Pete: So, as the one of the three of us who still resides in the DC area, I had a little bit of a challenge on my hands to contribute to the beer discussion because Shane and Brian had lived in the area for a while. They know the "heavier" hitters in DC Brau and Port City, and a lot of the smaller breweries in the area that are in the stage of development where they only offer draft and growler beer, no cans or bottles. Luckily, there is a DC law that allows bars and beer stores to purchase beer from anywhere and pay a separate tax on it to import it without using a distributor with a more limited list. This can help the area get some strange and wonderful beer that would not normally be available in our market. The area has also been a hotbed for older craft breweries like Bell's (Hopslam) from Michigan and Ballast Point from California (Pineapple Sculpin) to send a lot their newer or more popular releases to DC before many east coast markets get them. I also got lucky because Hardywood in Richmond has grown to a point that they are supplying local Whole Foods with their special releases. I was able to grab their Gingerbread Stout and their Bourbon Sidamo Coffee Stout for everyone to try. I hope that I can get some more cans soon as many of the breweries in the area are expanding.
Shane: It's been a little more than a year since I left DC, and in that time I've had my eyes opened by a lot of great New England beers. I've also been keeping track of the beer scene in DC, and I've noticed with more than a little irritation that quite a few breweries have started popping up. Where was this when I was living there? Why was I subjected to nothing but (actually pretty drinkable) DC Brau? Whatever. This batch of beers only has a few that are local to DC, but that's okay. I've been eager to try some of Hardywood's offerings, and I can’t exactly complain about the area getting Hopslam. York: I spent a long time in DC. Admittedly, most of that time did not include an appreciation for beer. Pete was a big part of my getting into beer and finally acknowledging that Rolling Rock and Highlife left a bit to be desired (I will defend those beers 'til I die though). Pete held a few tastings at his place and invited a few of us over to sample some rare or unique brews, and then did a batch of homebrews for his wedding that really turned my attention to trying new craft brews. The timing was perfect, and right as my interest grew, some great breweries popped up in the DMV. I got exposed to sours at Right Proper and Denizens, some great full bodied beers at Port City, and also made a point to give the DC Brau (among others) selection a comprehensive sampling. I have had a few of the Hardywood brews before, but nothing quite as specialized or impressive. Looking forward to those, and hope to have some more DMV representatives in later exchanges as more of those breweries start bottling/canning.
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