A classic beer head. (Alejandra Owens)
From Alejandra Owens at One Bite At A Time
DC Beer Week is coming on the heels of Restaurant Week (which in some cases is still going on). If you’re like me and don’t really drink much beer, you didn’t know DC Beer Week was coming–let alone that it happened last year.
According to DC Beer Week organizers, it’s a “week-long celebration of beer culture in the nation’s capitol.” It is also a way to keep us eating and drinking ourselves silly for another week.
Beer Week Participants
Something like 30 restaurants, bars and pubs across the city are participating and a few can be found in Borderstan. With the likes of Churchkey, Afterwords Cafe, Pizza Paradiso, Big Hunt (close enough) and Bread and Brew (also close enough) participating, the neighborhood has plenty of options.
Beer Week T-Shirts. (Afterwords Cafe)
Ya’ll know I have an affection for Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, which is on Connecticut Avenue just north of Dupont Circle. So when they invited me over for a sneak peek at their Beer Week offerings, I was super excited.
Did you guys know that Washington City Paper had voted the restaurant/bar Best Surprising Beer Menu in this year’s Best of DC? Not bad for our neighborhood brunch spot, eh guys?
Tuesday at Afterwords Cafe
This Tuesday, August 24, from 6 to 9pm in the bar area only, Afterwords Cafe will serve 4-ounce tastings from Brooklyn Brewery, New York’s largest craft brewer. While supplies last, each beer will be paired with an artisanal cheese (1 ounce), specially selected for that beer. Here are the offerings, with the listed price including the beer taste and paired cheese:
- Brooklyn Black Ops ($7)
- Local 1 ($7)
- Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-weisse ($7)
- Brown ale ($5)
- Lager ($5)
- Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Reserve ($5)
You can check out Afterwords Cafe’s Facebook page to learn more about the beers they’re offering–and get the rundown on their boozy book recommendations. Even better, you can commemorate your beer-tastic tasting with a limited edition T-shirt (pictured here) for $17.99.
If you’re beer-stupid–or just don’t know anything about the Brooklyn Brewery–don’t hesitate to chat up Andrew Conner, pictured above. He happily answered all my questions, which ranged from silly to completely clueless. He’s a knowledgeable guy with a slight beer crush on Brooklyn Brewery.
The Beer Rater at TBD.com
For those of you who are already beer enthusiasts, you can one-up us all and document your Beer Week experience with the Beer Rater which can be found over at TBD.com. Plug in the beers you’ve tried, give them 1 to 10 points and embed the results on your blog or site to spread the word. TBD is also keeping track of ratings, so it should be fun to see who comes out on top.
I’ll be popping by for a taste of the Black Ops myself… see you there?
Full disclosure: I received a free Beer Week T-shirt from the kind folks at Afterwords Cafe.
Kramerbooks & Afterwords is north of Dupont Circle on Connecticut Avenue NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Alejandra Owens of One Bite At A Time.
It’s a DC landmark. At least, I think so, what with Monica Lewinsky and Kenneth Starr and subpoenas and all. But, it’s definitely a Dupont landmark.
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe is also a well-known book store and brunch destination, a cozy place to plop down with your newspaper (or iPad, whatever!) and have a cup of joe at the bar and a fine, fine place for patio dining when the sun is shining.
No matter how you hack it, the place has serious charm and history. The bookstore you’ll be perusing while you wait for a table has been around since 1976 and boasts stacks and stacks of everything from history books, to fiction, to cookbooks to a well-stocked children’s section.
Inside the Sometimes Outdoor Dining Room. (msilvaonline’s flickr photostream)
I’ll admit I’m biased on this one, too. I have taken every visiting friend and family member to Sunday brunch here and have spent many weekend mornings at the bar sipping on coffee by myself. But, I’ve lived in Borderstan for five years, so we may be hard-pressed to find a place I’m not biased about.
What do you guys think of Afterwords Cafe? Any favorites? Thoughts on the dessert case or wine list?
Afterwords Cafe
Where Am I Going: Dupont Circle: 1517 Connecticut Avenue NW, to be exact.
When Am I Going: Monday-Thursday and Sun 7:30 am to 1 am; Friday and Saturday, 6 am to 6 am.
Paycheck Pain: Brunch is gonna run you $15-$18 but remember it includes mini-muffins, OJ and coffee/tea. Dinner runs about the same. No mini-muffins for dinner.
Say What?: The bar has just enough buzz during the evenings and weekends that you can have a private conversation without feeling like you’re broadcasting to the world. The dining room and patio are always a pleasant place for gabbing with your buddies or maybe even a networking meal.
What You’ll Be Eating: Afterwords Cafe puts an eclectic spin on traditional American food. Love mac ‘n cheese? Try their amped up Café Macaroni & Fontina cheese topped w/Parmesan. Jonesin’ for some meat and eggs for brunch? Try the Porker’s Brunch & Eggs which features three different types of breakfast meats.
Happy Hour: 4 to 7 pm daily
You can also follow Kramerbooks on Twitter and Facebook for the latest specials and to find out what they’re cooking up.
