Like yeast in a beer barrel, Alex Lynch has been patient for the last several years.
In June, the D.C. native had enough beer brewed to open Mieza Blendery at 109 Clermont Street in Alexandria’s West End. With 12 distinct flavors this season, Lynch opened his tasting room to the public.
Lynch is now making beer for next year, blending berries and other flavors to make distinct beer, like his “Moon Driven Sea,” a barrel-aged American sour ale with elderberries, or “Keeper of the Dance,” a barrel aged blond sour with apricot and green cardamon.
“There’s just something about the simplicity and humanity and control of making beer,” Lynch said. “It goes back to our very roots of civilization. There’s a lot of art to it.”
Lynch started brewing professionally in 2011, after graduating from the University of Virginia. He spent years learning brewing at Lost Rhino Brewing Company in Ashburn and at Bear Republic Brewing Company’s quality control lab in Sonoma County, California. In preparation of Mieza Blendery’s opening, he made his batches at Dynasty Brewing Company in Ashburn.
“I can make something that never could have been made in a single batch,” Lynch said.
Lynch says he next wants to host public blending sessions at his blendery.
“It will be great to have events every week where I pull a keg off of given barrel day and people can have the different samples in front of them and try to create a blend with them,” Lynch said. “I think that’s the only way to sort of get a sense of the magic of it.”
The Mieza Blendery tasting room is now open Friday from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m.
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If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.
If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
Family Fun Fall Fest
Mark your calendars and join us for the Family Fun Fall Fest on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11am – 2pm!
This FREE in-person event will be held at the Shoppes at Foxchase, located at 4641 Duke St, Alexandria, VA
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
