Old Dominion Beer Festival

[MeridianFC]

I can't remember if this has been brought up already, but it'll be June 24-26 this year at the brewery. Up to 50 breweries are to be represented.

[Blkandrust]

I'm there!!!!

[Chris1stva]

No question, I will be there! This has always been a good festival, though I don't like the pog system as much as a flat fee for all you can sample.

[chazwicke]

I've got some flyers from the brew pub. Not certain If I'll make it. I'd like to but I also want to spend every weekend at the beach.

[MeridianFC]

I was up at OC this past weekend but only for Sunday and Monday. We made it to DFH Sunday night and the joint was rockin'. We actually ended up sitting outside. After two we decided to take a growler back to OC.

Do you know of any joints in OC that serve DFH?

[chazwicke]

Here is a partial list of the brewery represented at Old Dominion's Festival June 24, 25, 26.

Old Dominion
Capital City
Stone
Victory
Richbrau
Rogue
South Street
Blue and Gray
Sly Fox
Shenandoah
Sweetwater
Stoudts
Troegs
Dogfish Head
Left Hand
Clipper City
Calhouns
Founders
Weeping Radish
Starr Hill
Allagash
Brooklyn
Thoroughbreds
New River
West Virginia
Redhook
Widmers
Tuppers
Fordham
Anheuser Busch
Baltimore
Gordon Biersch
Manayunk
Lancaster
St. George
DuClaw
Legend
Frederick
Otter Creek

Friday 6/24 5pm to 11 pm
Saturday 6/25 noon to 11pm
Sunday 6/26 noon to 7 pm

(Taps close an hour before fest closing times.)

$12.00 entry fee includes festival glass Beer is $1.00
per 6 oz. serving

www.olddominion.com

All of the above from a flyer I picked up at the brewpub.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
$12.00 entry fee includes festival glass Beer is $1.00
per 6 oz. serving

Waitaminnit - entry fee and a sample charge? Based on that list, I'd far and away pass the $25 or so I pay at the Quivey's Grove and Great Lakes Beer Fests. Eek.

S.

[chazwicke]

I have never been to this one in the 9 years that it has been running even though it is in my own back yard. Shame on me! But I try to hit the beach most weekends. I think the $12.00 may allow entry to all three days. Meridian or Theakson would know. I know they went last year. Guys?

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I think the $12.00 may allow entry to all three days.

That would certainly make a difference.

S.

[HarkJohnny]

just picked up a sixer of OD Lager this weekend and had my first last night... it's pretty good for a lager (that's for steveh)

reading the bottle I noticed they have a typo in their email... more @ olddomiOnion.com (the extra O, I capitalized here for emphasis)

i'll write them later to kindly inform them of the problem.

[chazwicke]

The nice things about most Old Dominion products are that they put a very easy to read bottling date on them. This is a practice I think all breweries should do.

[steveh]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
...it's pretty good for a lager (that's for steveh)

Do we really need to go around on this again? I'll have to take your Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold away from you and move you away from the Zinzinatti Höfbräuhaus. :rolleyes:

S.

[HarkJohnny]

simmer down now! i was only kidding... GL Dortmunder is one of my favorite beers, not to mention it was the most recent commercially kegged beer i've had on tap. :)

[zoom6zoom]

Download and print the flyer from their website, there's a $1 off admission coupon on it.

Taking my team to the brewpub tomorrow for lunch.

[chazwicke]

So who will be representing DC area Realbeerites at this festival? I'll be in NJ on the 23rd and 24th for my son's graduation and then down to the Cape May / Lewes ferry and on to Ocean City for the rest of the weekend. I think those that are attending should try to meet up..

[kinjar]

If you can't make it to the ODBF, then you can try out Harrisburg PA's second attempt at holding a beer festival the weekend before:

http://www.troegs.com/brewfest/general.asp

[chazwicke]

Or Stoudts which is tomorrow. I sent my tickets to Missy since I was unable to attend this year. Have fun and happy B-day missy and also Threecb who I know is going.

[chazwicke]

Welcome Kinjar! Another DC Local!!

