Definitive Washington DC visit thread

[neorunner]

Edit: post moved. No longer relevant.

 

[BadJustin]

carry on, ****, making me "work"

 

[neorunner]

carry on, ****, making me "work"

Those Junior Mod stripes don't earn themselves!

 

[Shakedwnst]

No idea if you have to stay in a hotel but I’d think staying up by the U street stop gives you a lot of options for food on that 14th street corridor. Still a little too far to walk to meridian pint but should be walkable to churchkey.

 

[bramsdell]

No idea if you have to stay in a hotel but I’d think staying up by the U street stop gives you a lot of options for food on that 14th street corridor. Still a little too far to walk to meridian pint but should be walkable to churchkey.

Best draft lists (imo) are Churchkey, Sovereign, Meridian Pint and Bluejacket. Sovereign isn’t near a metro and not walkable from downtown so you’ll have to uber there either way. I’d stay somewhere near DuPont Circle which should give you plenty of hotel options, it’s walking distance to Churchkey, a shortish walk to the yellow/green line which can get you to L’Enfant Plaza, Meridian Pint or Bluejacket and right near the red line dupont stop.

FWIW, imo Bluejacket has really got their stuff on point, has solid food, sells cans, and you could walk to the Aslin beer garden after if you desire (it’s near Nats Park and is open on Nats or DCUnited game days/nights)

I love Meridian Pint and I think Smoke and Barrel (owned by the same people) has an equal taplist. Plus, the basement of Smoke and Barrel is usually pretty quiet on the weekends, especially for Adams Morgan. It's a personal favorite place.

 

[gatorbeer1]

I love Meridian Pint and I think Smoke and Barrel (owned by the same people) has an equal taplist. Plus, the basement of Smoke and Barrel is usually pretty quiet on the weekends, especially for Adams Morgan. It's a personal favorite place.

I always forget about smoke & barrel but you’re right they’re great

 

[bramsdell]

Anyone going to Brewers on the Block? I've been slammed at work and haven't had the opportunity to hit any DC Beer Week events. I'll be going tomorrow, though. https://unionmarketdc.com/events/brewers-on-the-block/

No beer list up yet (details are sparse), but it looks small and tickets weren't sold out. At $55 for GA, it's more expensive that I think it probably should be without any really crazy breweries, but there's some good stuff. I'm a definitely a fan of RAR, Manor Hill, and what I've had so far from Pale Fire. Plus, tomorrow's supposed to be another gorgeous day.

 

[JCastle1]

Anything interesting in DC lately? I've been to Churchkey, Meridian, and Paradiso before but wondering if there's anything else more recent to check out (already know about The Sovereign, will def check it out). Also any good beers to look out for?

 

[gatorbeer1]

Not really. I think Bluejacket is the best it’s been. Solid, diverse tap list and cans to go. If you’re looking for bottles, the Bruery store has a great selection, including Voodoo, Rare Barrel and Lost Abbey and their Offshoot brand IPA cans. If you have a car and want to drive 30 mins, the famous homebrewer Michael Tonsmeire has Sapwood cellars in MD.

That’s about it, the rest of the breweries are mediocre imo. Aslin is opening an Alexandria location in a few months, maybe next time you visit.

 

[bramsdell]

Anything interesting in DC lately? I've been to Churchkey, Meridian, and Paradiso before but wondering if there's anything else more recent to check out (already know about The Sovereign, will def check it out). Also any good beers to look out for?

You've pretty much covered it, plus the already-mentioned Bluejacket. If you haven't been to the Sovereign and don't mind (a) going to Georgetown and (b) probably dropping some coin, it's a must-hit.

Depending on where you are, you can check out Meridian Pint's sister locations, Smoke and Barrel and Brookland Pint.

There's always Right Proper - either their brewpub or taproom.

It seems like pretty much everywhere in DC these days has at least a couple of decent beers on, but there haven't been any new beer-centric places. I haven't been to the Bruery store yet, but I understand that it's to-go only, which has deterred me.

 

[wuntrikpony]

Wonder if Aslin is going to do their popup at Nats games again this year. Never got a chance to make it up last year.

 

[bramsdell]

Wonder if Aslin is going to do their popup at Nats games again this year. Never got a chance to make it up last year.

I never went either - I hate going down to that area anytime around games. I'm also pretty over Aslin at this point. The hazy thing has run its course with me and their beers are often incredibly sweet. If there's something I haven't tried on a Meridian or Smoke and Barrel, I may try it, but I've had about enough of them at this point.

 

[wuntrikpony]

I never went either - I hate going down to that area anytime around games. I'm also pretty over Aslin at this point. The hazy thing has run its course with me and their beers are often incredibly sweet. If there's something I haven't tried on a Meridian or Smoke and Barrel, I may try it, but I've had about enough of them at this point.

I hear ya...just never been to a Nats game and being from LA, the ballpark beer options were $14 Tecate and 6 month old Golden Road IPA.

I want to jump off the haze train as well, but had a DDH IPA from Triple Crossing last night that was ******* amazing.

 

[bramsdell]

I hear ya...just never been to a Nats game and being from LA, the ballpark beer options were $14 Tecate and 6 month old Golden Road IPA.

