165578 Mon May 06 12:58:05 -0700 2002 31 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 884676 Informal poll: What are some favorite local brews...both draft and bottled? DB. Mon May 06 12:58:05 -0700 2002 0 dbutcher 1 884682 Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale from Dominion. Mon May 06 13:10:52 -0700 2002 884676 0 Tugboat 2 884767 I've had the pleasure a couple of times to sample Tuppers' Hop Pocket Hunter's XXXXXX Old Ale, which is roughly equal to Tuppers' plus 50% more of everything, which puts it at about 10% abv and I suppose 90 IBUs. It was made at the Trap Rock brewpub in NJ for Michael Jackson's 60th birthday party, hence the name (Hunter for the Beer Hunter, XXXXXX Old for 60th birthday). So, it's not really in the old ale mold, but it's mighty good! Why Trap Rock instead of Old Dominion? OD would have had to make 50 kegs, which was way too many. Rob Mullin, who had a hand in the original Hop Pocket Ale, brews at Trap Rock and was happy to do the deed. Wed May 08 04:28:20 -0700 2002 884682 0 Jim Dorsch 3 884770 That sounds like a mouthful. How did Jackson like it? Wed May 08 06:12:22 -0700 2002 884767 0 Tugboat 4 884775 I didn't catch his thoughts on the beer, but I believe he asked Tupper if he could get him a case. Wed May 08 10:40:46 -0700 2002 884770 0 Jim Dorsch 1 884684 I second the nomination of Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale, an excellent brew. I remember the beer out of the Blue Ridge Brewery in Frederick as being quite good, but it's been awhile. Dont forget Rehoboth's finest, Dogfish Head, especially their chicory stout - yum. And, tho not local, I'll throw in any beer put out by Magic Hat of Burlington VT (available in MD and DC)tasty and interesting variety. Mon May 06 13:27:59 -0700 2002 884676 0 Jamie D 2 884688 The Blue Ridge Porter is my favorite of theirs. The Golden is pretty good too. I don't know if they still make the Hempen Ale but that was very tasty as well. Link: http://www.blueridgebeer.com/ Mon May 06 14:22:42 -0700 2002 884684 0 Liz 3 884766 I believe Hempen Ale is history. I don't know how it was selling, but IAC the ATF effectively killed the category when it banned any reference to hemp on hemp beer labels. Wed May 08 04:22:28 -0700 2002 884688 0 Jim Dorsch 2 884774 Is Magic Hat now available in DC again? It's hands down my favorite brewery,and I bring back cases of it anytime I head north, but last I heard there was no distributor for DC. One can find it on occasion in MD, but usually just 1 or 2 of their more popular varieties (#9 and Blind Faith IPA most often). Wed May 08 09:42:38 -0700 2002 884684 0 DC 3 884803 DC - I just called Chevy Chase Liquors to make sure - they still sell Magic Hat. On CT Ave just below Ch Ch circle. Jamie Wed May 08 15:16:08 -0700 2002 884774 0 Jamie D 1 884689 Brewer's Art Ozzy!!!!! Mon May 06 15:04:04 -0700 2002 884676 0 Shmingrid 2 884690 Is that sold retail? Or would I need to go to Baltimore to try it? Mon May 06 15:24:34 -0700 2002 884689 0 Marty L. 3 884718 Not sold in stores (at least not yet - not for a while). You'll just have to make the pilgramage... and make sure someone else drives!! Tue May 07 10:30:56 -0700 2002 884690 0 Shmingrid 4 884723 Well, any quaff that elicits five exclamation marks from Shmingrid is undoubtedly worth the 45-minute drive. Unless, of course, it's available in a DC-area bar . . . Tue May 07 11:12:46 -0700 2002 884718 0 Marty L. 1 884693 I was just talking to a friend about this the other day. We were bemoaning the lack of good local microbrews. I bought a bunch of Blue Ridge last year and didn't like it at all - any of it (think I got one of those variety packs or something) - maybe it was just skunky. I actually like some of the beers at Capital City - the nut brown is good. Mon May 06 17:24:07 -0700 2002 884676 0 TerriS 2 884700 As a couple people have mentioned, Tuppers' Hop Pocket Ale is a wonderful beer (note the apostrophe at the end of the word, since it's a product of two people, Bob and Ellie Tupper). Hop Pocket Ale is a Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner, as is Tuppers' Hop Pocket Pils. Ale gets 3.5 stars from Michael Jackson, Pils 3. Lots of good brewpub beer from Capitol City, John Harvard's, Rock Bottom, Gordon Biersch. Solid efforts from Old Dominion for about 12 years now. Fordham Helles and Copperhead Ale are nice, subtle brews. De Groen's makes lots of good German-style beers. Oliver's across from the ballyard in Baltimore, Brewer's Art. Need we say more? Mon May 06 22:59:02 -0700 2002 884693 0 Jim Dorsch 3 884701 Forgot to mention Clipper City, whose Winter Ale is fabulous. And their McHenry is a great beer, designed to compete with Yuengling Lager. And I've probably forgotten several more that deserve mention. Mon May 06 23:01:26 -0700 2002 884700 0 Jim Dorsch 3 884702 Jim, Do you know what the deal is with De Groen's? Since Theo left for Germany, the last couple of years have seen some unwanted changes. I think the beer has really gone south. Tue May 07 07:03:49 -0700 2002 884700 0 Tugboat 4 884705 I've heard that, but haven't tried the beers myself in a while. I'm going to mention this to Jamie at BBCo and see what he has