The Black Squirrel is rapidly becoming one of our favorite spots. It’s not only a great neighborhood hang, it’s also a rising power on the DC beer scene. Most exciting is the news that the bar has plans to become a brew pub, adding a selection of original concoctions to its already impressive list of imported and domestic craft brews. Like many other bars, The Black Squirrel already has a few house beers on tap, but these are merely rebranded versions of other beers, usually of the fizzy yellow variety. An experimental batch of real house beer has already been kegged, but word is that the owners are refining their potions and looking to begin production on a larger scale in the near future. Earlier this summer, they even sent an employee to beer school in the UK. We look forward to sampling the results.

In the meantime, there’s yet another excuse to go over there and pepper them with questions about their future plans, which we have heard may also include a live music venue and a cocktail bar. The Great Pumpkin Beer and Food Tasting, an event co-sponsored by DCBeer.com, will feature an array of pumpkin beers and food on Wednesday, October 28th. Between 7:30pm and 10:30pm, you’ll be able to try things like Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale or Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin (which both scored high on Capital Spice’s pumpkin beer tasting) and see how they go with seasonal delicacies like Butternut Squash Soup and Corn and Pumpkin Cupcakes. We tried a Cape Ann Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout there last week and it was killer. Tickets are $45. Dress for Halloween, and you’ll have the chance to win a $125 door prize for best costume. Space is limited, so you’ll want to buy tickets in advance. For information on how to do that, click here.