Pete Zuk Brewery Name: Aslin Beer Company Type of Brewery: Retail Brewery Location: Herndon, VA Website: http://www.aslinbeer.com/ Facebook: Aslin Beer Company Twitter: @Aslin_BeerCo Instagram: @aslinbeerco Growlers: Yes. For 64 oz. growlers only, they do offer crowlers (for those who don’t know, a crowler is a growler in the form of a giant can). Background: So this post will have a little background because this brewery really means that much to me already. Not to sound obnoxious and this is not meant to put anyone down but the DMV area has not been a great brewery destination. The city has a great amount of well-known beer bars which have flourished because of the distribution laws that allow retailers to bypass distributors. This always meant that many residents could drink beer from numerous out of market locations without the need to indulge the local market. It was a beer drinker town, not a beer brewing town. The first true production brewery only opened in 2009, and most breweries around here don't bottle or can a lot. While many local options that I still adore were popping up (like Right Proper and Ocelot), I still felt that I did not have that amazing brewery I could share with my friends to say hey this is my something special. San Francisco and Boston are much older brewing towns that allowed the craft beer brewing movement to catch on like wild fire with tons of high quality breweries in a small area. I felt like I had an itch I could not scratch after I left New England because there was not that amazing fruit juice bomb IPA that I could calmly turn to and have on a regular basis…Not any more. The DMV finally got a brewery that is about to change the area specializing in soft New England style IPAs and huge fruit forward Florida Style Berliner weisses, Aslin is a brewery that I will be no stranger at for the foreseeable future. The Beers: Let's dive right into the good stuff. Mind the Hop: 100% Citra Double IPA in all of its glory. This is a wonderful spot on interpretation of a juicy new England IPA. There is so much citrus, passionfruit, creamy orange in this beer you would swear it was juice. It’s light and refreshing while also being a mind boggling 9.4% abv that is virtually undetectable. The look is wonderful hazy burnt gold and the aroma and flavor is just so explosive and so enjoyable I still regret only getting 1 crowler of this. Really a joy to drink. And another beer that is slowly turning me more onto citra (I’m still team Mosaic hops, but this is a nice beer to argue over). Champion of the Sun: 6.2% IPA. An Always Sunny reference and a juicy tangerine/mango beer too. Berliner Weisse With Passion Fruit And Mango: This is a beer style that I was expecting to find in Florida that I thought was more common. Take a really nice low abv Berliner Weisse (3.5% in this case), and load it full of citrus acidic fruits to really amp up that acidity which makes it really refreshing in the summer months. This is what I always imagined this type of beer would taste like. It looks like juice to start with and tastes so nice and acidic with nice fruit character to balance it out. While it is fruity you still have that essence that it is beer so you get the best qualities of both. So sad this was not available to take home because it was AMAZING. FLA-mango: A 3.5% abv take on the style with raspberries and mango. Really nice pink hue with amazing dry seediness from the raspberries that pares perfectly with the bright mango. Another sad miss for growler fills. Gose with Raspberry and Blackberry: A 4.5% gose which is just as amazing as the Berliner. You get that perfect hybrid of berry flavor and salty wheat mouthfeel. Just so easy to drink and again so sad that they didn’t have it for growler fills. Vibe: They have done a great job here, high top tables, picnic tables, wrap around bar with seats that can look into the brew house. That gives you a lot of seat options if you want to hang out for a couple hours. I love places that have garage doors that allow them to pull them up for the summer to really hang out and enjoy the weather with a great beer. They have games and cool things like a giant robot on top of the bathroom area. You can watch a game there and spend hours or run up to get your growler filled. It already feels like a comfortable local bar that just happens to make great beer. If they had food more frequently I would never leave. Cannot wait to go back. Dogs: Absolutely. Price ($ to $$$$$): $$ Food: Not really, they have some food events but don’t count on it. Final Thoughts: This is beyond ten out of ten. -- Pete Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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Shane Carley Brewery Name: Bissell Brothers Brewing Type of Brewery: Retail Brewery Location: 4 Thompson’s Point, Portland, ME. It’s a little out of the way, and if you think you’ve gone too far, don’t worry. You haven’t. Wind all the way through the Thompson’s Point area until you see a couple of dirt parking lots, and you’re there. Website: http://www.bissellbrothers.com/ Facebook: