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Port City Brewing releases Derecho Common beer

By WTOP Staff

Michelle Basch, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – A local brewery that lost power during the derecho is getting sweet revenge on Mother Nature.

A batch of Port City Brewing Company‘s beer that the June storm threatened to ruin is finally ready to drink – and the early reviews are good.

The beer was originally supposed to be a pilsner, but it didn’t turn out that way.

“When we lost the ability to control the temperature, the temperature spiked up to around 60 degrees, 65 degrees, which was about 20 degrees higher than it was supposed to be,” says Bill Butcher, founder of Port City Brewing Company.

“It turned into a California Common beer, which is a lager that is fermented at these higher temperatures,” Butcher says.

The limited-edition beer, which is only available on draft, was made available to the public for the first time Friday afternoon at the brewery’s tasting room in Alexandria, Va.

Chuck Triplett, a regular customer from Centreville who has visited dozens and dozens of breweries all around the world, was the first person to get a taste.

“Yeah, you’ve got a winner,” Triplett says after sniffing and sipping.

He describes it as a hoppy beer with a lime finish.

Christy Johnson of Alexandria, another big beer fan who sometimes brews her own, also dropped by to try the derecho beer.

“My first impression was that it was a little too hoppy for me, but after I had a few sips I kind of got used to it and [it] sort of coated the mouth a little more,” Johnson says. “I actually really like it.”

The market debut of the beer happens Saturday at the Evening Star Cafe in Alexandria’s 15th Anniversary celebration from 12 to 5 p.m.

Butcher says next week, the company will begin distributing the beer to 40 or 50 other bars and restauraunts in the region. It may be available as soon as Tuesday.

It will also continue to be available at the brewery’s tasting room, where quite a few people were leaving with growlers full of it on Friday.

Just like the derecho itself, the Derecho Common beer won’t be around long. Only 120 kegs were made.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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