DC Beer Week returns for the eighth consecutive year and will run from September 24-October 1. Mark your calendars. DCBW features a variety of educational and tasting events. Although the week has traditionally taken place in August, the planning committee agreed to push it back this year. As a member of the planning committee off and on since 2011 and one of last year's co-chairs, I think this is a really prudent idea. Running DC Beer Week in August requires 100% of the work for something like 50-60% of the audience. Somewhat inefficient. This change will offer better weather and more attendees for events.
The other big change is that starting in 2016, DC Beer Week will officially be planned and run by the The D.C. Brewers' Guild. The Guild, which was incorporated in 2014, is the region’s resource for brewers and brewery owners in the region. Executive Director Kathy Rizzo says “The D.C. Brewers’ Guild is proud to take the reigns from our predecessors and continue the tradition of DC Beer Week. We are looking forward to honoring D.C.'s brewing heritage and showcasing our ever-growing craft beer scene by working with our partners in the community.” Rizzo will take the lead with fellow DCBW co-chair Lisa Cox. The week had previously been run as its own independent entity, chaired and planned by various beer enthusiasts and industry stalwarts, since it was started by Teddy Folkman and Jeff Wells in 2008.
Despite these two big changes, the week will still feature events over eight days with a marquee event planned each day. This year DC Beer Week will span Saturday to Saturday when in years past it was Sunday to Sunday.
Restaurants, bars, breweries, and other venues interested in participating in this year DC Beer Week should contact Kathy Rizzo via email at dcbeerweek@gmail.com for more information. If you're interested in volunteering or getting involved, be sure to also watch this space for info on how to do that. The committee will likely be looking for neighborhood captains to help recruit venues and set up events.
The website and Facebook page remain the same, as well. More information about the 8th Annual DC Beer Week will be posted at DCbeerweek.net in the coming weeks and more news on the 2016 marquee events will be forthcoming. In the meantime, be sure to Like the DC Beer Week Facebook page (www.facebook.com/DCBeerWeek) and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@dcbeerweek; #DCBW2016), for the latest updates.
Disclosure: Former co-editor Chris Van Orden and I were co-chairs of DC Beer Week 2015. DCBeer has been an active member of the planning and promotion of DC Beer Week since 2011 and helped to broker the transfer of the week to the DC Brewers' Guild