[Blkandrust]

Originally posted by chazwicke
So who will be representing DC area Realbeerites at this festival? I'll be in NJ on the 23rd and 24th for my son's graduation and then down to the Cape May / Lewes ferry and on to Ocean City for the rest of the weekend. I think those that are attending should try to meet up..


I was thinking along those same lines.I am willing.Anyone else?

[zoom6zoom]

Hoping to make it along with some of my buddies... am on night shift currently though, so that may goof me up some.

[kinjar]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Welcome Kinjar! Another DC Local!!

Danke, actually been lurk'n for quite sometime, I thought I'd join in, especially since my first ODBF enlightened me to the world of craft beers (as opposed to "college beers" - as the Mrs. refers to them).

Although, the fact that A-B always has a tent is a very good thing. Always a selling point to bringing "Macro-brew" friends along.

[fretlessman71]

Hmmm.... I wonder how ol' August Busch IV would feel about being the "bait" part of your bait-and-switch... :D

Welcome to the board! (Can I have my Schlitz and lime without the Schlitz?)

[chazwicke]

Oh how I wish this fest was this coming weekend. It is one of very few weekends this summer that I will be in town.:(

[Chris1stva]

I hear that. I am torn between the beach and the beer festival. If I go, it will be to the Friday night session.

[Wit Memo Jeff]

My plan is to go by bicycle on Sat or Sunday, weather permitting, from the West Falls Church or Vienna metro station; the brewery is right on the W-OD bike trail, 10-15 miles depending on which metro station. I plan to get there early, before the big line to get in forms. I'll be the short guy in the Chesbay t-shirt.

[kinjar]

I prefer going on Sundays since the crowds seem to be smaller, although you run the risk that some breweries are tapped-out.

I missed last years...are they still using the nice glass sample glasses? Getting to drink out of glass at a beer festival is so much better than plastic cups/mugs that have been at the other festivals I've been to.

[chazwicke]

Although I have never been, I do have a collection of the small glass tasters. I too prefer glass.

[kinjar]

Alas, I know of several people who've just thrown them out when the left the festival area.

I have about 12 of them, and they are great when people want just a sample of a beer you've made/bought.

[Katefan00]

I think I may actually make it to this one!

K.

[HogieWan]

Where you been, Kate?

[Katefan00]

Buried under a mountain of no fun, I'm afraid!

[HogieWan]

Well, looks like you remembered how to get to Brick!

[Katefan00]

HAHA! You bet I did! It helps that it's only a two-block stumble from my office. :)

[kinjar]

ODB Festival kicks-off today at 5:00!

Looks like Saturday is going to be a nice hot day, make sure to bring the sunscreen!

[chazwicke]

:( I'm at the beach. I won't make it this time. Who all is going?

[Blkandrust]

Originally posted by chazwicke
:( I'm at the beach. I won't make it this time. Who all is going?




I'm getting ready to leave in a few moments.

[MeridianFC]

On my way out the door.

[kinjar]

I just got back (after a stop off at the in-laws for a steak dinner...yummm), and boy is my liver tired.

It was balls-hot out, but that didn't keep the crowds from coming. When I was heading out around 5:00, the line to get in was out to the main drag coming into the festival. Here's some quick highlights/lowlights:

What drove me nuts:

Mainly - cost $12 to get in, and that's before any pogs ($1) for samples. I missed last year, but every year before that, it was $10 to get in and that included 4-5 (depending on the year) free pogs. For me and the Mrs., we dropped $35 for entry fees and pogs before getting on the field, everytime before that, it only cost us $20 (the wife never sampled as much as I). I think they really need to look to the flat fee/unlimited sample format of a lot of beer festivals across the country.

Some booths were charging two-pogs/sample. As a person near me said, I can go to the restaurant and pay $4 for a full pint and enjoy it in airconditioning.

Lines - I usually go on Sunday's when its much less crowded. Today, I stood in line for everything. Not that lines are bad, but there was a lot more "I'm here to get drunk" people in line that made waiting a little more annoying

What was great:

The volunteers. The ODBF seems to have the best volunteers supporting this festival than any other that I've attended.

