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It’s Monday and that means it’s time to get your planner out and start drooling. Read on for my pick and a rundown of the week, or click on any event in the D.C. Beer Events Calendar above for more details.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Outdoor beer festival season kicks off this Saturday and Sunday with the Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia. It’s a hike to get out there and you’ll need to pay extra for the bus or bring a designated driver, but as long as it doesn’t rain the event is worth the trip. (My shoes from two years ago still have mud on them.) This year’s list is over 40 breweries strong and focuses on American craft beer from both near and far. The line-up includes dark beer specialists Duck Rabbit, lovely Left Hand of Colorado, India pale ale experts Lagunitas and Smuttynose, saison artisan Stillwater, local cask specialists Mad Fox and Oliver Breweries, and good old Allagash. The festival also presents a great opportunity to check out new offerings from locals Lost Rhino and DC Brau. Admission is $25 and includes four tasting tickets, with additional tickets $1 each.
On Monday, the area’s newest local brewery, Lost Rhino Brewing Company of Ashburn, Virginia, will debut three of their brews at ChurchKey starting at 4 p.m., with founders Across town, as part of an ongoing series of beer dinners from Clydes Restaurant Group, Clyde’s of Georgetown will host Starr Hill for a four-course paired dinner in the atrium for $40 per person.
On Tuesday, ChurchKey keeps it local with a release party for the newest concoction from DC Brau, The Citizen, a generously hopped Belgian pale ale. For those in the mood for an authentic Belgian pale ale, brewed by the Belgians themselves, both Rustico locations in Virginia are celebrating Belgian Independence Day by pouring Palm Speciale on draft. (Warning: Palm is not your typical Belgian beer, so if you are looking for a heavy, malty highly alcoholic brew, Palm is not for you.)
Also on Tuesday, Fire Works Pizza in Arlington is putting on a beer dinner featuring beers from Epic Brewing Company, of Salt Lake City, Utah. Dishes like chef Frank Mayo‘s caramel smoked short ribs with goat cheese polenta and Belgian ale jus paired with Epic’s Smoked and Oaked make $75 a steal for six beers and five courses.
Send submissions for the D.C. Beer Events calendar to thelagerheads@gmail.com.