Reef cask tomorrow 22 Jan 2004

[MeridianFC]

It's to be the Fuggly Alt from Fordham. Extravegantly hopped alt style beer finished with fuggles. I'm a fan of Fordham brews, so let's see where this gets us.

I'll report back in the usual fashion.

[chazwicke]

I read a bit about this beer. I think it is the Copperhead with extra hops. what time do they pull the first pint?

[MeridianFC]

Well they're not pulled it's a firkin on the bar so it's all gravity dispense. I think they start serving at 7pm.

I work around the corner so it's not big deal, but always call ahead to make sure they have it and it's dropped bright and ready for service. To their credit they won't serve it if it ain't ready. We've seen some doozies including a firkin we dubbed Mt. St. Helens.

[chazwicke]

Here is what I had read:

A special invitation... This Thursday (Jan. 22nd) the
> Reef will be tapping a firkin of Fordham Brewing
> Company's Fuggley Alt Ale!
>
> When: Thursday, Jan. 22nd
> Where: The Reef @ 2446 18th Street, NW (Adams Morgan)
> Phone: 202.518.3800
>
> Brewed just for the Reef, fresh Fuggles hops were
> added right to a cask of Fordham's Copperhead Ale (a
> German style, copper Alt-bier) before it was sealed,
> and allowed to age. This is definitely one for the hop
> heads!

[Richard English]

How sad that I'll be across the Atlantic! I'll just have to think of you all.

And, by the way, will the poster who commented that beer served in this manner will be "flat" be around to sample what will undoubtedly be an excellent brew?

[MeridianFC]

Richard,

The day you can't walk "round the corner" and have fine cask ale is the day I will accept your jealousy. ;)

As far as condition, the Reef has done an excellent job in what have to be somewhat difficult circumstances. They're only doing 1 a week and he has an ex-brewer doing his cellaring. The puir wee fellow has to come in days in advance to start the process and keep popping in to make sure the beer is coming along correctly. All this for one firkin that only a handful of people drink, though it seems the numbers are growing (it was 7 people last week instead of 5). Though I think he said he was going to sell out so maybe I missed some folks.

This particular beer is really intriguing to me as it's a German style ale made by an American brewery served in the British fashion. Talk about your melting pot!

Chaz,

I'm sure it'll be on and ok. Brian who runs the Reef or one of my other beer snob friends almost always calls me if anything has gone wrong, which in the world of cask beer is always a possibility (but oh the rewards).

I can't remember if I related this annecdote about Brian Harrison (the owner of the Reef) but I feel it tells you what you need to know about him and how he runs his operation. If you ever meet him you probably won't forget him too soon. He's an ex-soldier (oh, he's a big boy), with a giant native American tattoo up his neck and on his shaved skull, his voice is like a bullfrog who has smoked one cigar too many, everyone is "dude", and he's taken to wearing a cape over his Chimay leather jacket. Anyhow, he is beer fan's beer fan and he started the Reef after managing and bartending some other spots around town, Bedrock Billiards being the most recent (fine beer list there too btw). He has 14 draft lines with no bottles at all and for the first year he did not have one single major US macro, no Bud, Lite, Coors, etc. His bow to mass produced beer was Amstel Light, Guinness, and Bass. He rotates beers out frequently and has put some pretty adventurous brew on the line, Stone Smoked Porter & Arrogant Bastard, Tupper's Hop Pocket, SN Big Foot, various Rogue specialties, etc.

Well a few months back he came up to several of us regulars who were gathered drinking at the bar and proceeded to apoligize to all of us and buy us a round of drinks because he was adding Miller Lite to the line. He explained that by carrying that it would open him up to some other distribution options as well as the usual economic reasons. Can you believe he apologized to us and explained a ownership decission he made that was not even any of our damned business. All for changing 1 out of 14 excellent taps. I can not think of too many publicans anywhere who would ever think of doing such a thing.

He certainly not going to compete with the Brickskeller or RFD for number of choices, or the brewpubs for their unique thing, but for sheer quality I know where I spend my beer dollar.

The food's great too (ex Cashion's chef set the menu).

The only fly in the oinment is the place gets mobbed later and on weekend evenings it's a hell of youngish fashionable types crying out for appletinis.

[chazwicke]

I guess I can't make it tonight. I was hoping to convince a buddy to join me down there (read: drive me :D ) but he can't tonight. Anyway the wife just IMed me and wants to get dinner out anyway. I would rather of had some of that firkin though. DAMN! The place sounds great. Give us a report. You and Richard will just have to enjoy one for us.