Clarendon’s Lyon Hall is set to open in the next few days and they are giving beer lovers good reason to take note. Wednesday evening I had the opportunity to stop by the restaurant and chat with Manager Ricky Shepherd about the new establishment, and their beer selection.
Lyon Hall, part of the Liberty Tavern Restaurant Group (Liberty Tavern & Northside Social,) is a brasserie focusing on French and German dishes. Although not totally finished, the space had a very clean look with lots of white tile contrasted with dark tables and chairs. It seemed industrial without being antiseptic.
The beer list is predominately European, but will have a few American brews in both their bottle and draft selection. Lyon Hall will have 20 draft lines, roughly half of which Shepherd described as “sessionable” with the remainder being the higher ABV big beers. Lyon Hall’s inaugural draft selection is as follows:
Miller Lite
Magners Irish Cider
Grolsch Premium Lager
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel
Wittekerke
Fuller’s ESB
Gouden Carolus Tripel
Delirium Tremens
Stella Artois
Hofbrau Maibock
Yards IPA
Le Trou Du Diable (one of their stouts)
Le Trou Du Diable: La Weizgripp Doppelweizenbock
Oskar Blues Old Chub
Kasteel Rouge
Troubadour Obscura (Mild Stout)
Het Kapittel Prior
Saison De Silly
Allagash Curieux
Wychwood Hobgoblin Dark English Ale
Just over half of the draft beers will be in the $5 – $6 range including Grolsch, Hofbrau Maibock, Wittekerke, and the Yards IPA.
Lyon Hall will carry a selection of 75, mostly European, bottled beers. Shepherd mentioned the American contingent will include selections from Flying Dog and Founders.
With a great location one block south of Clarendon Metro and an extensive beer list, Lyon Hall looks like it will be a nice alternative for those in the neighborhood who have graduated from fizzy yellow water. The bar section should be open by Saturday, or possibly Friday. Keep an eye on Twitter for up to date opening information.
Lyon Hall
3100 Washington Blvd.
Arlington, VA, 22201
http://twitter.com/LyonHall
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Very nice write-up PJ.
I’m kind of surprised there will not be more local craft beers.
I suppose beggars can’t be choosers, and I’m glad that Flying Dog will be on draft.
When I see the bottle list on my innaugural visit, I will quit my belly-achin if I see some St. George’s Brewery, Heavy Seas or Legend.
Well done!
-Mike
Thanks for the comments, Mike.
Keep in mind that Lyon Hall’s primary focus is on European beers in keeping with their theme as a European-styled brasserie. In my conversation with Manager Ricky Shepherd, it was evident that he has been a long-time fan of American (specifically, local) craft beer. There will certainly be some local beers in Lyon Hall’s lineup, but as this is not their focus, I would temper my expectations of a robust local lineup. Thankfully, you can distract yourself temporarily with a Troubadour Obscura, a beer you might otherwise have to cross the river to enjoy.
Thanks,
PJ, DCBeer.com
PS: As of this writing, the Flying Dog brews will be in bottles and not on draft.
I’d like to see more IPAs. Are there any good European IPAs ?
There are many excellent English India Pale Ales like Samuel Smith’s India Ale (England), and Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA (Scotland.) The Yard’s IPA (Philadelphia) which Lyon Hall will have on draft is an English-style IPA. You are probably also aware of Belgian IPAs like Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA, Piraat Ale, and Poperings Hommel Bier.
I’m not sure what American IPAs Lyon Hall will have in their bottle selection. Given their popularity, I would be surprised if Lyon Hall didn’t carry a few of the more popular American IPAs.
Thanks for the comment,
PJ, DCBeer.com
I can’t wait to see what they do with those cool old awnings (the striped tatters in the top photo).
If there are going to be a few domestics, why Miller Lite? I’m interested in the wine list too–perhaps some German reds?