Who makes your beer

[Captain Awesome]

You have no idea how many nanos have popped up with homebrewers making a go at it. No clue as to even the basics of industrial cleaning and brewing

Totally. I've actually got a few friends that are doing/have done this. Some to greater degrees of success than others. It's gonna get worse around here before it gets better, as Loudoun County just passed zoning legislation that allows the "farm brewery" designation that VA allowed a few years back. I think I saw that there were already 8 or 9 "breweries" that filed within the first few days it was legal. Around here, I suspect it'll be a lot like the wineries that make shit wine, but stay in business by selling the "experience" (and $25 bottles of crap). Unfortunately for these aspiring breweries, brewhouses aren't normally surrounded by acres of scenic grapevines. They'll try growing hops, I'm sure, but I don't know that the "romantic" aspect will translate. I suspect they'll have to make a better product than the wineries do just stay in business.

Good. They were terrible. DC Brau = much mo better.

Agreed. I think they're probably the best thing going in the city, but Right Proper is probably my second favorite right now. Nathan's got an eye for interesting, less popular styles, and does a really good job. It'll be interesting to see what happens as they move into their new brewery.

How's Capital City doing? Have you tried Denizens?

I haven't been to Denizens (and I know you were mostly asking Tippster), but Cap City is a bit different than before, depending on when you were here last. They only brew at Shirlington now, and the Capitol Hill location is closed. The one at 11th and H is still there. The beer tends to be 'good', but never all the impressive. The newest brewmaster (brewmistress?) is Kristi Matthews Griner, who actually spent a stint brewing at a (just-recently-closed) brewpub in Leesburg, where I live. She's a good reliable brewer, but the Cap City recipes just don't tend to be all that interesting overall.

[Tippster]

I suspect it'll be a lot like the wineries that make shit wine, but stay in business by selling the "experience" (and $25 bottles of crap).

Tarara's whites are actually pretty good, IMHO, but yes - overpriced.

Agreed. I think they're probably the best thing going in the city, but Right Proper is probably my second favorite right now. Nathan's got an eye for interesting, less popular styles, and does a really good job. It'll be interesting to see what happens as they move into their new brewery.

Never heard of them - will keep my eye out.

I haven't been to Denizens (and I know you were mostly asking Tippster), but Cap City is a bit different than before, depending on when you were here last. They only brew at Shirlington now, and the Capitol Hill location is closed. The one at 11th and H is still there. The beer tends to be 'good', but never all the impressive. The newest brewmaster (brewmistress?) is Kristi Matthews Griner, who actually spent a stint brewing at a (just-recently-closed) brewpub in Leesburg, where I live. She's a good reliable brewer, but the Cap City recipes just don't tend to be all that interesting overall.

Agreed on all counts. To meet Cap City on 11th is kinda like Gordon Biersch down the street - fine to drink but nothing memorable. Same goes for the Chop House. Never tried Denizens.

[riser4]

There's a lot of really bad "micro" beer out there right now.

Indubitably. And they are all the rage too. Local eateries are full of them. I've gone in wanting a beer with my food and left still wanting a beer with my food. 24 taps and nothing to fucking drink.

[TBS]

This is interesting
http://demetergroup.net/sites/defaul...ustry-2013.pdf

[The AD]

"The Brewers still make the beer" is such a naive statement. With millions of dollars at stake, you think these breweries will retain autonomy?

Agreed, and how many times do we have to hear the mantra "we don't intend to change anything" only to have it change radically in short order. Remember how many regional breweries there used to be in addition to the big national brands? Those basically all either folded or were bought out by the big guys who promptly shut down the breweries and just retained the labels with the quality of the product going downhill every step of the way. There are a few left but not many. Yuengling comes to mind.

The same thing will happen with the micros that have been bought. Just watch.

[BmillsSkier]

Agreed, and how many times do we have to hear the mantra "we don't intend to change anything" only to have it change radically in short order. Remember how many regional breweries there used to be in addition to the big national brands? Those basically all either folded or were bought out by the big guys who promptly shut down the breweries and just retained the labels with the quality of the product going downhill every step of the way. There are a few left but not many. Yuengling comes to mind.

The same thing will happen with the micros that have been bought. Just watch.

Heh, you sound like every single male member of the WWII generation that lives in Cincinnati. Always talking about how their neighborhood brewery was the best and how it all has gone to shit once they got bought out.

There was once 36 there, and they're making a comeback now thanks in part to native Jim Koch of Boston Brewing fame among others. Nice beer scene in a big beer city. (largest Oktoberfest outside Munich! and largest amount of beer whores outside Pittsburgh!)

