’s on the horizon for the Fall Festivals in the DC area.
DC Beer Week will be taking place September 8 - September 15, 2019 this year. It is an eight-day fundraiser event put on by the DC Brewers Guild. Each day there will be marquis and spotlight events, plus smaller events taking place at various breweries in the DC area. As usual, there will be a Solidarity brew, a collaboration of the brewers throughout the area, to be showcased at a kickoff event at Bluejacket. To find more information about the events, ticket prices, education and breweries involved, visit DCBeerWeek.net.
The 11th Annual Takoma Foundation Nuclear-Free Beerfest is taking place on September 22, 2019. 100% of proceeds from this event go to local charities and organizations. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Coming up on October 12th is Snallygaster 2019. It is the biggest beer festival in the area and will showcase 400 of the best beers from around the country. VIP tickets are available but will sell out quick so make sure to get yours soon! Greg Engert shares details and some things to look forward to at this year’s Snallygaster event. All proceeds go towards Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s non-profit, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture. To find more, visit SnallygasterDC.com.
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In this episode, Richard is joined by Barrett Lauer, Head Brewer of District ChopHouse. Barrett has been brewing beer for 23 years and has been at District ChopHouse for 15. He is one of the few brewers in the DC area who we could consider an “original” based on his professional experience and length of brewing knowledge.
Richard and Barrett discuss the classic style of beers including light lagers, amber ales, and nut brown ales that District ChopHouse produces and that its customers consistently look for. While chatting with Richard, Barrett shares the personal story behind the saison that District Chophouse has released, who it is named after, and what it means to him.
They also talk about the future of brewpubs in the DC area, including the growth that is happening and the challenges that can pose to brewpubs.
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In this episode, Mike Stein sits down with the President of the DC Homebrewers Club, Omar Al-Nidawi. The DC Homebrewers Club started in 2008 and meets once a month where its members share their homebrewed beer and upcoming recipe ideas.
Omar tells Mike how the purchase of a Mr. Beer Kit began his journey in homebrewing. Since purchasing the kit, Omar has honed in his skills and has gone on to become an award-winning homebrewer with one of his favorite styles of the British Brown Ale. Mike and Omar also discuss the brewing process of five-gallon batches on Mike’s stove top in his kitchen.
If you are interested in the DC Homebrewers Club you can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DCHomebrewers or on their website at http://blog.dchomebrewers.com.
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Greg Engert is a leader of the craft beer experience in the DMV and in this episode, he visits with the Brew Daddies to talk about how he started and shaped some of the region’s top venues and events, including Churchkey, The Sovereign, Bluejacket, and Snallygaster.
Greg is a self-taught beer connoisseur and he discusses whether that is even a possibility for someone entering the craft beer industry today and how famed beer writer Michael Jackson influenced him at a young age.
As Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s (NRG) Beer Director, overseeing more than 20 locations across the DMV, Greg has strived to make it the norm to pair food with beer, not just wine. He encourages patrons to step out of their comfort zone and try beers that they may not otherwise notice but that pair well with their meal.
This is a great conversation and one of our favorite episodes of the Show to date!
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Not only is Loudoun County home of Jasper Yeast Labs and the Mid-Atlantic’s first commercial-scale hops processing facility, but it also has the highest concentration of craft breweries in Virginia. And now they’re launching the inaugural LoCo Beer Week June 22 - 29, 2019!
Richard is joined by Beth Erickson, President & CEO of Visit Loudoun, Lashelle Davis of Loudoun County Brewers Association and House 6 Brewing, and Richard Hartogs, Co-founder of Rocket Frog Brewing Company to discuss the upcoming event and what it means for the local DMV area.
More than 30 breweries along the LoCo Ale Trail will be featuring events, beer releases, and specials in their tasting rooms to celebrate LoCo Beer Week. In addition, craft beer restaurants within Loudoun and the greater DMV area will be hosting LoCo Beer Week tap takeovers and provide specials to customers.
For more information on LoCo Beer Week, visit www.visitloudoun.org. If you plan to visit any of the week’s events, be sure to take pictures, post, and tag on social media for a chance to win a farm-to-table dinner with LoCo brewers.
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Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Brews What They Love
The Brew Daddies travel to Gaithersburg, Maryland to visit Elder Pine Brewing and Blending Co. This newer farm brewery was previously a Christmas tree farm and is in an agricultural reserve. Elder Pine focuses mainly on distribution and canning and can be found in over 100 locations throughout Maryland, with long term plans to expand into Washington DC and Virginia.
In mid-May, they opened their unique wood-themed taproom to the public. They specialize in blending and strive to make the best beer at the best time. They enjoy making dark easy-to-drink beer that beer drinkers can enjoy; one such beer is their Pliable Foe, which is easy enough to drink they have deemed it their “breakfast beer.”
