What We're Drinking

Goodbye Birch & Barley, Hello Mallard

The State of Craft Beer, 2024

Interview with Justin Desmarais of Allied Beverages

Upcoming Craft Beer Events in the DMV

Closing out the Episode

Welcome back to The DC Beer Show! This episode is a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of craft beer with your amiable hosts, Jacob Berg, Michael Stein, and Brandy Holder. They're joined by Justin Desmarais, our insightful guest from Allied Beverages, who has some exciting news and industry secrets to share.Brandy kicks things off by giving a warm shoutout to Justin and the fantastic reputation Allied has earned within the industry. Justin then takes the mic to introduce us to Allied's unique approach to distribution. He explains the notable difference Allied provides by offering release letters to breweries, ensuring they're not tied down to lifetime contracts, a practice that's indeed refreshing in the DC beer community.We get a taste of Justin's favorite styles—Czech pils and northern German pils—before diving into what he's currently sipping, a special release from Dovetail, one of the many acclaimed breweries Allied distributes. Allied's fine reputation is further extolled through mentions of brands they proudly distribute, like Fox Farm and Schilling.Amid the chatter, promising upcoming releases in DC and North Virginia, such as Wayfinder and Fox Farm, grab our hosts' attention, promising us exciting new brews on the horizon.Brandy reveals her go-to beers: Iron Simms, a peach chamomile saison, and Rights of Spring, a ginger honey lager, both from black-owned breweries—keeping diversity and representation in our glass. Michael shares his love for Senate beer, particularly a historical Senate Mertzen that’s soon to be released.Jacob, not to be left out, describes the eclectic flavors of Anxo's Quince Dry Cider giving us an impromptu tasting note of its tropical citrusy funk.An intriguing discussion unfolds about the pandemic's impact on keg sales and the refreshing variety of beers now available. And speaking of closures, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Birch and Barley, a beloved beer-centric fine dining spot, giving way to Mallard—a new venture by chef Hamilton Johnson.Amid the fun and flavorsome discussions, don't miss the heads-up for the July beer share on Sunday, July 21st, with a special request for brown ales in honor of Brandy's birthday. Plus, a tease of potential guest appearances by Brie, Thor, and Josh over at Right Proper Brookland, rounds off the episode on a rather exciting note.So pour yourself a cold one, cozy up, and join us for an episode brimming with insights, laughter, and, of course, great beer on The DC Beer Show! And remember, for more on events, join us at dcbeer.com/events or support the cause at dcbeer.com/patreon. Cheers!
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What's So Special About Allied?