Beerneuring BAFS 2019

[sjclaeys]

Do you like to bike? Do you like beer? If so, this side bet is for you. The rules are simple:

1. Ride your bike to a brewery or brewpub. I estimate that there are over 50 breweries or brewpubs that can be reached by bike from DC, over 10 of them are in DC.
2. Acquire a beer brewed at that location.
3. Take a picture of the beer.
4. Taste the beer.
5. Post on this thread the picture of the beer, the location, and a comment about the beer. It can be anything from “tastes mostly like beer” to “the hop aroma contained grapefruit pith and apricot that was matched by a good malt backbone, which added a hint of graham cracker”.
6. Whomever posts entries from the most number of breweries or brewpubs by the end of Freezing Saddles wins!
7. The winner will receive a bottle of beer that reflects the nature of the competition. If only a few participate and the winner had 3 entries, then you will get a good bottle but nothing super special. If the competition is heated and the winner has 30 entries, then I will do my best to get something special.

A few further clarifications:

1. BE SAFE! No riding while under the influence. If you rode your bike to the brewery but find that you need to get a ride or take Metro home, the entry still counts.
2. You can go to more than one brewery on a ride, but see above.
3. The beer must be made at that location. Having a 3 Stars at the local bar does not count. Nothing at the Capital City in DC counts because the beer is made somewhere else (and RIP Cap City Shirlington).
4. Some brewpubs have more than one location. A trip to each location counts.
5. Keep in mind that this competition is to visit the most number of breweries and brewpubs. Once you visit and have a beer at a brewery or brewpub, then you cannot post another entry for that brewery or brewpub, even if you go back later and try a different beer.
6. It is not required, but try to go on at least one brewery tour. Fun, educational and you usually get to sample beer.

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Topic

[rumipumi]

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At Maryland Meadworks

[lordofthemark]

Beerneuring #2 Maryland Meadworks (Meadeneuring, or BEEneuring)

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Gwen

Gwen was hazy yellow, had flowery aromas, maybe hibiscus, tropical fruit. The taste was nicely tart, with the advertised apple and papaya notes. The mouthfeel was light and nicely “petillant” (as we discussed). All in all a nice mead.

This was the first time I had visited a meadery (sorry Rumi, the place we visited in Richmond was a cidery, I misremembered). It was a lovely cozy place (even if Route 1 is not particularly cozy) Ken was happy to explain about the meads. The place is VERY bike friendly, and we should go there and support it.

Today’s ride led by Jessica was lovely – I don’t think I had ever ridden up the ART in winter, and I had not been to Lake Artemisia.

[lossomes]

#3 – Port City, Alexandria, VA

Resilience Butte County Proud IPA

I don’t usually like IPAs, but this was very drinkable. Also supports a great cause in an innovative way. 10/10 will buy again.

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[smb9600]

Beernuering Stop 1: Mad Fox- I had Ornery Like a Fox New England IPA. Good beer, good company & learned they’ll serve a half pour at Mad Fox!

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[smb9600]

Stop 2 on the beer tour: Audacious Aleworks! I had the Belgian Tripel. Great space, good popcorn & great debate (what percentage of Americans have run a half marathon, ever???)

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[smb9600]

Beer tour, stop 4: Settle Down Easy. I felt like something lighter, so went with the 2Cloud 9. It was light, fruity, & yummy.

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[smb9600]

Beer tour final stop: Caboose Commons – recommended by Boomer. I didn’t know Caboose had a Merrifield location! TheHop on Board IPA was good – the grilled cheese was amazing

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[Steve O]

Saturday was the coffee-brewery-brewery-distillery-brewery-brewery ride, and I hung to the bitter end!

First stop: Mad Fox
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I had the 80 shilling, a Scottish-type ale. It was not yet noon, and I found this to be an excellent late morning winter choice. Not light, not too heavy and with some nice flavors.
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[Steve O]

2nd stop was at Audacious Aleworks, where, in addition to beer, they gave us free hot dogs!

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I got the 7 Evil Exes sour
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I have really been enjoying sour beers lately. Not sure why I had never tried them much in the past. I tasted their other sour, which I found to be a bit too fruity. This one was better, although it could have been even more sour for my taste.

[Steve O]

After chilling at the FC Distillery (see spiriteuring post elsewhere), we headed to Settle Down Easy. I had never even heard of this place (thanks, smb9600!).
I got their Virginia Creeper
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I enjoyed this little sentence from the description: ” …but East Kent Golding, Cascade, and El Dorado hops still make their presence known as they creep on to the pallet with a lasting finish.” I went out back and looked at their pile of pallets but saw no hops.

Not a bad choice, a malty, red ale. Goes fine with chips and queso.
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[Steve O]

Lastly, Boomer forced smb9600 and me onward to Caboose Commons in Mosaic. I did not know Caboose had another location, and they brew on site as well.

Schwarzbier was my final choice.
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Perfect for the last one of the day. Richer, darker with some chocolate hints.

What a great time! I enjoyed every minute of the ride and the hanging with bikey friends. We should do this again!

[SarahBee]

@lordofthemark 186583 wrote:

Beerneuring #2 Maryland Meadworks (Meadeneuring, or BEEneuring)

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Gwen

Gwen was hazy yellow, had flowery aromas, maybe hibiscus, tropical fruit. The taste was nicely tart, with the advertised apple and papaya notes. The mouthfeel was light and nicely “petillant” (as we discussed). All in all a nice mead.

This was the first time I had visited a meadery (sorry Rumi, the place we visited in Richmond was a cidery, I misremembered). It was a lovely cozy place (even if Route 1 is not particularly cozy) Ken was happy to explain about the meads. The place is VERY bike friendly, and we should go there and support it.

Today’s ride led by Jessica was lovely – I don’t think I had ever ridden up the ART in winter, and I had not been to Lake Artemisia.

This was a fabulous ride. Wonderful riding with you today Ken and Team 9. I also cannot say enough wonderful things about Maryland Meadworks. I had the Bitter Bee, which was delicious. They also have growlers to go. I packed up the Gwen Tart and it made it the entire ride back to Falls Church no problem. Everyone should check this place out.

[Sunyata]

Man, I am really slacking on this beerneuring thing. In fact, I have been to two LoCo breweries, but can not count them since I did not “ride to the brewery” but was driven there after a gravel ride.

I joined in on the SMB9600 Falls Church Booze Tour on Saturday. It was really great to see everyone and have a chance to relax and catch up.

First stop was Mad Fox. I had the Saison Farmhouse Ale, which was not bad for a saison, but less floral than I would have liked.
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[Sunyata]

Next stop was Audacious Aleworks. They do have a cool venue, but their beer leaves a lot to be desired.

I had the Clan MacLeod Immortal, which was their newest beer, a Scottish Ale. Surprisingly it was not bad. Not great, but not bad. Not enough boozy hints for me, and a little light on the malts. It had also not been entered into UnTappd, so I got the honour of entering it in and being the first to check it in. So, there is that.

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[Sunyata]

Ahh. Cheers, where everyone knows your name.

Oh wait. I mean Settle Down Easy. This is the area’s newest brewery and has only been open two months. Their beer is seriously on point and the space is pretty amazing, too. Plus, they have tacos and nachos in house and you can order anything on the El Tio menu (from inside the brewery) and it will be delivered in less than 10 minutes. Or you could bring your own food.

They had a new beer on tap, the Nautical Nonsense, which was a pineapple pale ale. It was, like all their beer, rather tasty. Fresh with just a hint of pineapple.

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[Author]

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