Who doesn’t love a good summer storm? We experience a lot of them during these months in D.C., but there is one that stands out in recent history. The windstorm that swept through the region in 2012 is notable not only because tens of thousands were left without power for days, but also because we got a great locally-brewed beer out of it: Port City’s Derecho Common.

The Port City Brewing Company of Alexandria, Virginia was only a year old in the summer of 2012, and they were in the process of brewing a new offering, a yet-to-be-named lager. Their facilities lost power in the derecho, and huge vats of fermenting yeast sat at ambient temperature in their dimmed warehouse.

I imagine Port City employees were a grim bunch while electricians and city officials struggled to get the power back on. But then this happened:

“Wait! Lager yeast just so happens to create a type of IPA called a “California common” when fermented at higher temperatures!”

–Someone who is both a beer-genius and also probably annoyingly perky and optimistic

And so, Port City bottled that stuff right up and named it Derecho Common.

Derecho Common is a unique beer that combines elements of both IPAs and lagers. The golden brew smells primarily spicy and hoppy; your first sip will be hop-forward and bitter. However, the finish is more like a lager: crisp, clean, and very refreshing. The 4.8% ABV is more like that of a lager than an IPA as well.

Descriptions on Port City’s website reference flavors of malt and biscuits, but I mostly tasted strong citrus notes. Perhaps the initial hoppiness obscures richer flavors, as could the carbonation. The tiny bubbles are a welcome bulwark against overwhelming bitterness, and dissipate quickly for that citrus note at the end.

If you get a chance to try Port City’s Derecho common, it’s great to know the origin and appreciate the brewery’s ingenuity in the face of some unavoidable obstacles. And let me tell you, it’s even better if enjoyed during a summer storm!