Fall Preview…Part Deux: Fall Beer Tasting | Craft Beer Berlin MD

[vc_row no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”-20px” bg_video=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]When we last spoke, we were waxing poetic about the glory of fall. Well, halfway into the season, we are still in love with the mild season that sits snuggly between the glory that is summer and the misery that is winter. It’s that love/hate thing all over again. We love fall, but we hate what sits ominously on the horizon. Winter lingers there like that bad first date that you have to address at some point in time with a polite, ‘no thanks, I’m not interested in a second date.’ Except every time we tell winter we aren’t interested, it keeps coming back with terrible date suggestions, far too much tongue, and an overabundance of repulsive cologne. But as usual, I digress…

In Part 1 of this little ditty, we focused on football. Since then we have come to terms with the fact that this simply isn’t the Ravens year…which may also be the understatement of the year. Redskins, well, enough said. So football, we will now use you as an excuse to indulge in bar foods and seasonal beers. Such is life.

In that vein, we celebrated our annual Fall Beer Tasting a few weeks ago. The beloved event is nothing more than our nearest and dearest gathering at the GCFL headquarters for an afternoon of good eats, good beer, and good times. Pumpkin beer is abhorrent to Todd. In fact, order Todd a pumpkin beer at the bar the next time you see him and you may be the first person in history that gets a rude response from our fearless leader. Seriously, do it. So it stands to reason that we strived to mix the options up this year and not be entirely basic in our beer selections. What were the crowd favorites you ask? Let’s take a look shall we:[/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” bg_video=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/3″][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”22683″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/3″][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”22684″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/3″][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”22685″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”” bg_video=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”2/3″][text_output]

Aboriginal Gangster – Burley Oak Brewing Company

We’ll start with the obvious and the most geographically (if not emotionally) near and dear to our hearts. Always a crowd favorite and an excellent go-to when it comes to nabbing a craft beer, this IPA is a crowd favorite and a fall fixture at the Crow Bar.

Bunker C – Burley Oak Brewing Company

Not to over-toot the Burley Oak horn here but in addition to the Gangster, we also spent the day sipping on Bunker C. For the nostalgic beer drinker, the Bunker C carries a bit of history. 5 years ago, the GCFL/Burley Oak relationship began. 4 years ago, this particular porter was brewed and put in a bourbon barrel. 3 years ago, it was bottled as Burley Oak’s first bottle. And finally, on the day of the Fall Beer Tasting, we all drank it. [cue slow music and the shedding of a single tear]

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Southern Belle – 3 Stars Brewing Company

Pecan is a fall flavor through and through, and while we prefer it on pie, it went down just as smoothly under the guise of beer. This 8.7% imperial brown ale was a perfect complement to the dozen or so fall-flavored cake balls that were inhaled by yours truly.

Peppercorn Saison – 3 Stars Brewing Company

Another winner from 3 Stars, this guy was a fast crowd favorite. The Belgian-style farmhouse ale was smooth with a clean, dry finish. I sipped on this while gorging on chili – highly recommend.

Trick or Treat Chocolate Pumpkin Porter – Evil Genius Beer Company

Ok, ok, so I know we said we weren’t going heavy on the pumpkin, but a chocolate pumpkin porter could not be avoided during the month of October. Downright delicious is all I have to say about this one. Not an overdose of chocolate or pumpkin either, which was a pleasant surprise.

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 Dirty Little Freak Coconut Caramel Chocolate Brown Ale – DuClaw

This one was a mouthful, both in name and flavor. What I thought would be a punch of sweetness in the face was really a restrained flavor with a gentle hop bite. Of course, the name is what sold me on this guy.

ChopDANK  – RAR Brewing

Last but certainly not least, another local favorite. RAR has been doing amazing things as of late, and ChopDANK is one of them. An imperial IPA; it’s a new Crow Bar staple.
Alright friends, we’ve kept you long enough. Time to sip on a few fall beers of your own. We welcome feedback, so share your favorites with us as well. Next up on the fall preview tour is food, food, and more food. Cheers![/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row]