[warthog]

Here in FL, we really only have 2 renowned craft brewers. Luckily, they are both in my back yard. Cigar City, which has put FL on the beer map, and Cycle Brewery, which is owned by my friend Tara and her husband Doug. He used to brew for Cigar City, so there really is just one degree of separation there. They are both still independent breweries, but there has been a lot of recent pressure to grow or die.

FL passed an asinine law that says breweries have to sell their product through a distributor, even in their own tasting rooms. Obviously, this is an attempt to keep them small, but also to have a little bit of regulation to the whole thing. On the competition/ fairness front, I hate the law. On the regulation though, I kinda like it. It will also help in the competition, because if the beer sucks, ain't no distributor gonna take them on. There is a lot of shitty beer going on here, with the "atmosphere" being the draw. If I want to hang out with a bunch of hipsters being pretentious, I'll move to Brooklyn. Your beer blows.

Cycle, with mixed feelings, has signed on with the same distributor as Cigar City. Pay attention to that name. I think you will see his beer start to creep into other markets pretty quickly. The distributor did great things for Cigar City, and some of Doug's beer is a lot better than their stuff. I think he had every intention of staying small and local, but he is being forced to go the other way, and is embracing it.

[sb]

In WV I believe small breweries can now self distribute. Still a ways to go for a level playing field.

[BmillsSkier]

That same issue is being handled right now in the GA legislature.

Brewers can offer free beer at their breweries but can't sell any for take home - must sell all beer through a distributor. It's helped keep the beers made here pretty high-quality but it's hampered a lot of growth.

They say this change in the law is a slam dunk (tell that to the distributor lobby ) so it'll be interesting to see how many breweries pop up once it passes.

[evasive_MT]

I won't say it's gratifying to see other states struggle with this, but at least Montana isn't the only place with a screwed-up system. Our whole alcohol control system is a disaster, not just the brewing laws. Looks like the legislature is going to kick the can down the road another couple of years.

[Name Redacted]

The tap room sales concept has gone over pretty well he in CO. I've been to Sweetwater's taproom in ATL, and plan on going to a few more next time I'm in ATL visiting the family. Sweetwater was sick, $8 for 4 pint tix and a pint glass that you keep. Some chicks gave us all their tix so my dad and I got sloshed. For my sake, I hope they keep the taprooms free

But there's definitely an advantage to having taprooms. I know a few breweries here in CO who survive almost entirely on taproom sales. Whether they make good beer or not, well that's for the consumer to decide. Sometimes it's just about nice atmosphere.

Lastly, fuck the distributor lobby. Once again, the overwhelming majority of distributors, are either Inbev or Coors based. What they did in Florida is BS. That's not the three their system, it's extortion.

[The AD]

Lastly, fuck the distributor lobby.

Hear, hear.

[concretejungle]

I won't say it's gratifying to see other states struggle with this, but at least Montana isn't the only place with a screwed-up system. Our whole alcohol control system is a disaster, not just the brewing laws. Looks like the legislature is going to kick the can down the road another couple of years.

That was really the biggest surprise when we moved here. Pretty much do whatever the fuck you want just don't endanger others except if you're brewing beer.

In some ways it's nice because it's the only way I ever make it to last call (makes me feel young ) and the tap rooms don't end up with a bunch of stumbling drunks. This is nice since we occasionally hit them up with our kid after skiing or to meet friends that don't have kids. Most of them even have an area with toys and stuff to keep them busy and they get to interact with other kids that are there.

[BigDaddy]

Lastly, fuck the distributor lobby. Once again, the overwhelming majority of distributors, are either Inbev or Coors based. What they did in Florida is BS. That's not the three their system, it's extortion.

Lotta money, so lotta mafia types.

[BmillsSkier]

The tap room sales concept has gone over pretty well he in CO. I've been to Sweetwater's taproom in ATL, and plan on going to a few more next time I'm in ATL visiting the family. Sweetwater was sick, $8 for 4 pint tix and a pint glass that you keep. Some chicks gave us all their tix so my dad and I got sloshed. For my sake, I hope they keep the taprooms free

But there's definitely an advantage to having taprooms. I know a few breweries here in CO who survive almost entirely on taproom sales. Whether they make good beer or not, well that's for the consumer to decide. Sometimes it's just about nice atmosphere.

Lastly, fuck the distributor lobby. Once again, the overwhelming majority of distributors, are either Inbev or Coors based. What they did in Florida is BS. That's not the three their system, it's extortion.

And you can bring your pups to Sweetwater!

Check out Monday Night Brewing, they've got a pretty cool spot with a nice outdoor area tucked away from everything. You'd never know it's there. Kind of like Red Brick Brewing, except that I don't like RBB's beer.