Be sure to visit the farm brewery during their Christmas in July event!
Find Elder Pine at:
https://www.elderpine.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elderpinebeer/
Instagram/Twitter: @elderpinebeer
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DC Beer Land News & Events
- The Mayor of DC has introduced legislation that will give a license exemption to home brewers.
- Aslin Beer Co. close to opening new location in Alexandria, VA
- Saturday, 6/1: Red Bear Brewing Company hosting Pride Yoga Party
- Saturday, 6/1: 2nd Annual Priday Night at Port City Brewing Company
- Wednesday, 6/5: LGBTBBQ Comedy Roast at Red Bear Brewing Company
- Thursday, 6/6: Datcha Beer Garden hosts launch of #PridePils beer can
Love Struck by Beer: Justin and Julie
In this DC Beer Show episode, Richard is joined by home brewers and craft-beer-loving couple, Justin and Julie. The two share how they have visited over 250 breweries that are spread across three different countries and countless states. The couple spills about their favorite breweries outside of the DC area as well as those that are within it - Hellbender Brewing Co., 3 Stars Brewing Co., Right Proper Brewing Co., and Aslin Beer Co.
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
DC Brews News and Upcoming Events
- Brewbound’s Brew Talks at Penn Social included topics of the Federal Excise Tax on gallons of beer, as well as how the trade war with China is affecting the brewery industry
- Wednesday, 5/22: B Side hosting “Beer for Wine Lovers” event
- Memorial Day Weekend Events
- Bluejacket pouring Metal Guru all weekend long, beginning at 12pm each day
- Dirt Farm Brewing hosting a weekend-long party
- Port City has events on Saturday, 5/25
- City Tap Penn Quarter hosting Summer Kickoff Party on Monday, 5/27
- Tuesday, 5/28: Tuesday Brewsday at Kramers
Taxes and Tariffs: Craft Brewing in 2019
Adam and Richard (the Brew Daddies) are joined by Bob Pease, CEO of the Brewers Association. Bob gives the two a rundown on how SAVOR got started, the aim, and what the future might hold.
Currently, the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019 is a hot topic in the brewing industry. Bob relates the Association’s effort to extend the Act and, possibly, making its benefits permanent. Take a look at House Bill H.R.1175 and Senate Bill S.362 for more.
As of now, in the United States, small brewers only have two suppliers to choose from when purchasing cans for their product. Bob explains the hardships that the current steel and aluminum tariffs are putting on small brewers, and how they are adapting.
Finally, what is the definition of a craft brewer? Does it include malt beverages, ciders, spiked seltzers, kombucha, and other fermented beverages? The Brewer’s Association defines who they view as a craft brewer, and Bob shares that definition and the recent updates to it.
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DC Craft Beer News and Events
- Boston Beer has acquired Dogfish Head
- SAVOR Week - could it be the last ever?
- Wednesday, 5/15: Gaslight Tavern previewing Ommegang
- Wednesday 5/15: Roofers Union featuring two New England breweries
- Thursday, 5/16: ChurchKey celebrating the week with 5 breweries
- Thursday, 5/16: The Sovereign featuring 35 beers from 6 breweries
- Thursday 5/16: Jack Rose Saloon showcasing 5 breweries with 4 beers each
- Thursday, 5/16: Founders of 2nd Shift Brewing at Lost Dog Cafe
- Thursday, 5/16: Pater Johannes of Benediktiner Brewery visits Hazel on V Street
- Friday, 5/17: SAVOR!!! Lots of events going on all over the DC area
Find all the info about SAVOR weekend at the DC Beer calendar!
Denizens New Location Opening by End of Month!
The Brew Daddies visit Denizens Brewing Co.’s new Riverdale Park Station location and chat with two of the founders, Jeff Ramirez and Julie Verratti. The Riverdale Park Station location will open later this month with a full liquor license as well as a full kitchen with new menus. The two share how two locations will work together for distribution, and the beers and menus will be the same at both.
Jeff explains that with a potential capacity of 7,500+ barrels, the new location will allow Denizens to make their year-round and seasonal blends in larger volumes. Jeff tells the Brew Daddies about some of the challenges that come with working with brand new stainless steel kegs, and jokes about the technological advances that this new location has versus the Silver Springs location. The Denizens Riverdale Park Station location will be opening on May 25, 2019!
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DC Brews News
- Port City Brewing Company released the third lager of 2019
- Homebrew competition winners announced!
