Nothing goes better with sunny days than summer beer. To toast the unveiling of many craft breweries’ warm-weather concoctions, the DC Craft Beer & Cider Festival will take over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, offering two sessions of all-you-can-drink revelry.
Providing dozens of selections from 75 breweries and cider makers, the festival will hold an afternoon and an evening session, each 2 hours. An extra hour is available with the purchase of VIP tickets.
All patrons will receive a commemorative pour glass and an unlimited number of 2-ounce tastings.
Cider houses rule this year’s festival, with an entire section devoted to some of the nation’s best cider makers.
Although not as popular as beer, cider is making inroads in the craft industry. Purveyors of spirited cider to be represented at the festival include Vermont’s Woodchuck Hard Cider Co., as well as some north-of-the-border elixirs from Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse of Saanichton, British Columbia.
In addition to the unlimited tastings, food for purchase will be on offer courtesy of the Craft Kitchen, proffering treats from D.C. staples NeatMeat, Cajun Meets Asian, Tres Creole Catering and Chef Jess.
Brewers will bring their wares from across the U.S., as far as Maine (Allagash Brewing Co.) and California (See Canyon Hard Cider Co.).
As with last month’s D.C. Beer Festival at Nationals Stadium, the District will not be represented at its hometown craft brew event, leaving locals without any capital suds to brag about. (DC Brau, Capitol City, 3 Stars, Atlas Brew Works, et al., we are looking askance in your direction.) Closest to home will be AleWerks Brewing Co. of Williamsburg, Virginia.
For those not content simply to taste, games will be held, no doubt showcasing how alcohol typically makes folks believe they are more coordinated than they truly are.
Because downtown parking can be a nuisance and driving after imbibing too much is a crime, public transportation is recommended. Metro riders can take the Yellow or Green lines to the Mount Vernon Square/Seventh St.-Convention Center stop.
Tickets are available.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: DC Craft Beer & Cider Festival
WHERE: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
WHEN: Session 1: VIP 1-4:30 p.m., general admission 2-4:30 p.m.; Session 2: VIP 6-9:30 p.m., general admission 7-9:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $45 to $75; visit HandcraftedTasting.com/DCCraftBeerFest
• Eric Althoff can be reached at twt@washingtontimes.com.
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