Monday, October 01, 2018

Gheorghe's Six Pack: An Actual Six Pack

I noticed yesterday that the prices for canned beer have gone up more than 10% across the board. A quick search of the relevant literature suggests that America's new tariffs on imported steel caused the price hike, steel being the key ingredient in beer cans. And tariffs, as we all know (all of us, perhaps, except the President*), affect consumers in the country that levies the tariffs, rather than the importers.

So, great. One more, albeit minor, reason to disdain this band of fuckups, degenerates, and incompetents.

But, tangentially, something that led me to think about Oskar Blues, the leaders of the can-driven revolution in craft beer, and from there, about my six favorite current brewers of American beer. I dig a lot of beer, and I've got a rotation that's subject to change, as well as an embarrassment of local riches. In fact, I'm buzzed now on stuff from an entirely new joint right in my little town - which brings the total number of brewpubs serving their own stuff within the town limits of little Leesburg, Virginia (population: 30,000ish) to six. That doesn't begin to count the two dozen or so operating within the county limits, nor Aslin, which is in Herndon, just over the county line in Fairfax, and probably deserves to be on this list - I've loved everything I've had from them, but I haven't had enough just yet.

The reigning champ of the American craft beer movement, according to me, is Stone Brewing. Consistently creative in their beers and their marketing, the Escondido, CA-based Stone has pushed well beyond the previously-held limit in their worship of the hop. And now that they've established an East Coast beachhead in Richmond (a town where the beer scene might be the best on this side of the country, and perhaps worth a GTB road-trip), we're getting fresh stuff on the regular. Stone's Fear.Movie.Lions celebrates Virginia's capital, specifically, and it's a great 16 oz. double IPA. Try their Woot Stout, and any of the dozens of speciality beers they distribute on the regular.


I've been obnoxious in my repping of Minneapolis-based Surly Brewing, and it appears that those of you that live in Northern Virginia might get to put my taste to the test soon. I came across a four-pack of Surly's Todd the Axe Man double IPA in a local Total Beverage this weekend. I was so shocked and amazed that I exclaimed 'holy shit' aloud. And then asked the manager if they had more than the one four-pack on offer. Sadly, no. But if one made it here, more are soon to follow. Surly's got a head-banger's approach to brewing - their stuff is unapologetically in your face. And if you get to Minneapolis, check out their 90,000 square foot brewpub - it combines beer, great food, great music, and community in one massive spot.

Stone's creativity keeps me coming back, but Michigan's Founders is no slouch in that department. Their annual Hopslam and Kentucky Breakfast Stout releases signal serious drinkers to run with their wallets to line up for precious samples. Founders' Dank Wood and its' 11% ABV will nail you to the couch in sweet stupor.

So will Heir Apparent from Goochland, Virginia's Lickinghole Creek. Fun to say, really fun to drink, if only one or two.

I've saved a local for last. About 10 miles up the road from me, just north of the tiny hamlet of Lucketts, Vanish Farmwoods Brewery sits on 53 acres of farmland (where they grow their own hops) in a sprawling hodgepodge of pavilions, beer halls, playgrounds, and open spaces. I like a lot of the breweries in my area, but Vanish is my fave. Their Ghost Fleet IPA will make you warm inside, but if gose is your jam, they've got several of those on offer, as well. Bring your puppy and your kids, hunker down for some live music, live people, and fresh food. If you're headed my way, holler, and we'll Vanish for a few hours.

31 comments:

TR said...

On the subject of Tribe sports coaches that have outstayed their welcome, it’s time to bid adieu to soccer coach Chris Norris. Team has a legit All-American (Antonio Bustamante) and was getting some Top 25 votes to start the year.

We are 2-5-1. Our two wins are against Longwold and St Joe’s. We lost back-to-back games against rated foes early (6-1 loss to UNC and 2-1 loss to NC State). Really disappointing season for a program that was trying to become relevant.

