Big Bottle Breakdown: Epic/DC Brau Fermentation Without Representation
Epic/DC Brau Fermentation Without Representation, Release #2, Imperial Pumpkin Porter, 7.9% ABV
So, this might be a bit out of season since Pumpkin flavored brews are typically released in Fall when we’re all eating pumpkin pie, but on a recent trip to Total Wine, I came across a couple of big bottles of the second release of Epic and DC Brau’s collaborative Imperial Pumpkin Porter, Fermentation Without Representation. While one of my two bottles will age for a while in my beer cupboard (perhaps as an incentive for X to do another Great Pumpkin Beerathon), I decided to crack open one and write up a long-due big bottle.
Now, I don’t particularly remember having this beer when it was released on tap, so it was likely a simple taste. I’m pretty excited to try it again in a more coherent state. I love pumpkin pie, Epic makes great beers, and imperial porters are right in my wheelhouse. The fact that DC Brau helped is putting me on edge in a similar way to those stereotypical gifts from your Aunt/Uncle — usually, you have to pretend you like it, but every-once-in-awhile, they knock it out of the park. Let’s hope for the latter.
Pour: It pours similar to what you’d expect in an imperial porter, black with a nice creme colored head. Nothing to suspect something interesting is lurking within…
Aroma: BOOM! There’s the pumpkin spice, but to be honest, it’s there but not as over-bearing as some of the more pumpkin-y porters out there. For me, this is a good thing. Other than the spice, I don’t pick up much aside from a touch of the typical-boozy smell of porters.
Taste: I think it’s pretty interesting and a good change from the normal or bourbon-barrel porters that I usually drink. The flavor range goes from boozy-porter to an interesting little bit of pumpkin and ends with a bit of a sort of gritty coffee bitterness in the throat. Now, akin to the aroma, the taste isn’t overwhelmed by pumpkin like the bigger pumpkin beers.
Body: Fermentation Without Representation still has the body of a porter; it has a medium thickness that lightly coats your mouth and throat for a few seconds but then clears out.
All in all, I think this is a decent pumpkin beer, especially if you don’t want to feel like you’re drinking pumpkin pie filling. It’s good, but I don’t think it’s the absolute best pumpkin beer out there — just a good starter beer to get yourself used to the flavoring. If you come across it, it may be worth socking one away for a year, but I can’t make promises about how it’ll be until next year.
Till then, it’s good
— Shintern1909
The DMV Brewers BBQ
In case you haven’t heard Smith Commons is hosting an amazing BBQ this Sunday, July 3rd. What more American way is there to spend Indepence Day then with awesome people, food, and of course lots of beer. This event will pair 
some great food with beers from 8, count them 8, local breweries.
First take a look at the food menu from Tonzi’s post. I’m not going to name names but one employee of an attending brewery mentioned that the short rib was some of the best he has ever had, so I trust the food will be excellent.
Onto the beer. The 8 breweries that will be attending are 3 Stars, DC Brau, Port City, Baying Hound, Flying Dog, Heavy Seas, Lost Rhino, and Stillwater. Representatives from each brewery will be on hand and on the 2nd floor at about 7 they will be introduced and speak a bit about their beers and I’m sure share lots of entertaining stories.
On Draft:
The Syndicate Saison-3 Stars (6.8% ABV)
The Public APA-Dc Brau (6% ABV)
The Corruption IPA-DC Brau (6.5% ABV)
The Citizen BPA-DC Brau (7% ABV)
Backyard Ale Smoked Amber -Flying Dog (7.5% ABV)
Table For Two Belgian Style Table Beer-Flying Dog (5% ABV)
Raging Bitch Belgian IPA-Flying Dog (8.3% ABV)
Holy Sheet Uber Abbey Ale-Heavy Seas (9% ABV)
Loose Cannon IPA-Heavy Seas (7.25% ABV)
Plank I Old Style English Ale-Heavy Seas (8% ABV)
Rhino Chasers Pilsner-Lost Rhino (5.6% ABV)
Face Plant IPA-Lost Rhino (6.2% ABV)
Optimal Wit Belgian Wit-Port City (5% ABV)
Porter-Port City (7.5% ABV)
Existent Ale American Farmhouse Ale-Stillwater (7.4% ABV)
Stateside Saison American Farmhouse Ale-Stillwater (7.4% ABV)
Bottle and Cans:
Taj Mahound IBA-Baying Hound (7% ABV)
Lord Wimsey Mild Pale Ale-Baying Hound (6% ABV)
Dubbel Cannon Belgian IPA-Heavy Seas (7.25% ABV)
The Public APA-Dc Brau (6% ABV)
Cellar Door American Farmhouse Ale (750 ml)-Stillwater (6.6% ABV)
Optimal Wit Belgian Wit-Port City (5% ABV)
All pints are only $5 so if you are in town this weekend, there is no other place to be.
