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The team from RaR Brewing presented four beers at Snallygaster 2017. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Thousands of beer enthusiasts poured into The Yards in DC for Snallygaster 2017 to enjoy more than 350 beers and a stageful of bands under a very hot sun on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Here are some pictures and observations on the Snallygaster 2017.
Snallygaster Brew Crew enjoy a beer at Snallygaster 2016.
Hey folks, don’t look now but Snallygaster 2017, the DC area’s most exciting beer festival, is this Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Yards (1300 1st St. SE, DC). Tickets are on sale now for sampling 400 craft beers from around the country as well as entertainment from three fantastic bands.
Snallygaster returns to Yards Park in DC on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Snallygaster is the most robust, diverse, and carefully curated beer festival in DC (and I daresay likely the entire eastern seaboard), and it is returning for its sixth edition at Yards Park (1300 First St. SE, DC) on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Dave Coleman of 3 Stars Brewing Co. enjoys a beer in front of his tent in the Mothra section of Snallygaster 2016.
For its fifth year, Snallygaster rocked the beer drinkers of DC for its 2016 edition, held in its scenic recurring location in Yards Park.
Early in the day, my fellow blogger Jeremy headed straight for the excellent local brewery 3 Stars Brewing Co. (6400 Chillum Pl. NW, DC). There, he drank up a collaboration beer from 3 Stars and Charm City Meadworks, the Two Headed Unicorn, a barrel-aged sour blond ale, clocking in at ABV 6.5%, as he said he would.
Cheers! (Photo Credit: theupper)
Friends, Snallygaster is a mere day away! Start checking your notes, making your lists and cleansing your palette.
Let’s look at a couple more beers we will be drinking.
Mickey’s Beer of the Day: Wicked Weed Brewing Garçon de Ferme, Foeder-Aged Saison, ABV 6.2%
Perhaps the best block in all of Asheville, North Carolina encompasses 91 Biltmore Ave., where sits the Wicked Weed Brewing Pub. It’s an idyllic street to be sure, and the famous microbrewery sits next to The Orange Peel, Asheville’s answer to the 9:30 Club, adding to the appeal of the location. But lest I forget — those beers! Only this week on Sept. 12, Wicked Weed Brewing officially arrived in the DC metro market, going on sale at various bars around town. Well, they have arrived just in time for the Snallygaster, and while everything they do is good, I’m going to have to reacquaint myself with the Garçon de Ferme, the company’s 6.2% saison. They are quite well-regarded for their saisons down there in Asheville, and this one tastes like peaches and champagne with a big tart nose. Salut, mes amis!
Jeremy’s Beer of the Day: Avery Rumpkin, Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Ale, ABV 18.1%
Ah, let’s take a peek at pumpkin beers! One thing I appreciate about Snallygaster, is that it signifies the beginning of autumn and the season when pumpkin beers start to appear in stores and on tap. I recently visited Colorado and had Avery Brewing Co. on my list of places to visit. Sadly, I didn’t make it that trip (but did find myself in many a brewery in Denver and elsewhere in Colorado). I like Avery’s porter and brown ale, and the sound of rum flavors mixed in with pumpkin (rum barrel-aged – hence Rumpkin) is too much to pass up. I’m not sure how the high ABV will affect the taste (usually I find 18% too much), but I’m willing to find out! Let’s be honest, I’ll probably also try Avery’s Pump(ky)n, an imperial porter with pumpkin spices, and any of the only (!!) 13 pumpkin beers available at Snallygaster.
Make your own beer list.
Get your tickets here.
Snallygaster 2016
The Yards (1300 First Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003)
Saturday, September 17, 2016
1-6pm (VIP 11:30am-6pm)
$35 (VIP $60 SOLD OUT)
21+
Snallygaster (Photo Credit: theupper)
Snallygaster 2016 is only two days away!
Of the 351 beers to be poured at the beer festival on Saturday, September 17th, we continue to highlight a few for your enjoyment. Stay thirsty.