Can we get Tim Kilgore in as coach?

rob said...

at least two of those losses have come in overtime, so while the record isn't great, it's a bit deceiving. but yeah, if we don't make a run at the ncaa tournament this year, norris is on the hot seat. he's an alum, so that'll buy him some goodwill, but that may not be enough.

zman said...

I believe you meant to say Q-Bert.

rootsminer said...

My print shop mostly serves other businesses, but on occasion get odd requests from walk ins. A 60ish year old guy has been having my designer type love notes for him, but she just wasn't feelin' it today, so I typed it for her. Dude's opening line is below - I shit you not.

"My Dearest Jackie,
When I first saw you in the fifth grade, you turned my world upside down! My first schoolboy crush! You gave birth to my manhood and I’ve never been the same."

T.J. said...

I demand a reality show focused on Rootsy's print shop

rootsminer said...

Would be pretty boring most of the time, but we do get some doozies.

TR said...

I did not know Rootsy did the printing for Penthouse Forum.

“Gave birth to my manhood” is a fancy way of saying “gave me a boner,” right?

.

rootsminer said...

I presume that's what he means.

If you have the newsprint periodical "Crime Times" in your area, the one that shows you all of the mugshots and charges for those arrested in the region, I think this letter would be more at home in the back of that.

zman said...

Can you make me one of those cards good for one free round at every public course in Virginia?

Whitney said...

Rootsy, please make the 2003-2018 Topps Gheorghe: The Blog player cards. I’ll trade you 2 Robs (2004 and 2012) and an early days Teej for a mint condition Dennis rookie card.

rob said...

2004 rob has a lot of value. that was a strong year.

zman said...

You would think that 2003-06 zman cards are worthless but that’s not true, there sonscarce that they’re highly collectible.

Whitney said...

Dude next to me at the bar is clearly on a first date. He just ran through an animated plot summary and critical review of each Mission: Impossible film. His date looks... well, like she’d rather have had the equivalent for the Police Academies.

rootsminer said...

Whit- quietly suggest that he tell her who gave birth to his manhood if conversation lags.

Whitney said...

I’m saving that winner for myself, Rootsy. Of course I’m sitting alone. *tear*

TR said...

Whit should pull a Kerry Mahoney and wow the babe himself.

TR said...

Or pull a Carey Mahoney.

Definitely don’t pull a Tackleberry.

T.J. said...

Sweetchuck it?

TR said...

Good Charlotte’s new song sounds like Christian Country. And the lead singer is morphing into B Real. Sad!

zman said...

The moral of the story is: don’t blitz Mahomes.

Whitney said...

John Oliver provided an extended take on the Kavanaugh crap, and it's worthy

Whitney said...

Afternoon, everybody

Whitney said...

I’m a guest speaker for a class at Christopher Newport University in a few minutes. Man, were they slumming.

zman said...

Start out with a joke. “Chris Dudley, Brett Kavanaugh, and the front man for UB40 walk into a bar ...”

Whitney said...

Chris Chandler would be better. Anyway, I crushed it. Those kids asked great questions. Impressed.

TR said...

I’m enjoying the ESPN2 Statcast airing of the Cubs-Rockies game.

Hard to root against the Cubbies, but Rockies are due to make a playoff run. Solid franchise and good fan base.

TR said...

NL Wild Card had me rapt, but extra innings is a no-can-do on a Tuesday. Saving my mojo for Yanks tmrw night.

Whitney said...

Dude hitting .170 with a .578 OPS just drove in the go-ahead run for the Rockies. Nuts.

Whitney said...

His first hit since Sept 10. Since before at least one of the gheorghies has gotten laid. You know who you are.

Whitney said...

Have the 36,000 songs on random shuffle and “Honey Blues” by one of the gheorghies’ bands came on. Worthy.

Sounds like a kazoo.

rootsminer said...

"Monkey got his tail cut off on a street car line, now honey. He ran back to the track, laid his head on the rail, gonna lose his head about a little piece of tail, oh sail, oh sail away honey." -Funny Papa Smith