Troeggs: They always have a great showing and have people on hand to talk to you about their beer and their brewery back in H-burg, PA. Love the Sunshine Pils.

DFH: They advertised 60 Minute, but they served 90 Minute - and only for one pog :D

Albita Purple Haze was wonderful - especially when the sun was at its hottest.

50 beer tents at 2+ beers a tent meant over 100 beers to sample. Didn't even come close to getting to them all. I checked my one ODBF poster from 1999 when they advertised 28 beers to sample - man what a growth.

And man, I do love the glass sampler, this year with a different logo. It's the simple things in life.

[chazwicke]

:( Well at least I was at the beach. One of these days...

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by kinjar

Lines - I usually go on Sunday's when its much less crowded. Today, I stood in line for everything. Not that lines are bad, but there was a lot more "I'm here to get drunk" people in line that made waiting a little more annoying



I'm in the same boat. Sunday was very chill last year but they did start to run out of things so we thought we'd hit it Saturday. There were an unusally high number of asshats out.

I'll post a bit more later.

[chazwicke]

I saw a small segment on the Channel 5 News last night.

[MeridianFC]

Well I was going to post the complete beer list but I left it at home so that'll have to wait. In the interim I'll just post a few quick reflections.

I owed Mrs. MeridianFC a designated driver trip to the fest, which I was prepared to provide but then it turned out our friends B & M (she's excpecting) offered to DD for us. How bonus is that? I get to put it off for another year. Hooray!

It was pretty hot, though there were breezes throughout the day that kept it from being unbearable. I'm always puzzled at why so many of these beer fests are done under the incredibly hot summer sun, I say take a page from the Ur-Bierfest and do it in fall. The beer survives better and you're less likely to melt. But I digress.

As had been mentioned above we'd gone last year on Sunday (with Theakston & Mrs.) and the crowd was very mellow and we had a very good time. Towards the end of the afternoon they ran out of things, to be expceted, but we got more than our fill. This year we decided to go on Saturday, I was hoping they'd do a cask tent again like last year (but none left on Sunday) but it was not to be. Probably for the best. We got there between 2-3pm and the place was heaving. The ticket line was all the way back to Guildford Road, though in fairness they did have it moving at a fair clip. $12 just to get in is, on reflection, too much, certianly when you then have to buy pogs for beer. We did make the wise move to buy more pogs than we thought we'd need, a move which proved sound when the line for pogs on the inside rapidly reached the breaking point (they started to mingle with the actual beer lines).

What really discouraged me this year was the number of absolute feckin' numbskulls. There were, all things considered, an inordinate amount of eejits out trying, and succeeding, in getting totally shitfaced. We had the baby with us and tried to find a spot under one of the tents, and stumbling halfwits kept putting their cigarettes near her or my wife's head. I noted with concern that a majority of the most drunk did not seem to have DD in the number, but I suppose that's for another disucssion. The level of boorish behavior, even in the early afternoon, was surprising. The lack of common civility amongst many of the festival patrons was frankly alarming.

Before you start to think that I'm some sort of geriatric curmudgeon (I'm not geriatric), I have a pretty high tolerance for folks wanting to "get their drink on". Getting loose, letting the hair down, and having a right old hoolie are treasured and desireable activities. Still they don't supercede good old golden rule living. Concern for others and shaking a leg are not mutually exclusive. The fact that I saw another fellow who'd brought his wean almost have to lamp some stumbling moron who'd spilled beer all over the poor child (because he couldn't stand) might just be anecdote, but I think not.

While I'm in moaning pissant mode I will also mention that there were a lot of very average beers there. The bar was set a little low for my liking. Also maybe only half of the breweries brought personal to talk about their wares. Many of the volunteers, God bless 'em, didn't know much (anything) about what they were pouring. Not essential I guess, but it's nice to taste and learn about new brews.

Ok, now to some good news.