Mickey’s Beer of the Day: District ChopHouse & Brewery Oktoberfest, ABV 6.4%
With the approach of fall, it’s time for Oktoberfest beers. And while I don’t necessarily mean to stay local, District ChopHouse & Brewery makes a fine Oktoberfest. Indeed, I find this steakhouse and microbrewery to be quite underrated! I myself was disappointed for a bit when I discovered it was a chain, but I revisited my opinion after conversations with former assistant brewer Rob Fink (who has now departed for Jailbreak Brewing Co.), and I found the beers to generally be very fine stuff indeed. Balanced, clean, and malty, the Oktoberfest is one of many beers that the ChopHouse can be proud of. And I’m happy to drink it!
Jeremy’s Beer of the Day: Lickinghole Creek Supreme Leader, Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, ABV 13.5%
For me, something dark and strong. Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is based in Virginia (on a farm far south of DC) and will pour a robust six beers at Snallygaster, all of which will be making their DC debut. Four of those beers are Imperial Stouts, so I need to try at least one, right? They all have high ABVs, so I may get a tad tipsy if I try them all. The Supreme Leader sounds the most delicious and promising. It’s bourbon barrel-aged with chocolate, vanilla, chili peppers and spices, and strong enough to knock you down. It’s among the top ten of all the beer options in ABV (Avery Rumpkin has the honor of being the strongest at 18.1%). Drink responsibly!
Make your own beer list.
Get your tickets here.
Snallygaster 2016
The Yards (1300 First Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003)
Saturday, September 17, 2016
1-6pm (VIP 11:30am-6pm)
$35 (VIP $60 SOLD OUT)
21+
Beers at Atlas Brew Works (Photo Credit: Mickey McCarter)
The fifth edition of Snallygaster is coming fast to The Yards on Saturday, September 17th. By all accounts, this year looks to be even bigger and better, with 351 beers currently listed and a fine music lineup.
Of those 351 beers, 64 will make their DC debut at Snallygaster. Even more reason to join, be among the first DC denizens to experience the new tastes.
With only three days before the big dance, we highlight a couple of beers we look forward to trying.
Mickey’s Beer of the Day: Atlas Dance of Days, Wheat Ale (Dry-Hopped), ABV 5.7%
Man, it’s hot out there today. What better time than to reach for a refreshing wheat beer. Why, back in the day, I discovered Bell’s Oberon, which became a standby for days like this as it combines two favorite styles: pale ale and wheat. But wait! DC’s own Atlas Brew Works rolled out its Dance of Days this summer, making my new favorite pale wheat. Atlas dry hops Dance of Days, named for a song by ‘80s DC punk band Embrace, with Mosaic and Citra hops. I remember how excited I was to drink my first one at Smoke and Barrel with my friends Christine and Jason early in August. How refreshing to think of drinking it again!
Jeremy’s Beer of the Day: 3 Stars & Charm City Two Headed Unicorn, Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale, ABV 6.5%
Let’s stay local. Snallygaster will feature 27 beers from DC breweries, including 3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, Bluejacket, District Chophouse, Hellbender and Right Proper. I chose the Two Headed Unicorn even though I have a love/hate relationship with sour beers. I’ve tried a few that I wish I hadn’t, and a few that I absolutely loved. Earlier this year, while at 3 Stars’ tasting room, I tried the Ricky Rosé sour beer and walked away wanting more. So now I’m intrigued by this new sour collaboration beer by 3 Stars and Charm City. Charm City, out of Baltimore, makes mead in bourbon oak casks. This sour blonde ale is barrel-aged with honey, and Snallygaster will mark the first time it’s available in DC. I may have competition just getting a sample.
Make your own beer list.
Get your tickets here.
Snallygaster 2016
The Yards (1300 First Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003)
Saturday, September 17, 2016
1-6pm (VIP 11:30am-6pm)
$35 (VIP $60 SOLD OUT)
21+
Speedy Ortiz (Photo by Bob Gruen)
Well, as it is DC’s top beer festival, Snallygaster gets a lot of attention annually for the diverse beer selection it collects from across the country.
Set for Saturday, Sept. 17 this year, Snallygaster also boasts a mini-music festival within its gates. And this year, the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, the organizers of Snallygaster, have announced the music program headliner as Speedy Ortiz, the popular Massachusetts noise pop quartet.
