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D.C. Beer Week, Day By Day: Lagerheads’ Picks for Friday & Saturday

Tammy Tuck — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:55:05 +0000

This year's D.C. Beer Week is beginning to wind down, but hopefully you aren't. There are still two full days of craft beer madness and more than 35 interesting to-do's with tasty brews to choose from. Below are my picks for Friday and Saturday, but be sure to check out the full calendar after the jump.

FRIDAY

Dogfish Head Tasting & 90 Minute Randall Growler Fills at D'Vines (from 6 to 9 p.m.) - Josh Fruchtman from Dogfish Head Brewery will conduct a tasting and very special demonstration of Randall the Enamel Animal at this Columbia Heights wine and beer shop. D'Vines will be filling and selling growlers of 90 Minute IPA run through bacon and habanero peppers. If you've never had beer through a Randall, this is a heck of a way to start.

Flying Dog Night at Iron Horse Taproom (from 6 to 11 p.m.) - The Iron Horse Taproom hosts Flying Dog Brewery and six of the Frederick, Md.-based brewing company's beers in the downstairs bar. Featured brews include Raging Bitch, Table for Two, Snake Dog, Doggie Style, Imperial IPA, Single Hop Centennial IPA, Dogtoberfest, and Barrel-Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter.

Great Lakes Tap Takeover at The Black Squirrel (from 5 to 11 p.m.) – Ohio's Great Lakes Brewing Company will dominate the tap lines at this Adams Morgan beer bar with year-round and seasonal favorites like Holy Moses White Ale, Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA, and Oktoberfest. Beer geeks will fawn over two Cleveland brew-pub exclusives that have made their way to D.C. and will be tapped at 8 p.m., Rye of the Tiger and Market Street Wheat.

Trinity Brewhouse Night at Capitol Lounge (from 4 to 11 p.m.) – Award-winning brewpub Trinity Brewhouse from Providence, Rhode Island, has brought their beer outside of the "Renaissance City" for the first time. The Capitol Hill event is a good chance to try Mercy Brown, Decadence Imperial IPA, Heffe Wisse, Pilsner, and Strawberry Bomb.

SATURDAY

D.C. Homebrewers Association Homebrew Competition at Red Palace (from 12 to 4 p.m.) - A $10 ticket gets you entry into the competition, sponsored by the DC Homebrewers club. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste beers from D.I.Y. brewers from across the D.C. area and get early admission to the same evening's "Nerd Nite" event at Red Palace. (See below.)

D.C. Beer Week Nerd Nite at Red Palace (from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.) – This special edition of Nerd Nite DC offers the chance to geek out over beer with featured speakers Greg Engert of Birch & Barley/ChurchKey, Brandon Skall of DC Brau, and local beer bar legend Bill Stewart. The State Department will provide musical interludes throughout the evening. For more details on each presentation, click on the event in the calendar below.

Mid-Atlantic Brewery Night at Smith Commons (from 7 to 10 p.m.) - Smith Commons on H Street, NE, is celebrating D.C. Beer Week by featuring breweries from different regions of the country over four nights. Saturday is Mid-Atlantic night with $5 pints, $15 bombers and $5 regional-themed small food pairings from D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Delaware. Participating breweries include DC Brau, 3 Stars, Port City, Lost Rhino, Baying Hound Aleworks, Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Heavy Seas Beer, Olivers, the Brewers Art, Flying Dog and more. Click on the link in the calendar below for the full beer list.

Vegan Beer Dinner at Bread & Brew (7:30 to 9:30 p.m.) – Health nuts, this one's for you. Bread & Brew in Dupont Circle will host a five-course vegan dinner paired with a variety of vegan craft beers. Dishes will be prepared using the freshest local, organic produce. Tickets are $50 and reservations are required.

Send submissions for the D.C. Beer Events calendar to thelagerheads@gmail.com.

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What Made Your D.C. Beer Week “Best Of” List?