The best beer I had was the Victory Prima Pils, unfortunately already well known to me. It seems like many of these smaller regional festivals I go to feature Victory and it ends up being one of the best, if not the best beers on offer. Victory = righteous brewing. The Troegs Pils was also very, very good. The weather probably had a hand in the lagers, the Pils in particular, standing out. Even though it's also well known to me I had a Tuppers' Pils just to compare and it certianly makes the grade. The Dark Starr stout was good though overwhelmed by the weather. I had a few utterly average IPA/APAs and the Weizen/Wit seemed to be popular with many brewers. The other beer of the afternoon was the cask Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale I had in the pub while the wife availed herself of the facilties as we were leaving. It really was outstanding.

There was some good food to be had. I never complain when Hard Times Chili is around. The Bar-b-q sandwiches, pulled pork of course, were excellent too.

I love drinking beer in the out of doors and I'm not ready to write off the OD fest, but I think if I go back it might be on the Sunday.

Note to OD, please arrange some sort of public transportaion to your event.

[Chris1stva]

I, too, opted for the beach. I agree that the pog system is lame and should be dumped. I would rather pay more and get all the samples you want.

Does anyone know if the breweries get some sort of share of the money based on the pogs they collect?

[MeridianFC]

Anheuser Busch- Budweiser Select/Bud Light
Redhook Brewing - ESB/
Widmer Hefeweizen
Stone - Arrogant Bastard/IPA
Hop & Wine - Delerium Tremens/ST. Louis Framboise
Weyerbach - Merry Monks/Hop Infusion
Hofbrau Brewing- Original Lager/Hefe Weizen
Weihenstephan Brewing - Hefeweissbier/Dunkel
The Raven - The Raven/Special Lager
Brooklyn Brewing - IPA/Brown
Otter Creek Brewing- Wolavers Wit/Copper
Riverhorse Brewing-Hopp Hazard/Tripel
Williamsburg Brewing - Pale Ale/Wheat
Flying Dog Brewing -Doggy Style Pale Ale/In Heat Wheat
Allagash Brewing- White/Triple
Abita Brewing Co.- Purple Haze/Turbodog
Victory Brewing Co.- Hop Devil/Prima Pils
Rogue Brewing Co.- Dead Guy Ale/Brutal Bitter
Chimay Brewing- Tripple/Maredsous 8/DeKoninck (all in one tent)
Youngs - Special London Ale Belhaven - Scottish Ale (one tent)
Old Dominion Brewing Co.-Kristal Weizen/Dunkel Weizen
Calhoun's Restaurant- ESB/Oak Porter
New River Brewing -Pale Ale
Thoroughbreds Brewpub- Market St. Golden Lager/White's Ferry Wit
Founders - Scottish Ale/Weissbier
Sierra Nevada Brewing- Pale Ale/Summerfest
Left Hand Brewing- Sawtooth Ale/Haystack Wheat
Troegs Brewing- Hopback Amber/Sunshine Pils
Starr Hill Brewing - Dark Starr Stout/The Love
Old Dominion - Oak Barrel Stout/Pale Ale/Hard Times Select Lager/Light
Frederick Brewing Co. - Wild Goose IPA/Oatmeal Stout
Sweetwater Brewpub - GAR Pale Ale/Wit End
Capital City Brewing Co. - Kolsch/Amber Waves Ale
Mobjack Brewing Co. - Red/Pale Ale
Hook & Ladder Brewing - Wheat
Blue & Gray Brewing- Classic Lager/Fred Red
Brewers Alley - Hefeweizen/Kolsch
DuClaw Brewing Co. - Venom Pale Ale/13 Plato Ale
Lancaster Brewing - Strawberry Wheat/Hop Hog
Legend Brewing Co.- Pilsner/Pale Ale
Magic Hat Brewing- #9/Hocus Pocus
Richbrau - Old Nick Pale Ale/Hefeweizen
Shenandoah Brewing - Big Meadows Pale Ale/Old Rag Mountain Ale
South Street Brewing - Satans Pony/JP Ale
St. George Brewing - IPA/Summer Wheat

[Wit Memo Jeff]

I went on Saturday, and my tasting selection was eerily close to Meridian's.

