SPIRITS
Alberto “AC” Cisneros, Alexandria P., and Isaac Johnson REVIEWS
Taking the town by storm Restaurateur adds brewery, more nightlife on tap for downtown Leesburg. STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG
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≈ PHOTOS: DOUGLAS TYLER
he owner of Pint Sized Pub, Main Street Cantina, Brick and Barrel, and the former 24 Tap Room is once again bringing events and nightlife to the City of Leesburg. Alberto “AC” Cisneros’s Mammoth Oak Brewing Company is open for business, offering a selection of craft beers made in-house by head brewer and co-founder, Isaac Johnson. While Isaac is the mastermind for most beer flavors, AC and the third co-owner Kenny Romero, are very helpful with tastings. “Isaac used to host a home brewers club at 24 Tap Room, so he wanted to open up his own brewery, but didn’t have the financial status to do it. We (Kenny and I) wanted to open up a brewery, but we didn’t know how to brew beer, so we just merged together, and all the beer you see now is his,” AC says. “We just let him have free range and it’s working out so far because it’s amazing – really good reviews.” One beer AC likes to brag about is the Lightsaber Dance Party, which he inspired. “So at 24 Tap Room, I’m a big Star Wars geek so I had lightsabers, and I love to dance so I used to do a little show with my lightsabers, so they named that beer after me or my parties,” he says. The Lightsaber Dance Party is a hazy double IPA with tropical notes like lemon, mango and pineapple, although the orange flavor stood out the most to me. I found it to resemble a beer-mosa, if you’re familiar with the mimosa-beer collaborative cocktail. If you’re into fruitier drinks, you’ll also enjoy the Sunset Beach, “which has a distinct fruity sweetness to it,” says Style writer Roxanne Brown, who is not much of a beer-drinker. I enjoyed the Coffee Snob, a smooth Porter that reminded me of a nitro cold brew coffee because of its smoothness and coffee smell and flavor. I don’t normally drink my coffee black, but for this I’ll make an exception. An enticing option for many may be the Cookies and Cream Stout, which will greet your nose before your tastebuds with the rich smell of chocolate. Style writer James Combs had a lot to say about the sweet treat. “Who doesn’t love cookies and cream? Now, we can try this tasty combination as a craft beer. Mammoth Oak Brewery’s Cookies and Cream Stout comes with a blend of sweet milk brewed with cocoa and vanilla. Truthfully, if it wasn’t for the taste of alcohol, you might think you’re drinking a big glass of chocolate milk.” Traditionalists need not fret. Mammoth Oak offers the Ultra Bros. James comments, “I have steadfastly refused to budge from the mostly
