Comments on: Your Beermonger: New Year, New Beer

By: SteamboatWillie

SteamboatWillie — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:16:55 +0000

My apologies for asking about Hardywood after others posted essentially the same and you had addressed the question. I was skimming the comments a bit too casually.

By: SteamboatWillie

SteamboatWillie — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:14:57 +0000

That Dampfbier is called Rising Sun Ale. BeerAdvocate classifies it as an Altbier, but it really deserves its own category and doesn’t taste like the typical Düsseldorf specialty.

From the brewery’s website:

Inspired by a less known German brewing style called dampfbier – an all barley malt bill fermented with wheat beer yeast – we found a delicious new expression for our Happy Sol yeast. This beer pours a deep red color with unique malty flavors from roasted barley, Munich, pilsen and caramel malts. A subtle hop spice is derived from German Perle and Hallertauer hops.

By: TheBeermonger

TheBeermonger — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:12:20 +0000

I haven’t tried the Dampfbier yet. I have some Porter Square Porter on the shelf, and am considering their IPA. We’ll see what happens.

Lot’s of buzz for Hardywood in the comments here. I’ve tried their Bourbon Cru and thought it was very good. I’d like to see them up here but I imagine they’re pretty busy around Richmond so I wouldn’t expect anything just yet.

By: TheBeermonger

TheBeermonger — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:10:17 +0000

I haven’t heard anything. I’d really like to see them here.

By: SteamboatWillie

SteamboatWillie — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:05:39 +0000

I was able to attend Slumbrew’s event at Rustico in Ballston recently. I liked everything I tried, but the really interesting choice was the Dampfbier. Dampf is the German word for steam, but the beer isn’t a steam or California Common beer; instead, the name refers to the appearance of the bubbles during brewing, according to the brewery owner.

It really tasted like a Dunkelweiss, and the owner said that he often hears that feedback and that while there is no wheat added, he uses a Weihenstephan yeast strain. Very good session beer that deserves its own separate style category.

Also, I’ve heard that the next must-try brewery in Virginia is Hardywood Park out of Richmond. Anyone here sampled their offerings or seen them in the area?

By: KivasFajo

KivasFajo — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:41:52 +0000

Any idea if Hardywood will be available in Northern Virginia this year?

By: John

John — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 05:25:52 +0000

It is supposedly on its way to stores now

By: TheBeermonger

TheBeermonger — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:54:03 +0000

I’d forgotten about this. Was reading up on it a few weeks ago. Good call.

By: TheBeermonger

TheBeermonger — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:53:12 +0000

Well, you’d have to drink a fair amount to for sure.

By: TheBeermonger

TheBeermonger — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:52:44 +0000

With stuff like HopSlam, I usually have so much demand with so little product to match that I don’t even bother with a list and go 1st come 1st served. That and generally I’m spending too much time in the wine department as well to even properly maintain a list. If you get the newsletter or follow us on Twitter or Facebook you’ll hear about it arriving.