Recently, the Savor American craft beer festival featured more than 70 microbreweries from across the country each sampling at least two selections. While there were excellent options across the board, many of these fine items can’t readily be found in the D.C. Metro area. With that in mind, here’s a look at four area breweries who were present at Savor.
Flying Dog Brewery
This Frederick, Md.-based brewer demonstrated why it pulls no punches in producing good beer with its Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA and Snake Dog IPA. The Raging Bitch is the brewer’s 20th anniversary beer, and is an American IPA with Belgian yeast. It’s fierce and smooth at the same time, with 60 IBUs and an ABV coming in at 8.3 percent. Aptly named, it’ll knock your socks off. For the little more faint of heart, the Snake Dog IPA is a nice, suitable American IPA. The hops come from the Pacific northwest, and the IBUs clock in at 60, and ABV is 7.1 percent.
Good to Know: Enjoy Flying Dog during weekly beer tasting cruises out of Annapolis on Tuesdays in June. Visit the website for more information.
Details: flyingdogales.com
DOG Brewing Company
Yes, they do spell their name with all caps, and stumbling upon these folks was a pleasant surprise. These guys are based in Westminster, Md., and they’ve been brewing for less than five years. At Savor, they had their Black Dog Stout and Very Cherry Ale on hand. The stout was smooth with an excellent nose that featured hints of caramel. The Very Cherry Ale is an acquired taste, a little sweet, with a cherry color and Champaign-like bubbliness.
Good to Know: These selections and more can be found at Pub Dog Pizza & Drafthouse, with locations in Baltimore and Columbia, Maryland.
Details: pubdog.net
Capitol City Brewing Co.
Nothing new from these locals, but it was nice seeing them at this event. The brewery came with a pair of beers in hand — Pale Rider Ale and the Fuel Coffee Stout. The Pale Rider is a pretty solid American Ale and smooth. The Fuel Coffee Stout is a fantastic coffee beer, and a must-drink if you like both beer and coffee. It works best during cooler weather, but as the folks at Cap City would say, it’s always 74 degrees in the brew pubs.
Good to Know: Cap City has three locations where customers can buy beer and enjoy a bite to eat: Downtown D.C., near Union Station and Shirlington.
Details: capcitybrew.com
Heavy Seas
This use to be part of the Clipper City line of beers until the company was rebranded under the Heavy Seas name. The Baltimore-based brewer brought their Loose Cannon and Red Sky Saison to Savor. The Loose Cannon, which boasts a 7.25 percent ABV, had distinct citrus and grapefruit notes, and stood out because of the three pounds of hops used per barrel. But it didn’t come across as too overdone. The Red Sky was popular at Savor, and is a seasonal beer that is only available through the end of June.
Good to Know: Brewery tours in Baltimore are offered each Saturday, as well as a special Father’s Day tour from 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 20.
Details: hsbeer.com