- Wednesday, 5/8: City Tap in Penn Quarter hosting Singlecut Beersmiths on 4 taps
- Thursday, 5/9: Port City vs Rocket Frog in the Drink Local Throwdown 2019 FINALS
- Thursday, 5/9: Owen’s Ordinary hosts Maine Beer Company
- Thursday, 5/9: The Sovereign features 15 beers from Jester King
- Saturday, 5/11: ChurchKey celebrates their 10th anniversary with 30 rare beers on tap
- Sunday, 5/12: Dirt Farm Brewing and City Tap hosting Mother’s Day Brunch
- Tuesday, 5/14: Tuesday Brewsday at Kramers Bar & Cafe in Dupont Circle
Liz Garibay and Dr. Brian Albert talk about beer history
In this special episode, Mike Stein sits down with Liz Garibay and Dr. Brian Alberts, two beer historians. Liz specializes in Nineteenth-Century beer and alcohol history and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Chicago Brewseum, a museum that focuses on the history of beer. Brian specializes in the Nineteenth Century brewing industry and German immigrants’ effect on it. The three discuss common misconceptions that surround the brewing industry and its history; everything from the amount of beer that was consumed in the Nineteenth Century to the Prohibition Era. Additionally, they chat about links between Chicago and the DC area, from a beer perspective - the first president to brew beer while in office was President Obama! As promised, here are the recipes.
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DC Brews News
- Greg Koch of Stone Brewing was in town at Right Proper Brewpub and launched Soused
- Homebrewers are putting out high-quality beers in the DC Area
- Wednesday, 5/1: Rocket Frog Brewing Company featured at Dacha Beer Club
- Thursday, 5/2: Say goodbye to the beers of Kapittel at The Sovereign
- Saturday, 5/4: Join Rocket Frog Brewing Company for their 1st Anniversary
Solar-Powered Brew
The Brew Daddies sit down with Founder Justin Cox and Head Brewer Daniel Vilarrubi from Atlas Brew Works in Ivy City DC. Atlas Brew Works is a solar-powered production and distribution brewery, open since 2013, and was the first of its kind in DC!
Over the last six years, Atlas has refined their beers, targeted specialized consumers through unique releases, and developed a pilot system to test different tastes before mass-producing them. Atlas is well known as a major host to heavy metal concerts in DC and their unusual beer-centric urinals for male patrons.
Adam, Richard Justin, and Daniel discuss how Atlas was able to get their beers into Nationals Park and establish a partnership with the team. And the big news: At the beginning of 2020, Atlas will be opening a second production brewery with a taproom on Half Street, just a block from Nats Park, allowing them to experiment, try new recipes, and get feedback from baseball-loving patrons. Justin and Daniel share details of what is to come in the future for the Ivy City brewery and the new Navy Yard location.
Find Atlas Brew Works at:
Facebook: @AtlasBrewWorks
Twitter: @AtlasBrewWorks
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It’s a long episode but totally worth it!
Local News with Mike and Richard
- Silver Spring has officially arrived as a place for beer
- New DC Beer column, Small Steins with Stein out now and every Monday, introducing Mike’s favorite small beers (under 5% abv)
- Featured events for the weekend and beyond
Sankofa brings West African flavor to DC Beer
The Brew Daddies visit with Head Brewer Kofi Mero from Sankofa Beer Company. Kofi explains that his brewery is a bit different from most in the DC area because they brew using ingredients that originate in West Africa. Sankofa’s flagship beer, Hypebiscus, is a pale ale that has hibiscus as an important ingredient. Kofi and The Brew Daddies discuss the challenges and reason behind the company’s choice to start by contracting their brewing rather than establishing their own brewhouse.
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Mike Stein reports the news of the week, with some sad news about Columbia Heights favorite Meridian Pint, then Adam and Richard speak with Julie Verrati and Jeff Ramirez of Denizens Brewing Company.
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The Craft Beer Conference, Bill DeBaun leaves, and more from The DC Brewers Guild in this episode!
This Week’s DC Beer Updates: Local and National
- Brewers Association’s Craft Beer Conference is going on in Colorado this week
- Combinations of multiple breweries are brewing, nationally
- The Maryland Craft Beer Modernization Act passed
- Bill DeBaun, DC Beer Co-Editor, leaving
- Thursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 14 - DC Easter Keg Hunt with Churchkey, Bluejacket, The Sovereign, and The Partisan as participating locations for scorecards
- Glass Castle Czech Pilsner releases at Silver Branch Brewing Company
- Kramerbrooks’ Tuesday Brewsday
The DC Brewers Guild Supporting The Local Beer Drinking Community
Part 2 of the Brew Daddies’ interview with Paul Dean, Executive Director of the DC Brewers Guild (DCBG).
