The Brickskeller

The BrickskellerThe Brickskeller
The BrickskellerThe Brickskeller
Bar, Eatery

1523 22nd St NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20037-1005
United States

// CLOSED //

A new bar has moved into the location with a similar beer menu: Bier Baron Tavern Beer Bar.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25169
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.74
Reviews:
187
Ratings:
187
pDev:
20.86%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by CuriousMonk:
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Reviewed by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

3.2/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 3
After hearing about this place through locals and seeing that they have over 1000 beers, I was hoping that it would be wicked awesome and become my go-to pub as I don't really have one in the DC metro area. The beer list was a bit more mainstream of the more popular international brews. I was hoping for more rare gems, but that never happened. Maybe there's a brew or two on tap worth trying out. I didn't mind that the place looks like it is already closed by the way it is kept up and barely any lights on inside. The worst part though is the service. It seriously seems like everyone there either hates their job or just anyone that actually comes in and forces them to work. I look forward to checking out the Bier Baron for the first time ever and see how much this place has (supposedly) improved!
Feb 18, 2011
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by GregKeith from Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
I've been here a few times over the past several months and it's a mixed bag. First time - upstairs - was not impressed. Shabby and the waitress was slow and clueless on a slow night. Beer selection is extensive but not the 1,000 varieties they promise. I vowed to never go back.

But I was talked into it a few weeks later and it was a much better experience downstairs. The bartender - Eve - is about the most knowledgeable beer person I've ever met. I gave her hints about what I liked and she knew just the beer for me to try. She's a walking beer encyclopedia.

It's still shabby and the bathroom looks and smells like the toilet in Trainspotting. However, last time I was there I sat next to a man who claims he is part of an ownership group that has bought the place and will be refurbishing it. I told him to make sure they didn't overdo it and kill it's charm and - for God's sake - don't lose Eve. Apparently, she's getting a deserved promotion to Beer Director. Let's see how they do.
Dec 28, 2010
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Reviewed by bamojr from Virginia

4.16/5  rDev +11.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5
I enjoyed this bar a great deal. Their selection is quite good. All of the drafts that I had were from well known companies and a very nice selection. The bottles are what most come for with their utterly huge variety. We did run into them being out of a few, and as I have seen from other people this tends to be a problem. It is understandable however that it is hard to keep that large a quantity in stock. The bartender was knowledgeable and fairly friendly. Overall, this is a great place and I will defiantly be back.
Nov 15, 2010
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Reviewed by decadance from Texas

3.73/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Its a dirty bar, and the bathroom smells so bad it burns your eyes.

They do know their beer though. The selection is not fantastically stellar, and everything listed in the bottle menu is not available, largely because (according to my waiter/manager) they print the menu 3 times a year and keep seasonals on past their time. I knew I wasn't getting backwoods bastard, but I did get the Founder Breakfast Stout (which was not even on the menu).

Food was pub food. Service was decent. The prices are a bit nutsy for somethings (23$ for Maharaja bomber?!), but overall, this and RFD are where you should go in the DC area.
Sep 04, 2010
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Reviewed by Jimmys from Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -29.1%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 1.5
The idea behind Brickskeller is genius. Over 1000 beers to choose from. Guinness World record holder for best selection.

Yah yah yah fuck you.

I know they made all those bottles available for sale to obtain this record and that it is unlikely for this record to be surpassed. However, during your visit to Brickskeller please plan for several choices whenever the wait staff decides to get around to taking your order. My latest strategy has been to decide on a brewery and ask the server which beers they actually have. Typically 50% of the offerings on the Beer List will be out of stock. Another fun fact is the potential to receive a bottle that has been in room temperature storage for months, that has been dipped in an ice water bucket to give the illusion of being chilled. Hooray selection!

Experience with the staff is hit and miss as I have had servers that knew what was in and out of stock before leaving the table and then bartenders that could care less about what I thought of the beer or even giving me the time of day to order. Also, they have food, but I would definitely spend your money elsewhere.

With so many new beer bars popping up throughout DC/NOVA I would definitely go somewhere else to lay down the bucks. My constructive criticism for Brickskeller is to make a new Beer List with what they ACTUALLY carry. You own the record, now own up to what you have become.
Aug 22, 2010
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Reviewed by socon67 from New York

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 2.5
Was here while catching a Nats game in DC.

The vibe is kinda college scene, but it does come off tacky. Lots of old beer cans along the walls, but it makes the place look cheap morew than trendy.

The service was impressive. I've seen some negatives in other reviews. I guess it depends on the server; ours was very knowledgable. The selection is insane, though they will be out of some so plan on a backup.

The food was "okay" I guess, but clearly you are here to drink. Don't expect great food. The pricing was higher than normal but you are paying for the beer options.

I thought it was cool, and worth the trek.
Aug 15, 2010
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Reviewed by IMZep from Maryland

3.2/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
As a DC native, I often feel the need to defend this place but it gets tougher with each visit.

Old beer cans on the wall and various beer signage will give a brief smile to the beer-lover but overall the atmosphere is a bit dingy, probably still barely fitting into the "faux-dive" category. I tend to sit "upstairs," as I find it cleaner and less-crowded.

The fabled List is impressive, but isn't backed up by their store room very well, as others have noted. I often come prepared with backup choices that leave me with my third or fourth choice.

