Spring marks one major draw for resident physician of the DC metro expanse : foresightful outdoor day - drunkenness sessions . As the DC beer prospect booms , the area ’s breweries proffer spring libation utter for lease in the cherry prime ( and handling the busloads of tourists that accompany their reaching ) . From Silver Spring down to Ashburn , we ’ve round up the best seasonal offerings in the region .
Denizens Brewing Company
Silver Spring , MDThis Silver Spring brewpub may still be evenhandedly new to the view , but beer maker Jeff Ramirez has already institute a super cool style : the sheik brews experimental off beer aged in mezcal barrels and names novel creations after mid-’90s hip - hop mention . The beers at Denizens really represent a combination of great inhalation and even greater execution . As its outdoor patio space opens for the spring , Denizens present some truly suffer - out seasonal beers :
Short SessionDouble IPA , 10.0 % ABVLiving up to its name , this brute of a DIPA sure enough assure that any sessions drinking this beer will take proper monitoring and pacing . The full – and please note , big– malt body of the Short Session will dissolve the last chunks of lingering ice from your osseous tissue , while the intense hop profile , depict as possessing " notes of pineapple , orange zest , and Ecto - Cooler , " will ready your senses for May .
McRamirezTequila drum - aged Irish - stylus foreign exportation stout , 7.7 % ABVReleased on St. Paddy ’s Day , this beer combine ingredients that really , really do not seem like they would solve together ( at the outset , Irish stout and tequila seem more like an unwitting pairing cook up by underage kids hook booze from their parents ’ liquor cabinet versus one craft by an expert brewer ) . And yet , alfresco of all reason and logical system , they ferment – extremely well . Aged in tequila barrels , this otherwise unobjectionable and pleasant stout finishes with the unmistakable fluency and flak of a fine tequila . digit cross that provision of this St. Paddy ’s Day going last all the way to Cinco de Mayo .
Courtesy of Denizens Brewing Company
MacadociousGerman - style maibock , 7.1 % ABVBrewed specifically to celebrate the beginning of biergarten season , this maibock is a traditional spring beer with a braid : by utilizing Green Bullet hops ( a style native to New Zealand ) , this brew pop with a surprising rude berry odor . With a touch of bouquet and a big hop nosegay , and having been lagered to crystal - clear paragon , this semi - traditional maibock is best sipped out of doors in the warming spring sun , sooner while nosh on pretzels and sausage and watchingFlight of the Conchords .
DC Brau
Washington , DCIn April , DC Brau keep its five - yr anniversary as the District ’s most prominent brewery . In honor of this milestone , DC Brau is release five brand name -new beers , brew in collaboration with other breweries from across the nation . Here are our favourite of the spring - theme offer , which can be used to lionise both the youthful equinox and a one-half decade of DC Brauship .
Celestial GardenIndia pale laager , 7 % ABVBrewed in coaction with Austin Brew Works , the emerge IPL style takes a traditional India pale ale and make it … unco non - traditional . By using a laager barm in place of an ale yeast , the beer changes from malty and bitter to light , crisp , and unbelievably redolent . Doubling down on the spring theme , this lagered , hoppy beauty incorporate three type of yield purée . Expect something with a whole flock of what wine-colored snobs call " nosegay . "
Pink Pallet JackBelgian - style saison , 6 % ABVForgive us the ornate nomenclature , but we ’re just so stoked on this beer that we have to get poetic for a bit : this brewage is as pinkish as a fleeting , windswept cherry blossom on the DC breeze . pinkish beer , y’ all ! Brewed in collaboration with Perennial Artisan Ales , the Pink Pallet Jack takes a traditional Belgian - style saison and add rose hips and hibiscus , which gives the beer its distinctive pinkish chromaticity . This fruity , spicy style , traditionally savour by farmhands after a farseeing Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of toiling in the fields , is now uncommitted for use by Hill workers after a long solar day of dig in their chino .
Steph Harding Photography
Mad Fox Brewing Co.
Falls Church , VABellying up to the Browning automatic rifle at Glover Park for flights of Mad Fox ’s classic kölsch or hoppy Orange Whip is always a great idea . But those soul who venture into the outlands of Falls Church will retrieve outside patio seating at the Mad Fox brewpub . It ’s kind of an ideal lieu to try out oral sex brewer Bill Madden ’s seasonal beers , which will be rolling out throughout the give .
Cherry HillSaison , 6.0 % ABVFirst out of the gate for spring ’s March of the saisons , the Mad Fox Cherry Hill saison is a traditional spicy , fruity farmhouse ale , finished with a gratifying cherry purée . The resulting beer is set to pop with sugared acerbity , perfect for a slow draught under a tree , accompanied by a side of theater frickles ( earnestly scrumptious fried pickles – just bank us ) .
Heavy Seas Brewery
Rosslyn , VAThough headquartered in Baltimore , Heavy Seas has become know as a regional brewery for the DC area , cement this family relationship with the succeeder of its Heavy Seas Alehouse in Rosslyn . With a wide regalia of its own brews on tap , the Alehouse is pitch up for fountain with the following releases .
TropiCannonCitrus IPA , 7.25 % ABVSo , so citrusy : the TropiCannon follows the Heavy Seas tradition of big IPAs with even bigger flavors . Using a trio of hop ( Simcoe , Amarillo , and current belle of the ball , Citra ) , this beer pop with fruity note and an orangey aroma . Heavy Seas then doubles down on the vitamin C , infusing the beer with citrus peels , hop oils , and morose fruits . The nose on this beer stars mango , with backing from stemma orange , grapefruit , lemon , and tangerine .
Blackbeard ’s BreakfastImperial coffee porter , 10.5 % ABVLook , we ca n’t vindicate a heavy ol’ bourbon gun barrel - age Cole Albert Porter as " seasonally appropriate . " But in the oddment , we do n’t really need apologetic justifications for lie with something this unattackable and angelical . This door guard warms the body and awake the blame someone , OK ? ( Plus , you know , there are some chilly twenty-four hours lingering out there , and this big beer will wrap you up in warmth and solace . )
Mad Fox Brewing Co.
Port City Brewing Co.
Alexandria , VALocal favorites Port City have a track record of offering well - executed beers in classic styles . You ca n’t go incorrect with an Optimal Wit ( preferably sipped on King St in Old Town ) , but the team at this Alexandria brewery have some inspired ideas for something a little dissimilar this natural spring .
TartanScottish ale , 5.0 % ABVBrewed in the 80 - shilling elan , Port City ’s Tartan aims for a beer that ’s refreshing but not frivolous , resulting in a brew that will slake your hungriness in the growing heating , while still displaying some profundity of grapheme . preserve your emollient ales and Pilsener for the summer ! This malty , complex Scottish ale shows impressive constraint when it comes to the ABV .
Lost Rhino Brewing Co.
Ashburn , VALost Rhino is establishing itself as a local presence with their classifiable can art , and crisp , German - style pilsners and kolsch . Do yourself a favor : grab a booster , come to the route , and take a drive to the befuddled Rhino Tap Room in Ashburn for a sample distribution of their exclusive tap room brews . Back home in DC , be on the observation tower for Lost Rhino ’s seasonal entry , available on shelf now .
Ice BreakerDouble IPA , 10 % ABVNot the most subtle seasonal release , but Lost Rhino ’s Ice Breaker hits the mark . This is a beer design to crush diametrical ice caps , with an intense malt body and an keen , acrimonious , hoppy odor – this beer is not playing around .
contract up herefor our day-after-day DC email and be the first to get all the food / drink / fun in township .
Tristan gilbert
Courtesy of Port City Brewing
Lost Rhino
