The Can't-Miss Events of DC Beer Week 2014
It’s Beer Week! It’s Beer Week! It’s Beer Week! Running from August 17th through the 24th, this annual festival celebrates the best brews with tap-takeovers, tastings, limited releases, beer dinners, educational seminars and the chance to meet some of your brewer heroes in person.
Flagship events include the Odyssey Cruises/Ommegang Dinner Cruise, the always epic DC Brau Crab Fest, and RFD’s Coast to Coast Tap Takeover. But don’t forget that over a hundred venues will be hosting Beer Week related events so you’ll want to start planning your hop itinerary. Here are our picks of the most interesting, unique and delicious events throughout the week.
Sunday, August 17: Granville Moore’s will be kicking off the week with a Barrel-Aged Brunch. The H St gastropub collaborated with DC Brau, Catoctin Creek Distillery and Caledonia Spirits to create two barrel-aged beers (one aged in a whiskey barrel and one in a gin barrel) that will only be available during Beer Week. (1238 H Street NE; 202-399-2546)
Monday, August 18: Penn Quarter newcomer The Partisan will host Denmark’s Mikkeller brewery to sample rare Lambic-style sours and stouts with some of the most delightful beer names you’ve ever heard, like the Spontangooseberry or the Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Imperial Coffee Stout. 6 PM (709 D St NW; 202-524-5322)
Tuesday August 19: Port City Brewing Company is hosting a cupcake bakeoff between local bakeries Buzz, Bittersweet and Local. Bakers will select a Port City brew for their recipe with tasting and judging to follow. 4–9 PM (3950 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, VA; 703-797-2739)
Wednesday, August 20: Where else but DC would a bar named Policy host a seminar on the politics of beer? A panel of brewers and politicians will discuss how current regulations affect the craft beer industry and how brewers and beer aficionados alike can advocate for the best policies. 6:30 PM (1904 14th Street NW; 202-387-7654)
Thursday, August 21: From 5–7 PM, head to Hill Country's Backyard Barbecue to play cornhole and chat with Shiner’s master brewer Jimmy Mauric and enjoy $4 Shinerbock and Ruby Redbird. At 8PM, follow him over to Board Room for a game of Giant Jenga and limited release Shiner Prickly Pear Lager on tap. (401 F Street NW; 202-272-2448 and 1737 Connecticut Ave NW; 202-518-7666)
Friday, August 22: Satisfy your beer craving and your sweet tooth with beer and doughnut pairings at GBD with the Breckenridge Brewery Late Night Munchie Party. Sample pairings include the Salted Caramel Vanilla Porter with Samoa Old Fashioned Doughnuts and the Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout with Butterscotch Bismarck Doughnuts. (1323 Connecticut Avenue NW; 202-524-5210)
Saturday, August 23: Once a classic boy’s club, the number of women getting into the craft brewing business has been skyrocketing lately. Black Squirrel hosts panel of women involved in the local scene, including Emily Bruno and Julie Verratti, co-owners of Silver Spring’s brand new Denizens Brewing Company to learn the ins and outs of craft beer and enjoy guided tastings. 1 PM. (2427 18th Street NW; 202-232-1011)
Sunday, August 24: Pizza Paradiso commemorates the 200th anniversary of the burning of Washington, DC by the British by offering up special drafts of smoked beer, including the Viven Smoked Porter and Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Bacon. (3282 M Street NW; 202-337-1245 and 2003 P Street NW; 202-223-1245)
The full list of DC Beer Week events can be found here.
