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So many beers, So little time … Newbies is your essential map to the “best of the best” and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week. And since it’s SAVOR week, that means Washington, DC is getting inundated with more rare releases and hard-to-get brews than you can possibly drink (not that we won’t try…). There will also be beers released this week that you won’t see again – so to help you out, this edition of Newbies focuses on those beers exclusive to SAVOR week events – you snooze, you lose!
So welcome to the SAVOR edition of Newbies – Your ultimate event week guide to great new craft beers!
THE SAVOR Beer (Paso Robles, CA & Frederick,MD) – The official SAVOR brew this year is a beast of a collaboration from Flying Dog and Firestone Walker. The 10% ABV Black Rye IPA Hydra Cuvée is a blend of four different beers: two barrel-aged beers (Bravo and DDBA, selected from Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks program), a robust Imperial Porter (inspired by Flying Dog’s Gonzo), and Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA. We’re pumped for this coast-to-coast monster and SAVOR-only release.
Cans Keep Rolling In (Kalamazoo, MI) – Hopslam may have come and gone, but DC can get excited about two new Bell’s Brewery market additions – Two Hearted Ale and Oberon in 16 oz. tallboys. If you were lucky, you were among the first to snag what are sure to become our new favorite summer go-tos last night at Red Derby for the official launch party. If not, they’ll be released to market today – so you know what to do.
It’s About to Get Heavy (Abita Springs, LA) – Abita‘s unleashing the second brew in their Bourbon Street series in honor of SAVOR – their Oak-Aged Baltic Porter in Pappy Van Winkle 15 year BBls and accompanying glassware to boot. Grab this unapologetically boozy brew on draft at Acre 121 on Wednesday, May 7. If that’s not enough, their popular Strawberry Harvest will also be on draft for the first time.
Welcome to Town (Richmond, VA & Tampa, FL) – This past weekend, DC eagerly welcomed the arrival of Hardywood Brewery‘s lineup with a launch party at Churchkey – but the party isn’t over yet. The ante’s been upped at an event this Thursday, May 8 at Rustico Ballstonwith the addition of Cigar City, who will be bringing their famed Double Barrel-Aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout for its much anticipated NoVA debut. Hardywood follows suit with an equally impressive offering – the NoVA debut of their collaboration with DC’s own Bluejacket, Beaux-Arts Imperial Azacca IPA. All this plus 20 drafts and casks from both breweries!
Ode to the Sea (Washington, DC & Lewiston, ME) – With the district’s proximity to the water, it’s not surprising that many breweries seek to add a little briny goodness to their crafts. DC Brau and Baxter Brewing continue the tradition with the debut of their collaboration Daughters of Poseidon, a black IPA brewed with Rappahannock Olde Salt oysters. The brew will be released for the first time this Thursday, May 8 at Meridian Pint. To sweeten (salten?) the deal, Meridian Pint will be serving up $1 oysters on the patio all night – and you can’t argue with that pairing.
Hometown Fave Represents (Washington, DC; St. Louis,MO; & Shreveport, LA) – Bluejacket is on a roll this week, and this hometown brewery will debut a slew of collaboration crafts at its headquarters – two with Great Raft Brewing and one with Schlafly.
On Thursday, May 8 at the brewery, Bluejacket releases its two collaborations with Great Raft Brewing – Disaster Proof Session Rye Lager & Nobody’s Darling Imperial Schwarzbier. At 4.2% ABV, Disaster Proof is a sessionable lager brewed with 15% rye (both malted and flaked) and hopped with Saaz, Wakatu, and Waimea. Nobody’s Darling is a 7.7% ABV Black Lager-style brew that is refreshing in body but intensely roasty from the addition of 7 different malts and flaked oats. Both brews are unfiltered and have been classically cold lagered for a full 8 weeks.
On Friday, May 9 at the brewery, Bluejacket and Schlafly will debut their collab, Fields of Fire Scotch Bonnet Pepper Wee Heavy, on draft and on cask. The brew’s name pays homage to Scottish band Big Country and their song “Fields of Fire” from the album The Crossing. The cask version of this brew will be spiked with additional Scotch Bonnet Peppers in the firkin.