Paul joins Richard and Adam to discuss the expansion of various breweries in the DC area, and whether the area has hit its saturation level. Regardless of the competition, the breweries in the DC area have created a community among themselves. They support one another and want to see each other succeed. Paul and The Brew Daddies discuss this special and sometimes unseen level of community among them.
***To become an Enthusiast Member of the DC Brewers Guild visit www.dcbg.org.
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The DC Beer Show is now a weekly podcast!
This Week’s DC Beer Updates:
- Craft Beer Cellar adds Crowlers
- Right Proper Brewing introduces $4 Happy Hour Pints
- Nationals Park brings in more local craft beer
- New releases, tasting events, and anniversaries!
The DC Brewers Guild Helps Grow the DMV Craft Beer Scene
In the first half of the brew daddies’ interview with Paul Dean, Executive Director of the DC Brewers Guild (DCBG), Paul talks about the ways the Guild (the local trade association for breweries in the District) has been working with the DC City Council to further the interests of local breweries and craft beer consumers. He also shares some news about the craft beer festivals the DCBG puts on every year, Hopfest, Lagerfest and DC Beer Week.
Tune in to next week’s episode to hear more from Paul Dean and the DC Brewers Guild.
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In this week's DC Beer Show, the Brew Daddies travel to Sterling, Virginia and visit Twinpanzee, a nano-brewery opened in 2017. Twinpanzee runs a two barrel, 65-gallon brew system to produce diverse styles and a complex beer menu. They pride themselves in brewing natural beer without artificial flavors or purees...nothing fake! A great example of this is their delicious Kolsch, made with locally-sourced yeast. Though small, Twinpanzee's taproom has a beautifully designed bar and an open-air feel that is inviting and welcoming.
Find Twinpanzee at:
Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:@Twinpanzee
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We visit Brookeville Beer Farm where head brewer Kenny Borkman talks about being hands-on with the brewing process and walks us through growing their own hops, herbs, spices, and fruits. Brookeville’s focus on creating the best quality beer starts with sourcing local ingredients. Fun fact: Brookeville doesn’t use a grain handling system which means they hand load everything during the brewing process!
Brookeville has produced milk stouts, pilsners and dunkels, just to name a few, and they’re looking forward to trying their hand at sours this upcoming summer. Brookeville Beer Farm is growing at a steady pace and will be hosting the Brookeville Beer Festival this summer.
Find Brookeville Beer Farm At:
https://www.brookevillebeerfarm.com/
Instagram: @brookevile_beer_farm
Twitter: Brookevillebeer
Facebook: Brookville Beer Farm
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The Brew Daddies travel to Sterling, VA to sit down with owner Richard Hartogs and head brewer Russell Carpenter of Rocket Frog Brewing Company. In the short nine months since opening, Rocket Frog has had some amazing success, including a bronze medal at The Great American Beer Festival for their brown ale, Wallops Island.
The Brew Daddies learn how Rocket Frog came together and what drove Richard and his twin brother to open it. Russel shares the details of their three vessel, 10-barrel system brewhouse.
The Brew Daddies probe the origins of the brewery's unusual name and why the frog in the logo is blue rather than green. It's a wonderful story that informs not just the name of the brewery but the names of their beers as well.
Rocket Frog appeals to the community with trivia contests, yoga days and game nights, along with food trucks on the weekend. If you want to taste some award-winning beers be sure to pay them a visit!
Find Rocket Frog:
Twitter: @rocketfrogbeer
Facebook: Facebook.com/rocketfrogbrewing
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While this is the third time the Brew Daddies catch up with Silver Branch Brewing Company, there is still plenty of ground that they cover as they get close to opening their doors! Owners Christian and Brett share the high “hell yeah” points as well as the challenges that they have faced with building and getting the brewery ready for opening. While Silver Branch is aiming to welcome beer, cocktail, wine, and even coffee drinkers, beer will be their primary focus. They talk about beers they will have at opening, including a British style cask ale along with their flagships: Chronicle, a tropical stout, and Quantum Shift, an IPA. We can’t for you guys to open!
Where to find Silver Branch Brewing Company:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silverbranchus/
Twitter: @silverbranchus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverbranchus/?hl=en
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In this special episode, The Brew Daddies sit down with Greg Parnas and Wes Hogentogler from MBBWL (Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws). They dive into the complex world of the laws and legislation that is currently impacting the breweries and craft beer lovers in Maryland. They touch on everything from current restrictions, some that are outright absurd, to the goals of the MBBWL. Throughout the interview it’s clear that there are some serious issues with the laws in Maryland and MBBWL is an important effort to change them.