The service varies. I once had a waiter who seemed to know The List backward and forward and was well-equipped with suggestions and knew which beers they were out of, so no unhappy surprises after waiting 15 minutes to get the beer you ordered. On my recent trip, however, the waiter seemed completely clueless as to what was available and what wasn't; not even prepared to take backup orders on the spot. Then there's the waiting. Probably due to being such a popular place, even a good server can take a while getting your beer to you. I like to think that the wait times are due to them rummaging around for that last bottle of Schneider Aventinus, but I really can't say. And then you're left paying $7 for your third choice. They have the occasional $3-4 stuff, but why go to the Brickskellar for something you can find at your local grocery/liquor store?

Food is decent, but I'm not sure who goes to the Skellar for food.

If you're visiting DC, it might be worth stopping in to see what the fuss is about, but it's not the first beer bar I'd recommend.
Jul 30, 2010
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Reviewed by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania

2.34/5  rDev -37.4%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3.5
Visited here on a trip to DC.

This place stinks.. I mean it really smells bad. at least the downstairs bar. The atmosphere is dark and with an old time feel. Alot of old beer cans on the wall. Coolers full of beer and about 12 taps and a handpump I believe. A small bar with seating for 13 or so, an area in the back for larger parties and a kitchen you can see in o. I guess the lines are clean thats what counts, the rest of this place just looks drab. The service on my short visit was not very memorable. I looked at the tap menu and said hey this is a "pretty good" list and than I was called a snob in more words than one. I ordered a Southern Tier XXIPA, what I got was nothing but this, it was a weird wit, not the same beer. I looked at the bottle list and while big I could see that some of what was on there was not in the coolors in front of me. There is alot of beer here though. WORST BATHROOM EVER. It stunk and made me want to vomit. No need to order food here, I can hardly stomach the smell, no need to order more beer, I already got put in my place and got a nasty wit for a DIPA. No need to come back, I think I get the jist. The only reason I did not fail this place is because there is beer there that I want to rescue and give a loving home to. NEXT...
Jul 14, 2010
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Reviewed by brewman63 from Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +26.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Stopped in here a couple of times while vacationing in DC over the weekend. Luckily it was within a short walking distance of where we stayed. This place has great ambiance. It's located in the basement where all us "skeller-dwellers" belong. The beer selection is fantastic. It helped me eliminate a couple of brews that have been on my "haven't found it anywhere yet" list. The only drawback was some of the beers I wanted to sample where temporarily out of stock. That can happen from time-to-time. The bartender is a walking encyclopedia of beer knowledge. Sit at the bar and talk to her about any beer they have and she'll probably be able to give you some kind of intelligible answer. We only had appetizers while we were there and they were okay, nothing special. But let's face it - you don't come here for the food.
Jun 09, 2010
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Reviewed by pzrhsau from District of Columbia

3.1/5  rDev -17.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4.5
Atmosphere: Well you can sit in the upstairs area which has tables and the main bar. The downstairs area is a little darker and tends to be a bit darker but a bit more casual. The whole area has a nice brickwork setup with tons of beer memorabilia lining the walls.
Quality: I have been going there for a while so I have gotten the good and bad days but you can usually find a decent beer to enjoy with friends. My problem is that you cannot sit in the downstairs area and still get tap beer.
Service: Sometimes good sometimes bad but that usually has to do with the weekend crowds. Wait staff generally knows what they are doing and gets you everything when they can.
Selection: This place says it has the largest beer selection, and I think that most beer people will agree that they go there and have to request several beers before receiving one that they want. Also, the tap menu has gotten really pedestrian. they usually had 12 beers from different areas. Small number of taps but they knew how to get the most out of them. Now it is really commercial with only 3/4 different breweries. I think we can all agree, if you are going to advertise this robust menu, please have what you list.
Food: I like the food (probably more of what keeps me going back). Good pub food, nice wings, not too expensive for DC.
Value: Hey, you can try a really nice bottled beer for generally less than you would pay for a light beer anywhere else. Fun place to start your beer education but really lost some luster for me over time.
Feb 21, 2010
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Reviewed by camiam from District of Columbia

1.2/5  rDev -67.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 1 | food: 1
The last time I visited, I vowed I would never return. Unfortunately I was talked back into it by a friend, as we were in the area and looking for some reasonable food and a nice beer.

I spent about an hour and 45 minutes here last night, and all I ordered (or tried to order) was a reuben and a beer.

First off, the food. I was with five other people. Only one of those people got what they ordered the first time (a bread and cheese plate). Every single other member of my party had to change their order as the kitchen simply was out. All told, the kitchen was out of: guacamole, cheese, bacon, bison burgers, fish and chips, onion rings, sweet potato fries and potato salad. Now I understand shortages and bad deliveries, but what irked me was the fact that the server didn't tell us any of this before hand. In fact, she told us about each of these issues one-by-one, so my friend ended up ordering four different meals, only to have her come back time and time again to say they were out of it.

Now the beer, as many other reviews have noted, their menu is an absolute misrepresentation of their products. They probably have half of what is on their menu, and that doesn't even speak for the quality. My friend ordered a nice German pilsner, and was handed a bottle of what tasted like vinegar. It had clearly spoiled long ago, indicative of a lack of turnover and quality control on the part of the restaurant. No one got the bottle they asked for the first time around. Few the second time around. One of my friends didn't find a beer that he wanted that they had until we had all but finished our beers. My friend and I ordered the same dopplebock, somehow I was given a dopplebock and he was given a helles. Would it be so difficult to simply list the beers they have?

