UYE: Batch 19 Private Tasting @ Stetson’s

Hello, backlog, my old friend
I’ve come to drink with you again
I carpooled in with Keon, and
Stopped chatter while they were speaking
And the history that was planted in my brain, still remains
Thanks to the jug from label
In drunken haze I followed scents
Narrow aisle of people’s backs
Neath the drizzle of a stormcloud
I got some food on my plate before ducking back in
When my eyes were graced by the hint of Cupcakes near, with his wife
And touched the jug in my purse
And in the muted light I saw
A mix of Unilocalers but many others too, maybe more
People talking without drinking, people eating without listening
People snagging shirts with few to share, and the shy didn’t dare
To claim what goodies just lay about
Yum, said I, you do not know, my appetite like a cancer grows
Non-​veg quesadilla was better, easy carbs to soak the beer
But the chicken was a awesome protein, and won my heart out of all the bites
…Ah, screw it. Thanks to Tara for nabbing us spots in the private tasting.

I don’t usually drink beer. I signed up for and attended this event thinking it was going to be a scotch tasting. I guess I just saw «batch» and thought scotch. I admit it: I didn’t really read the whole thing. Anyway, the beer was ok. I don’t really drink beer so I don’t have a basis for judgement. I really try not to drink anything carbonated. This brew was not harsh or biting on the tongue but it was warm. Blea. I had to put some ice in this stuff or I couldn’t have choked it down. One positive note: when I got to dinner that night, I could hardly eat a thing. I told my dining partners that I had had a beer earlier. They said «well that’s why you can’t eat! You’re already full.» I think I’ll try that diet again.
The brewmaster was there. Keith… with a wealth of information about liquor and beer. He fully explained almost everything about this liquid libation… how he broke out of blue moon to start his own venture… what hops are. what malt does… he told us a lot… almost everything… except the secret recipe. Oh well.
There were also some tasty appetizers: quesadillas and chicken fingers. A flash-​shower poured on the patio where they were being served. But I had my trusty London Fog umbrella handy. I darted outside, nabbed my servings, and returned dry as a bone. Thankfully, they had more warm beer inside for me to add ice to and chug down with my tasty vittles.
Thanks Stetson for hosting and inviting Unilocalers! Thanks Tara L. for the invitation!

I showed up to this event with «just» one hour left of free beer; and let me tell you, this was NOT a problem!
Still roaming about was the brew-​master and discoverer of the pre-​prohibition recipe for Batch 19. Like a boozie Indiana Jones he mingled in the crowd, still more then happy to answer any questions from new comers. His staff of Beer Maidens pouring furiously from mini carafes were more then happy to make sure your glass stayed more then half-​full, and the bartenders kept the patrons at the bar topped off with a smile (I made sure to throw down a dollar or two to make sure their efforts were not in vain!)! By the time I got there, the many tasters seemed alllll smiles!
Now the beer! Think of Batch 19 as a slightly heavier and sweeter version of Yeungling. It has straightforward hops that are more pronounced when the beer is warmer (I tried it at room temp as well as cold… as all good beers should be tried)! It’s definitely more of a Fall beer verses a summer beer and would probably go great with spicy wings at the bar! I’m a fan of small craft beers and small American brewers, so I will definitely patronize this brew when I see it! Thanks Stetsons and Batch 19, I should have eaten dinner before going to this tasting!!!

Taral L, we love you so much. You’re my demigoddess of fun and good times. Super smarvey props to the brewers and marketers of Batch 19 and Stetson’s, as well! You quenched my thirsty Thursday with style and prohibition pizasse. Give me a Growler, a master brewer, and some master Unilocalers and there is no Thursday that can go unremembered. I love you all! Especially you, Erin R. (and fabulous husband), Venu, Brian, Ashley, and Antonio! Good times…

The tasting was AMAZING. Stetson’s proved themselves as generous hosts and I found each of the servers to be really engaging and amiable this evening. To say Batch 19 was a hit is an understatement. I can’t recall ever seeing a beer so universally accepted.
Tara, after trading so many e-​mails this week it was great to finally amble up to you and hug it out. You’re a gem, ma’am. Promise to never change.
And Jon W. quickly established himself as the former neighbor I never knew I had and the type of friend I’ve always wanted.
Good times all. This is the standard. My only regret is leaving without a growler.
Le sigh.

