The Heurich House, also known as The Brewmaster’s Castle, or “that Victorian mansion in Dupont,” opened up its carriage house (you know, where old timey rich folks kept their carriages) and garden this month for the official sport of DC: happy hour. 1921 has been open since early March, serving up beer and wine on Thursday evenings.

According to marketing manager Alex Fraioli, this “sort-of beer garden” makes use of the garden between the Heurich House and the newly-renovated Carriage House Gallery. “We want to attract people who may not be interested in knowing the history [of the Heurich House], but who might enjoy a cool community space,” she says.

The name 1921 refers to Heurich’s address at 1921 Sunderland Place NW, but also refers to a year during Prohibition, Fraioli says. Christian Heurich’s brewery, the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co., is one of the only local breweries that returned to production after Prohibition.

1921’s word-of-mouth (or word-of-Instagram?) marketing approach was inspired by the speakeasies of Prohibition. “The idea is, if you know, you know,” says Fraioli.

The stone carriage house and expansive garden space easily make 1921 the least speakeasy speakeasy in DC—no secret doors, lists, dimly lit backrooms, or $15 cocktails here.

Choose from among red, white, and rosé wine options and two rotating local draft beers for $7 a pop at the small bar in the carriage house, which also currently serves as a beer memorabilia mini-museum. HOME/BREWED: How the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. Witnessed DC History exhibits a rotating collection of Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. “breweriana.” That’s right, there’s a name for brewing industry collectables (read: empties).

Local breweriana enthusiast Jack Blush has collected Heurich Brewing memorabilia since his twenties, amassing more than 1,000 items which will rotate out in the carriage house exhibit until the Heurich House can fundraise to purchase the collection in its entirety. A written history of D.C. beer and the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. creates an exhibit the explores beer-drinking-D.C. between 1873 and 1956.

The exhibit opened in November of 2018, the first installation in the carriage house, which was renovated and opened to public in July of 2018. The top floor, formerly the groundskeepers quarters, now houses Brewmaster Studios, a workspace for local artisans.

If you’re less into drinking in repurposed carriage houses and more into drinking in fancy gardens, just walk outside and enjoy the large green space nestled between the buildings. Play corn hole, sit on a wrought iron bench, wander the garden like a jilted Victorian ghost bride, or gather friends at the picnic table. If you don’t look up, you’ll almost forget you’re in Dupont.

1921 will stay open regardless of inclement weather, but moving indoors will affect capacity: The carriage house can accommodate about 80 guests, whereas the garden can hold up to 200. As the weather warms, more lawn games—and possibly another night of the week—will be added. “It’s a space that will continually change, we might add programming, a curated, local beer list,” Fraioli adds. “We’ll let it grow naturally based on community feedback and interest.”

1921 at the Heurich House Museum Carriage House Gallery, 1921 Sunderland Place NW. Open Thursdays from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Follow @1921Sun for updates.

This post has been updated.