I'd intended to sample a wide variety of beers, but after biking to the brewery on the W & OD bike path from the metro station I was so hot that all I could thing about drinking was pilsner. There were some darn good ones, despite the fact that most craft breweries don't make that style. Victory, Troegs, Tupper's -- all great, as were Legends and Clipper City's strong Uber Pils. A real find was the Czech Pils from Calhoun of Harrisonburg, VA. Like Meridian I also had the Dark Starr from Starr Hill in Charlotsville; the only other time I've had this was at an earlier OD fest and it's about the best US version of Guiness I've had, though not exactly suited for the weather. Dogfish Head's 90 minute IPA was incredible, but "Randall the enamel animal" was not in use when I got there.

Spent some time hanging out at the Tupper's tent talking to Bob Tupper while he dispensed his wares. He said that the hops are more apparent in the first few glasses drawn from a keg than in ones drawn later, which sounded hard to believe, but the glass he poured right after tapping a new keg was delicious indeed. Both he and Ellie were impressed by the Calhoun Czech pils. A nice guy and I wish him all the success in the world.

I too was surprised at the price hike, pogs no longer included in the admission price. Interestingly, at least some of the pogs I bothered to look at were from the old Mid Atlantic Beer Fest they used to hold on H street before it got chased out of town. I'm sure I still have some of those old pogs stashed away as souvenirs, and am tempted to hunt them down in case I make it back to OD next year.

I got there relatively early and left before 5; there was already I line when I arrived, so I'm guessing it got crowded later on despite the heat.

Few of the people there recognized my vintage Chesbay t-shirt, and the apparent reason why was sobering: they're too young!

[chazwicke]

I still have some of the old pogs from The Mid Atlantic fests that were downtown too. I worked one of those festivals. But ended up pouring Old Dominion Root Beer and Frederick's soda.

The Tuppers are fine folks and old friends. And their beers are top notch.

I think I still have a Chesbay polo style shirt somewhere.

[chazwicke]

I still like Meridians earlier idea of a cask ale fest in DC. I know several people who would help promote it. Greg Wiggins from Mid Atlantic Brew News is one. We need to talk to Dave Alexander. And I know Tim from the Barum Brewery in England once told me he could provide the casks as he does for the FABfests in Miami. The first year they had 60 different beers on cask! If chicago can't get it's act together with the Real Ale Festival perhaps Washington DC can take the mantle.

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I still like Meridians earlier idea of a cask ale fest in DC. I know several people who would help promote it. Greg Wiggins from Mid Atlantic Brew News is one. We need to talk to Dave Alexander. And I know Tim from the Barum Brewery in England once told me he could provide the casks as he does for the FABfests in Miami. The first year they had 60 different beers on cask! If chicago can't get it's act together with the Real Ale Festival perhaps Washington DC can take the mantle.

I have spoken to Dave and he's not interested, too much on his plate. He mentioned Bruce Williams might be coming back to do the Scottish cask night (stellar) but I haven't heard anything more on that. I just told him to give me a heads up so that if we got anything off the ground it wouldn't compete with any of his events.

I'd really love to do this but it's a huge amount of work. I'm given pause by the continual problems, mostly facility related, that Chicago has had. That said if they ain't gonna do it, maybe it's DC's turn to take up the challenge. Anything for a decent pint of bitters.

I think it might do to try to emulate the Racer's Real Ale challenge up in Baltimore and start of small, maybe a dozen casks at one bar (half domestic, half import?) and see how that goes.

I'm going to break this off to continue the discussion.

[chazwicke]

DC Real Ale fans go to this thread:

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?threadid=7623

[kinjar]

For anyone that wants to share their likes/dislikes from the festival, you can email them at:

tfife@olddominion.com

The nice email also came with a coupon for 25% growler fills (limit 6)

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by kinjar
The nice email also came with a coupon for 25% growler fills (limit 6)

Why the hell would I want only 25% of my growler filled?

[kinjar]

Originally posted by HogieWan
Why the hell would I want only 25% of my growler filled?

Whoops! There should be an "Off" in there. 25% OFF growler fills.

I'm already off celebrating the 4th (in my mind).