DC Brau

In celebration of Halloween, DC Brau Brewing Company cranked up the Misfits and brewed a Belgian Quad in their honor. The beer, named Ghoul's Night Out after the Horror Punk progenitors famous song, was brewed with 68 pounds of raw honey from Burnside Farms in Haymarket, Virginia. Besides the honey, the 10.5% ABV beer features rich notes of fig, date, caramel, plum, golden raisins, and toffee. Simcoe Hops are the only variety featured in the beer. DC Brau's house Belgian yeast strain provides a crisp, dry finish. "We rock out to the Misfits all the time in the brewery; it was only a matter of time before we named a beer after them," said DC Brau CEO Brandon Skall. "And on Halloween, who better to honor than the Crimson Ghost rockers themselves?" The draft-only, limited-release beer debuted at Spirits in Black, a monthly heavy metal and cocktail party, at Dodge City on October 30th, but will not be available citywide until early next week.

BACK STORY: Here at DC Brau we love our hoppy beers. This is our latest attempt in seeing how many hops we can fit into a DIPA and I think we’ve hit a new mark. This beer clocks in around 100 IBU, similar to OTWOA but uses 4 different varieties instead of 1. Alpha-Domina-Mellis was also brewed with 30 lbs of Wildflower honey from Burnside Farms in Haymarket, VA that was added at the end of the 90 min boil and then 30 lbs added directly into the fermenter on the second day of primary fermentation. TASTING NOTES: Alpha-Domina-Mellis leads in with a peach-like color and a distinctive tropical / pineapple like nose with a hint of breadiness. Mouthfeel is light and crisp with a huge, lingering bitterness provided by the huge dose of experimental hops that were added early in the boil. What the drinker is left with is a bitterness that won’t quit followed by a heavy tropical, fruity, "juicy fruit" bubblegum like aroma with a lingering aroma reminiscent of star fruit and stone fruit.

ATLAS FEST BIER is our seasonal offering of a traditional German-style Spezial Helles brewed only for Fall. Ours will be released just in time for the 2011 H St. Festival. Fermented at 58-60°F for 2 weeks and then lagered for 5 weeks - progressively reducing the temperature by 2°F each day until we reach our terminal temperaure of 36°F. ATLAS FEST BIER is brewed with American Brewers 2 row Pale malt, Munich malt and Aromatic malt. It was hopped with American grown German Perle to achieve a light, highly drinkable 17 IBU. There are also bready, biscuty and sweet malt notes in the aroma.

This is our first collaboration with Right Proper! It's Bête Noire (Dark Beast) Baltic Porter. Our collaboration is characterized by a wonderful dark brown color with smoky and roasted brown malts with a complex bitter taste!

This Belgian-style IPA is our second collaboration with Epic, after our wildly popular Fermentation Without Representation. Epic brewed a batch of Brainless Belgian Golden Ale and let us corrupt it with our hops: Chinook and Columbus in the boil with more Columbus for aroma. Whole leaf Centennial in the hopback. Citra hop in the dry hop. The result is a spicy/tropical IPA.

We've been having a lot of fun here at the brewery re-creating classic styles and a German Pils was the first style that popped into our heads. We all enjoy drinking hop forward beers but we also enjoy our German Lagers as well. Now that we are able to meet our production demands with our other flagship beers we decided we can have some fun. Brau Pils will be the new summer seasonal alongside El Hefe Speaks.

There was a time when crossing the Atlantic meant a brutal and perilous journey. The passage often took 10-12 weeks. Accommodations were sparse. Personal living space was limited to just barely enough room for a person to lay down and sleep. Conditions were hellish at best. Beer played an important role during these torturous journeys. Sailing vessels of this period were grossly unsanitary and water was often the first necessity to spoil. Passengers made due by drinking beer. The beer would stay good longer than water due to the natural preservatives of alcohol and hops. Death was a steadfast companion of both passengers and crew. Burial at Sea can be an especially difficult and trying experience. One does not have the expected proper time for remorse because the body must be cast overboard in a short period of time. You cannot return to visit the resting place of your loved ones. Family members reproached each other for persuading them to make the journey. Wives reproached their husbands for children that were lost. Husbands lamented most piteously for convincing their family to make the journey. Children bemoaned parents for their helplessness. Witness accounts record unbelievable despair and misery. This beer is dedicated to the brave souls who made the pilgrimage from the old world to the new and the souls whom never saw the shores of the new world on the horizon. Burial at Sea is a collaborative project between head brewer's Jeff Hancock of DC Brau and Stephen Jones of Oliver Ales in Baltimore, MD. Mild ales are traditionally referred to as "session ales" known for their low alcohol content which is around 3.2 - 4.0%. Despite their low alcohol content, Milds are just as flavorful as beers with a higher ABV. In crafting this beer we used only the finest malt's and hop's from England. Burial at Sea starts with a great malty nose boasting aromas of milk chocolate and biscuity sweetness. The beer has a medium mouthfeel that drinks with a soft, mineral smoothness and just enough hops to counter the chewy malt character. Fermented with a clean American yeast that lets the oats, barley and hops dominate and take center stage. The Burial at Sea collaboration logo was designed by Mike Sikes.