If you would like to get involved you can reach them at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MBBWL/
Website: http://mbbwl.org/
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
The Brew Daddies sit down with the Bryan, Simon and Cameron, owners of Red Bear Brewing Company. We first spoke with them last summer just before they began the buildout of their new brewery in NOMA DC. Now their space is almost complete and from its intimate feeling to the expedited beer bar to the wall of games featuring over 100 board games, Red Bear clearly intends to create a neighborhood brewpub experience that invites the community to enjoy great beer in an inclusive space perfect for relaxing with friends.
Bryan, Simon, and Cameron share their thoughts on the DC craft beer scene and their appreciation for the DC Brewer’s Guild with the Adam and Richard, and they talk about how the shift away from production breweries toward taprooms and brewpubs style opens craft beer to local communities.
Simon, Red Bear’s brewer, previews a few of the beers that will be on tap when Red Bear opens in February 2019. While they will have plenty to please for beer connoisseurs, they also will have brews for the general consumer.
We can’t wait for Red Bear Brewing Company to open!
Find Red Bear on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @RedBearBrewing
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Hey there Brewery Lovers! First off, Richard screwed up multiple times by saying we were in Fairfax, Virginia. We were at Mad Fox Brewery in Falls Church, Virginia. Apologies to everyone for that error.
One request from The Brew Daddies: Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey from DCBeer.com to help us plan for major expansion in 2019.
In this episode, we spoke with legendary brewer Bill Madden of Mad Fox Brewing Company, who graduated from the Master Brewer Program at UC Davis in 1995 and has been a professional brewer for nearly a quarter-century. Richard and Bill reminisce about the beer scene in San Francisco in the 90s and Bill’s early days homebrewing. In 1995 Bill came to D.C. to brew at Capitol City Brewing Company.
The Brew Daddies discuss the incredible rise of hyper-local breweries and taprooms with Bill, and how challenging it would be to open a regional brewery in today’s extremely competitive market. They agree that the likelihood people will travel to try a brewery has been decreasing as more and more neighborhood taprooms open across the region.
Bill explains his commitment to real cask ale and how he sees the American craft beer industry moving away from traditional cask ales and toward wild fruit and candy additions that perhaps go beyond innovation. He talks about some of the exciting events coming up in the next few months and some unusual collaborations—including one with a local barber shop.
This is one of our favorite episodes and we really enjoyed our time with Bill. Mad Fox is definitely worth a visit!
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Richard and Adam speak with Tony Prebula, owner and brewer at Saints Row Brewing Company, a family-owned and operated nanobrewery in Rockville, Maryland. Tony tells the Daddies how he got his start, the incredible support he's received from his wife (which makes Adam jealous), and their commitment to providing the very best beer to their community. Saints Row doesn't distribute, so if you want to try their diverse selection of creative and innovative brews you'll have to visit them in person. We highly recommend it!
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The Brew Daddies (well, Richard) are joined by special guest John Holl, senior editor of Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine and the co-host of the podcast Steal This Beer, to discuss his recent book Drink Beer, Think Beer: Getting to the Bottom of Every Pint. John weighs in on how the beer scene is changing and how “craft” beer should really just be about “good” beer at a time when there are over 7,000 breweries in business. They also consider the various business models breweries are adopting and how that ties into the changing scene. Don’t miss this very special, very lively episode!
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Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery is a nano brewery in Crofton, Maryland with the mantra “No Flagships”. Since owner/brewer Jon Esposito opened in February, he has brewed close to 130 real ales for his local customers. Adam and Richard sit down with Jon, who started (and sold) his first brewery in the 1990s, to discuss the challenges and thrills of brewing small batch cask ales and experimenting with a variety of flavors. Chesepiooc, which is the Algonquian Indian word for “Chesapeake,” also offers “brew days” for first-time and experienced homebrewers who want to experience larger scale brewing (one barrel system) and a quarterly “Beat The Brewer” contest. Chesepiooc is definitely worth a visit.
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Astro Lab Brewing Company in Silver Spring, Maryland, opened just a month ago. For founders Emma Whelan and Matt Cronin, the grand opening was the end of one journey and the beginning of another, and the journey is what Astro Lab is all about. They share the ups and downs of nearly two years from concept to customers with Adam and Richard, and talk about what the journey ahead may bring.
Though Astro Lab is the second brewery to open in Silver Spring after Denizens, with the impending addition of Silver Branch Brewing Silver Spring is poised to become a haven for craft beer lovers. Emma and Matt share their fondness for their fellow neighborhood brewers and the sense of camaraderie they share.
Everything at Astro Lab is about the journey and their beers reflect that passion. Adam and Richard recommend the Alfie Stout and the Out Of This Whirl Pale Ale.
