Cheeba's Winter Ale/LHBS Rant

Ogden Street Brewery created a Winter Ale back in December. Yes, December. Aged five months and ready for consumption, here are the quick specs:

OG: 1.06
FG: 1.018
Hops: Hallertauer 1oz, Challenger 1oz
Malt: 3.5lbs of Generic Choco Shit from LHBS

A bit about LHBS: as anyone who frequents Local Home Brewing in Arlington/Seven Corners can tell you, the guy who runs that place is a. full of himself, and b. pretty knowledgeable (so long as you don't get him talking about himself.) Standard conversation between Dude and Me:

Me: Hey man, just drank a Peak Organic IPA yesterday. Pretty dope beer, huh?
Him: Yeah I'm tight with all those guys, since from about five years ago.
Me: That's weird, cause they've only been in the D.C. market for 18 months, and I'm friends with the rep, and he doesn't know you.
Him: Oh, you must be confused, cause I'm totally friends with those guys. By the way, would you like to spend another fifty dollars on a pouch of sanitizer and some bottles?

LHBS is pretty much the only place around that will sell us brewing necessities, so we can't afford to piss the guy off (yeah, yeah, there's some mystical place in Columbia but who wants to drive 45 minutes out of the District?) Nevertheless, I guarantee this won't be the first post on the subject. Why can't a decent, modest guy/gal open up a good homebrewing store somewhere in the city? Are there barriers to entry? Let me answer my own question by saying, No, there aren't. D.C. is just waiting for the right person to do it. Will YOU answer the call?

Anyway, the Ogden Winter Ale has been renamed the Cheeba Ale in honor of the housecat. Cheeba, you sly kitty...

Profile (courtesy of Reid-O and yours truly):
Nose: Apples, crabapples, a hint of peach.
Body: Coppery, somewhat cloudy. Ochre-tinged under lights.
Taste: Blossomy at the front, slightly astringent midway. Distinctive apple notes.
Finish: Lingering oaty, creamy notes. Pear blossom. Stone fruit.

Final Review: **1/2