We asked to speak to the manager at the end of our meal to complain about our terrible experience. The manager arrived about 20 minutes later and had an attitude from the start. He was standoffish, agressive and didn't accept responsibility for any of the problems of the restaurant. I would say he was the worst manager I've ever experienced. He blamed all of the problems on the owner. He also made the bold claim that the beer menus were updated every 2 weeks. I almost last it at this point, as the torn, faded and sauce covered menu in my hand was certainly not two-weeks-old. I proceeded to point him to the advertisement inside reading "Brickskeller: 1957-2007, Celebrating 50 years."

This time I will definitely never come back. Pizzeria Paradiso, RFD and Churchkey are examples of bars that can actually provide a fantastic assortment of beers without sacrificing service. Go there.
Feb 12, 2010
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Reviewed by andrewm190 from North Carolina

1.73/5  rDev -53.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 1 | food: 2
Be warned: this is not what they advertise. Yes, you can possibly find some beers available that you would struggle to acquire elsewhere. But the reality is that you will request likely 4 or 5 beers off their list before you find one that is actually available. My experience was extremely frustrating. I will admit to being easily frustrated by bait and switch tactics, and that is what I found here. Further, what is available is veryh highly priced. The waitress my party dealt with didn't know what beers they actually had (which isn't really her fault; it apparently changes constantly and only a small percentage of the list is ever available), and she had no knowledge of beer generally. I don't typically expect the waitstaff to be beer knowledgeable, but in this case, it just aggravated the feeling of bullshit I generally had about the place.
Jan 17, 2010
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Reviewed by ultrasupergenius from England

1.56/5  rDev -58.3%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1.5 | service: 2 | selection: 1
It hurts to see so many people talk about the big beer list, and then come to the conclusion that they just happened to run out of those beers on that night... or it was just bad luck that they didn't seem to have the first six beers that they wanted to try.

As a former DC native, I can tell you that it wasn't just bad luck, that one time. It wasn't an off night. They did not just run out. They have a big LIST of beers. That is all it is. A big list.

A big list that gets them written up in magazines that are looking to do a shtick article on the best beer bars in America. They don't stock those beers.

A big list that got the tourists to show up, and overpay for the beers that they finally settled on after attempting to order three or four times and being told they just ran out.

Their glassware is old and quite frankly unhygienic. The entire basement area is borderline disgusting. The taps upstairs are constantly in need of a cleaning.
Dec 23, 2009
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Reviewed by LordAdmNelson from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 2.5
Not a bad place at all. The reason to go here is the beer list--it's huge! The problem, however, is that they run out of a lot of the brews on the list... but they still have a ton of great brews to choose from. It's a bit cozy, but definitely a fun place to go, service was ok, although not exceptional. Food is kind of crappy, but not terrible, just nothing special. As far as pricing goes, it's reasonable for a bar, but expensive if you're comparing to buying the bottles at a liquor store. Honestly, I'd rather it be a liquor store with a great selection because there's nothing too special about drinking it at the place. Worth the visit, though.
Dec 01, 2009
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Reviewed by Travlr from District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The first real beer joint in DC in the modern age. It's in a big old house, and the drinking areas are large, but you wouldn't know it at first glance. The beer drinkers are mostly downstairs. Large long bar, then a bunch of tables in alcoves. Definitely a bit scruffy. Menu is a waste of time, they're out of everything. I used to order 4 beers at a time, in the hopes that they'd have one. Even that didn't work. So now I just look at what's in the fridges, and then point. Or I'll ask the server what's new, and they'll usually have a good recommendation. Defintely worth trying if you're in DC, and then go around the corner to Pizzeria Paradiso to compare and contrast. Greg, the beer manager there, spent his college days at the Brickskeller.
Nov 18, 2009
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Reviewed by wspscott from Kentucky

3.94/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped here with a local friend after dinner on a Friday around 10pm. We randomly decide to go downstairs a whim. We had to wait briefly while the door guy found us a table. Atmosphere is somewhat lacking, a long skinny room with a bar when you first walk in and a somewhat large room (~20 tables) off to the side. Did not feel crowded, but did not offer much in ambiance.

When seated, we found a huge beer list, I promptly looked for something special that I can't get in KY. I settled on a west coast beer (probably IPA, can't remember exactly) and talked my friend into trying Oscar Blues Gordon. Our server showed up after giving us plenty of time to decide and told us that they were out of both of our choices, but they had Ten Fidy and Old Chub, so we started with those. Damn I love Ten Fidy :) Had a couple more different beers and decided to call it a night. The beer list is by brewer vs. style which makes it very hard to compare and contrast within styles. It would be awesome if they had a cross listing by style.

