Ever since learning that World of Beer was planning an Arlington, VA location just blocks from my front door, I have been excitedly following the progress of the beer mecca. On Monday August 6th they hosted a “VIP” event for their Facebook fans and Twitter followers, one day prior to their official opening on August 7th. So I made plans to visit the new beer establishment and see what their 50 draft lines and 500 bottles had to offer.
For me, 2011 was a fantastic year in beer. From homebrewing to festivals, bottle shares, brewery release events, pub crawls and just sharing a beer with friends and family, it’s certainly one to remember. After an in-depth look back, I’ve narrowed down from over the 500+ unique beers I’ve recorded tasting to my Top 10 of the year.
If you read my reviews you probably know that I normally review a seasonal beer in the season it is for, and I also evaluate it based upon this. There is nothing like good “summer beer” in the summer, or a warming dark beer in the winter. Given this, it may be surprising that I also enjoy drinking beers out of season – it is beer after all.
When Port City Brewing Company first opened in Alexandria Virgina I paid them a visit and profiled them in this post. Now, nine months later, the brewery is continuing to grow at an astounding rate. This week Port City released their Tidings Ale, a strong Belgian blonde ale, which is made with local Maryland wildflower honey and Virginia wheat, and is spiced with coriander, cardamom, fresh ginger and grains of paradise.
Recently as a group present for a friend, myself and some others put together a beer tasting. A beer tasting is easy to organize, and with a bit of thought can be a good way to experience new beers and some old favorites. Below are some tips for putting together a beer tasting for somebody other than yourself.