Bissell Brothers Twitter: @BissellBrosBrew Instagram: @bissellbrothers Growlers: Nope. In the words of Bissell, "no growlers, ever." The Beers: Since this was the grand opening of Bissell’s new location, I assumed that they would have a fairly standard roster of beers on tap. I was right. Swish is out of season, but, that aside, the menu read like a "greatest hits" album, with four of their most popular beers ready to be served. I’ve had each of these beers before, and I was only too happy to have the opportunity to sample them again. The Substance: Bissell's flagship beer, we’ve covered The Substance in the past. Incredibly flavorful, incredibly drinkable, it doesn’t take more than a sip or two to figure out why this is one of Maine’s most popular beers. It blends a bunch of different fruit flavors, including peach and pineapple, for a refreshing burst of citrus. At 6.6%, you can have more than a few of these guilt-free. Reciprocal: This was the second time I had Reciprocal, and my impression of it has changed a bit. At first I thought it didn’t quite measure up to Bissell’s other offerings, but now that I’ve had a chance to actually sit and savor it (and not grab a quick taster as I breeze through their old register window), this packs a wonderfully flavorful punch. This IPA is brewed with all Southern Hemisphere hops, and the dry-hopping makes a big difference. Flavors like mango, pineapple, and more come through really strongly. Great beer. Lux: We’ve also covered Lux in the past, and it’s notable for being not only delicious, but unique. I’ve never had a beer quite like Lux. It drinks on the heavier side, but the fruitiness comes through in a blast of flavor. Lux is a Rye Ale, which is a somewhat uncommon beer style that Bissell has nailed. Baby Genius: Bissell calls Baby Genius “crushable,” but, like Lux, it drinks a little heavy to me. Maybe it’s just the unfiltered nature of the beer that thickens it up and makes it feel a little dense, or maybe it’s just me. Either way, the flavor on this beer is amazing, and more than makes up for a little perceived heft. The Topaz hops REALLY come through strong, and I’ve recently developed a pretty strong affinity for that particular type of hops. Vibe: Here's where I gush. Bissell's new location is fantastic. Whereas at their Industrial Way location, they did a good job making the most of what space they have, at Thompson’s Point they have all the space they need and more. The new tasting room is massive, with a huge number of tables and benches scattered around while still leaving enough space for four different lines and registers to keep things moving efficiently. There’s even a mezzanine-like area with more tables that overlooks both the tasting room floor and the brewing area itself! The decor is classic Bissell. Graffiti-style artwork on almost every wall, with Bissell’s iconic logo featured prominently behind the bar, high on the walls, and just about anywhere else you can think of. I’ve always loved Bissell’s style. If I had to describe it, I’d say...minimalist street art? It sounds weird, but it works, and it’s reflected in their can art as well, from the solid black Swish can to the splashier Baby Genius. The outside seating area is also an improvement. Where before, Bissell was limited by the size of their plot and courtesy for their neighbors, here they are able to spread out considerably. With a much larger outside area and room to stand around even outside the fencing, it makes every day feel more like a big event. People are standing around talking, playing catch, sipping tasters, and just generally having a good time hanging out in the sun. It’s hard for me to judge exactly what the brewery will feel like on a normal day, but even on opening day it didn’t feel overrun (DISCLAIMER: I waited until about 3:00 in the afternoon to stop by, since I assumed it would be swamped in the morning), but it feels like there’s more than enough space to accommodate a huge crowd comfortably. I would guess that on weekdays you would have little problem stopping by for a couple quick beers, while Saturday might be a little dicier (I’m curious how Swish releases will work at the new location, both in terms of parking and line location). I’m rambling, but it’s hard to say how much of an improvement the new location is (and I haven’t even mentioned the fact that it’s next door to the International Cryptozoology Museum--grab a couple of beers and learn about Bigfoot!). Bissell’s beers are among the best in the country, and they now have a location that lives up to that sterling pedigree. Dogs: Bissell’s old location was very dog-friendly, and things don’t seem to have changed here. They still don’t serve food on the premises, so you shouldn’t have any trouble bringing a dog along (as long as it’s well-behaved and doesn’t bark excessively, that is). Price ($ to $$$$$): $$$. Still no growlers, but cans can get pricey. Swish is probably their priciest beer, clocking in a hefty $17 per four-pack, but Reciprocal is also in the same price range. Beers like Substance and Baby