All in all, the brickskeller is a great place to visit, but I am not sure I would make it a habit if I was a local. I will probably stop in the next time I am in town assuming there is not a metro trip involved. Worth trying for the huge beer list.
Nov 13, 2009
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Reviewed by KalH from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Visited the Brickskeller in DC on Sunday and ended up having to wait for a bit til they opened at 6pm. It was dead inside once we came back and sat down. No one came in really until around 8 when we left. The beer selection was more vast than I could have imagined and the inside is decorated with thousands of old beer cans from past decades. Our bartender, Rachel, was extremely helpful and went the extra mile for us. She brought out beers in certain styles and never gave any attitude. The beer listings are alphabetical, as is the beer behind the bar, and assorted also by the country it was imported from. Plenty of aged bottles there as well, including a 2008 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine we bought. We didn't have any of the food there, aside from the freshly baked bread - definitely worth a try. The place is a bit of a dive, but its charm and selection will win most beer lovers over. Go check this place out.
Nov 11, 2009
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Reviewed by BeerSingh from India

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
It was imperative that I visited the mecca of beerdom stateside during this visit (Sept 09). It was Friday early evening and the place was quite crowded..mostly office goers starting their weekend. The jukebox kept playing something other than what I'd requested, maybe the queue was too long. Not a big deal anyway. The beer selection was simply amazing - I was confused and I ended up ordering a Samichlaus. The burger and the cheesy wedges were decent. It was pretty hot and stuffy, and the place kind of smelt musty. The other thing was that the waiting staff were hurrying you up, so that kind of took away the luxury of enjoying your order / ordering at a relaxed pace. But I guess they way the crowd was swelling up, it was expected. Anyway, the legend of The Brickskeller remains intact. Good place.
Nov 09, 2009
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Reviewed by Ralphus from Canada (ON)

3.13/5  rDev -16.3%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
I hit the Brickskeller on a Saturday night while visiting DC. I had just come here from Pizza Paradiso which is just a block away and although I tried to remain objective, I must admit that I was not terribly impressed.

You enter a doorway that leads to two doors on the right hand side. Both have advertisements on them and as a first timer it's not clear what is going on.. are they different bars? The same? I entered the first and after showing ID to a bouncer, found a tightly fitted bar full with people. I inquired about upstairs (deducing that the 2nd door must have led to more space) and went up. On that floor another bouncer another bar, this one with more space and large seating area behind it. I took a table facing the bar and ordered a beer off the tap menu (they did not have any cask).

I remember clearly how red everything was. Red carpet, red walls, red seats, red table cloths. And we're not talking vibrant red - a faded stained looking red is what you should imagine. I saw a sign for Duvel green and thought they might have it - they didn't. I looked through their menu. It's extensive.. a thousand beers apparently.

Despite the list, this is not an upscale place by any stretch. The music was blaring Aerosmith Angel when I arrived and it swung from worse to slightly better every 3 minutes. The clientelle was a total shotgun mix of university students, confused couples and single but recently semi professional frat boys. I say confused couples because you could tell the guys were beer geeks, the girls wanted nothing to do with the place, and as a result there was an odd mix of men staring at menus and girls looking at their watches.

Should you go? If you're in the area - definitely. Will you love it. I guess that depends on what your looking for. I left after 2 beer. Pizza Paradiso, just a block away was far better.
Oct 17, 2009
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Reviewed by UDbeernut from Florida

4/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3
About 3-4 blocks north of George Washington University, this bar has two floors available to enjoy. The down stairs has a fairly long bar and a good sized area of tables. Never got upstairs, but I know there is another bar.

All beers were served in clean and proper glassware for the style. I looked at the beer bottles I ordered, and they were fresh. The bathrooms were a bit dirty.

The waitress we had was attentive, and entertaining. Much better than I had expected based to the previous reviews here.

The selection was phenominal... I almost did not know where to begin. Beers from almost every corner of the world. I would advise to have 2 or 3 selections as they don't always have everything. The waitress did make some suggestions and they were excellent.

Food was ok, mostly basic pub food. Nothing special.

Cost, for me having lived in the midwest for the past 5 years, I though it was very expensive. However, considering the neighborhood and that DC is just plain expensive, it was probabl a decent value.
Oct 14, 2009
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Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 2
I just went back to this place and I have to say that it is much better now that there is no smoking. My wife and I had 6 beers, all were available (also unlike our first experience there). The staff was pretty responsive, except our waitress disappeared and left me dry for several minutes. You go to Brickskeller for the selection, clearly. They boast 1000 beers. Its probably more like 800 beers based on outages, but that's REALLY impressive. Ranging from several different countries and nearly every state in the union, there is surely something there for everyone. Navigating their menu is daunting, but there is plenty of information so you can make an informed decision about region and style.

The interior is interesting. The whole place is decorated with antique beer cans and bottles. Kind of cool from a Breweriana point of view. It wasn't too crowded or loud, there were some loud drunks near us but they left. Most people there were chill and just there to enjoy the place and some conversation. I'll definitely go back. I wish they had taps, but I guess their sister bar does. I'll check that place out soon.
Aug 22, 2009
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Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.22/5  rDev +12.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Decent place. Went on Saturday night with a bunch of people the night before my friend's wedding. Only about 10 taps, but the bottle list probably weighs in in the quadruple figures. Of course I've heard they don't always HAVE half of what's on the list, but it's still impressive. Atmosphere is pretty cool, like a brick cellar but decently lit with dart boards and lots of tables. Prices are reasonable in general but some bottles run a bit steep. Food is pretty average, but hey, it's food, and they serve it late. Since they don't always have everything on the list, make sure to have second and third choices in mind. In case you don't, something like this may happen...
You: "I'll have the (insert beer here)."
Server: "Oh sorry, we're out of that. What else would you like?"
You: "Oh damn...let me think..."
Friend: "Come on, just order one, you beer snob!"
You: "No! This isn't happening! Ok, I'll just point to one randomly. Here goes...I'll have the...Natural Light!"
Server: "Sure thing."
You: "Wait, no. NOOO!!!! What have I done? I just ordered Natty Light at a bar with 1000 beers on the menu! Why, God, why have you forsaken me? My life is ruined! WHYYY???"

