The weekend is here and there are plenty of ways to celebrate.
DISTRICT of COLUMBIA
Friday, September 24th:
Rustik Neighborhood Tavern
84 T St, NW Washington, DC 20001
– opens to the public Friday night at 9:00 PM
* Washington City Paper’s Beerspotter has a list of their beers. It is a half-&-half list of solid craft brews / Macros.
http://www.rustikdc.com
Friday, September 24th:
Saranac Tasting @ Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits
5544 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20015
5:00 – 8:00 PM
– Saranac’s Octoberfest, Pumpkin Ale, Pale Ale, and Imperial IPA.
http://www.chevychasewine.com
Saturday, September 25th:
7th Annual Barracks Row Festival
8th Street SE, Capitol Hill.
– Enjoy Belga Cafe’s brunch and take part in this year’s celebration. Sample waffles at Belga’s street waffle cart or enjoy a quick glass of beer on their beer garden patio.
http://www.barracksrow.org
Saturday, September 25th:
Heavy Seas Tasting @ Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits
5544 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20015
2:00 – 5:00 PM
– Heavy Seas’ Märzen, Prosit! Imperial Oktoberfest Lager, Loose Cannon IPA, Small Craft Warning Uber Pils, and Peg Leg Imperial Stout.
http://www.chevychasewine.com
Saturday, September 25:
De Struise Draft Party @ ChurchKey
1337 14th St NW Washington, DC
12:00 – 5:00 PM
– This daytime event will feature five rare De Struise beers on draft. They will be pouring: Pannepot Reserva 08/ Black Albert/ RedHaired Jeanne/ Black Damnation (w/De Molen).
http://www.churchkeydc.com
MARYLAND
Saturday, September 25th and Sunday, the 26th:
3rd Annual Das Best Oktoberfest @ National Harbor
– The show features over 200 International Beers and Wines, Oompah bands, live music, German food, German performers including dancing and sing-a-longs. General admission tickets can be purchased for $30 on-site. General Admission includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting stein, and 6 beer tokens. DD tickets for $20.
http://www.dasbestoktoberfest.com/washington-dc/show-info
VIRGINIA
Saturday, September 25th:
Keg Party @ Galaxy Hut
2711 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22201
5:00 PM – 12:30 AM
For one night only, Galaxy Hut is knocking down the keg wall in back of the silo, opening up a 600-square-foot area. Specialty kegs of Bruery Autumn Maple, Heavy Seas Pumpkin, and 21st Amendment Hop Crisis Imperial IPA, as well as some yuengling tallboy cans. Celebrating 20 years in the neighborhood on the night of Clarendon Day. Patio bar is cash only.
http://www.galaxyhut.com
Saturday, September 25
Beer Tasting @ Rick’s Wine & Gourmet
3117 Duke Street Alexandria, VA
http://www.rickswine.com/beer.html
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
– Sampling a selection of Great American Beer Festival winners.
- Allagash White: Bronze Medal, Belgian-style Witbier — Many of you have asked for this to be on our shelves regularly, and I think we are ready to deliver. Allagash’s brew is a classic version of the Belgian wheat beer, using their own blend of spicing to make it unique. Very smooth and drinkable. ABV: 5.2%, $8.49/4 pk.
- Heavy Seas Märzen: Bronze Medal, Vienna-style Lager — This is one of the confusing ones on the awards list — it’s called Märzen, but wins as a Vienna-style lager. Oh well. At least it’s good and seasonally appropriate. ABV: 5.75%, $8.49/6 pk.
- Firestone Walker Pale 31: Silver Medal, American-style Pale Ale — Pale 31 is one of the most award-winning pale ales in the U.S. and would have been the gold medal winner at GABF if not for another FW entry, the draft-only (we assume) Mission Street Pale. Hopped with Fuggles, Cascade, Chinook and Centennial hops and selectively fermented in Firestone Walker’s Union oak barrel brewing system, the result is an American twist on an English-style pale ale. ABV: 4.6%, $10.99/6 pk.
- Nectar Ales Red Nectar: Gold Medal, American-style Red/Amber Ale — Nectar Ales is a second label from Firestone Walker (FW acquired Humboldt Brewing in 2003.) Red Nectar was Humboldt’s original brew in 1987 and continues to use Humboldt’s house yeast strain, along with Chinook, Mt. Hood and Cascade hops. ABV: 5.4%, $X.XX/6 pk.
- Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA: Bronze Medal, English-style IPA — One of the newest offerings from the Boston Beer Co., this IPA is brewed with a selection of American, English and German hops that are all grown in the so-called “hop belt” along the northern 48th Parallel. ABV: 5.8%, $8.99/6 pk.
- New Holland Charkoota Rye: OK, so we’re throwing one GABF non-winner in the lineup this week, but we think you’ll like it. New Holland has created a smoked doppelbock with a backbone of malted rye that the Beermudgeon has been pining for since he heard about it over a year ago. Finally, our friends in Holland, Mich., have sent us some! Hooray beer! ABV: 7.79%, $7.49/22 oz.
NOTABLE TAPPINGS…
– Rustico has Oskar Blues’ Dale’s Pale Ale brewed with chili peppers.
– Scion Restaurant just put Founders Breakfast Stout on draft.
– Big Hunt has The Bruery’s Autumn Maple, 21st Amendment’s Hop Crisis, and Founders’s Rye PA and Breakfast Stout.
– ChurchKey has Dieu du Ciel’s Derniere Volonte (a hoppy Belgian Blonde) and Corne du Diable (a hoppy Red) as well as Oliver’s Harvest Ale on cask.
– Bread & Brew has Stone’s 999 Vertical Epic and New Holland’s Ichabod Pumpkin Ale.
– Brasserie Beck has Unibroue Terrible.
– The Black Squirrel has Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin Imperial Ale.