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Adam and Richard visit with Kara Capelli, Nick Finney, and Alex Camilliere of Calvert Brewing Company at their beautiful production facility and taproom in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Calvert Brewing is committed to one thing: making the very best beer they can. While keeping a close eye on consumer tastes, they avoid gimmicks and experimentation for the sake of experimenting. That doesn't mean they don't brew some amazing creations, though. Their Oktoberfest, Cream Ale, and Stouts are near-perfect.
Calvert's taproom is made for fun, with a huge horseshoe bar, a ping pong table, and fun events nearly every day of the week, Calvert Brewing Company is a must-visit brewery for anyone who loves a great space serving top-notch beers brewed with passion and a commitment to excellence.
Find them at CalvertBrewingCompany.com
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In this episode, the Brew Daddies are joined by Patti and The Pottymouth, hosts of the No Crying In Baseball podcast, to talk about the symbiosis of baseball and beer. We talk about how local craft beer is becoming more prominent at Major and Minor League ball parks and some of our favorite ballpark beer experiences. In honor of the 2018 World Series, we focus on some of the best beers from Boston and Los Angeles.
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Franchise and other laws in Maryland leave craft breweries at the mercy of distributors. In this episode, Adam and Richard talk to Brendan O'Leary of the Supporters of Maryland Brewing PAC about how they are working with state legislators to change the laws to create a fairer system for all.
Learn more about the PAC, a subsidiary of the Brewers Association of Maryland, and how you can help them support craft breweries in the state, at https://marylandbeer.org/about-us/pac/
DC Beer now has great branded gear for you! Check it out at DCBeer.com!
Richard speaks with Kimberly Bender, Executive Director of the Heurich House Museum, about the history of the District's most successful brewer – Christian Heurich.
Christian Heurich immigrated from Germany to America in 1866 with $200 in his pocket. He opened his first brewpub in Washington, D.C., in 1872 and became the city's most successful brewer. The Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. was the city’s longest-operating brewery, operating from 1872 to 1956.
Kim tells the fascinating stories of how Heurich built a state-of-the-art, fireproof brewing facility on the banks of the Potomac, which stood for nearly 100 years until it was torn down to become the site of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Art, and how he survived Prohibition to re-open for business after most of his contemporaries had died.
The Heurich House Museum is a strong supporter of local craft beer and the official home of the DC Brewers Guild.
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The Brew Daddies visit with Sarah and Jeremy Meyers, owners of Bad Wolf Brewing Company in Manassas, Virginia, a hyper-local nano brewery producing two to three 40-gallon batches of interesting and experimental beer every week.
Sarah and Jeremy talk about their approach to small-batch brewing and their experiences with opening, and then closing, a production brewery and taproom. Their dedication to their community is rare inspiring, and we'd love to see more local brewers try nano brewing for towns and neighborhoods.
You can find Bad Wolf at BadWolfBrewingCompany.com
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Structural engineer Brian Tarantino, the founder of Tarantino Engineering Consultants, has worked on more than a dozen breweries and taprooms in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. His team's expertise has helped Jailbreak, Oliver, Black Flag, Silver Branch, Guinness, Heavy Seas and many more.
We talk to Brian about the particular challenges of engineering brewery and taproom spaces and hear some of his stories about the interesting situations that arise in brewery engineering.
You can learn more about Brian and Tarantino Engineering Consultants at http://www.tarantinoec.com.
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The Brew Daddies speak with Bryan Van Den Oever and Simon Bee about the brewpub they're opening in NOMA DC, Red Bear Brewing Company.
We don't usually feature brewpubs on the show, but Red Bear has had an interesting path to brewing in DC and, with a historic location in a rapidly growing neighborhood, we thought it would be fun to highlight this coming-soon neighborhood gem during DC Beer Week.
Notice: Richard's mic malfunctioned and we recorded in a large, open, empty concrete room, so the sound isn't as good as we'd like. We hope you enjoy the show anyway.
You can find Red Bear Brewing Company at Redbear.beer
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We were both traveling so we each visited a brewery. What a surprise.
Adam went to Sigma Brewing Company in Houston, Texas, a brewery that likes heavy metal music, comedy wrestling, and has Adam's favorite beer transportation, Crowlers.
Richard spent some time at Full Steam Brewery in Durham, North Carolina, which has a mission to celebrate the farm and food traditions of the South.
We hope you have a chance to visit one of these great breweries!
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Dragon Hops Brewing Company is a brand-new brewery in the boozy town of Purcellville, Virginia — home to breweries, distilleries, and wineries galore.
Adam and Richard spent an afternoon with owner James Horris learning how local hop farm Dragon Hops expanded their business into a brewery and talking to head brewer Mitch Pilchuk about his dedication to traditional brewing styles.
Dragon Hops Brewing has a big spacious taproom that features live music and stand-up comedy along with a great food selection and, of course, excellent beer choices.
