Ocelot Brewery, located in Sterling, VA, opened in April, 2015. The brewery is nestled off the main road in what look like server/warehouse style buildings (if you were't aware of its existence, it would be possible to drive right past it).
What makes this brewery unique is that the owners have diverse backgrounds; Adrien is a former banker and Eric is and engineer. The third owner, Sebastian, currently spends half of his time here in Northern VA, the other half in San Diego (one of the craft beer capitols in the U.S.). That already gives me a down to earth feeling about this establishment - the people are not beer connoisseurs. They are just regular folks who enjoy beer and decided to give this a go.
From looking at the reviews, people seem fairly impressed with what Ocelot is brewing. 41 beers are listed on beeradvocate.com, none of which fall below a 3.71 (out of 5, that seems pretty impressive). The names of their beers are also gaining popularity, as they are right out of well-known songs, including names such as "Lemon Yellow Sun" and "Tangerine Trees". Their current offerings include a West Coast style IPA (rated 3.94), a Hoppy Wheat (rated 3.82) and a Russian Stout (rated 4.16).
The brewery is know for their bold tasting beers. They claim that their IPAs will constantly change based on hop variety and inspiration. They also have the following description on their website:
"We like big beers and we cannot lie! From the biggest Russian Imperial Stouts aged in spirit barrels to malty Double Reds, Smooth Porters, and velvety Wee Heavies, we just can’t get enough of these complex beauties. Thick mouthfeel, high gravity, and rich flavors suitable for aging to be shared with family and friends"
Given my preference for lite beers, I'm not particularly optimistic I'm going to love these beers. But I love their attitude, and I think I will enjoy my visit to their establishment this week.
And for anyone who is curious - here is a look inside of the brewery.
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