It was quite awesome to be invited to this Batch-​19 tasting event at Stetson! Thanks Tara for making this happen! It was great to see Tara, Antonio and wifey, Tony and Keon there as well.
This was a launching event for Batch-​19 prohibition style lager made by the famed Blue Moon brew master Keith Villa. He was there to take us through the tasting along with Q&A about this new type of (non-​light sissy) beer. He is one of five phDs in Brewing in the US and had gone to Belgium for training. He discovered this recipe in the Coors beer basement and replicated it with similar types of hops. The color of the beer also resembled the lager of the prohibition time. The beer was surprisingly balanced given that it was supposed to be hoppy. I asked him how he achieved that and it was through balancing it with malt and lots of tasting! The beer was easy to drink but it’s 5.5% alcohol — I can forsee it as a popular drinking beer for those who are sick of light beer!
Had to give the marketing guy, Brian some credit, he enthusiatically went around promoting the brewer and his beer — telling us about the history and why they selected Stetson as the place to launch this beer. Stetson is one of the oldest bar in DC apparently dated back to prohibition time.
We were treated to unlimited pours of the Batch-​19 — how good can it get? Then there were quesadillas and tasty peanut-​oil fried chicken nuggets. They also gave away the Batch-​19 beer jugs and t-​shirts. What a fabulous event!

**BIG heyy-​uge props to Tara L**
Okay, so you arrive at Stenssons, looking for the Unilocal event and fellow Unilocalers. You’re greeted by one of many beer pourers happily prancing around, pouring you a glass of Batch 19 brew like magical beer fairies.
What do you do?
You imbibe in the nectar that is in your cups, drink it down and savor it. In the meantime you socialize with fellow Unilocalers discussing the amazing brew that is quite hoppy but leaves not bitter taste in your throat.
Finally meeting Kim T, talking and sipping the brew that was made by Keith Villa (dude that created Blue Moon fame), made this event all the more noteworthy. Chatted with the lovely Tara L, Ruth, Tony, dance dance revolution Keon, Nicole L and her beau and saw Hannah banana… all in all a great night.
Learned a lot about brewing my favorite drink (beer) from Keith Villa and even asked him for a job as a beer taster.
No dice…
Oh to dream the impossible dream.
Big hugs to all my Unilocal-​a-​rinos and can’t wait to see you again very soon.
Hasta la pasta,
~Antonio a.k.a. the master of cerveza
**UPDATE**
Damn, forgot to talk about the actual beer!
Batch 19 was surprisingly very hoppy (in a good way), well balanced flavor and it had a smooth finish with not that usual bitter aftertaste. I was really impressed as I enjoyed the flavor, had a great taste and definitely went down quite well. Even the wife (a non-​beer drinker) enjoyed Batch 19 and liked the flavor of this new brew.
In fact, I like it so much that my lovely wife had to drive us home. Thanks babez! This morning I was also surprised to see a few of those Batch 19 glass growlers (signed by Kieth Villa) sitting in my garage. Damn, I guess I did have a kick-​ass time… surprised I was able to write that review last night without having it look like:
I dak beer wiht man2y Ylpers and beer go00d yum… jwke d, cciie a eiiejfksdkldslk sda zxcc eaew fase e eieinv azce e efv
If I didn’t already say it, I had a great time and really wish all of you other Unilocalers could have joined us for the open bar part (free beers from 7 to 9pm for everyone). Thanks again to Tara L for organizing and to all the people from Batch 19. Definitely had a great time!

Free, flowing pre-​prohibition lager for 3 hrs.
A chance to meet a real, beer doctor.
Hangin’ out with awesome Unilocalers.
How could have not had great time?!
First of all, big thank you to Batch 19 and Stetson’s for inviting the Unilocal Elite Squad to this private tasting. Although I’m not a big beer drinker, I learned so much and really enjoyed Keith Villa, the brewmaster for Blue Moon and Batch 19.
Can you believe this was a guy that was planning on becoming a pediatrician but how fate had it, ended up a beer doctor after scoring his PhD in Belgium? Oh and then he just happened to whip up this little brew that we now call Blue Moon. He was so incredibly humble and genuinely nice, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
Also, just want to give a shout out to Stetson’s for hosting us. It was my first time hangin’ here and although the space is a bit small and narrow on the main floor, I would have never known there was a back patio area if it had not been for the food they brought out and placed in the back.
Being the good Unilocaler that I am, even a torrential downpour couldn’t stop me from running outside to grab a few quesadillas and chicken finger nugget type thingies. If I had waited a few minutes, I would have been able to eat that food dry. But hey — dancing in the rain with hot food and curly hair isn’t so bad once in awhile.
But of course the highlight was getting to hang out with some of my favorite Unilocalers and getting a chance to meet a few people that I had never met before.
Can’t wait until Batch 19 is as popular as Blue Moon! I will look back at my autographed growler and reflect fondly on the day.