Pours a murky but watery black with lots of foamy, off white head. Nose has bready notes, mild roast, cocoa powder, yeasty, mild toast. Inviting. Flavor has more molasses than the nose let’s on, not overly sweet though, chocolate, a little cola, bready, mild toast, some raisin.

Citrosity is a fun riff that we did on Citizen, by letting the primary fermentation temperature reach 85-90 F. With a fermentation temperature that high the Belgian yeast produced some amazing fruity esters that add to the overall complexity of this one-off brew. We then dry-hopped the beer with 3 different hop varieties prized for their aromatic qualities to create a unique hop-forward Belgian ale.

"Colliding Hemispheres" is a collaborative beer between DC Brau, Hop Union and Briess Malts & Ingredients. When conceiving the recipe we were imagining an American Brown Ale brewed with our house Belgian Abbey yeast and hopped with both New Zealand and Australian hops.

Summer in DC is the perfect climate for enjoying Kölsch-style ales. In honor of this elegant German ale, GB Navy Yard hosted the 1st Annual Kölsch Cup Challenge and Tastival. 20 different draft interpretations of kölsch-style ale have been brewed by twenty different DC-area brewers. Our easy-drinking 5% entry into the Inaugural Kölsch Cup featured hersbrucker hops, which are grown widely not only in the Hallertau but also in Spalt and Hersbruck areas of Germany. "Das Bier" pours a pale straw-color in the glass with a nice, thick rocky head that leads to ample lacing. It has a very delicate body with light flavors of fruit, biscuit and a gentle mineral-like finish. Hopping is kept very low for maximum drinkability on hot summer days.

An error in the brewing of DC Brau's celebrated Double IPA, On the Wings of Armageddon, has led to the development of a new beer. The brew, also a Double IPA, is similar in body and taste to its progenitor while differing immensely in color and hop profile. CEO Brandon Skall expressed disappointment that fans of On the Wings of Armageddon would have to wait another few months for the much sought after beer, but in the same breath noted that he was excited to welcome this new brew to the DC Brau family. "Sometimes you have to embrace blunders," said Skall. "In this case, our mistake lead to something delicious and badass, so while we're upset about the error in OTWOA brewing, we're happy it led to Deus Ex Machina." Deus Ex Machina, taken from the Latin phrase meaning "God from the Machine," weights in at 8.75% ABV and 131 IBUs. It's hopped with Falconer's Flight and Columbus varieties, which come together to create a virtual pine forest of super dank, mouth-coating flavors with underlying hints of delicate sugar-coated fruit. The brew-in-error is a beautiful crystal clear golden orange in color.

We crafted EL HEFE SPEAKS!, our fond farewell to summer, as a collaboration with John Solomon and Chris Frashier. The pair are well known for their fine (and tasty!) work at Old Dominion in Ashburn, VA, during the mid 90's. EL HEFE SPEAKS! is a traditionally brewed German-style Hefe. It is fermented around 65°F and hopped with German Tettnang hops. 11 IBUs and 5.3% ABV make this one extremely drinkable. If you think it speaks to you as well, definitely try a glass... because it will be gone before you can say "sweater weather". “We’re tremendously excited to bring this specialty brew to the District,” said DC Brau Co-Founder and CEO, Brandon Skall, “Working with other local brewers on this project has made presenting the final product even better.” The beer was brewed at DC Brau in early August. “El Hefe Speaks” uses the Weihenstephaner yeast strain, a classic, popular German wheat beer strain used worldwide. John Solomon and Chris Frashier have been a part of the DC brewing community for years. The two worked together at Old Dominion Brewing Company in Ashburn, VA before opening Solly’s U Street Tavern. Frashier brewed at Capital City Brewing Company for 7 years before brewing at Old Dominion for 5 years. Solomon worked at Old Dominion for a total of 11 years.

