new vintage at Vintage 50

Stopped at Vintage 50 in Leesburg, VA on Tuesday in the late afternoon to see my friend Bill Madden. He was brewing his American Pale Ale, and the air was redolent of cooking malt. (That's a good thing - think oatmeal on a cold morning.)

His beers are slowly making it onto the bar, replacing, by attrition, those of the previous brewer, produced when the place was called Thoroughbreds. On tap were his Kolsch and his Bohemian Pils.

The Bohemian Pils , at 13.4°P, was firm in body - an almost shortbread cookie maltiness - with a floral/peppery bouquet and a dry finish, both from the use of German hops. (I didn't ask Bill about this but would be surprised if he had used US hops for the aroma.)

In tank, in various stages of fermentation and maturation, are his ESB (British-style pale ale) and Oatmeal Stout. The handpull was empty of cask beer that afternoon ... but being a partisan for cask ale, I'll return if for that alone!

Vintage 50 is open, at least during the week, beginning at 4pm. I didn't enquire about weekends.

UPDATE:
Wee Heavy
About Bill Madden