NOTE: They actually do have Natty Light on the menu, so this exact scenario could happen to you.
Aug 08, 2009
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Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4
Stop number four on our DC pub crawl. Upstairs looks like the dumpiest dive bar you've ever been in. Downstairs, it's like a brick beer cellar with an entire wall of beer coolers. The pulley dumb waiter between the two was unique. The decorations grabbed me more downstairs, which seemed like it had the better atmosphere. Our waitress seemed to have that "don't care" attitude, not too friendly. Selection was pretty extensive, but of course the one beer that I ordered was not available, so the bartender just got me a different beer by the same brewer. Maybe ask if I have a different choice next time? Prices were all over the place. Pricey drafts all the way down to some cheap beer bottles. I can see how this place was maybe amazing at one point in history but other better beer bars in the US I have been to far surpass this old relic.
Aug 07, 2009
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Reviewed by guild337 from Virginia

4.59/5  rDev +22.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I feel as though I have to judge each trip to the Brickskeller as a completely different animal each time. Sometimes it's too hot and crowded, and sometimes they have nothing I am looking for. But it can be equally great, with the right server who clues you into something special that they have at the time.
This past Friday was luckily one of the good trips, and on my birthday of all days. I had a great server who was determined to get us exactly what we wanted, as quickly as possible. I started out looking to have a Saison of some type, and asked the waitress what their best one was. She stated that the only ones they had were an Avery 16, and a Ommegang Hennapin. Not what I was looking for. Then I asked for something special in the IPA/DIPA category. She suggested the Oaked Arrogant Bastard. I hadn't tried it yet, so I had it and loved it.
Next, I spotted a short list of Nogne O bottles...all were rather pricey, but hell, it was my birthday after all. Unfortunately, she stated that they were out. But I guess I looked dejected, because she said she would go into the fridge personally and look. Sure enough, a few minutes later she came back to the table with a Nogne O Pale Ale, and a #100 Barley Wine Style Ale. I had to have the Barley Wine...and it was one of the best beers I have had in a long time. So I give this particular trip high marks. Just go into each visit here with an open mind, and use your server...they are there to help.
Aug 04, 2009
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Reviewed by bernardus from Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Have visited this place no less than half a dozen times and despite some faults, still remains one of my favorite bars anywhere. Easy to find and very close to Dupont Circle Metro station. Upon walking into the building it's in, you can either go right downstairs where there's a series of rooms and lots of tables, or you can go up (where the taps are) to find a more open setting. There's usually around 10 taps with domestic and imported offerings. I've seen everything from Unibroue, to Southern Tier Creme Brulee, to ones I havn't seen anywhere else like Sierra Nevada Brown Saison.

Then there's the bottle list. Several reviews have commented on the fact that you should have a backup choice in case your first is sold out and there's definitely no denying this. I find the staff to be knowledgable enough (generally speaking) that they can recommend a suitable backup for you in case you don't have one that is close enough in style to the beer that was your first choice. The quality of the staff can vary greatly though as I've had servers who seemed to know their stuff and others who must have just started working there.

Despite being out of several beers from time to time, the selection is still very impressive. Tons of American craft brews and solid lists from England, Germany, and Belgium, among other countries.

The atmosphere gets really high marks just because this place has a great bar feel while still managing to be pretty big. The old and new beer advertisements all over the walls are great as well.

The food is your typical bar food, but if you stay a while (which is easy to do), a plate of the cheese fries is perfect.

It should be noted that this place does a good job of rotating stuff out and updating the menu. On my most recent visit, I saw 4 or 5 Duck Rabbit offerings, as well as the Bruery, both of which came to the area very recently.

Overall, this place should be on everyone's radar while in DC. Even if they don't have your first choice, they're bound to have a beer you'll enjoy in a great setting.
Aug 04, 2009
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Reviewed by ckeegan04 from Texas

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
In DC for the weekend and I had to stop by the Brickskeller after hearing so much (both positive & negative) about it. Friday evening, about 10:30 and the place was packed. The place was also hot as hell. Pretty cool vibe on the inside, but did I mention it was hot as hell in there?

Beer list was amazing. I was tempering my expectations though due to all the reports of them being out of so much stuff. Started off with teh draft list and went for a Stone Old Guardian aged in red wine barrels. Phenomenal. Moved onto the bottle list abd I hit little better than .500 on them having in stock what I wanted. A little disapointing, but still very impressive.

Service was spotty. Waitress seemed a little pissy but loosened up as the night progressed. Drinks were always a little slow coming.

Had a burger. Good burger, but nothing spectacular.

Prices were a little steep, but not really out of the ordinary for DC from what I gathered.

Overall, I really enjoyed the place. Cool vibe in a cool area with a very impressive beer list. Could have stood to crank the A/C up a touch. I would certainly recommend to any beer lover and I will certainly go back if I am ever in the area again.
Jul 21, 2009
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Reviewed by jgasparine from Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -15.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3
I had heard many good things about this place... that it had the most incredible beer selections in the US. Perhaps I had built it up too much in my head.

