Barrel Oak Winery and Brewery in Delaplane is set to release its new brew, called Hail to the Harris, on Sunday, the day the Washington Commanders kick off the football season under the new ownership of Josh Harris.
“Hail to the Harris is the culmination of years of following the Commanders,” says Robert Grouge, general manager of Barrel Oak.
Grouge considers himself among those raving fans energized by the change in ownership of the team. Harris and a group of 20 investors bought the team for a hefty $6.05 billion — the most expensive acquisition of a sports team to date. The sale ended the legacy of owner Dan Snyder and revived hope among football fans frustrated with Snyder.
The new 6.1 percent Hazy New England–style IPA “is our way of saying thank you to Mr. Harris for injecting new enthusiasm into this franchise, and this area,” Grouge says.
Barrel Oak is sure fans will love Hail to the Harris, which its Untappd page describes as “smooth and creamy with tropical hints of citrus and mango.” The beer is made with Cascade hops grown right on the property.
The brewery will host a party from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate the beer’s release. “Come on out and enjoy great wine, sensational beer, local pizza, and Washington football,” says Grouge.
The Commanders take on the Arizona Cardinals in a sold-out home opener at FedEx Field, in Landover, Maryland, starting at 1 p.m.
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