Saturday I went with my sister and brother-in-law, Ed, to the Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest in Leesburg, sponsored at least in part by Vintage 50, a great restaurant and brewpub, also in Leesburg. The weather was glorious, low 80’s and low humidity. Parking was a snap which is always good. Ed was the designated driver.
I have a few bumper stickers, cards, and coasters that were supposed to help me remember what beers I had tasted and whether or not I liked them. I actually had no beers I didn’t like…probably an oxymoron… I do remember a couple that didn’t do anything for me, from the same brewpub the name of which unfortunately escapes me. One was an IPA and one was a double-hopped IPA…NOT! I wish I could remember the brewery so I don’t make the mistake of trying it again.
Breweries We Support:
- Avery Brewing Co
- Bells Brewing, Inc
- Lagunitas Brewing Company
- Legend Brewery
- St. George Brewing Company
- Stone Brewing Company
- Tuppers Beers
- Dogfish Head Brewing
- Otter Creek Brewing Co./Wolavers
Breweries We Definitely Do Not Support (They are dead to me! No links provided to crap!)
- Anheuser Busch (bought out and shut down Old Dominion Brewery who brewed Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale and Pilsner).
- Fordham Brewing Company (partnered with Anheuser Busch to buy out Old Dominon Brewery). Should be referred to as a “Crap” brewery.
We tasted mostly IPA’s, especially the Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale, which was the first of that we’ve had in nearly a year. It is now being brewed by the St. George Brewing Company based in Hampton, VA. I thought the beer need a bit of fine tuning to get it back up to par. We’ll wait and see what happens…
As to the other beers, I did not take notes as I should have. I will take a recording device to the next one of these tastings I go to. I do remember having a very complex, i.e. multiple fruits, Hefeweisen and a quite citrusy IPA. I do know for sure that I enjoyed Otter Creek’s Imperial IPA. Though I lived in Vermont for a few years as a kid and go up there a couple of times a year I have never been that hot on Otter Creek. I have always like the Wolaver’s IPA.
Bottom line, we spend a nice afternoon at a great location, in gorgeous weather, amongst a great crowd, sampling a few very tasty craft brews!