I was first disappointed to discover upon arrival that there was no draft beer.

Next, while the beer menu was quite extensive, the waitress instructed me to order a 2nd and 3rd choice of beer, in case they were sold out of my 1st choice. Twice that night, she came back empty-handed and I had to make a 4th choice.

So while the beer list was huge, they only had 25% of the beer that I requested... which makes me wonder how much they REALLY had.

At the end of the night, I was shocked by a huge bill... and it didn't help that many of the beers that I consumed were "consolations" (not the beers that I really wanted).
Jul 20, 2009
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.16/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4
SAVOR the day tomorrow, right now we're 'esploring some DC, me and Phil. Walked a dodgy line and halfway around a circle from the last place to this next place, the neighborhood full of meh and mischief, I can feels it. Since way back in the way back of my formative years as a beer kid and surely before, there's been much talk of this holy grail of beer places with like a scillion beers, seemingly unapproachable from points a few metropoli and world's apart north. And now, after years of beers, we're finally on approach...

Upstairs, ignorey offish bartender from the get go, I guess cranky and tired after twelve, wah!, and a girl taking up 2 seats at the bar; her feet on one of them (I don't care if you did break your toe). But she is reading "Batman and Philosophy: the dark knight of the soul", so that makes her acceptably, strangely, mysteriously something all of a sudden, so please be comfortable, can I get you a little foot pillow?

12 seat bar, the shape most resembling a wrench. Bar back, liquor, some empties, the front plate from old pinball machines displayed above with TVs and tap handles displayed atop. 12 taps up on all sorts of towers, 1's and 2's, and the Delirium pink elephant on the bar, plus the hand pump dead 'cause it's not like SAVOR's this weekend, players in town, and you'd need to be up on your game. Not a bad selection, Some regional brews (Stoudt's Fat Dog Stout, Southern Tier Backburner Barleywine, Ommegang Witte), not nears (Bell's Oberon, Arcadia HopMouth Double IPA, Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale & Brown Saison, and 2 unlabeled entires on the tap list that douchtender told me were the Flying Dog Doppelbock & Belgian IPA, although I've never known them to keg the Wild Dog Collaborator Doppelbock or make a Belgian IPA), and a few imports (Tetley's, Unibroue Ephemere). No brainer, Bell's Oberon, please. Beer was fresh, and nicely Oberon.

Tables to the rear, a large roundie kind of with some sort of drama inlayed, and burgundy clothed tables to the rear and the side and a few in a row adjacent to the bar. Raised areas in the back right corner and the whole left side. Display cases on the walls of old cans & bottles, glassware and a mix thereof, and some brewery signage, not badly overdone.

And now an escape to downstairs. Up front, a 12 barrel stool seat "J" shaped bar offering views of glass front coolers running the length behind the bar spying the bottled selections. Flags of the world over the coolers, brewery signage & lamp pieces over the bar. Brick and brick, with cut throughs to a side room holds a few tables and a not full size (as had been described to us upstairs) ship behind glass, but a model at least 5 feet big; the wood wall around it carved into like a table at Rudy's, New Haven (the Paris of the 80's), and a side side room, holding 2 & 4 seat tables. Paneled windows up front, lit long horizontal display cases above all around with bottles & cans of old. Wall & post mounted lamps, faux barrel ends & mirrors, De Dolle posters on the walls, and an unused fireplace prettied up with flowers inside. A secret not-so room to the rear holds old repro'd brewery prints, display cases with glassware, boots, etc. Cans, cans, cans, and a fireplace, too.

Looking around, I comment that people are drinking Heineken and Leffe. "And Mythos", adds Phil, who scrutinizing the beer menu, adds, "Oh, and do you really need a Serbian beer?" Me, I'm thinking, "$14.25 for an Orval, really?" Well they've got Bell's anyway, but they're pretty much out of any of 'em I'd want. The server she says, "It's not on the menu but we have Founders". Really? Which ones? "Centennial IPA, Red Rye & Dirty Bastard", well, hello beautiful. We both opt for the Centennial IPA, the saving grace of the night, now early morning. Phil says, "I'm sure they have no Dieu Du Ciel", but sure enough, they have the Route Des Epices, lovely, lovely peppercorn ryeness, our next beer, and they long in the tooth having seen better days.

Pink Floyd "Coming Back to Life", and now "Echoes", helping the cause. Yes the 2:30 AM Gilmour works for me, yes. Says Phil "So far, DC is getting an 'F'", and I can't help but agree. It's not that I suspect, I know; they had a heyday here, many of them days of hey undoubtably, but I feel like they've sat by while the scene grew around them and outgrew them. I mean, the tap list is not so great and the bottles are uninspired or absent. What I want, you don't have, and what you have, you don't actually have. Best thing they've got going for them now is the complete set of De Dolle posters. Probs my biggest beer disappointment since ever.
Jul 14, 2009
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Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

3.59/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
ah yes, the brickskeller. so called "legendary" by Blackie

arrived right at 6pm as they were opening. first impression is a foul and completely unsanitary bar. initial service was a bit questionable - and screw this "check everyones ID mentality" that DC has

the tap list was pretty dope - a bizarre Port stone beer, stone RIS (red wine old guardain was in the hole), sierra nevada harvest, southern tier mokah etc. i think 12 taps overall, and all were good. the bottle list was huge but i was told it was a crapshoot as to whether or not they were there

so to recap - pretty darn good selection at fair (for DC) prices but this place is an absolute crapper - the bathrooms have possibly never been cleaned. pretty unfortunate - i'm stunned that someone would order food here
Jun 22, 2009
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Reviewed by Nimzomitch from Nebraska

2/5  rDev -46.5%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 5 | food: 1
Like others have said...don't bother with the Brickskeller anymore.

