Washington D.C. isn’t always the most popular place. Tourists are flocking to the museums and the jobs are plentiful, but you can’t escape the disdain in people’s voices when they mention the nation’s capital. It may have something to do with Congress’s 19% approval rating (up 5% from April 2014!) and overall skepticism that anything will be accomplished before the 2016 presidential election brings the city to a grinding halt.
Yes, all of those things are issues, but you’ll be surprised to hear that Washington has significantly more going for it than what is happening in that dome on the hill. So take a break from the politics and focus on beer, yes beer.
Washington, D.C. has a burgeoning craft beer and brewing scene, and it is changing the culture of the city. Long gone are the days of the three martini lunch, they’ve been replaced with tap take overs, local craft brewery happy hours and a growing interest from members of Congress about how craft breweries are impacting local economies.
Here are four signs craft beer is having a big impact on the nation’s capital.
1. SAVOR®: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience | June 5-6
The ultimate experience of pairing craft beer and food with more than 70 small and independent U.S. craft brewers sharing their beer paired with food. Since its inception in 2008, SAVOR has been in Washington D.C. every year except for one and the people of the city are wild about it. This year’s event is sold out, but latecomers can enjoy tons of events happening around town that surround SAVOR. You can expect tap takeovers at a range of venues from well-established beer bars like Churchkey and Jack Rose, to Capitol Hill staples like the Capitol Lounge.
2. A booming craft brewing scene.
Five years ago D.C. didn’t have any micro-breweries, but that has all changed. Today there are nine breweries and brewpubs in the city with eight more in planning. Beer is quickly becoming the go to drink of the public and private sector. Capitol Hill staffers spend their Saturday’s buying growlers and networking at local breweries. The breweries themselves have embraced their proximity to the nation’s capital, and you can see it reflected in their choice of names like D.C. Brau’s IPA collaboration with Oskar Blues “Smells Like Freedom” and Port City’s session IPA “Ways and Means.”
See full infographic.
3. The Small BREW Act
Legislation that would positively affect small brewers is being discussed on Capitol Hill on a daily basis. Thanks to consumer demand, an array of choices, job creation and growth craft brewing is a popular subject in Washington, D.C. Everyone has their favorite local brew from the state or Congressional District that they represent and visiting a brewery during district work weeks is quickly becoming the photo-op of choice. Craft brewing has a lot of fans and a lot of good will, and it is important we make it work for us. The Small BREW Act would lower the federal excise tax on the first 60,000 barrels to $3.50/barrel and $16 from 60,000-2 million annually for American craft beer. Maybe beer and politics do have a future.
4. Baseball
It’s the 10 year anniversary of baseball returning to Washington, D.C. and everyone is invited to celebrate with a cold beverage. The Nationals may be the youngest team in the league, but they are already considered one of the top stadiums in the country for craft beer. Multiple “District Draft” locations throughout the ballpark feature local breweries like Hardywood Park , 3 Stars, Atlas and Flying Dog, to name a few. Sam Adams has even gotten in on the action, with an exclusive IPA celebrating the Nat’s tenth year in D.C. Grab a game day ticket and take a tour of D.C.’s local breweries in between innings.
So, maybe there is a little politics involved, but hopefully you are convinced that D.C.’s craft beer scene has a lot to offer.
Katie Marisic is the Federal Affairs Manager at the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers. Based in Washington, D.C. Marisic plans and executes legislative, regulatory and political strategies to drive the Brewers Association’s federal affairs presence on Capitol Hill.
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