Washington, D.C. Brewer Makes Beer Named After Derecho Storm

What to do when the most powerful derecho storm threatens to spoil your 13,000 gallons of beer? Make a new style of beer.

That's what one Washington, D.C. brewer faced after the city was crippled by the derecho storm that cut power for much of the city. Port City Brewing Company, without power for five days, was in danger of losing 13,000 gallons of beer (104,000 pints, in case you were wondering) during the power outage. Instead of crying over spilt beer, the brewery shaped up the brew to make a "steam beer," a brew most common in California that's fermented at a higher temperature. That beer, named after the famous storm that birthed the brew, will be brewed and sold in August. The Derecho Common brew, said founder Bill Butcher in an open letter, is a limited-batch lager fermented at a higher temperature.

In the letter, Butcher thanked the community for supporting the brewery during its five-day power outage, where restaurants and drinkers aliked volunteered to help save the beer. Butcher writes, "All of us at Port City Brewing Company were absolutely amazed by the community's response to our plight. The support from the D.C. Beer community has been unbelievable... The willingness to step up and help a neighbor is what defines a community. We found in a very real way that D.C. Beer community is strong and supportive of each other, and we will always be grateful for this."

So what will this steam beer taste like? Butcher described it to the Washington Examiner as having a rounder taste and a "nice mouthful" compared to a traditional lager, with characteristics of fruit and caramel. We'll toast to saving the brews, and to a new creation. When life hands you lemons, right?