Tammy Tuck and Bruce Falconer — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:59:58 +0000

The second annual D.C. Beer Week has come to a close. Now that the foam has settled and avid craft beer drinkers have begun to re-hydrate, it's time to look back at the week and select some highlights. With almost 80 total events across nearly 40 different venues, for that we must turn to you. Which were the best events and what were the best beers? Any knock-your-socks-off food pairings? How about exceptionally knowledgeable speakers or especially good deals? This is your chance to give some shout-outs (or air some grievances), so let's hear it.

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Last Week’s Greatest Hits on Young & Hungry

Tim Carman — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:45:26 +0000

D.C. Beer Week had a little of everything — and a lot of a hoppy beverages — but the beer nerd's answer to Restaurant Week still took a backseat to the District's other hot trend: food trucks.

The Red Hook Lobster Pound truck continues to hog all the attention, but Y&H readers also took an interest in the business community's attempt to slash the tires on these modern chuck wagons before they can even begin to transform D.C.'s reputation as a crappy street-food town.

Take a look at your faves from last week:

* A certain light-drinking Budweiser beer was, once again, a popular item among readers, but we’ve stopped counting it.

“Alt Together Now” Local Brewpub Collaboration Ale Closes D.C. Beer Week

Tammy Tuck and Bruce Falconer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:20:24 +0000

Barrett Lauer, head brewer at District Chophouse & Brewery had been holding onto an idea for an Altbier called "Alt Together Now." When 2010 D.C. Beer Week details started coming together several months ago, he found a perfect use for the clever title. Following the collaborative spirit of American craft brewers in general, as well as the community-wide effort around D.C. Beer Week this year, Lauer joined forces with brewers Mike McCarthy of Capitol City Brewing Company and Scott Lasater of Gordon Biersch to create the recipe and brew three different versions of the same beer.

"Alt Together Now" is a 5%-ABV Altbier, which means it's a brown ale fashioned after the smooth, delicate top-fermenting beers made in Germany for hundreds of years before cold-temperature lagering became the norm (thanks to Bavarian brewing laws and the invention of refrigeration). The Altbier style, which literally translates to "old beer," is associated with the Düsseldorf area of Northern Germany, and ordering "ein bier" there still gets you an Alt instead of the usual Pilsner.

The brewers used the same percentages and types of malt, hops, and yeast, but got their ingredients from different sources and brewed on their own equipment. The Lagerheads had the chance to taste all three versions, which have been being poured at each respective brewpub all week. We found the District Chophouse's "Alt Together Now" and Capitol City's "Altbier" to be pretty similar, while Gordon Biersch's "Düsseldorf Style German Pale Ale" was something different. Our notes on each and your chance to try six different versions of this first-ever collaborative D.C. brew this weekend after the jump.

Lauer's Alt, pictured on the left above, had a distinctive Pilsner malt aroma with a touch of hazelnut, a nice nutty, fresh bread flavor, and a surprisingly dry finish. McCarthy's rendition (pictured center) had the same dry finish, but more caramel, citrus, and spice in the nose and an almost German hefeweizen-like flavor. Lasater's version (pictured right) reminded us more of a Kölsch, which is a clean, crisp style from the Cologne area of Northern Germany with a similar story to Altbier. It was notably lighter in color than the others, had a bit of sour lemon underneath the typical pale malt aroma, and a very smooth, subtle (admittedly too subtle for our preferences) taste with a quick, dry finish.

Lauer said the only challenge aside from the usual logistical tasks needed in any collaborative effort was choosing a beer that could be sold at Gordon Biersch. At Capitol City and the Chophouse, brewers enjoy a good deal of freedom over what they brew, but the Gordon Biersch corporate office imposes strict parameters for what styles of beer their brewers can make and even the specific recipes they can use.

Y&H readers can look forward to more on this first D.C. brewpub collaboration beer from The Beerspotter next week. Even better than that, you have the chance to taste six (yeah SIX) versions of the beer without having to walk all over downtown to find them. This Saturday from 3:00 to 7:00pm, ChurchKey will be tapping all three Altbiers plus another three casks of the beer from District Chophouse. There will be a regular cask, a cask with oak, and a cask with fresh hops grown in Brewmaster Barrett Lauer's own garden. Representatives from each brewery will be on hand to talk about the beer and give away free glassware. Sounds like a most appropriate way to close out D.C. Beer Week! If you can't make it, don't worry. The beers will be on draft at each location for at least a few weeks, if not much longer.