Embers is our new limited-release collaboration ale with Bluejacket! Embers is truly unique summer sipper, reborn from an old Polish recipe of barley and oak-smoked wheat malt, just in time to extinguish the fires of summer. Our grätzer has got a whiff of bacon, followed by the crisp, bready-citrusy flavor typical of American wheat ales. There is a touch of phenol and bitter hops in the finish. Measuring only 3.7 percent alcohol by volume, it’s a true beverage of moderation. Click here for the Washington Post coverage.

The Everyday Junglist is a 5.5% ABV American Pale Ale hopped with Chinook and Mosaic hops. The resulting brew is soft and full of big citrus character. Juicy notes of ruby red grapefruit and plump Clementine oranges leave your palate calling for a rewind after every sip. 

This brew is a high-gravity Belgian-style Christmas ale, and its brewed with cocoa nibs, cherries, whole cinnamon sticks, gingerbread, ginger and black rye. This brew will definitely keep Jack Frost from nipping at your toes, as you sip it by the fire.

A rye saison featuring Mosaic hops. Drinkers can experience first hand the surrealist tendencies of Baltimore-based gypsy brewer Brian Strumke with “The Exquisite Corpse,” a collaboration with Greg Jasgur of Pizzeria Paradiso, Sam Fitz of Meridian Pint, and Jeff Hancock at DC Brau. The beer gets its name from a parlor game in which a player writes a sentence and folds the paper to obscure it before another player pens the next sentence, leading to a mish-mash of thought. In this game, though, the brewers replaced words with grain, hops, and yeast selections unbeknownst to one another. The result? An easy-drinking saison that will be released during a collaborative beer dinner held at the two bars over the course of a single evening.

Epic & DC Brau's Fermentation Without Representation Collaboration Beer - This Imperial Pumpkin Porter is a smooth, mellow bodied and experimental collaboration with Epic Brewing from Salt Lake City, UT. Melding Crystal, Chocolate, Munich and Black malts a rich chocolate note plays off hints of burnt raisins and plums. Brewed with 600 lbs of pure pumpkin puree, .2 lbs of allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and whole cloves. This 8% ABV beer will keep you roasty! Check out more of Epic Brewing's Exponential Series

Named after the secret underground skate spot in Washington, DC where local brewers Jason Oliver from Devils Backbone and Jeff Hancock from DC Brau used to skate. Both Jason and Jeff have been life long skaters and came up for the idea while sessioning one Wednesday night about 2 years ago before Fight Club closed down to many a skateboarder's disappointment. Fight Club Anti-Gravity lager is brewed with a traditional German lager yeast and Noble German hops. Its appearance is deep gold with a medium body and smooth, rich lager finish. Long live Fight Club DC and the many great years of skating that took place there.

For Others is a truly special beer. It is a limited-release Double IPA brewed to celebrate the nuptials of two of its own: DC Brau webmaster and packaging designer Rob Shortley and his long-time partner in crime, Celia Wells.The name “For Others” is a nod to Shortley's alma mater, Gonzaga College High School, the motto of which is "Men for Others.” The private academy has been a Washington, DC fixture since 1821. The beer is an intense, all-Citra hopped, double IPA with a Belgian yeast - weighing in at around 8.2% ABV.

In celebration of Halloween, DC Brau Brewing Company cranked up the Misfits and brewed a Belgian Quad in their honor. The beer, named Ghoul's Night Out after the Horror Punk progenitors famous song, was brewed with 68 pounds of raw honey from Burnside Farms in Haymarket, Virginia. Besides the honey, the 10.5% ABV beer features rich notes of fig, date, caramel, plum, golden raisins, and toffee. Simcoe Hops are the only variety featured in the beer. DC Brau's house Belgian yeast strain provides a crisp, dry finish. "We rock out to the Misfits all the time in the brewery; it was only a matter of time before we named a beer after them," said DC Brau CEO Brandon Skall. "And on Halloween, who better to honor than the Crimson Ghost rockers themselves?" The draft-only, limited-release beer debuted at Spirits in Black, a monthly heavy metal and cocktail party, at Dodge City on October 30th, but will not be available citywide until early next week.

