The Journalist
Madeline Marshall, video reporter at the Wall Street Journal:
“I live in a group house with three others. I’m the beer nerd, so it’s mostly mine—the 21st Amendment is a roommate’s. But I’m very proud because all my roommates drink good beer. I always have a lot of 3 Stars and Atlas.”
The Lobbyist
Katie Marisic, federal-affairs manager at the Brewers Association:
“The Cadillac Mountain Stout is one of the first beers I got from my dad when I turned 21, and I’ve carried it from fridge to fridge. He passed away a few years ago, so it’s a reminder of why I started enjoying craft brews, but also of my dad.”
The Bartender
Erich Streckfuss, assistant brewer at District Chophouse and Brewery:
“Most of what we have in there right now is beer intended for drinking. We have a few things we’re saving. The Westvleteren was a gift when my fiancée and I moved in together. Every summer, my must-have is Union Old Pro Gose. That’s the best beer in the region.”
The Collector
Brian Merrell, Pentagon research specialist:
“DC’s actually pretty cool because it’s not a state, so the distribution laws are not well defined. There are things available in DC that aren’t available in other states. I’ve got Bourbon County Brand Stouts going back to 2011. The idea is to do a 2011-to-2016 tasting.”
This article appears in our August 2016 issue of Washingtonian.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