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D.C. Beer Week Picks for Friday

Tammy Tuck and Bruce Falconer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:59:31 +0000

It's last call for D.C. Beer Week with the final batch of events tonight and a few stragglers over the weekend. Below are some notes on the events that caught our eye. Check out the full list after the jump and let us know which ones are getting your drool going in the comments section.

Our top pick is the Michigan Rare Craft Beer Blowout at The Big Hunt. You don't have to be a Midwest transplant to go bonkers over beer from breweries like Founders, Bell's, New Holland, and Jolly Pumpkin. List highlights include rarities like Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout, a Canadian maple syrup barrel-aged version of the brewery's Breakfast Stout made with oats, chocolate, and coffee, and a sneak preview keg of Bell's Hopslam, the hyped, honeyed Imperial IPA that hopheads eagerly await the release of each January. And then there are the always-rare sour ales from Jolly Pumpkin. These delicate, funky beers aren't for everyone, but Big Hunt bar manager and craft beer advocate Dave Coleman managed to get some bottles of Calabaza Blanca and Weizen Bam for the devoted.

You can also meet one of the brewers from Flying Dog and sample the first batch of Snake Dog IPA on draft in D.C. at the Black Squirrel tonight. Our other pick is the Beer 101 Class and Tasting at RFD, where studious newbies can sample ten beers while learning about different styles and the brewing process, all for the bargain price of $26. For Saturday, there were rumors about a downtown pub crawl from District Chophouse to Gordon Biersch to Capitol City to sample all three of the collaboration Altbiers brewed at each local brewpub for D.C. Beer Week. More on that collaboration beer and the story behind it next week from The Lagerheads and The Beerspotter. [UPDATE: All three versions of this D.C. Beer Week collaboration ale "Alt Together Now" will be tapped Saturday from 3:00 to 7:00pm at ChurchKey, along with three cask-condition versions of District Chophouse's version. Representatives from each brewery on hand to discuss their beers.]

Here is the full list of events this weekend. More details on any event can be found in our D.C. Beer Events Calendar.

FRIDAY

Belgian Beer Happy Hour at Belga Café (4:00-6:00pm)
Great Lakes Happy Hour at RFD (4:00-7:00pm, $4 per pint)
Beer Week Wrap-Up Specials at Meridian Pint (5:00-8:00pm)
Flying Dog Brewer Meet & Greet at The Black Squirrel (6:00-7:30pm)
Canned Beer Night at Policy (6:00-9:00pm)
Three-Course Pairing Menu at Dino (6:00-9:30pm, $39)
Michigan Rare Craft Beer Blowout at The Big Hunt (7:30pm-Close)
Beer Tasting 101 Class at RFD (8:00-9:30pm, $26)

SATURDAY

DC Brewpub Collaboration "Alt Together Now" Tapping Party at ChurchKey (3:00-7:00pm)
Firkin Spectacular at RFD (7:00-9:30pm, $40)
Sunset Kayak & Flying Dog Tasting at Jack's Boathouse / Old Glory (6:00-9:00pm, $39)

SUNDAY

Stella Artois Perfect Pour Contest at Belga Café (2:00-5:00pm)

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D.C. Beer Week Picks for Thursday

Tammy Tuck and Bruce Falconer — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:43:24 +0000

We know you've been watching the clock all day, waiting for The Lagerheads to guide you to a top D.C. Beer Week destination. Tonight's become the busiest billing of the week, with fourteen scheduled opportunities to champion craft beer. Easy to be overwhelmed, we know, so here are our picks and a complete list after the jump.

The Schlafly dinner at Meridian Pint is likely to be one of the best events of the week. If seats are not sold out, $65 will get you a five-course dinner created by Chef David Shewmaker paired with a selection of five unique Schlafly beers chosen by Beer Director Sam Fitz. The dinner will be guided by the Saint Louis Brewery co-founder Dan Kopman, who will discuss his role in the craft beer movement as well as his line of outstanding beers.