A Tribute to Humulus Lupulus (Hops!) Meridian Pint is has been a partner of ours for a long time. We celebrated our launch together. We celebrated our first anniversary together. So, it's only fitting that we finally put our heads together and come up with a brew! "Ground Wolf" was brewed to celebrate the bittering and aromatic wonders of the hop plant, also known as Ground Wolf (so named for its tenacious ability to overrun most any neighboring plant), while keeping the booze restrained to a quaffable 4.5%. Columbus hops added at the beginning of the boil give Ground Wolf a strong bitter backbone. Multiple additions of Centennial hops throughout the brew, as well as a heaping dry addition afterwords, give it a bright citrus nose and flavor that is sure to please IPA fans.

Named after one of DC's most notorious neighborhoods, Hell's Bottom. Where in the late 1800's there was little money, whiskey was cheap and virtually no police force. Enter Hell's Bottom Oatmeal Stout. Brewed with a healthy amount of flaked oats, roasted barley and both chocolate and black malts. Hell's Bottom starts with a heavy roast character that will definitely wake up the pallet. Followed by a small kick of bitterness contributed by Northern Brewer hops. Lastly, the flaked oats contribute a smooth, cream-like mouthfeel that must be tasted to be understood. With a medium to light body this oatmeal stout is one that drinks easy in the upcoming spring/ summer season.

According to William E. Kelley’s Brewing in Maryland, Heurich "had often said his ambition was to produce a fine light beer, and claimed his beer, and that of other American breweries, was as good as any produced in Germany, with an exception, however, which he admitted, of the Pilsener beer made in Czechoslovakia." Under the guidance of Jeff Hancock and Brandon Skall, the DC Brau beer is both a recreation of the pre-prohibition product brewed by Christian Heurich Brewing Company and a nod to the lager beer Heurich enjoyed in Bavaria, Bohemia, and Vienna. The result is a balanced, golden elixir, a delicious beer and a fitting homage to Christian Heurich’s lager.

Union Craft Brewing, Stillwater Artisanal and DC Brau Brewing Company, in honor of Baltimore Beer Week have created "Magic Number" - an India Pale Lager with 6% ABV & 35 IBUs - has a light, quenching body and a touch of flaked oats for a light, creamy mouthfeel. IPL’s are an exciting new twist on IPA’s, which produce a very palatable brew. Using a lager yeast, we’re able to keep the yeast character clean and restrained by means of a cooler fermentation temperature which lets the gentle malt character and the ridiculously juicy hop character be the only point of focus. Floral, citrus, grapefruit, passionfruit, earth, pine and melon; are these adjectives ringing any bells? Hell yes they are! The hops used in "Magic Number" form a formidable hop threesome. Amarillo, Citra and Simcoe are hands down the top three hops used in American IPA production and they hit on all cylinders here. If you consider yourself a true hop aficionado, this is one beer not to be missed!

Union Craft Brewing, Stillwater Artisanal and DC Brau Brewing Company, in honor of Baltimore Beer Week have created "Magic Number" - an India Pale Lager with 6% ABV & 35 IBUs - has a light, quenching body and a touch of flaked oats for a light, creamy mouthfeel. IPL’s are an exciting new twist on IPA’s, which produce a very palatable brew. Using a lager yeast, we’re able to keep the yeast character clean and restrained by means of a cooler fermentation temperature which lets the gentle malt character and the ridiculously juicy hop character be the only point of focus. Floral, citrus, grapefruit, passionfruit, earth, pine and melon; are these adjectives ringing any bells? Hell yes they are! The hops used in "Magic Number" form a formidable hop threesome. Amarillo, Citra and Simcoe are hands down the top three hops used in American IPA production and they hit on all cylinders here. If you consider yourself a true hop aficionado, this is one beer not to be missed!

This is our second collaboration with Stillwater Artisanal Ales. This tasty brew is a crisp blonde saison, with plenty of tropical and citrus fruit notes; clocking in at 7.2% ABV. This brew holds many secrets including an experimental hop from Hop Union and a Stillwater-exclusive yeast strain. We'd tell you more but... you know...