Speedy Ortiz have three full-length albums under their belt, including last year’s Foil Deer. In June, they released an EP, Foiled Again, a four-track record that includes two outtakes from Foil Deer — “Death Note,” which was unleashed via Sirius XMU, and “Emma O,” which debuted with Zane Lowe’s World First. It also includes two remixes of Foil Deer’s “Puffer.”
Listen to “Death Note” from Speedy Ortiz, released on June 3, via Soundcloud:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/260818506″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Adding to the headliner so far is the ever-popular Spirit Animal, a Brooklyn rock quartet that features DC’s own Steve Cooper on vocals.
Listen to Spirit Animal’s raucous World War IV EP, published earlier this year (I’ll always swear these guys have a great vibe similar to the Red Hot Chili Peppers):
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/194589558″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Snallygaster 2016 returns to The Yards in SE DC at Lot H/I, located on 1st St. SE and N St. SE, the same location as last year.
Snallygaster 2016
The Yards
Saturday, Sept. 17
1-6pm
$35-60
21+
Snallygaster (Photo Credit: jtnhogs)
The fifth version of Snallygaster comes to The Yards on Saturday, September 17th. The beer festival for people who like too many good beer options, but not enough time to drink them all.
(Update for 9/12/16) The full beer list is out! 351 beers will be poured at Snallygaster, and since you can’t drink them all (well, at least I know I can’t), I suggest you start doing a bit of research and cultivating your own personal Beer List. You can download the full Snallygaster Beer List via PDF, Google Sheets or via the Pombe App.
Get your tickets while you still can, this is one beer festival you don’t want to miss! VIP passes are sold out, but the 1-6pm window is still available.
There will also be music (see our preview of Speedy Ortiz and more here) and plenty of food trucks and stands.
We’ll also preview a few beers this week we’re looking forward to. Stay tuned.
Snallygaster 2016
The Yards (1300 First Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003)
Saturday, September 17, 2016
1-6pm (VIP 11:30am-6pm)
$35 (VIP $60 SOLD OUT)
21+
Check out our coverage from last year’s Snallygaster and get excited for September 17th.
Beer Director Greg Engert of Bluejacket and beer historian Mike Stein of DCBeer.com talk beer at the National Museum of American History on Jan. 23, 2015. (Photo courtesy National Museum of American History)
Now going four years strong, the Snallygaster beer festival returns to The Yards on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Snallygaster 2015 offers revelers choices among more than 300 beers, at least 50 of which are appearing at the festival for the first time. With only one final day left to go until Snallygaster 2015, Jeremy and I spotlight a beer for your tasting pleasure.
Jeremy’s Beer of the Day: Bluejacket Whiskey Barrel-aged Double Mexican Radio, Imperial Sweet Stout, ABV 11.0%
I wanted to include at least one beer from a brewery in the city. There are about 24 beers available from our DC breweries (seven represented in total), but not many of the dark, high ABV beers that I want to partake in. So I picked Bluejacket’s whiskey barrel-aged version of their Mexican Radio, which is an imperial sweet stout with cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla and chiles. I may need someone to cart me home if I actually have the fortitude to drink all these beers. Game on. (Editor’s note: Bluejacket, of course, is owned by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which also produces the Snallygaster Beer Festival.)
Mickey’s Beer of the Day: Atlas Wet Hop American Summer (2nd Anniversary Ale), Fresh Hop Pale Ale, 5.1%
If we’re going local, my favorite of the new breweries to open in the city in the past five years has to be Atlas Brew Works. The brewery simply makes some tasty beer. And with Atlas about to celebrate its second anniversary, it’s time to drink their second anniversary pale ale, clearly named in honor of the David Wain/Michael Showater comedy that recently found new life on Netflix. Anyway, I haven’t tried this beer yet, but it’s sure to be a winner following in the footsteps of dependable go-to beers like the District Common and the Rowdy Rye.
Party local? Drink local! Check out the full list of Snallygaster beers.
Advance ticket sales end at midnight tonight! It’s your last chance to buy tix online.
Snallygaster 2015
The Yards
Saturday, Sept. 12
Festival @1-6pm
$35
21+ to drink