You and your four-legged best friend can enjoy an evening together on the patio at DC Bread & Brew with Flying Dog. The "Yappy Hour" will feature both human and dog food specials including doggy ice cream, and bottles of Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA, Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, Old Scratch Amber Lager, and Double Dog Double Pale Ale are $4 each. At 11.5% ABV, a few of those Double Dogs could make you (or your little pup) a very cheap (and drunk) date.

Like oysters? Then The Reef should be your top choice tonight, where you can take part in 3,000 oysters, 7 beers from Rogue Ales, and five special pairing dishes prepared by talented Chef Connor Ireland. In addition to the beers below, they'll be pouring Dead Guy Ale and Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale, an amber brewed with hops and malt grown on Rogue’s own micro hopyard and barley farm. Pairing menu:

American Amber Ale: Cured hog jowel with pistachio, plum, and cardomom
Somer Orange Honey Ale: Seared plaintains and bison shortrib with pulverised gingerbread
Kells Irish Style Lager: Kielbasa with spicy greens and cherries, apple cider glaze
Imperial Younger's Special Bitter: Marrow bones with sherry and raisins, on toast
John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar: Unripe banana and kiwi with tapioca dumpling and parsley sauce

Other standouts from tonight's options are the Schmaltz ((makers of He'Brew and Coney Island beers) night at District Pour House with charismatic brewery founder Jeremy Cowan, and the chance to drink from a firkin of Reissdorf Kolsch with Belgian Beer Knight Bill Catron at Biergarten Haus, but check out tonight's complete list below and see what looks good for yourself. More details on any event can be found in our D.C. Beer Events Calendar.

Flying Dog Yappy Hour at DC Bread & Brew (4:00-8:00pm, $4 bottles)
Sam Adams Oktoberfest Kick-Off at RFD (4:00-10:00pm, $4 per pint)
Half-Price Draft Happy Hour at Pizzeria Paradiso (5:00-7:00pm)
Heavy Seas Cask Night at Thunder Burger (5:00-8:00pm)
Rogue Ales Oyster Fest at The Reef (5:00-10:00pm)
DC Brau Owners Meet & Greet at The Big Hunt (5:30-7:30pm)
Abita Happy Hour at Eatonville (6:00-9:00pm, $10 for first beer and hors d'ouerves, $5 per beer)
Three-Course Beer & Food Pairing Menu at Dino (6:00-9:30pm, $39)
Victory Cask Night at ChurchKey (6:00-10:00pm)
Opposite Night & Homebrew Swap at Breadsoda (6:00-10:00pm, Free 8oz. beer with each pint purchased)
Schmaltz Night with Founder Jeremy Cowan at Distrtict Pour House (6:00-8:00pm)
Duvel Green Tasting at ChurchKey (7:00-8:00pm, Free)
Schlafly Dinner with Founder Dan Kopman at Meridian Pint (7:00-10:00pm, $65)
Reissdorf Kolsch Firkin Night with Bill Catron at Biergarten Haus (7:00-9:00pm)
Brooklyn Pint Night at The Pug (8:00-10:00pm)

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Wednesday’s Beerspotter Picks for D.C. Beer Week

Orr Shtuhl — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:32:16 +0000

Readers have been quick to point out that not all Beer Week events are created equal. While draft rarities and discount specials are always welcome, a $5 pint hardly constitutes a special night unto itself, even if D.C. drink prices often approach Ticketmaster-level robbery. The best things in life are free, so start with some quality time with brewmaster Barrett Lauer at District Chophouse, who will be hanging with folks at the bar and offering tours of the brewery. If you're feeling antisocial, they've still got you covered; park on a barstool and drink half-price beers until 9 p.m., including the new, all-D.C. collaboration "Alt Together Now" altbier. It's a toasty brown ale with a grassy, European-style hop finish, and more thirst-quenching than the pumpkin and Octoberfest beers that breweries are peddling this August.

