ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 31

Feature image courtesy of Old Ox.

Supermarkets in the DC-MD-VA region do a solid job of carrying craft and high-quality beer. It’s not hard to find Stone Brewery’s selections or New Belgium, and usually the well-known local brands, like Devils Backbone and Heavy Seas. But I’ve seen Old Ox Brewery‘s selections consistently over the past six months and it’s been a welcome addition.

The Loudon County brewery’s “core” beers include Alpha Ox, a session IPA with a 4.5 percent ABV and 31 IBU. All of their core brews are extraordinarily approachable; they are the type of six-packs that you would bring to a party and suit a myriad of tastes.

Alpha Ox is a deep golden pour, almost copper gold. It has an obvious hoppy aroma and leans strongly toward a traditional IPA, instead of just a session IPA. Old Ox says it features Amarillo, Centennial and Simcoe hops, balanced with Caramunich, Abbey, flaked oats and pale for malt.

The sweetness in the beer comes in the form of a citrus tone, very balanced and easy.

Opened in June 2015 and located in Ashburn, Va.; Old Ox is a 30-barrel brewhouse named after the Old Ox Road, which they attribute to connecting the agricultural community of the county with the markets closer to the DC city line. This type of beer will continue to draw enthusiasts to their facility and their country, easily continuing that tradition.

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