D.C. loves its social games. We have bocce, kickball and even skeeball leagues all over the city incorporating the things we most love: drinking and competition. So it’s no surprise that last year’s D.C. Beer Hunt was so successful—and is making a bigger and better showing in 2012.

So what is the D.C. Beer Hunt? On April 27 and 28, 19 of the best beer venues in the city will be serving some fantastic (and strategically chosen) beers that teams will have to find with little more than a few clues on hand. Once they go to a bar, figure out the answer to the clue and buy the correct beer, they will get credit for the beer from the on-premise judge. The process repeats itself until time runs out and all the teams come together at the closing party.

“Unlike last year, prizes will not be awarded solely by who finishes first,” Bill DeBaun, editor of DCBeer said. “Instead, teams will get tickets for finding beers, visiting bars, wearing costumes, and answering trivia questions along the way. The more tickets a team accumulates, the better its chances to win.” This improved process lets teams create a strategy for deciding which bars to cover and how much time to spend in the different neighborhoods. It also emphasizes people to try new beers and not rush through them. DeBaun notes that the Beer Hunt “is all about people trying new craft beers, finding new bars in D.C., and having fun with their friends.”

And it really is about fun. Teams are encouraged to dress up to show their team pride, and the best team costumes are given more tickets for prizes. (The Reverse Vampires, anyone?) But get these teams together soon, as last year the line to sign up was long and tickets sold out.

The hunt will kick-off on Friday, April 27 at RFD in Chinatown. Participants will check-in and immediately get to compete in a trivia competition to start earning tickets that give them a chance to win some great prizes. The actual scavenger hunt will take place on Saturday, April 28 and the closing party will follow at Chinatown’s Iron Horse Tap Room on Saturday night. The tap takeover featuring Flying Dog beers and a surprise local brewery will be offered to Beer Hunt participants while prizes are drawn.

So get your teams together, put on your drinking shoes, and have a reason to explore some of the city’s best beer bars and potentially win some great stuff doing it.