The fourth annual DC Beer Week will be held August 12 through 18 and will kick off, says its cofounder, Granville Moore’s chef and co-owner Teddy Folkman, with a cruise on the Potomac River. Held aboard the Odyssey III cruising vessel, the boat ride will feature beers from 50 breweries, as well as a dress code. “It’s semiformal for beer people,” says Folkman. “That means, ‘Please wear a clean pair of pants.’” Though the ship fits 500, only 400 tickets will be sold.
As far as the weeklong event goes, “you can pretty much expect all your favorite watering holes to have something going on every day of the week,” says Folkman. Happenings range from drink specials to meet-and-greets to a possible home-brewer exposé. Folkman says he’s working on a music and beer event with DC 101 but can’t offer details quite yet.
What qualifies brewers to be involved? “You have to do something with craft beers.” The Brewers Association’s guidelines specify three levels of craft beer: small, independent, and traditional. Small crafts have an “annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less.” Independent ones have “less than 25 percent of the brewery . . . owned or controlled by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.” Finally, traditional craft breweries have “either an all-malt flagship or [have] at least 50 percent of [their] volume[s] in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.”
Here’s a list of things to look forward to—a lot of places will announce specials and events closer to the occasion, so check back for updates as the celebration of suds approaches.
3rd Annual DC Beer Week Craft Beer & Dinner Cruise on the Potomac
When: Sunday, August 12. Boarding at 5 PM; cruise from 6 to 9
Where: Gangplank Marina
For $125 you get a ticket to this kick-off event featuring a deejay, a full dinner buffet, dancing, and beers from 50 breweries from around the country. Purchase online. Must be 21 or older to attend.
Brooklyn Brawl III Beer and Cheese Tasting
When: Monday, August 13, from 6 to 9 PM
Where: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe
Junior Acevedo, the Brooklyn Brewery rep in DC, will field questions about his employer’s beers, which you’ll get to try with a variety of cheeses— Paula Wesley of International Gourmet Food will pick the pairings.
Victory Tap Take-Over
When: Monday, August 13
Where: Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle
The taps at Pizzeria Paradiso will be overflowing with brews from Pennsylvanian-based Victory Brewing Company.
Smuttynose Tap Take-Over
When: Tuesday, August 14
Where: ChurchKey
This 14th Street beer mecca will turn over taps to New Hampshire favorite Smuttynose Brewing Company.
“Ommegash It’s Allagang” dinner
When: Tuesday, August 14, starting at 6:30 PM
Where: Granville Moore’s
The chefs at Granville Moore’s offer a number of different food and beer pairings, using ales from the Cooperstown brewery Ommegang and the Portland, Maine-based Allagash. Five courses; $60 per person.
Regional Tap Takeovers
When: Wednesday, August 15, through Saturday, August 18
Where: Smith Commons
Keep an eye on Smith Commons for a variety of different beers taking over the taps. A different region of the United States will take over on each night, complete with food specials.
Rogue Tap Takeover
When: Wednesday, August 15
Where: Pizzeria Paradiso Dupont Circle and Georgetown
Beloved Oregon brewsky makers Rogue Ales takes over the taps at both Pizzeria Paradiso locations.
DC Brau’s Genuine First Annual Official DC Beer Week Crab Festival Monumental Extravaganza
When: Wednesday, August 15
Where: At QuarterDeck Restaurant, thrown by DC Brau
DC
Brau has gone all out with an all-you-can-eat crab dinner over at
QuarterDeck restaurant, complete with—you guessed it—tons of DC Brau
brews.
A Night of Funk and Folly
When: Thursday, August 16
Where: Tryst
A tasting of five beers produced by the New Belgium Brewing Company in 4.5-ounce pours, plus a pint of your favorite followed up by some deejay-spun tunes. Cost: $20 at the door.
Tröegs Tap Takeover
When: Thursday, August 16
Where: The Big Hunt
Look to the Big Hunt for exclusive offerings from central Pennsylvania brewer Tröegs Brewing Company.
Schlafly Meet and Greet With Cofounder Dan Kopman
When: Thursday, August 16
Where: Brasserie Beck
The cofounder of the craft brewery Shlafly will answer questions and discuss his beers at Belgian beer palace Brasserie Beck.
Meet and Greet and Beer Tasting With the Owners and Brewers of 3 Stars Brewing Company
When: Saturday, August 18, from 6 to 8 PM
Where: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe
The owners and brewers of DC’s newest brewery will discuss their new facility as you sample their offerings.