Tonight's also the night for beer dinners, with Thunder Burger, Liberty Tree, and Capitol Lounge all offering menus for $40 or less. They feature three top-notch breweries — Sierra Nevada, Smuttynose, and Great Lakes, respectively — but pressed to choose, I'd go with Thunder Burger, if only to taste the new Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Jack & Ken’s Imperial Black Barleywine Ale. How good is this commemorative brew? Well, it brought the legendary Jack McAuliffe out of retirement.

Meet the Brewer Night at District Chophouse – Meet brewer Barrett Lauer and tour the brewery, along with half-price beers. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sierra Nevada Dinner at Thunder Burger – Four-course meal, paired with Kellerweis Hefeweizen, Torpedo Extra IPA, Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale, and 30th Anniversary Jack & Ken’s Imperial Black Barleywine Ale. $40, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Great Lakes Beer and BBQ at Capitol Lounge – All-inclusive dinner of smoked brisket, Carolina-style pork barbecue, kielbasa, and the four Great Lakes flagship beers. $35, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Smuttynose Beer Dinner at Liberty Tree – Four-courses, four-beer dinner. $40, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Heavy Seas Cask Night at Churchkey – One oak cask, five regular casks, and 2009 Below Decks Barleywine on draft, plus free glassware. Casks include Loose Cannon (in oak cask), wet-hopped Loose Cannon, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Hang Ten, Secret-Spice Hang Ten, Prosit!, and Peg Leg. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Lagunitas Dinner at DC Bread & Brew – Six-course meal, paired with Hop Stoopid, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, Censored Ale, IPA, Czech Pilsner, and New Dogtown Pale Ale. $50, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

D.C. Beer Week Night at Nationals Park – Discounted tickets and Leinenkugel beer samples if you buy your tickets through D.C. Beer Week. $22, 7:00 p.m.

Speakeasy DC at The Big Hunt – “Fermented: A Night of True Tales About Beer” Sold out. $15, 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., performance at 8:00 p.m.

“A Bitch and a Bastard” Flying Dog/Stone Tasting at The Big Hunt – Also sold out, but many of the beers will be available on tap at the bar. $35, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Half-Price Rodenbach Drafts at Brasserie Beck – Free glassware. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Ommegang’s Belgian Bonanza at Meridian Pint – Rare Vos, Belgian Pale Ale, Scotch Ale, Abbey Ale, Hennepin & 2008 Biere De Mars on tap.

An Evening with Troegs at Commonwealth – Free glassware and rare beers. 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Troegs Night at The Red and the Black – Free glassware, and serving Mad Elf Holiday Ale. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

D.C. Beer Week Picks for Tuesday

Tammy Tuck and Bruce Falconer — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:36:34 +0000

D.C. Beer Week is well underway. So whether you've taken advantage of the numerous events that have already happened or are preparing to venture out to your first one tonight, we're here to help direct you to where you want to go. Below are The Lagerheads' picks for tonight.

MOST EDUCATIONAL
We predict that you'll get your money's worth in knowledge at the Dogfish Head Ancient Ales Tasting and Lecture at The Brickskeller. Sales manager Claus Hagelman will guide you through several of the Delaware brewery's recreations of ales from long ago. Likely brews are Midas Touch, based on molecular evidence found in a Turkish tomb believed to have belonged to King Midas, Chateau Jiahu a recipe unearthed from a 9000 year old tomb in China, Theobroma, an unfiltered, 9%-ABV beer brewed with honey, ancho chilies, ground annatto seeds, cocoa nibs, and cocoa powder, or Sah'tea, beer brewed with rye, juniper, and Black Chai Tea based on a 9th century Finnish recipe. Doors open at 6:00pm, tasting begins around 7:00pm.