Model Citizen is the second beer DC Brau has made with legendary Ska band “The Pietasters” Our first collaborative effort with Ska Brewing and the band was named "Tasters Choice", a name inspired by a song title. This collaboration was named in the same manner. "Model Citizen" is the name of a track off the band’s first studio album, released in 1993. This beer debuted at the iconic Washington DC music venue Nightclub 9:30 on December 14th for The Pietasters Holiday Show.

Belgium has long been known for producing strong, dark ales throughout the centuries. In recent years brewers all over the world have been been experimenting with Porters and Stouts brewed with traditional Belgian brewing ingredients to create new styles. DC Brau and Stillwater Ales joined forces to create one of their own. "NATAS" is a Belgian Style Imperial Porter brewed with a traditional high gravity Abbey yeast. At first glance "NATAS" is pitch black in the glass with wafting aroma's of burnt sugar and caramelized fruit. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with hints of cocoa. It has a gentle, warming phenolic character that begs for a follow up inquiry. The hops are used to balance this brew and lend a subtle complexity. The dark lord himself would be proud to serve this hellish offering to his legions of demonic minions. The beer name is a nod to Natas Kaupas, a skateboarder from Southern California in the late 80s and early 90s whose thrashing was super rad and adored by Brian, Jeff and Brandon while growing up. Natas is also Satan spelled backwards. Traditionally, there are many Belgian Strong Goldens and Tripels bearing the name of the Evil Spirit. Being that this beer is dark as midnight and therefore the opposite of this it is only appropriate that it should bear the name of the dark lord spelled BACKWARDS.

According to Mayan and Hopi calendars the "transition from one world age to another'' will happen on December 21, 2012. As an homage to the "transition" DC Brau has concocted an Imperial IPA named "On the Wings of Armageddon". OTWOA is a single hop blend* beer utilizing Falconers Flight™. Brewed with just enough Pale malt, Cara-60, CaraPils and Malted wheat to carry the intense hop character onto the pallet. At first glance, it has an orange hue in the glass with a viscus, rocky head that refuses to dissipate. Upon first sniff there are dominate aromas of citrus, white grapes and grapefruit with light bread and biscut notes. After the first sip we taste a mellow bitterness that only grows as more is consumed. Moderately carbonated, deceptively smooth, refreshingly dry and extremely heady for a beer at 9.2% ABV. OTWOA exhibits all the necessary traits to be revered as a world class Imperial IPA. *Falconer's Flight™ is an exclusive proprietary "hop blend" created by Hopunion LLC to honor and support the legacy of Northwest brewing legend, Glen Hay Falconer. For more information on the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, visit www.glenfalconerfoundation.org, or for more information on Hopunion LLC, visit www.hopunion.com.

Pours a dark brown-black color with a creamy tan head. Aromas of coffee, roasted malts, and cocoa. Medium-bodied with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. Flavors of dark malts and coffee. Moderately dry finish with a touch of hop bitterness.

Penn Quarter Porter is our first in a line of draft-only limited-release beer, and it’s a robust porter! In the way that The Public is on the line between a pale ale and an IPA, this is on the line between a porter and a stout - with chocolate notes and a dry, roasted finish.

Single-hopped IPA w/ chinook hops.

Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high.

Alright, alright, alright… So you heard about the Armageddon. Didn’t happen. Not to worry though, there’s a new fiesta in the making. Solar Abyss. Party in your mouth. Lots of Mosaic hops. Everybody’s gonna be there. You should come. Piney, earthy, a little dank with that strawberry cough. Why don’t you ditch the geeks and get on board.......

A sessionable pale ale. This is about as all-encompassing as local brewing gets. A dozen breweries and brewpubs came together at DC Brau’s Bladensburg Road NE brewery to craft a double batch of a refreshing, accessible brew. Each brewer brought water from its own facility to combine as the base for the summer ale.

This Belgian-style tripel clocks in at 10% ABV and is brewed with orange peel, coriander, grains of paradise, and juniper berries. An angel has blessed this transcendent ale with deep flavors of passion fruit, kiwi, and tropical candy!

