Excursion: Happy Hour Brewery Hike

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Parklifer in Around Town, Excursion, Food Talk and tagged 3 Stars Brewing Co., BBQ Bus, Beer, Denizens Brewing Company, Hellbender Brewing Company, hiking.

Hellbender Brewing Company

It’s Thursday, your workday is almost over, you’re bored with the normal happy hour spots, and you want to get some exercise but don’t feel like going to the gym.

Consider something completely different.

Why not check out some of your local breweries on foot?

Skip the car and the bikes. Strap on your walking shoes and visit Hellbender, 3 Stars and Denizens all in a few hours.

Since DC breweries can now sell full pints and beer flights in the evenings (expanding from the traditional growler hours they operated on the weekends), many have opened their doors for a few hours on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Most are located in the Northeast quadrant, and are not easily accessible without a car. Easy fix. Walk. Besides, drinking and driving is never a good idea…

Here is one hike you can consider, completed successfully on April 9, 2015.

What: Happy Hour Brewery Hike
Days to try: Thursday or Friday evening
Breweries to visit: 3
Distance: 4.1 miles
Time walking: 1 hour 30 minutes

Itinerary:
Start: Fort Totten Metro (between 5:00 and 6:00pm)
1st Brewery: Hellbender Brewing Company (Hours: TH/FRI 4:00-8:00pm)
2nd Brewery: 3 Stars Brewing Company (Hours: TH/FRI 4:00-8:00pm)
3rd Brewery: Denizens Brewing Company (Hours: TH/FRI 4:00-11:00pm)
Depart: Silver Springs Metro

Don’t Miss: DC Craft Beer Festival: Spring Seasonals @ Washington Convention Center, 5/9/15

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jeremy Bailey in Around Town, Food Talk and tagged 3 Stars Brewing Co., Atlas Brew Works, Beer, beer festival, DC Craft Beer Festival, Denizens Brewing Company, Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., Port City Brewing Company, Spring.

3/17 Update: The next edition of the DC Craft Beer Festival has been postponed until May 9. The full statement from the organizers today:

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to change the date of our festival to Saturday, May 9. All previously purchased tickets will be honored, or refunds will be available through Friday to guests that cannot attend at the new date. We are truly sorry for the last minute nature of the date change. We know it is little consolation but the change was unavoidable. Major logistical obstacles, that did not previously exist, just now presented themselves. These obstacles would have resulted in unacceptably long wait times for beer replenishment and lines at tasting stations. As attendee experience is of paramount importance to us this is unacceptable. The only solution is to move to our previous space, Hall D. Mountains were moved by the Convention Center in order to open the space for us…unfortunately it had to be May 9. This is unfortunate but we had absolutely no choice. For over three years we have been committed to presenting the best craft beer festivals, across the country, in multiple cities and without issues such as this. This stalwart commitment is the only reason for the change. We humbly ask for your understanding and continued patronage if not at this event, at the many others to come in the future.”

The last time I participated in a DC Craft Beer Festival at the Washington Convention Center, it was for their Winter Harvest session. Where many of the beers have a high ABV (8-11%). I overly enjoyed my fair share of winter and pumpkin ales.

Forget the cold. Now it’s time to think about Spring. Two seasonal beers each will be on tap from more than 75 breweries.

Local breweries, like Atlas Brew Works, 3 Stars, Denizens and Port City will be represented.

Maybe Atlas will tap their 1500 South Cap Lager (sold at Nats Park) or even introduce a new beer. We can hope.

Of the food vendors, one to look out for is Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., whom recently opened a stand at Union Market. They will provide much needed biscuits to soak up the suds so you can keep going strong. Try Benton’s bacon, egg and cheese.

Don’t miss the fun!

Tickets are available online.

DC Craft Beer Festival: Spring Seasonals
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Two times @2-4:30 pm and @7-9:30 pm (add 1 hour for VIP)
$49.95 ($65 VIP)
21+

Food Park: DC’s Meat Week Means…Lot’s of BBQ, Jan. 25-Feb. 1

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Jeremy Bailey in Food Talk and tagged Acre 121, BBQ, Denizens Brewing Company, Hill Country, Meat Week.

Meat Week kicked off in DC yesterday.

Eight days of BBQ. Nine BBQ places, including Hill Country, Acre 121 and Fat Pete’s.

From the Press Release:

“Meat Week is the only national week-long holiday devoted to the celebration of barbecued meats. Started in 2005 in Tallahassee, Florida by co-workers Chris Cantey and Erni Walker, Meat Week has now spread across the country. Some years there have been as many as 15-20 cities celebrating Meat Week with their own chapters. The longest-consecutively-running chapters are: Tallahassee, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Washington DC, and Baltimore.

There are no “rules” to Meat Week, but there are plenty of traditions that have evolved over the years. One of our original traditions is that of “meatography.” Everyone who attends Meat Week gets a photo with their meat each night. We also get a big group photo underneath the restaurant’s sign.

There are also plenty of vegetarians in attendance, including a few vegetarian captains. Most of them come for the camaraderie but stay for the sides.”

Tonight (1/26) is Hill Country Barbecue Market DC at 6:30pm.

Tomorrow (1/27) is at Pork Barrel BBQ at 7pm.

Saturday (1/31) is brunch at Acre 121 at 11am and dinner with BBQ Bus at Denizens Brewing Company at 6pm.

See the full schedule here.

There’s no need to register. Once there, look for the big Meat Week banner and the on-site captain if you’d like to strike up some conversation with people who also enjoy BBQ, or just enjoy whatever you’ve ordered.

Meat Week in DC
Various Locations in DC
Jan. 25-Feb. 1 (8 days)