It’s a very busy week of craft beer fun both in and around the District with a slew of dinners, tap takeovers, and special releases. I’ve selected a few highlights below, but scroll through the D.C. Beer Events Calendar above for the full list and click on any event for more details.
This Monday, Acqua Al 2 on Capitol Hill is launching its Italian craft beer program with complimentary tastings at the bar from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The recently buffed-up list includes eleven artisanal beers from Italy in bottiglia (by the bottle) and two alla spina (on draft).
On Tuesday, Meridian Pint and Flying Dog Brewing Company are teaming up for a Movember mustache contest benefiting the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong. Win prizes like gift cards to local bars or merchandise from DC Brau for the best “mo” in a variety of unique categories. As for the beer, Flying Dog will have six drafts and a cask of their recently released oyster stout, Pearl Necklace, at $1 off for anyone with a mustache—-real or fake. The party starts at 5 p.m. and goes to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Smith Commons is hosting a craft beer and whiskey pairing dinner featuring five small plates from chef Carlos Delgado, beers from Allagash Brewing Company, and whiskeys from Michter’s Limited Production American Whiskey. Tickets are $45. Thursday night’s seating is sold out but tickets for Wednesday are still available.
On Thursday, some fantastic beers are rolling into town. At 6 p.m. at The Big Hunt, Stephen Jones, brewmaster of Baltimore’s Oliver Breweries, will release this year’s batch of Hot Monkey Love. The strong (10 percent alcohol by volume), malty ale is brewed with 120 pounds of honey. Get there early to score some limited edition glassware that you can keep.
A few blocks away, Avery Brewing Company of Boulder, Co., is taking over the taps at ChurchKey with an insane amount of delicious and rare brews starting at 6 p.m. In addition to vintages of Demons of Ale series brews Mephistopheles Stout and The Beast Grand Cru, the line-up includes a low alcohol content pale ale wet-hopped with Chinook, as well as Meph Addict, a 15 percent alcohol-by-volume stout brewed with coffee. Avery’s Ted Whitney will be on hand to discuss the brewery and the special list of nearly twenty beers.
On Friday The Black Squirrel is partnering with Great Lakes and Tröegs brewing companies to help spread some holiday cheer. Starting at 6 p.m., Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Tröegs Mad Elf and several other special brews will be available, along with free Christmas cookies (yum!), all night.
Finally, on Saturday, Meridian Pint is offering a beer brunch featuring some exceedingly rare brews from Founders Brewing Company of Michigan. As you may have guessed, both the bourbon-barrel-aged Kentucky Breakfast Stout and Canadian Breakfast Stout, the brewery’s triumphed imperial stout aged in barrels bourbon barrels that were used to condition maple syrup, are on the list. Seatings are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and tickets are $65 including tax and tip.
And these are just a few picks! Check out my D.C. Beer Events calendar for the full list.
Send submissions for the D.C. Beer Events calendar to thelagerheads@gmail.com.
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