Craft brewers Ska Brewing and DC Brau have joined forces with Ska legends The Pietasters to create a collaboration brew called "Taster's Choice"—a Coffee-Doppelbock—to be released March 27th at Washington D.C.'s Black Cat nightclub at a party featuring The Pietasters. Proceeds from the beer and the party will go to the Todd Eckhardt Scholarship Fund, set up to honor the memory of former Pietasters bassist and songwriter Todd Eckhardt, who passed away in 2001. The fund benefits students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts through the Ellington Fund. "All I can say is that there seemed to be empyrean forces driving this collaboration. It had to happen," said Ska President and Co-founder Dave Thibodeau. "I met Brandon [Skall, DC Brau co-owner along with Jeff Hancock] at an event in D.C. during SAVOR. I loved his beers, and we both loved a lot of D.C. bands, including The Pietasters. Then it turned out the Pietasters' drummer also works at DC Brau." When these common threads were combined with the Craft Beer Conference's (CBC) location in D.C. this year and Denver next year, the cosmic signposts were too obvious to ignore. The brewers hatched a plan to make "Taster's Choice" at DC Brau's facility in Washington D.C., and release it during CBC at an event featuring the Pietasters. Next year, Ska and DC Brau will again join forces, this time at Ska's Durango, Colorado location, to create another collaborative brew for release at next year's CBC in Denver. Also participating in the transcontinental collaboration are Durango's Desert Sun Coffee Roasters and D.C.'s Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company, both of which donated coffee beans for the project. Country Malt Group not only donated the malt for the beer, but also gave a generous cash donation to the Scholarship Fund, and Yankee Schooner donated the printing.

The "9th Gate" greets its imbiber with earthy undertones on the nose amidst a faint smoky essence backed firmly by an aroma of roasted chestnut and soft leather. At first glance one can see a deep reddish brown center fading to a delicate clear auburn hue at the edge of the glass. The subtle nuttiness continues on the palate with a faint suggestion of peanut shell and almond essence that balances nicely with a kiss of bitterness delivered by the Willamette hops.

The Citizen can best be summed up as "a trip around the world in a can". We start off with our classic recipe that contains American and British hops, and pair them with a distinctive Belgian yeast for a taste that brings together a little bit of everywhere. The Citizen’s nose is of delicate yet floral hops, becoming more fragrant as it warms. This, along side a sweet malt finish, strikes a wonderfully drinkable balance that will bring you all the way back to our nation’s capital. Become a Citizen of the world, one sip at a time!

The Corruption™ IPA is DC Brau's take on a Pacific Northwest IPA. Brewed with Pale 2 row, C-10, Honey and Victory malts. Exclusively hopped with 40 lbs of Columbus hops per brew to ring in at 80 IBU. "The Corruption" comes in at 6.5% ABV. This beer straddle's the line between IPA and Imperial IPA and has a supportive malty backbone with an assertive hop presence that smacks your mouth with a dank, resinous bitterness followed by pleasant aroma's of pine sap and burnt spruce. Can Factoids: 2012: "In 1824, Speaker of the House Henry Clay forged a coalition that secured the White House for John Quincy Adams. In return, Adams named Clay as his secretary of state in what became known as 'The Corrupt Bargain'."

The Everyday Junglist is a 5.5% ABV American Pale Ale hopped with Chinook and Mosaic hops. The resulting brew is soft and full of big citrus character. Juicy notes of ruby red grapefruit and plump Clementine oranges leave your palate calling for a rewind after every sip.

The Public™ Pale Ale is brewed in the classic American Pale Ale style. Assertive bitterness backed by C-60 and Vienna malts which lend notes of rich, yet semi-dry caramel. Then followed up with a nice white grapefruit and citrus aroma that begs for a follow up sip. "The Public" is DC Brau's most popular offering and continues to be a sought after staple by imbibers and ale hounds in the Nations Capitol. Can Factoids: 2012: "'New Columbia' is the name of the proposed U.S. state that would be created by the admission of the District of Columbia into the United States as the 51st state according to legislation offered starting in the 98th Congress in 1983" - suggested by contest winner Matthew Vermillion 2011: "In November 2000, the DC Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing license plates bearing the slogan 'Taxation Without Representation' - Visit www.dcvote.org for more information"