to say. Tue May 07 08:53:01 -0700 2002 884702 0 Jim Dorsch 4 884744 I talked to Jamie Fineran at BBCo. He says the formulations have not changed. In fact, Theo visited recently and evidently he didn't see any problems. Have you been drinking draft or bottled De Groen's beer? At their restaurant or elsewhere? Tue May 07 14:20:05 -0700 2002 884702 0 Jim Dorsch 5 884769 The only probelem I have had was one skunked 6 pack (which can be someone elses fault). But there are 2 pubs in my neighborhood that have taken their product off draft due to what they said was a slip in quality. One of the guys had supported the product for years but got tired of kegs coming in that had to be tossed. Wed May 08 06:08:30 -0700 2002 884744 0 Tugboat 6 884820 There could be a problem with the beer's treatment at the wholesaler or at the bar (dirty lines, for example). If you don't mind, please call Jamie Fineran at Baltimore Brewing Co, 800.334.7636 x12. He wants to learn about this problem you've observed, and correct it. Thu May 09 05:58:37 -0700 2002 884769 0 Jim Dorsch 1 884695 DB, I don't really have a favourite [I don't drink], but if you are interested in learning more about local brews, I would recommend attending one of Old Dominion's beer festivals. See http://www.olddominion.com/events.asp for more details. I could be off base by suggesting this, as you might already be plenty knowledgeable about local brews and merely looking for opinions. If so, kindly ignore ;) Link: http://www.olddominion.com/events.asp Image: http://www.olddominion.com/images/logo1.gif Mon May 06 17:35:29 -0700 2002 884676 0 Jeffrey 1 884704 I'm a fan of both Ozzy and Ressurection at Brewer's Art. Very well done belgian style ales for not much $$. DeGroen's dopplebock is a seasonal delight, but I continue to have trouble mustering genuine enthusiasm for most of their other stuff these days. Clipper City is good across the board; I'll drink the McHenry over Yuengling anyday, 'cos some of the profit goes to the folks who keep the fort up. Old Dominion doesn't make bad beer-basic Ale a poor man's SN (although not as good, it is $7.99 for 12) Victory Hop Devil another fave. Dogfish Head is another quality producer. Oliver's? *shrug* well made, no criticisms really, just not something I seek out. ditto the stuff from Ram's Head. I forget what the call it when sold outside the restaurant. Tue May 07 08:51:56 -0700 2002 884676 0 pleiades 2 884706 McHenry is just a really nice beer for those looking for a lightish, gold-amber beer. And it's all-malt. Ram's Head makes their Fordham beers in Alexandria. The thing about their beers is subtlety and restraint. Brewmaster Allen Young says something (it's on the package) about their making beer for people to drink instead of learn to appreciate. I wish I could remember the exact quote. The point being that they're meant for regular people who don't aspire to be beer geeks. Tue May 07 09:00:24 -0700 2002 884704 0 Jim Dorsch 3 884719 Who you calling a Geek!??! =) j/k That's right Fordam. Like the helles, actually..... Tue May 07 10:36:01 -0700 2002 884706 0 pleiades 4 884728 Well, I'm sort of a geek myself, actually! Speaking of local beers, I miss the Bardo brews, which appear to be available in very few places these days. I miss Dremo, but at least we can get Arrogant Bastard, which is a very Dremo-like brew. Tue May 07 12:22:38 -0700 2002 884719 0 Jim Dorsch 2 884724 You pretty much cover most of my faves too... Degroens beers are good. There seasonal beers are the ones I really enjoy, Can't beat the Edelweisen or Maibock. Brewer's Alley in Frederick has also been making some really interesting stuff. Once again their seasonal or special ales are the ones I look for. Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware makes a whole line of great beers. The Indian Brown Ale has become one of my favorites. Ram's Head in Annapolis... same scenario, love the seasonals, Maibock on right now probably won't last long. The Oliver ales on hand pump are worth checking out also. Great before a game... ordering one will also give you a better chance at getting a real glass. Tue May 07 11:18:58 -0700 2002 884704 0 dorkus5 1 884729 Not a local brew, but am begging for them to come down to the DC market...Penn Brewery (Pittsburgh). Great stuff-their Penn Dark is excellent. Their Penn Pilsner is very good. and they make some very good seasonal beers;Octoberfest and their Christmas Bock is excellent. They also make a lighter beer called Crew Lager which ain't bad! If you find your way in Pittsburgh, stop in for some very good German food on the North Side! Has anyone else around here tasted their work? Link: http://www.pennbrew.com/ Tue May 07 12:44:48 -0700 2002 884676 0 John 2 884731 I believe the Penn beers were available in NoVA several years ago, but I haven't seen them for a long time. I wonder if they're in DC or MD? Tue May 07 12:56:13 -0700 2002 884729 0 Jim Dorsch 3 884732 Penn beers can't be found below the Mason-Dixon for now. Have you tried them lately? Very good Tue May 07 13:01:37 -0700 2002 884731 0 John 4 884742 Haven't had them in a while, but I'm aware of their reputation. Tue May 07 14:13:24 -0700 2002 884732 0 Jim Dorsch