Genius are a little easier on the wallet, coming in around $12 of $13 a pack. Which isn’t too bad. When you’re getting some of the best beer in the country, you’re going to have a pay a little more. God knows it’s worth it. Food: Still no food, but, as with their old location, you’ll pretty much always find a food truck parked outside. I’ve always thought that the symbiotic relationship between breweries and food trucks in Maine is awesome, and Bissell clearly agrees. On Saturday, the truck du jour belonged to the Highroller Lobster Company. I didn’t partake, but I can tell you right now that the lobster rolls looked delicious. In fact, all of the food I’ve ever seen outside Bissell has looked delicious. God bless food trucks. Final Thoughts: When I last talked about Bissell, I was pretty clear about the fact that the only thing holding them back was their location. Now that they have a massive new space to spread their wings, holy shit. What a difference it makes. With tons of space to sit and enjoy your beers, four different registers to cut down on wait times, and gorgeous, stylized artwork all over the walls, this place just FEELS like Bissell. Combine it with some of my favorite beers I’ve ever had, and that’s a guaranteed recipe for a 10/10 brewery. I’ll be back this weekend for the release of ‘Nothing Gold,’ Bissell’s first new beer at the new location. Can’t wait. -- Shane Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink Pete Zuk Brewery Name: Trillium Brewing Company Type of Brewery: Production Brewery Location: 369 Congress St. Boston, MA 02210 (they also have a location in Canton, MA) Website: http://www.trilliumbrewing.com/ Facebook: Trillium Brewing Twitter: @trilliumbrewing Instagram: @trilliumbrewing Growlers: Yes; however, they are in Massachusetts, which forces you to purchase the growlers from the brewery (meaning they won't fill other breweries' growlers). Luckily all of their beers are available in bottles except some pilot batches. The Beers: Trillium really is one of my favorite breweries. Their beers are top notch and have blown my mind ever since I had my first Fort Point Pale Ale. I actually have ranked them slightly higher than Tree House, but that really comes down to cosmetic preferences because both breweries make amazing soft, fruity, flavorful IPAs. We got 10 different beers from them, so here are a couple of our favorites:
Vibe: This location is literally the size of a postage stamp inside. You go in to get the beer and get out. That is it. The staff is wonderful, the neighborhood is amazing, and the inside looks pretty cool. But they do not have samples and they are there to efficiently distribute their beer to you. They seem to really have the production brewery thing down, but I have to relay the horror stories I have heard. I have heard of lines down blocks for their special releases. Now, every visit to this fine beer establishment that I have made has had me fortunate enough to be first in line. I also get there between 10-50 minutes before they open, so, I might be a little crazy. Shane has managed to walk in there with no wait at a random time so it seems possible to get lucky and just walk up and walk out with beer. York’s Thoughts: When we started our weekend, Pete had put together an outline of most of the breweries and their exclusive beers we wanted to get to. Next to the Trillium entry was a very ambitious list of big bottle, big ABV, big flavor beers. Shane and I both expressed that while we absolutely wanted to try everything the had, perhaps 3 bottles each of half their stock was a bit much. WRONG. Pete held strong and we walked away with two cases or so. Glad we did because this stuff was so good that we used it as a treat throughout the entire weekend. A few were part of our blind tastings and all were top notch brews. Great example of living up to an extreme amount of hype. All cards on the table--I am a huge fan of drinking beer at breweries. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that this might have been our best experience of all had we been able to sit at Trillium and drink beer. I understand that it isn’t their model, but it counts in my book. Shane’s Thoughts: Pete is right--I have been lucky enough to walk in and out of Trillium at around 3:00 in the afternoon, so if you time your visit right, you can avoid long wait times. I’ll never begrudge a brewery long wait times during a special release, though. When have you ever gotten the “limited edition” of anything quickly and easily? No, Trillium makes the experience well worth it with some of the best beers I’ve ever hard. I’ve long been a Tree House devotee, but the blind taste test we conducted between Trillium and Tree House taught me that maybe--just maybe--I’ve become a little biased. No matter what, though, those two breweries sit at or near the top of the Massachusetts brewery game, and maybe even the United States brewery game. Dogs: No. Price ($ to $$$$$): $$$$ Food: No. -- Pete Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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