Having lived in DC in the 90s, and Brickskeller being my favorite bar/pub, it has fallen far from grace.

We walked in on June 12 2009 and found everything dirty, notably the smell of garbage and a very grungy tablecloth.

The floors hadn't been cleaned in ages from the looks of it either.

The beers we ordered were not cold enough for style, and also were oxidized and so presumably too old or *really* poorly handled.

Service wasn't good either.

Actually the best thing was the mediocre food.

The whole Brickskeller experience was a huge disappointment. I hadn't been back there since 1997, and needless to say will not be going back, ever, unless things change as drastically for the better as they have for the worse.

From one beer geek to another - just don't go. It's not worth it. I wish I hadn't. Wish I could give less than one star.
Jun 16, 2009
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Reviewed by bmanning from North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 1.5
First of all, I'm reviewing the upstairs bar at the Brickskeller because I hate going to the downstairs bar. The downstairs bar is all drunk college kids drinking cheap fizzy yellow beer, it's usually crowded, and it's very claustrophobic. The upstairs bar, on the other hand, is a very laid back place to drink beer. It's not open as often as the downstairs bar, but you can only get the draft beer at the upstairs bar. They have 12 beers on draft and usually have about 6 that are really good, sometimes 1 or 2 that are aged for several years. You never know when they are going to have good beer on draft, as they never post it, so it's risky to go here. I never order bottled beer from the Brickskeller as 1. they never have it, and 2. it's way overpriced. The saving grace of the Brickskeller is that the bartenders are awesome if you get to know them. Food sucks and the table service sucks, so sit and the bar and hope they have a few good beers on draft.
Jun 05, 2009
Photo of nrbw23
Reviewed by nrbw23 from Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2
The atomsphere of this place is by the best thing about it. Two stories both of which are covered in vintage beer cans and bottles along with tons of signs about beer. The place is a little dark, dingy and covered in bricks. I like the feel a lot. Also has a few tvs.

Service was pretty slow in general from at first getting to us, to bringing our food and drinks. The server also seemed to pretend to know something aobut the beers available and tried to suggest some. When he was asked any questions he had no idea. So that was a let down.

Selection just going off the book its pretty impressive but then like a lot of people said they don't have a lot of it. I think I was shot down right around 6 times and was told they were out of this and this went for our entire table. Probably the most disappointing thing of all is when we finally did get a beer, it was pretty much warm. I'm not talking about cellar temperature either flat out warm regardless of style.

Food was probably the worst food I've ever eaten at a Pub period.

Price wise the food is dirt cheap and trust me it taste like it. Beer wise it depends some are around 3 and go all the way up to 50. Most of which I thought were a bit on the pricey side.

If I'm ever in DC again I might try it again just for a beer if they have it in stock but would not eat there ever again.
May 18, 2009
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Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.44/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Visited here last nite on a recent visit to DC. W went into the bar downstairs and grabbed seats at the bar. There is a long rectangular bar of about 15 stools and loads of table chair setups throughout the room. All walls are red brick with several cases of old beer cans and other memorabilia. The coolers of bottles line the back of the DS bar and the upstairs bar has about 7-9 draft lines. Draft beers arent available downstairs for some reason.
There are beer menus scattered around and the list is very long and divided into national origins. I tried quite a few beers that they didnt have in stock, so that was tough. Eventually went Bells 3rd coast and dominion oak barrel. My wife had liquor and the drinks were not skimpy on the booze and were fairly priced. The beers seemed to be priced well enough too.
We didnt try any food since we had just eaten dinner. Overall the visit was nice and this is definitely a great beer bar with great selection, but I wish the lists were kept more up to date. Maybe keep a section that is for vintage or specialty beers that changes regularly.
I still think a cant miss for beer folk when in DC, just remember this is a great bar better than your average corner dive for selection alone.
Apr 24, 2009
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Reviewed by lumpvt68 from Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
After reading about this place I knew it was a "must have" destination for my recent trip to DC. Went over about 5:00p.m. with my wife, brother and son after a long day at the zoo. I was worried that my 5 yr. old would not be allowed in, but they were very accommodating.

The nachos appetizer was not much for $7.50. Just some pour on cheese and what appeared to be can salsa. That is all the food we had since we were going to dinner later. But, we expected a little more for the price.

The selection was huge as advertised, but, as others have mentioned, my first selection they did not have. They did have Sierra Torpedo which had not been out long. So that made up for not having the Troegs.

The service was good and friendly.

The atmosphere was typical "Skeller" with brick walls, very broken up (not one wide open room), a lot of old cans and memorabilia which was cool.