BEST BUY
The four-course pairing menu at Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar looks like it will be the most bang for your buck. Twenty dollars will get you four 4.5-oz. beer samples and tasting portions of dishes prepared by Queen Vic chef Adam Stein. The menu includes:

Hofbräu Hefeweizen with Salad of Pickled Clam & Thinly Sliced Pork Loin w/ Cilantro, Thai Basil & Citrus Vinaigrette

Paulaner Salvator Dopperbock with Tacos de Lengua w/ Cabbage Slaw & Grilled Chile Salsa

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA with Korean Style Short Ribs w/ Bali Pepper & Ginger Beer Marinade, served w/ Fresh Kimchi

Hoppin Frog B.O.R.I.S The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout with Sweet Corncakes & Oatmeal Stout Custard sauced w/ Charred Peach Caramel

RAREST BEER
You can score some very had-to-get beer at the Vintage Chimay Tasting at Belga Café tonight, but you'll pay for it. If you like strong, dark Belgian beers you probably won't regret laying down $59 for a chance to sample three different vintage Chimays: Chimay Grand Reserve 750ml 2010 Vintage, Chimay 3L Jeroboam 2009 Vintage, and the extremely rare Chimay 6L Methusalah 2007 Vintage. If American craft beer is more your thing, we think you will be in for a pleasant surprise at The Big Hunt's "Local" Beer Night, especially any of you who didn't get to Room 11 in time to sample the Pennsylvania brewery's Mad King Weiss or Gassy Jack Bitter last night. [UPDATE: The Big Hunt will have Victory Baltic Thunder Porter, Hop Wallop Imperial IPA, and Saison du Buff.]

BUSIEST NEIGHBORHOOD
A look at the list below places most events on H Street Corridor or in Dupont Circle tonight, so if you're looking for a 'hood do some D.C. Beer Week bar crawling in, we suggest either of those parts of town.

Here's the complete list so you can choose for yourself, but don't forget our tips for surviving the week. More details on any event are listed in our D.C. Beer Events Calendar.

Adam Stein Beer Dinner at Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar (6:00-8:00pm, $20)
Brisket & Brews with He'Brew Ales at Star and Shamrock (6:00-9:00pm)
Brooklyn Brawl Beer & Cheese Tasting at Kramerbooks/Afterwords Cafe (6:00-9:00pm, $5 to $7 per pairing)
"Local" Beer Night at The Big Hunt (6:00pm-Close)
Harpoon Pints for Putts at H Street Country Club (6:30-9:30pm)
Racer 5 IPA & Dangerously Delicious Pies at Justin's Cafe (6:30-Close, $10 for a pie-beer combo)
Vintage Chimay Tasting at Belga Café (6:30-8:30pm, $59)
Dogfish Ancient Ales Tasting at The Brickskeller (7:00-9:00pm, $35)
Pizza Night with 21st Amendment Brewing at 18th Amendment (7:00-9:00pm)
Great Lakes Beer Dinner at Café Saint-Ex (7:00-10:00pm, $65)
Oliver's "Brewmaster Presents" with Stephen Jones at Meridian Pint

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D.C. Beer Week Survival Tips

Tammy Tuck and Bruce Falconer — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:18:20 +0000

Standing in the block-long line for the Nerd Nite DC event Friday evening caused The Lagerheads to have a flashback from last year's D.C. Beer Week, where we saw a girl storm out of Cafe Saint-Ex in tears because they had sold out the beer dinner before she got a ticket. No need to get that frustrated this year, folks. We have put together a simple list of tips that should help you have a good, stress-free time enjoying craft beer this week. And remember to play nice out there. It's just beer.

Buy tickets in advance – If you have the opportunity to do so, order those tickets online or call to make a reservation ahead of time so your spot is reserved. That's more than half the battle right there.
Show up early – A lot of these events will sell out, especially the ones with big draws like beers you can't usually get in D.C. or brewers from out of town. Getting there early and standing around waiting will be much less painful than not getting in at all, so just do it!
Make a follow-up visit – So it's the crowds, not procrastination that is your problem? Consider going to the bar or restaurant after the time listed for the event, or the next day. With the exception of a super high-demand beer that will go in an hour or less anyway, most places will have beer left over for at least a day, if not all week. Swing by after and enjoy a pint (or two or three) in peace.
Go against the grain (Pun intended) – Along the same line as Tip #3, look at the schedule, pick a place you like or have wanted to try, and go on a night they are not having an event. The crowds that usually scare you away are likely to be out partying it up at $70 beer dinners instead of blocking your access to the bartender. Or, go to one of the establishments having a week-long special instead of a themed event on just one night. Here are the ones we know about:

Pizzeria Paradiso Happy Hour (5:00-7:00pm, Monday through Thursday) – Half-price on all drafts (and they have some beauties).