You can learn more at DragonHopsBrewing.com
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If you've ever thought about opening a brewery, listen up! Richard returns to Silver Branch Brewery to talk to Christian Layke and Brett Robison as they prepare to begin the build-out of their brewing facility and taproom in Silver Spring.
Christian and Brett talk about the anxieties and thrills as they enter the final stage before opening, and explain their priorities for being a community gathering place. You can be a part of the start by joining their Founder's Club, with premiums, discounts, and special invitations for up to five years!
We'll be checking in with Silver Branch regularly to get updates on their progress but you can find them now at SilverBranchBrewing.com
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The Brew Daddies return to Hellbender Brewing Company in Washington, D.C. A neighborhood favorite, Hellbender has a comfortable game-filled taproom and a well-rounded selection of brews.
Co-owner and head brewer Ben Evans shares some of his challenges scaling up canning operations and gives us a preview of some of their summer plans, including experiments with 15 strains of Norwegian farmhouse ale yeast. We can't wait to try them out!
Visit them soon, and bring your friends. Find what you need at HellbenderBeer.com
You can find the Brew Daddies, too:
Facebook.com/TheBrewDaddies
Instagram:@BrewDaddies
Twitter: @TheBrewDads
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Right Proper Brewing Company in Washington, D.C., is a yeast-forward brewery with a full-service brewpub restaurant in D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood and a production facility and taproom in Brookland.
Adam and Richard visited the Brookland taproom, a cozy neighborhood place with a fantastic (and shocking) wraparound mural inside. They serve flights, glasses or growlers to go, and a few pre-packaged snacks. If you want real food, they have a food truck out every Saturday or you're welcome to order from one of the nearby restaurants.
Co-owner and head brewer Nathan Zeender tells the Brew Daddies about the brewery's "yeast cult" and their mission to bring soulful neer to their Washington, D.C. neighbors.
Find them at RightProperBrewing.com
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Waredaca Brewing Company in Laytonsville, Maryland, is Montgomery County's first farm brewery. For much of the 20th Century, Waredaca was a camp for area youth (WAshington REcreational DAy CAmp), and today is a working equestrian farm.
This brewery has a cozy tap room with a huge outdoor beer garden and yard, perfect for a family day trip or a romantic outing. They have a great snack menu and filled-to-order 32 oz. cans called "Crowlers," a perfect way to bring their beer home and keep it fresh!
Co-owner and head brewer Keith Kohr tells the Brew Daddies about the brewery's long history and his "play the hits" approach to brewing.
Find them at WaredacaBrewing.com.
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Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland, was the first brewery to open in Baltimore in 35 years. Started as a contract brewery, they now have a great selection of standard and unique brews of their own as well.
This brewery has a very inviting tap room with three completely different spaces plus a beer garden in Spring and Summer. Perfect for families, couples, and singles, the combination of great beer, fun space, and a delicious weekend brunch makes this an awesome place to spend a Saturday or Sunday.
Jack-of-all-trades Edward O'Keefe tells the Brew Daddies about the brewery's unique history in Baltimore and it's deep connections in the neighborhoods that surround it.
Find them at www.peabodyheightsbrewery.com
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In this special episode of Brew Daddies, Richard talks to Christian Layke and Brett Robison of Silver Branch Brewery, a brand new brewery based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Just days before this recording, Silver Branch signed the lease on space for their production facility, taproom, and beer garden, and they plan to open in the Fall of 2018. (They're already releasing collaborations with other breweries!)
Christian and Brett talk about the events that led them to decide to open a brewery, the challenges they've faced so far, and what's next on their path to getting a production and serving space operational. Anyone who's ever thought about opening a brewery or brewpub will love this episode!
Subscribe to Brew Daddies today on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be checking in with Silver Branch regularly to get updates on their progress.
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In the very first LIVE episode of Brew Daddies, Adam and Richard visit Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland. The 28th largest craft brewer in the USA, Flying Dog has been innovating the craft beer industry for more than 20 years. Their brewery and taproom offer incomparable hospitality to beer lovers from around the world.
The Brew Daddies speak with pilot brewer Todd Kelly about Flying Dog's extremely experimental styles, including pioneering the Belgian IPA. They hear from sales forecaster Kyle Chittum about some of the 48 beers Flying Dog will be releasing in 2018 and their worldwide distribution. Kristin Hanna tells the Brew Daddies all about the taproom experience and the story of how world-renowned artist Ralph Steadman came to design every Flying Dog label.
This was truly an amazing experience at one of the best breweries east of the Mississippi. Special thanks to John Tuchowski at Flying Dog and Ellen, Karen, and Patti (the Brew Mommas) for making this live episode possible.
