Your Beermonger: Giving Thanks

Editor’s Note: This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway).

I know it’s early, but this is the last column of mine before Thanksgiving and I wanted to take the opportunity to give thanks for some of the good things that have been happening in the beer business this year. Things like…

An Embarrassment of Riches

We’ve had a great year in the area for new breweries from all over the world. Not only did we start seeing new imports like Sweden’s Omnipollo and Belgium’s Vicaris, but the last few months of 2013 have seen an influx of American breweries like Sly Fox, Mother Earth, Hardywood Park, and Tampa’s Cigar City (whose Jai Alai IPA hits NoVA store shelves this week — go find it, it’s delicious). I find myself in crisis every week now figuring out what I have room to actually stock with so many good options out there today. There are certainly worse problems to have.

An Area on the Rise

Not only has 2013 seen growth for local and regional breweries like Devils Backbone, Port City, DC Brau, Blue Mountain and more, but new restaurants, breweries, and brewpubs are popping up all the time. Falls Church’s Mad Fox Brewpub will be opening a taproom in the District in 2014; the long-awaited Bluejacket restaurant and brewery is finally up and running to much acclaim; Baltimore’s Heavy Seas Brewery will be opening a bar/restaurant in Arlington soon; and Right Proper Brewing Company will be opening its brewery/restaurant in Shaw hopefully by the end of the year. Our area is quickly becoming one of the best beer destinations in the country, with plenty of great places to enjoy a beer or two.

You

Yeah, you. Whether you’re Arrowine customers, or those of you I’ve talked to on Twitter, or even you regular ARLnow commenters who swing by every week to type eye rolls at the sponsored content (and for whom I’ve developed a Stockholm Syndrome-like affinity for), if you take a moment out of your week to read over this column, I’m thankful for you. Those of us who are into craft beer have a saying: “Beer people are good people”, and 2013 has proven that to me more than ever. While this year has been great for me on the job it’s been tough on me personally, and many a friend in the beer community has been there for me. So to all of you out there I say “thank you.” Have a great Thanksgiving, and we’ll resume the usual fun next week. Until next time.

Cheers!

Nick Anderson maintains a blog at www.beermonger.net, and can be found on Twitter at @The_Beermonger. Sign up for Arrowine’s money saving email offers and free wine and beer tastings at www.arrowine.com/mailing-list-signup.aspx. The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

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