-JBass
In DC for the 4th? Get to Smith Commons!
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Have you ever asked yourself, “why isn’t there be a place that I could go and try beers from breweries in the DC Metro area, and enjoy an incredible barbecue at the same time?”
I have great news! Smith Commons is throwing a bash this Fourth of July Weekend that should not be missed!
This event is going to be incredible!
They’ll be offering up delicious foods and (most importantly) local brews.
Read on for more details!
SAVOR Beer Week Event Review: Kickoff at Policy
Crabs and craft beer is a brilliant idea and a great way to start SAVOR week. Unfortunately Policy did not quite deliver on this promise.
I planned on getting to Policy around 2:30 with a few friends, but my plans changed when I saw a tweet just before 2 saying that there were no more crabs available. With this information now in my head I decided to grab a light bite on the way and head over a bit later alone.
Once I arrived a few minutes after 4 I had mixed feelings. Even though the food and beer reps were gone, I was happy with the beer options. On tap I saw Port City’s Optimal Wit and Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA as well as beers from DC Brau and Heavy Seas. I opted for Flying Dog’s Cask of Single Hop Simcoe, which I ended up getting the last half glass of.
This was certainly not as amazing or thought out as I had hoped the opening event for this crazy week would be. I believe the majority of upcoming events will run much smoother than this did.
-JBass
SAVOR Beer Week Event Preview: Kickoff at Policy
I know everyone has been waiting for this moment just as much as I have. At noon SAVOR beer week kicks off at Policy with crabs.
The beer selection will be great with local pints all being only $5. DC Brau, Port City, Flying Dog, Heavy Seas and Dogfish Head will all be available and several cask offerings will be offered for the same low price.
If the sublime beer selection is not enough to entice you, the food specials should rope you in immediately. For only $18 you get three whole crabs along with your choice of three soft shell crabs or two crab cakes. Oh and did I mention you also get unlimited sides?
I’ll be at this event for many reasons. This will be the beginning of an amazing week with quality food and of course tasty beer. Once I heard that there might be barrel aged Gonzo from Flying Dog I knew this would be the perfect way to celebrate Memorial Day.
-JBass
DC is BACK!
Good news, ladies and gentlemen! Very good news! The District of Colombia is back in the beer game. DC’s first production brewery in over 50 years is finally in full production!
DC Brau is up and running and made their huge debut on Friday night (Tax Day) at Meridian Pint. The Public Ale was readily available and in huge demand!
The place was packed, and packed very early at that. There was a line out the door. The upstairs area was closed off. The bar was 4 people deep and getting a beer was quite complicated (warranting a purchase of 2 beers at each time making it to the bar… hooray double-fisting!). Everyone was there to support the local beer scene. To lend a hand to an up-and-coming brewery that is exploding onto a beer hungry populace.
Upon getting to the bar, after finally working through the crazy crowd, the bartenders knew what everyone was there for. They didn’t ask what beer you wanted, they asked how many do you want. It was all about DC Brau and their Public Ale.
The Public Ale, an American Pale Ale, was a delicious treat. The Public is a bright copper color and has a nice floral hop aroma. The flavor is a bit hoppier than I had expected. There is a nice malty-sweet backbone that holds it all together. The finish is bitter and a bit clingy. Overall, it’s a great staple. The best way for them to get into the beer game: create a solid, drinkable beer that people can enjoy at any occasion. DC Brau has succeeded. And they’ve succeeded in a big way. Meridian Pint shot through 15 kegs of it last night.
I’m looking forward to everything they have in store for us in the future. Congratulations DC Brau!
-Tonzi
Rating:
drboozenstein
jtonzi
Jesse
X
pyzocha
samdinning
shintern1909
The J Street Beer Review 