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.