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Now that Valentine’s Day is behind us, let’s get on with the week in beer. Read on for a run-down of this week’s diverse set of offereings of beer fun, or click on any event in the D.C. Beer Events Calendar for details.
On Monday the creative folks at Pizzeria Paradiso launched Valentine’s week “Love it or Hate it” themed tap take-overs across all three locations. Georgetown’s Bitterfest has a host of hoppy IPAs, “it’s all sour” at Dupont with sour ales on there, and things are sweet in Old Town with a line-up full of strong, malty beers. Standouts include the fruity, complex BFM L’Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2009 at Dupont, heavenly hoppy Troegs Nugget Nectar on cask at Georgetown, and hard-hitting Avery Samael Oak-Aged Ale at Old Town. Each location is also featuring a pizza that supports the theme.
On Tuesday at Rustico in Ballston from 6 to 9PM, sample from six drafts and a cask of beer from Southern Tier in Lakewood, New York. A hopped-up Southern Tier 2XIPA under the softening spell of a cask? Yes, please.
Did the Obamas’ recent foray into home-made beer motivate you to become a home brewer? If so, you won’t want to miss Wednesday afternoon’s special segment on WAMU 88.5’s Kojo Nnamdi Show, where Tiffany MacIsaac of Birch & Barley and Andrew Passell of Qualia Coffee will talk about making beer at home. The feature begins promptly at 1:06pm, so take a late lunch.
For the studious, Stephen Jones of Oliver Breweries in Baltimore is holding a cask lab at Columbia Firehouse in Alexandria Wednesday evening. Starting at 5:30pm (might as well leave early, too), attendees will have a chance to learn everything there is to know about cask-conditioned ale by one of our area’s foremost authorities on the subject. Best part? No entrance fee. Simply pay for the beer you order. Columbia Firehouse will be pouring Ironman Pale Ale and 3 Lions Brown Ale on cask from Olivers alongside the rest of their solid selection of craft beer drafts and bottles.
Also on Wednesday, RFD is hosting a second night of the Brickskeller’s annual strong ale tasting. The event starts at 7PM and features warming winter beers from Brewers Art, Dog Brewing, and Rock Bottom Bethesda, all from Maryland, St. George’s and Sweetwater breweries from Virginia, Victory from Pennsylvania, and Schmaltz Brewing Company from New York.
Friday evening and all day Saturday is the Oyster and Beer Festival at National Harbor. A ticket for $85 gives an all-you-can-taste pass to thousands of oysters and over twenty featured craft beers including Dogfish Head, Ommegang, Evolution, Sierra Nevada, Heavy Seas, and Flying Dog.
This Sunday starting at 4PM ChurchKey is hosting the official D.C. launch of the third in a series of collaboration beers from Baltimore-based Stillwater Artisanal Ales and Oliver Brewers. Channel Crossing Volume 3 will be available in special draft and cask versions along several other Stillwater and Olivers brews.
Need an excuse for a road trip? This weekend Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore is hosting their annual Belgian Beer Fest featuring hundreds of Belgian and Belgian-style beers. More of an antique-seeker than a party-goer? No problem. Head to Fredericksburg, Virginia, for the 31st annual Blue-Gray Breweriana Show where you can browse thousands of beer cans, signs, and other collectibles. Just don’t forget to bring this Lagerhead a souvenir.
Send submissions for the D.C. Beer Events calendar to thelagerheads@gmail.com.