I want to jump off the haze train as well, but had a DDH IPA from Triple Crossing last night that was ******* amazing.

Word - big fan of Triple Crossing. Enjoyed stopping by there a couple of years ago while in Richmond.

What we really need in DC are stores that can serve pours, like in NC. I remember when I first visited Raleigh like 5-6 years ago and went to Bottle Revolution and Tasty Beverage. It was amazing.

 

[wuntrikpony]

What we really need in DC are stores that can serve pours, like in NC. I remember when I first visited Raleigh like 5-6 years ago and went to Bottle Revolution and Tasty Beverage. It was amazing.

Haha, I actually can't stand the proliferation of bottle shops down here. Having a couple is cool and all, but we really lack great beer bars. All the good beer is available at places that I don't really want to hang out at(with the exception of Tasty).

 

[bramsdell]

Haha, I actually can't stand the proliferation of bottle shops down here. Having a couple is cool and all, but we really lack great beer bars. All the good beer is available at places that I don't really want to hang out at(with the exception of Tasty).

I get you. To be honest, that's exactly how I feel about Churchkey here in DC. Yeah, that taplist is great, but it's pretty insufferable anytime from 5-9pm on weekdays and pretty much all afternoon on weekends. Just way too many people and a lot of post-work bros. The Sovereign is definitely better, but it requires going to Georgetown.

The bottle shop situation has drastically improved just in the last couple of years. It used to be that there were very few stores that gave a **** (D'Vines being the only one in my area), but now lots of grocery stores have a solid selection (especially Yes! Market by my house) and there are some real gems.

If anyone hasn't been to Odd Provisions, it's definitely a good spot to check out. It's adjacent to my neighborhood and I bike by it every day I go to work, but it always just looked like one of those "overpriced olive oil and chocolates" places. Their beer selection is very solid and prices are reasonable for the area. It's pretty much one block away from Meridian Pint, too.

I forgot that I went to a newish (I think) place in Georgetown a couple of months ago called The Berliner. It's way the hell up there (pretty much under the Key Bridge), and it's pseudo-beer hall-y. Taplist was solid, prices were fine (for Georgetown), and they have a ping-pong table. Not a bad little place, but not somewhere I would make the trek to Georgetown for, as opposed to the Sovereign.

 

[Sebowski1]

Ocelot anniversary on 4/20! Anyone else going?

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Ocelot anniversary on 4/20! Anyone else going?

Ugh. First time I won’t be able to make it. Headed to NY for Easter/family time.

 

[neorunner]

Ugh. First time I won’t be able to make it. Headed to NY for Easter/family time.

 

[neorunner]

Ocelot anniversary on 4/20! Anyone else going?

I'll be there at some point for sure.

 

[Sebowski1]

Ugh. First time I won’t be able to make it. Headed to NY for Easter/family time.

Nooooooooooooo

 

[Sebowski1]

I'm doing DC the 19th. Sovereign for sure at some point. Hit up your boy.

 

[JCastle1]

Churchkey is my current favorite place on Earth. Great draft list, had some tasty beverages. Highlights were that Czech pilsner that HF is importing and Schlenkerla.

 

[franch]

churchkey is still the best beer bar in the country.

 

[bum732]

churchkey is still the best beer bar in the country.

 

[ScottJWing]

Will be in town for a few days in early May, does Aslin still have that pop up ramen kitchen? Anywhere else I should check out, aside from the usual suspects (Sovereign, Church Key, Meridian, Smoke and Barrel, Jack Rose, etc.)?

 

[bramsdell]

Will be in town for a few days in early May, does Aslin still have that pop up ramen kitchen? Anywhere else I should check out, aside from the usual suspects (Sovereign, Church Key, Meridian, Smoke and Barrel, Jack Rose, etc.)?

Meridian Pint closed, sadly. Well, actually, it moved to VA, which is even worse.

I don't think that Aslin is doing its popup anymore.

I don't think there's anything really new and poppin in DC, beer-wise. If you haven't made it to Right Proper (either brewpub or production brewery), that's a good play. Three Stars makes some decent beer, too, but they're much more old school, brewery with some tables in it type of place.

 

[bramsdell]

churchkey is still the best beer bar in the country.

It is if you can go at opening on a weekday. After 6pm, it's usually too full with pretty lame people - either downtown bros or neckbeard cicerones.

At this point, I think the Sovereign is generally more interesting and more fun. But if you get Churchkey all to yourself...that's the dream.

 

[user 306926]

churchkey is still the best beer bar in the country.

Definitely in my top 10. Maybe top 5. Sorry, I still got Porter as champ. factory waddup!

 

[JCastle1]

Meridian Pint closed, sadly. Well, actually, it moved to VA, which is even worse.

Huh, I was just there 4 days before that happened apparently. It was ok, had a couple of mediocre beers on tap and left.

Bluejacket has an incredible space, beers were hit or miss though. The cask beers were tasty and the lagers were pretty solid. Red Bear was cool but the beer was lacking. After hitting a few spots around town I just said **** it and ended up back at Churchkey instead.