The Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s newest property, Red Apron Burger Bar, is now open in Dupont Circle. The bar, which features Virginia beef and beer, is in the space formerly occupied by fried chicken and doughnut joint GBD (1323 Connecticut Avenue NW). First things first, the happy hour that made GBD popular among beer fans in the neighborhood will return.

RABB is headed by Nate Anda, of Red Apron Butcher and The Partisan fame. For this spot, Anda will source beef for his burgers only from local Virginia cattle farms. The vision for the burger joint is to “bridge the gap between premium restaurant and quick service offerings,” according to a press release.

“We’ve been developing our supply chain of exceptional local and responsibly raised beef for years, and it’s finally at the point where we can offer it through a venue like this,” said Anda via press release. “What we’re providing with Red Apron Burger Bar is a cut above. I know there are consumers out there who care a lot about even a simple decision like where to get a burger and fries, and want a better option. Offering a premium product at an approachable price gives them an easy way to get some of the best food produced by our region’s most conscientious and responsible farmers.”

DCBeer's Jake Berg was in attendance last night for a soft opening and reports that there are two kinds of beef available, the Black Angus most are familiar with and a heritage breed called "Ancient White Park" that is similar in taste to what Roseda Farms, a popular source for beef in the area, uses.

Being as this is DCBeer and not DCBurger, let’s not give short shrift to the suds. Greg Engert consul of carbonation and hierarch of hops, has designed a menu to play well with the burgers. Hopheads will appreciate the various hop-forward options on the menu, from Pilsners and classic Pale Ales to Double IPAs and Hoppy Reds. Many of these will be local offerings from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Sponsorship

The opening day draft list is below. Note that some of these hazy, New England-style IPA may, because of their lack of bitterness, have trouble standing up to burgers. (Bitterness tends to cut through fat, after all). Still, for those who have heard much made of this new IPA trend, RABB will give plenty of opportunity to explore, and your mileage may vary.

As noted above, GBD’s famed happy hour will be reincarnated at RABB. There will be $3-$5 drafts, $6 wine, and a $7 cocktail from 4-6pm Monday-Friday.

CRISP:

1. BLUEJACKET FORBIDDEN PLANET – Dry-Hopped Kölsch w/ Galaxy – Washington, DC – 4.2%
2. DC BRAU BRAU PILS – Pilsner – Washington, DC – 4.5%
3. GREAT LAKES ELIOT NESS – Amber Lager – 6.2%

HOP:

4. OCELOT SIMPLE HIGHWAY– Pale Ale w/ Green Bullet & Waimea – Virginia – 5.2%
5. TRIPLE CROSSING FALCON SMASH – IPA w/ Falconer's Flight, Centennial & Columbus – Virginia – 7%
6. TRIPLE CROSSING CLEVER GIRL – IPA w/ Citra & Mosaic – Virginia – 6%
7. THE VEIL IDONTWANTTOBU – IPA w/ Citra & Mosaic – Virginia – 6.9%
8. THE VEIL ETERNAL LORD SHREDDER– Imperial IPA w/ Mosaic & Blood Orange – Virginia – 8.5%
9. THE ANSWER TRIPLE DRY-HOPPED EXTRA CREDIT – Imperial IPA w/ Citra – Virginia – 8%
10. THE ANSWER HARD IN THE PAINT – Imperial IPA w/ Mosaic – Virginia – 8%

ROAST:

11. EVOLUTION LUCKY #7 – Porter – 5.7%
12. RAR MINT 10 LAYERS – Sweet Stout w/ Cocoa Nibs & Mint – 7.2%
13. UNION & OCELOT LUCIFER’S TREES – Black IPA w/ Bravo, Citra, Azacca & Experimental Hop #682 – Maryland & Virginia – 9%

FRUIT & SPICE:

14. ALLAGASH WHITE – Witbier – Maine – 5%
15. COMMONWEALTH THE WEALTH – Saison – Virginia – 5.1%
16. PEN DRUID MERCURY – Hoppy Saison w/ Crystal, Simcoe, Centennial, Equinox, El Dorado, Mosaic & Citra – Virginia – 6.4%

TART & FUNKY:

17. PEN DRUID SATURNALIA – Red Wine Puncheon-Aged Mixed-Fermentation Saison – Virginia – 6%
18. WICKED WEED MEDORA – Red Wine Barrel-Aged Mixed-Fermentation Blond Ale w/ Blackberries & Raspberries – North Carolina – 6.6%