Winter Beer Tasting - Hard Times Cafe, Woodbridge

[Chiliman101]

Beer Tasting
Hard Times Cafe in Woodbridge, Va
Monday, December 18th
7pm

$25 gets you:

One appetizer per table
One of any salad, sandwich, or chili item for dinner
One beer from our current draft selection

While you're having dinner different brewery reps and distributors will take some time to talk about their beers, give some tasting notes, etc. Afterwards everyone enjoys the beers of the evening while matching each tasting to the name and having some fun trying to get them right. At the same time everyone rates the beers and the winner goes on draft here at Hard Times!



Line up right now is looking like: (there may be some changes)

Dominion Winter Brew
Dominion Oak Barrel Millennium
Clipper City Winter Storm
Clipper City Below Decks Barleywine
Sierra Nevada Celebration
Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Dogfish Head Midas Touch
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser
Bell's Double Cream Stout
Bell’s Oberon Ale or Best Brown Ale


If interested just give us a call with a name, phone number, and how many guests and we’ll put you on the reservation list. We'll call you with any changes.

Thanks
Randy Barnette

Hard Times Cafe
14389 Potomac Mills Rd
Woodbridge
703-492-2950

www.hardtimes.com

[Beefsteak]

Nice. I hope to be there.

[chazwicke]

I'll see about this one too. I've got a pretty full calendar this month including other tastings but it's hard to beat Hard Times and beer.

Randy, are you posting this over on DC-Beer? I'll post it there if you'd like.

[D0nc0smic]

I know there aren't alot of fans of flying dog on here, but the Gonzo imperial porter somewhat redeems them in my mind the few times i've had it, i would love to see that go on tap, and a local place with world wide stout on tap is just too much to hope for.

[Chiliman101]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Randy, are you posting this over on DC-Beer? I'll post it there if you'd like.

No I haven't posted on DC-Beer. It'd be great if you could do that for me.

Thanks.

[Chiliman101]

Originally posted by D0nc0smic
I know there aren't alot of fans of flying dog on here, but the Gonzo imperial porter somewhat redeems them in my mind the few times i've had it, i would love to see that go on tap, and a local place with world wide stout on tap is just too much to hope for.

The K-9 Cruiser winter ale is pretty tasty too.

And hey, if WWS wins, we'll have it on tap as long as they will supply the distributor.

And for those trying to figure out the Dogfish Ale House location, their rep will be there so you can pepper him with the questions.

(Funny aside, our company is having dealings with an attorney who turns out to be one of the owners of the Gaithersburg DFH and I believe the 7 Corners one too...I'll let ya know anything I'm allowed to)

[MeridianFC]

The WWS is a great beer, but really how many pints can anyone have?

Wait, maybe I don't want to know the answer to that.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Chiliman101

And for those trying to figure out the Dogfish Ale House location, their rep will be there so you can pepper him with the questions.

(Funny aside, our company is having dealings with an attorney who turns out to be one of the owners of the Gaithersburg DFH and I believe the 7 Corners one too...I'll let ya know anything I'm allowed to)

My prediction is that it is going to be in the UNO space. ;)

[Insidious Rex]

Originally posted by chazwicke
My prediction is that it is going to be in the UNO space. ;)

I was thinking the same thing. Or the Fuddruckers on the other side. It still seems like an odd location to me though.

[Chiliman101]

Originally posted by chazwicke
My prediction is that it is going to be in the UNO space. ;)

What little scuttlebutt from within seems to agree with this.

Tonight's tasting should be interesting, taking turns peppering the DFH and Dominion guys with questions about whats going on.

[Insidious Rex]

Are you guys really starting at 7? Im gonna be hard pressed to make it down 95 in rush hour traffic in time...

[Beefsteak]

Good times last night. I only matched up 4 of the 12 beers correctly, but the winners only guessed 6 so I guess that's not too shabby. I'm not sure which beer they'll put on tap though, I didn't hear them announce that.

[Insidious Rex]

I got 5 myself. I was pissed. I knew something was wrong when the only one I hadnt used was a porter and the beer in question was the color of a standard amber... Hard to go back and change everything...

But I managed to corner the DFH guy and asked if he could tell me about the new site in Falls Church. He said he couldnt officially yet but when I asked well might I be out of luck if I wanted pizza he smiled and said probably...

[chazwicke]

Yeah, my sources have said it is the Uno.

Any Old Dominion News?

Bob and Ellie Tupper assurred me that their beers will continue to be brewed.

I wish I could have attended the tasting last night. It has just been too hectic this season and I did manage to hit one of the tastings ar RFD last week. But what could be better...Good beer and Hard Times Chili?