The story of the Rider is the story of the wandering soul. Never in one place too long, never staying for more than a song. The Hobo is a quintessential American icon. It is unclear when he appeared in our history but the Hobo was a hard working man who followed jobs from town to town relying only on the cold steel rails for home. The moniker Hobo comes from combining the first two letters of Homeward Bound. Just like this relic of American folklore The Rider has done its share of wandering. This West Coast red has been around the world. It represents the nomadic combination of our house Belgian yeast strain mixed with the west coast giant Simcoe hop and an anonymous experimental variety that will forever remain nameless, as do the men who rode those rails so long ago. "I Know You Rider, Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" A little about "The Rider" Aroma – Sticky melon, resinous hop zest, warming alcohol, herbal Taste – medium bodied, moderate bitterness, noticeable alcohol, lingering hop presence on back of the pallet, spicy

Stone of Arbroath has a rich, sweet malty aroma with mellow notes of plum and brown sugar. The mouthfeel has a "mineral-like" softness with highlights of deep caramelized malt derived from a 90 min boil which encourages caramelizing of dense wort sugars complemented by a subtle roast character that finishes with a mild acridity that pleasantly coats ones mouth. Coming in at a warming and subdued 8% ABV it will definitely ruffle many a kilt this spring. The Stone of Arbroath Abbey takes this one step further! The first modern development in Arbroath was the Abbey which was founded in 1178. As a tribute to the history of Arbroath we barrel fermented 120 gallons of “The Stone of Arbroath” in oak casks and pitched our house Abbey Ale yeast strain. Both The Stone of Arbroath and The Stone of Arbroath Abbey will be available in 22oz bottles - though the barrel fermented version will be limited to 638 bottles only. Bottle Factoids: 2012: "For centuries the Drosten Stone has remained shrouded in mystery. Scholars can not agree on the ancient origin of the rock. The inscription “DROSTEN: IPEUORET [E]TTFOR CUS is just as much of an enigma as the stone itself. This beer, as well, is such a conundrum. Please don’t ponder it’s existence for centuries as you would assuredly go insane. Just be happy that it exists."

D.C. United, in collaboration with DC Brau Brewing Company, LLC, announced that their limited-edition beer has been named “The Tradition.” Out of 534 entries in the “Brand the Brew” contest, Donald Wine II’s submission* reigned supreme, with midfielder Chris Pontius, defender Ethan White and defender Dejan Jakovic ultimately choosing the name for Washington, D.C.’s first-ever team-specific brew. While harkening back to the Black-and-Red’s rich history in MLS, “The Tradition” also tips its hat to DC Brau’s customary naming scheme of its beers, which includes “The Public,” “The Citizen” and “The Corruption.”

This Belgian IPA has hints of honey and lightly toasted bread which are complimented by a generous amount of American hops. Soft malt flavors combined with our house yeast create a backbone for what is an unmistakably resinous pine and citrus hop finish.

"If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting, time after time." - Yes, I have to be honest, this 80's hit by Cyndi Lauper was part of the inspiration in making this beer. Thyme after Thyme is our version of a Strong Belgian Winter Ale. Initial tasting leads to a zesty orange rind and herbal aroma. Mouthfeel has weight and comes across with a white grape and subtle, herbal character that coats the tongue and lingers with a glimpse of Thyme. Mild warmth on the tail end of the finish gives a small view into its lofty 9% abv. Both Orange peel and Thyme were added during the primary fermentation so as the beer developed the spices were slowly stripped away leading to a well balanced spiced ale that is a great companion for a comfy couch and a roaring fire.

“Yonder Cities" is a collaborative beer between DC Brau and Union Brewing of Baltimore. This Farmhouse IPA is quite the standout with its beautiful balance of malt, hops and yeast. Jeff and Kevin worked hard to craft a beer with a spicy yeast character and a bright vivid hop profile. Simcoe and and Citra hops bring white grapefruit, juicy nectarine and zesty lemon peel to the nose and palate while the proprietary saison yeast balances peppery earth tones with a crisp tart finish. There are two version of this beer. One brewed at Union and one brewed at DC Brau. The only difference being base malts. We used Pilsner Malt and Union used 2 row.

Your Favorite Foreign Movie is a traditional Patersbier, a low-alcohol (4.0% ABV) Belgium-style brew. Patersbier literally means “fathers’ beer,” as it’s traditionally brewed as an easy-drinking table beer for Trappist monks. The style is extremely rare; the closest commercial relatives are Petite Orval or Chimay Dorée, which are notoriously difficult to find in the US. The recipe for this tasty brew comes from Brian Barrows, winner of the Meridian Pint Homebrew Contest!