Good beer spots in Washington, DC?

[keelanfish]

I've got a conference coming up at the end of this month and will be in the D.C. area for about a week. Looking for input on good beer spots for dinner, after dinner drinks and also a good bottle shop to look at the selection and see if there's much that I can't get in Georgia. Will be staying in the Gaylord National which is south of D.C. on the Maryland bank on the Potomac.

[bigdan]

Birch and Barley

Dr Granvielle Moore's

[keelanfish]

Wow, those look pretty good. Can they accomodate groups? Say 10 to 15?

[bigdan]

I'd call ahead. Dr. Granville's is pretty small, but I think there might be out door seating, but I'm not sure. The Birch and Barley/ Churchkey is more accessible from public transportation and bigger, but it gets busy. Birch and Barley is the restaurant down stairs, but the Church key is the bar upstairs, both have great beer selections and good food. I don't live in DC had to go up there for work pretty often and they were both good places with a good atmosphere. Dr Granville's is a little more laid back. I would recommend the Brickskellar too, but not sure what happened after the change in ownership last year.

[Cody]

Just got back from DC last week and took your suggestions and went to Churchkey. Wow. That place was amazing. I went back twice and couldn't get enough. Excellent suggestion.

[bigdan]

Cody,

Glad that you enjoyed the Church Key.

[snowcapt]

I heard they served homebrew at some big white house. Pretty sure it is invite only, though.

Have fun in DC, friggin WEIRD town.

[keelanfish]

Unfortunately our conference was in an isolated area south of town with little cost effective transit available. Taxi's were $20 each way at least and the water taxis were about as expensive.

Anyways, I didn't get to visit any of the places suggested, but did find a couple good spots. The first is a fish and chips place in Old Town Alexandria called Eamonn's. Nothing fancy and a tiny spot with only four tables, but they had good Guiness on draft and great fish and chips. After that, we found our way to a pub called Bilbo Baggins and stayed there for a long time while a line of storms passed through the area. Nothing too rare or spectacular, just a really good craft beer bar. Tried Founder's Breakfast Stout for the first time...yummy.