Ten years ago a pretty cool restaurant opened a block and a half from me in Brookland. Ten years ago a pretty cool brewery opened on the corner of Georgia Avenue and East West Highway in Silver Spring. They’re turning ten at the same time, and are celebrating with a collaboration: Good Neighbors, a Dortmunder-style Export Lager.
“I first met Chef and Co-Owner Shannan Troncoso and Co-Owner Tony Tomelden more than 10 years ago when we were about to open Denizens. What started as a business relationship quickly grew into a very close friendship over the last decade. We are so proud to be celebrating 10 years in business alongside these wonderfully talented people,” writes Julie Verratti, Chief Brand Officer at Denizens Brewing Co., in a press release. Troncoso adds that Verratti “cold called the restaurant the month we opened. I thought it was so awesome that a local brewery owner (who was a woman!) came by to talk to us. We hit it off and the rest is history!”
Good Neighbors Lager will be poured on draft at Denizens’ taproom in Riverdale Park, MD and Brookland’s Finest in Northeast DC. Look for 12-ounce cans at Denizens, Brookland’s Finest, and other spots where you can find Tony T and John “Solly” Solomon, another Finest co-owner: The Pug, Solly’s Tavern, and Union Trust.
We chatted with Denizens Director of Brewing Operations Jeff Ramirez via email about the beer. The “Brookland’s Finest crew said their regular customers seem to enjoy pale lagers the most and Denizens has been regularly producing lagers since the first brew at Silver Spring almost 10 years ago. Our first brew at the Silver Spring location was Born Bohemian Czech Pilsner,” he writes, also offering that he wanted the collaboration beer to be a style Denizens hadn’t yet attempted.
An export lager was not without its challenges. ”It’s an interesting style exemplifying how water chemistry is a key component in beer production,” notes Ramirez. The Denizens brewing team added more brewing salts than normal to emulate the balance of minerals in Dortmund’s water profile, “which leaves the finish of the beer with a minerally character… it’s like club soda versus seltzer water.” Additional tasting notes from Ramirez include “a nice malt flavor, golden color, low hop rate, and sparkling carbonation.”
It wouldn’t be a tenth anniversary without parties. Per the press release, “Denizens is celebrating their 10th Anniversary in their taproom on June 15th from 1pm to 5 pm by releasing Good Neighbors Lager during a massive lager party that will include live music, guest taps from six other local DC area breweries, and food and beer specials. It’s free to attend – come thirsty and hungry!… Brookland’s Finest will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary with a big party on Sunday June 9th all day with Good Neighbors Lager, food and drink specials, and special guests!”
We’ll leave you with the copy on the beer can and see you at both these events!
“Good Neighbors Lager is the culmination of a decade-long friendship between Brookland’s Finest Bar & Kitchen and Denizens Brewing Co. These two local small businesses are celebrating 10 years in operation and commemorating it with this delicious golden lager. Brookland’s Finest wrote a love letter to the neighborhood when it began serving family recipes and comfort food to whoever walked in their doors. Denizens set out to make beer accessible to everyone, and to ensure we all had a seat at the table. Ten years is something to be celebrated. 10 years of memories, of laughter, of life. 10 years of leaving it all on the field. 10 years of blood, sweat, and cheers. Cheers to 10 more, and cheers to you, our good neighbors.”