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Jailbreak Brewing Company in Laurel, Maryland has been forward-thinking since the founders quit their successful tech companies to build something they love. With a beautiful taproom expanding to a full-service restaurant and 15 beers on tap at any time, this family-friendly pub should be a top destination for anyone living in or visiting the DC/Baltimore area.
Brewmaster Ryan Harvey, a 20-yr brewing veteran, tells the Brew Daddies about the Jailbreak's history and brewing philosophy, and their unusual connection to The Big Lebowski. His skill comes through completely in the brews Adam and Richard try and give four steins, from a basil wit to a sour cherry porter. Definitely one of the state's best breweries!
Find them at https://jailbreakbrewing.com
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In this "Site Unseen" episode Adam and Richard sample Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford, Connecticut. They introduce you to the 7-days-a-week taproom and taste the Workers Comp Saison Farmhouse Ale, No Limits Hefeweizen, a specialty hop release, and the Road 2 Ruin Double IPA. With a great selection of 3- and 4-stein beers, Two Roads Brewing is high on the Brew Daddies list of places to go.
Find the brewery online at TwoRoadsBrewing.com
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Manor Hill Brewing in Ellicott City, Maryland, produces hop-forward IPAs as well as other popular varieties. As a "farm brewery", Manor Hill has some interesting characteristics, including growing their own hops and sourcing their ingredients locally. Their reservations-required taproom has a 50-person limit, creating an intimate environment with little or no wait to be served.
Find them at http://manorhillbrewing.com
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In another "Site Unseen" episode, featuring breweries we haven't visited (yet), Adam and Richard sample Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Southern California. They try the Union Jack IPA, the Easy Jack IPA, the Luponic Distortion (Evolution 008), and the Pale 31 California Pale Ale. With three taprooms, Firestone Walker is a must-visit brewery for anyone in (or visiting) the Los Angeles area. This episode is also a lesson in checking the "best by" dates on store-bought beer.
Find the brewery online at Firestonebeer.com
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In the Brew Daddies first "Site Unseen" episode, featuring breweries we haven't visited (yet), Adam and Richard sample Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, Pennsylvania.They try the Sunshine Pils, the Hopback Amber Ale, the Perpetual IPA, and the Troegenator Double Bock. With a high level of technical artistry in their brewing style and a full-service restaurant for a taproom, Tröegs is high on the Brew Daddies list of must-visit breweries.
Find the brewery online at Troegs.com
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Denizens Brewing Company in Silver Spring, Maryland, produces true-to-style lagers, ales, and more to suit every taste. Their taproom is a true neighborhood brewery experience, able to seat up to 400 patrons in three separate spaces, including a huge beer garden perfect for summertime.
Denizens Brewing Company offers a "Regulars" membership society that gets you a free pint every visit and discounts on everything else.
Find them at http://denizensbrewingco.com
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Adroit Theory Brewing Company in Purcellville, Virginia has produced over 600 brews in the last four years, solidifying a reputation for intense barrel-aged ales, porters, and stouts. In 2017, this nano brewery expanded into hoppy and sour openings, adding IPAs and Goses to their repertoire, and they have big plans for 2018.
Find them at Adroit-Theory.com
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This is the last episode of season 1, so we're introducing our new rating system and getting ready for 2018 with four seasonal brews from around the country.
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice - 3.5 steins
Breckenridge Brewery Christmas Ale - 4.5 steins
Star Hill Snow Blind Doppelbock - 2 steins
Troegs Blizzard of Hops Winter IPA - 4.5 steins
Subscribe now to be sure to get 2018 episodes! Website, swag, contests and more in the new year!
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7 Locks Brewing in Rockville, Maryland specializes in malt-forward brews served with a hyper-local flair in a neighborhood bar atmosphere. In this episode of Brew Daddies, co-owner Jim Beaman talks about 7 Locks' philosophy and passion for the brewery's hometown and we talk to both first-time patrons and regulars about what makes 7 Locks special. And as always Adam & Richard share their tasting notes: Snakeden Saison, Gratzer, Devil's Alley IPA, Redland Lager, and Blockhouse Point Stout.
Learn more about 7 Locks Brewing at http://www.7locksbrewing.com and @7LocksBrewing
The music: Who'll play the Blues? by Hans Atom (c) 2017
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The Brew Daddies visit Hellbender Brewing Company in Northeast Washington, D.C., and talk about their unique brewing system, their focus on sustainability, and their very original name.
Find out more at hellbenderbeer.com or on Twitter @hellbenderbeer
Our music: Who'll play the Blues? by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/55881 Ft: Admiral Bob and Bill Ray
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Adam and Richard visit their neighborhood brewery, 3 Stars, to meet the patrons and enjoy the beer!
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