Randy, I heard that Fairfax City might be finally getting a Hard Times in April. Any word on that?

[Beefsteak]

Originally posted by Insidious Rex
I got 5 myself. I was pissed. I knew something was wrong when the only one I hadnt used was a porter and the beer in question was the color of a standard amber... Hard to go back and change everything...

But I managed to corner the DFH guy and asked if he could tell me about the new site in Falls Church. He said he couldnt officially yet but when I asked well might I be out of luck if I wanted pizza he smiled and said probably...

Yeah, somehow I missed the Dominion Winter Brew after telling the others at my table how much I've been enjoying it the last few weeks.

[Chiliman101]

Thanks to everyone for coming by for the event. We try to just have some fun during these but I'm always looking for feedback. Anything you'd like to bring to my attention or just give some ideas on how you would improve things I'd love to hear them. Just shoot me a PM.

As far as what's going on tap I didn't get them added up. Spent the rest of the night capping it off with the reps. I'll post something here for you. Devon @ Dogfish says getting the kegs of WWS would be hard but maybe not impossible. He mentioned they are working on more capacity to get some of their more eccentric beers more readily available.


Chaz.

I'll have to pull a Dogfish on the FFX City location. It is not my deal and can't talk about the location right now but yes, it's in the works and as of now it is a go. I don't know about April but it might happen by then.


As far as Old Dominion. They were more tight lipped than Dogfish. Look for something official in the next few weeks, maybe after Jan 1. The winks and nods seem to indicate that it is Fordam but how A/B is involved might be directly or through Southern, I couldn't get a real feel on that. I would say that the Old Dominion people seem to be very comfortable with the changes they are being told about and actually seemed to look forward to them. That could be a really good sign.

Randy

[chazwicke]

One of my employees who lives in Woodbridge attended last night. I had sent out an email to all of my people who live down that way. She said she had a fun time. I suspect she will attend future events there.

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by Chiliman101


I would say that the Old Dominion people seem to be very comfortable with the changes they are being told about and actually seemed to look forward to them. That could be a really good sign.

Randy

What I've just heard runs contrary to that assertion.

[Chiliman101]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
What I've just heard runs contrary to that assertion.

I'm sure there will be just as many happy with the changes as scared or unhappy with what's going on. All I can speak to is the two people here Monday. While not putting names out there and speaking for someone else it was one of the top people in the organization. I would characterize it as anxious anticipation.

I believe everyone in the organization would have prefered the deal with Terry to go through but at this point they need to see an end of the process.

I would think brewers might be most concerned, not wanting their product tampered with is certainly understandable.

[Chiliman101]

And the Winner Is....

well actually the 1st and 2nd place winners we already have on draft or about to put it on.

1st S.N. Celebration
2nd Clipper City Winter

We will be putting on the 3rd place winner.

Bell's Double Cream Stout

All in all it was a close one. The winner recieved a 7.25 (out of 10) and the last place received at 5.94 (Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser).

World Wide Stout came in the middle of the pack at 6.54. The votes were either 9's and 10's or 2's and 3's....love it or hate it. If supplies work out we may get a keg or two down here.

Randy

[MeridianFC]

Chiliman,

I posted a reply to you last night but it seemed to have gotten lost in the ether. In any case I just wanted you to know that I wasn't doubting what you heard, I was just noting that I'd heard different from some folks. I'd never doubt the word of a man who makes a bowl of red as fine as you, so I hope you didn't take it that way.

Now when are you putting a location downtown? I'm hungry. Make mine Texas with onions and cheese please. :D

[chazwicke]

Texas 5 - way please!

[Chiliman101]

Meridian

I wasn't trying to say you were wrong in anyway either. When I'm in the pub you can tell everyone is on edge right now. Its just a case where some are starting to feel more comfortable with the coming changes and some are still on edge and fear any negative effects. I think the higher ups that worked right under Jerry Bailey may feel more comfortable than many others. As I alluded to, I think everyone in the organization was thrilled at the prospect of the deal going through with Terry Fife but as long as this has played out they all want an end to the process. We're pretty apprehensive here at Hard Times. Our lager is one of the few they brew to a specific recipe instead of just relabeled xyz restaurant ale. We won't tolerate any changes to that so that's certainly on our mind right now.

I was told that the first order of business is hiring more sales people and support staff to grow the brand within the area. That's a good sign.

As far as downtown. We've always wanted something there but rents just keep it from happening. You have to sell a whole lot of $6 chili to pay those landlords. We do have a franchisee that owns the College Park location that is determined to put a unit (w/o pool) in D.C., but nothing on the horizon.

Thanks
Randy