During Savor Beer Week, we will be highlighting some exciting beers and events to attend every day throughout the week.
Beer: Big Boss High Roller IPA (on cask)
Why you should drink it: The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration has left a lot of leeway for some of our favorite bars in the District. While many other cities enforce a rigid three-tier system that forces bars to buy solely through their distributors, ABRA allows bars and stores to purchase from other sources, such as from the producer directly. This legal bootlegging is one of the reasons our beer scene is like no other: it allows Washington bar owners to bring in beers that normally are not distributed here. Cue the Ben Folds, Ryan Adams or Petey Pablo and roll in the Big Boss Brewery out of Raleigh, North Carolina!
Churchkey will be hosting this brewery that is rarely seen here, pouring eight of their beers, including their High Roller IPA on cask. But don’t worry: this IPA is not one of those that will pummel your palate with bitterness. The High Roller is hoppy — think lush, juicy pine with strong lemon notes. But there’s a very balancing caramel malt presence that makes one easy sipper that will benefit from a cask and go perfect with CK’s amazing wings or some of their more aromatic cheese offerings.
The Big Boss team will be on hand to talk about their brews, the brewery and the exciting North Carolina craft beer scene this evening, and drafts and casks will start flowing at 6 p.m and go until supplies run out. There is no admission fee, and all beers will be priced individually by the glass and in tasting pours.
Small Pints
A pale ale named Death
Flying Dog and Big Hunt team up for a brewer-led tap takeover of some of the harder to get hold of brews from their award-winning portfolio. This will be an excellent opportunity for everyone from craft beer novices to advanced aficionados to actively taste and discuss the brews with the very people that created and brewed them and the knowledgeable Big Hunt staff. Included in the list will be the newly created Backyard Ale, a collaboration between Flying Dog and Chef Bryan Voltaggio. Also, rumor has it that a special deal from GoFivo may be added onto this awesome beer event. Keep your eyes open!
“I shall call him… Mini-Me”
No Savor ticket? No problem. RFD is hosting a “Toast to Savor” tonight, featuring all the limited offerings that ten-plus breweries will be pouring this weekend. Your $40 ticket includes unlimited samplings of food and beer pairings from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Breweries include Firestone Walker, Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada, Abita, Sam Adams, Anchor Brewing, Saranac, Heavy Seas, Ommegang, Flying Dog and Harpoon.
Mad as a Hatter
Meridian Pint will be hosting a tap takeover tonight, focusing on their ever-popular Mad Hatter IPA. Five different versions of the beer will be available including the Rye Hatter and Black Hatter. El Mole Ocho (brewed with chilies, coffee and cocoa) and their monstrous Dragon’s Milk will also be available for those with stronger constitutions.
Home is where you make it
While 3 Stars Brewery is busy dishing out their Syndicate saison all over town this week, they somehow managed to find time to secure their new home, signing a lease in the Takoma Park area of Northwest. I’ve been over to see it, and it looks like the perfect facility to give them ample room to not only produce, but to later expand. You can grab a Syndicate at Pizza Paradiso‘s Dupont location today and toast to the future of DC Beer.
