The annual release of Hopslam, the super-rare and coveted Imperial IPA from Michigan's Bell's Brewery that often has retailers jacking up their price guns, is upon us again. And, yes, at some outlets, it's already too late to buy some. Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquors got six cases in on Monday and sold them out [...]
Tonight, the newly rebranded 2100 Prime (ex-Jockey Club) caters a splashy—and I mean, splashy!—opening reception for the Capital Wine Festival at the Fairfax Hotel. Sip on samples from two Virginia wineries, Leesburg's Tarara Vineyards and Middleburg's Boxwood Vineyards, and some 45 others. Admission is $65 per person, with buffet fare included. Across town, Belga Cafe [...]
In his weekly beer chat with WTOP, ChurchKey suds expert Greg Engert dishes up a few details about the new "boutique brewery" and restaurant that operator Neighborhood Restaurant Group is planning for the Southeast D.C. waterfront near Nationals Park. The project has already broken ground and Engert tells WTOP, "Hopefully, that'll be coming out—hopefully, keeping [...]
He might not think much of official cicerone certification programs, at least not as the only path to sudsy perspicacity, but that doesn't mean that ChurchKey beer director Greg Engert is opposed to a proper malt and hops education. Next month, Engert is launching a year-long series of Saturday afternoon tutorials called "The Beer Academy" [...]
Irrepressible ChurchKey beer director Greg Engert has a slew of ideas for beer and turkey pairings this Thanksgiving. Naturally. Washingtonian has his picks divided into white and dark meat pairings but all the suggestions are regional brews from Virginia, Maryland and D.C. To keep it simple, stick to District-made suds. That means DC Brau—The Citizen [...]
This Thursday, join me and several D.C. craft beer insiders and enthusiasts at the Bier Baron to discuss the "State of the Brewnion." The conversation will cover the D.C. area's rapidly advancing craft beer culture—everything from the growing popularity of home brewing and expanding beer menus at local bars and stores to what District beer enthusiasts can look [...]
Firefly chef Danny Bortnick is teaming up with Birch & Barley toques Kyle Bailey and Tiffany MacIsaac on a five-course fundraising dinner, scheduled for July 25, to benefit breast cancer research. The dramatic element of this charity event: Firefly's ownership group, Kimpton Hotels, is flying in its master sommelier, Emily Wines (yes, that's her real [...]
It seems the people behind beer-focused venues Birch & Barley/ChurchKey, Rustico, and Columbia Firehouse are sick of slinging only other people's suds. On Monday, a press release naming the tenants of a new development near Nationals Park outted Neighborhood Restaurant Group's plans to start a brewery in southeast D.C. The mixed-use development, dubbed "The Yards," [...]
Last week, the Washington Post announced the final results of its annual Beer Madness tournament. For the past five years, the Post's food section has put together a panel of local beer enthusiasts and had them position dozens of beers against each other in a blind tasting. The Post then shares the bracket results in [...]
House In Session Ale is a dry-hopped American pale ale brewed in February at the Schlafly Tap Room in St. Louis by the District's own Greg Jasgur of Pizzeria Paradiso, Sam Fitz of Meridian Pint, and Greg Engert of Birch & Barley and ChurchKey fame. The beer may have been brewed in St. Louis but it is 100 percent D.C. [...]