RFD Craft Beer Happy Hour (4:00-7:00pm, Monday through Friday) – $4 pints of three different craft beers each night. It will be a variety throughout the week, but we know Dominion will be featured Tuesday and Great Lakes Brewing on Friday.

Chinatown Coffee $1 Off Special (4:00-8:00pm, Monday through Saturday) – $1 off every beer. List includes gems from craft breweries like Lagunitas, Oskar Blues, and Great Lakes.

Dino's Three Course Pairing Menu (6:00-9:30pm, Monday through Thursday) – Three courses and four North Coast beers for $39. Menu here.

D.C. Beer Week Collaboration Ale – Try each local brewer's version of the same Altbier recipe, on tap all week at District Chophouse, Gordon Biersch, and Capitol City Brewing Company.

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Tonight’s Beerspotter Picks for D.C. Beer Week

Orr Shtuhl — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:59:55 +0000

I hope yesterday's hangover brunch was a restorative one, because it's D.C. Beer Week, and you've got your work cut out for you. With seven events tonight and almost 40 this week, you need to plan strategically — tonight is but one leg in the tour de pints. You could start with a quiet dinner and beer pairings at Dino, which until Thursday is offering a set menu featuring house-made charcuterie. You could (and should) support our local brewpubs' "Alt Together Now," a mellow, German-style brown ale that is the first-ever three-way collaboration between Capitol City Brewing Co., Gordon Biersch, and District Chophouse. It's on tap at Chophouse all night, and half price from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Or, if you're more of the bar-crawling, neurotic sampling type (me), you could traverse 11th Street in Columbia Heights and hit up a pair of promising events. First priority is Room 11, which will feature a pair of rarities from Victory: the English-style Gassy Jack Bitter and the Mad King's Weiss, which is the fullest, heartiest hefeweizen I've ever tasted, here or in Germany. If you're still seething over America's early exit from the World Cup, seeing Victory beat two brew countries at their own game should stir your national pride. Once you're good and riled (or the kegs kick), walk an entire block up the road to Meridian Pint, which will have $5 pints of five different beers from Great Lakes. Oh, and Mayor Adrian Fenty is doing a meet-and-greet from 8:00 to 9:30. Yes, I know I gave a hefeweizen top billing over the mayor — but I swear, it's a really good hefeweizen.

"Alt Together Now" Collaboration Beer Launch at District Chophouse – First-ever collaboration between Capitol City Brewing Co., Gordon Biersch, and District Chophouse. Half price beers 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Victory Brewing Company Rarities at Room 11 – Mad King’s Weiss and Gassy Jack Bitter on tap. 5:00 p.m. until it runs out.

Great Lakes Take-Over at Meridian Pint – Burning River Pale Ale, Elliot Ness Amber Lager, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Oktoberfest, and Lake Erie Monster are $5 all night.

Opposite Night & Homebrew Swap at Breadsoda Every beer comes with a free 8 oz. pour of its “opposite.” Think Guinness for wheat beer. Also meet and tweet with the staff of DCBeer.com. 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Oliver Ales Cask Night with Brewmaster Stephen Jones at The Big Hunt – Three casks of Oliver 3 Lions ale, aged three different ways. 6:00 p.m.

Belgian vs. American Beer Dinner at Granville Moore’s – Five-course dinner with pairings of Belgian and Belgian-style American beer. $70, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Three Course Beer & Food Pairing at Dino – Three-course dinner paired with Anderson Valley Boont ESB, North Coast Red Seal, and North Coast Old Rasputin. $39, available through Thursday.

Burgers & Beer in the Bus at Trusty’s – Free samples of canned craft beer from Butternuts, and a bar that looks like a school bus. 5:00 p.m. to close.