Overall a cool place, but probably shouldn't be on your "Bucket List". As others have mentioned this place is thriving on its past reputation and needs some rejuvination.
Mar 26, 2009
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Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
wandered here one night after dinner elsewhere, not knowing what to expect given the polarity of what I've read on here about the place

atmosphere: entered down the stairs to the basement, unaware that an upstairs existed, surprised to find both a gruff doorman and a chain at the bottom of the stairway restricting entrance, crowd control I assume, which is a plus, but the use of a chain seems very unnecessary, atmosphere emulates pretty well what I'd expect a Euro basement bar to be, moderate lighting, a lot of exposed brick, paraphernalia here and there, everyone well-behaved, big cooler along the backside of the bar containing a wide array bottles

quality: I went with the Clipper City Balto Marzen, knowing it was probably a bit late to have an oktoberfest, but it seemed okay, but regardless it probably shouldn't still be around, every beer we had got the same service - some sort of miniature lager glass

service: went both ways, the bartender was very nice and quick, but the service was perhaps a bit overdone with the continual topping-up of my glass from the bottle in front of me, just a peeve of mine and nothing to deduct for, but in the end it led to her becoming confused and pouring the wrong beer into the wrong glass, leaving me a nice mix of oktoberfest and pale ale

selection: the back and forth I've encountered around these parts typically involves one side praising the selection and the other bringing up the very valid point that an intimidatingly large list is useless if not kept up-to-date or - at worst - honest, almost on queue, I was informed that my first selection was out of stock, for a place known for it's selection I really wasn't struck by many...though there were certainly good biers to be had, I've visited places with a tenth of the selection found here but of such quality that it was tough to make a decision
Mar 17, 2009
Photo of beermanWV
Reviewed by beermanWV from West Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 5 | food: 2
I really like the atmosphere at the Brickskeller. There are two different sections of the Brickskeller- the basement area where you order bottles, and the upstairs where the taps are. I have only been in the basement area. the basement has lots of character with lots of old beer bottles, cans, and other items. The bathroom is not a great experience, but your not going there for the bathroom. Lots of tables and chairs, but enough room to be comfortable.

I have been the the Brickskeller multiple times, and the service is always been different. Sometimes I have been stuck with somebody that is pompus and seems to have little interest in serving my table. Other times the servers have been helpful and added to the experience. The female servers I have had are usually the best. Come early in the evening if you want to be sure to get a table without a long wait. Check the hours before you go.

Selection is one of the best parts about the Brickskeller. Many beers available from a variety of countries. I know a lot of people on BA get angry when they have not received the beer they ordered even though the Brickskeller advertises itself as having over 1,000 beers. This has happened to me before too. You can't be that mad though when you consider how many beers they carry and the volume of people that they serve. This place is usually packed, and that is understandably going to effect the availability of some beers from time to time.

Food is unimpressive. Typical bar fare, but you can get better typical bar fare at a lot more bars. The food is not horrible though. Of course you don't go to the Brickskeller for the food- you go for the beer.

This is a great place to have a conversation with friends over a few of the many beers available. A good place to take out of town friends on their visit to the District.
Mar 01, 2009
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Reviewed by aeibrean from Florida

2.3/5  rDev -38.5%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
Found this place on here, on 02/21/09 It is cramped and extremely crowded.
The service was awful , it took 20 mins for our server to show up. Then it took another 10 min to order as they were out of 3/4 of what I asked for. Truly, they do not stock that many hard to get or find beers, but do not update the paper beer list. IE they still have Mai bock & Xmas ales on the list. The food was passible and the prices fair, but I was truly disappointed w/ the beer list. Plus The server was very rude. I'm a native NYer and a bit caustic myself, but he was downright RUDE & insulting.
Overall I say give the downstairs a miss. I did not go upstairs.
Feb 26, 2009
Photo of jnn4v
Reviewed by jnn4v from Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +15%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
Atmosphere: Basically a basement. But it's got a reasonable ambiance. I wouldn't take a date here, but it's great for hanging out with the guys.

Quality: Beer is great. They don't have any draft brews, but they do have high quality bottled beers, some which have been cellared.

Service: I've usually had good service. Occasionally (ie. Friday nights) it can get very crowded, so it's hard for the servers to keep up. If you're at the bar instead of a table, you get top-notch service.

Selection: Hundreds of different beers. Hundreds. From all over the world. Need I say more?

Food: Better than average pub fare, but nothing to write home about (or even write on Beer Advocate about).

Value: Value is such a relative term. The food is slightly pricey for the quality, but it's not pricey in absolute terms. Beer prices are reasonable for the quality and selection of what you can get.
Feb 25, 2009
Photo of grees20
Reviewed by grees20 from Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -17.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Had a chance to check out The Brickskeller for the first time last weekend. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed. The atmosphere is pretty cool, but I just wasn't happy and prefer RFD. Got there just before 5 so we beat some of the post-work rush. The Brickskeller has an impressive list of bottles, but it's almost like you are playing a game to see which beer they have in stock. It took my buddy four tries. I understand that they run out but this place would be much better if they just took the time every couple of days to update the bottle list. The food was decent. If you are in DC and have never been there it's worth stopping for a beer or two.
Feb 10, 2009
Photo of markcl
Reviewed by markcl from Massachusetts

2.83/5  rDev -24.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5
I spent many, many nights here throughout college and after and had many great times in the 6 years I lived in DC. But sadly, most of the really negative reviews on here have it right. I hesitate to give the Brickskellar a poor rating on 'quality' and 'selection', as they do have a fairly extensive menu compared to most bars. Hence, I didn't give any 1s in those areas. But I wanted to.

Before you order, you better have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, even 4th pick ready because you're first few choices will likely not be in stock. This will happen every round, too. The beer menu never corresponds with what they actually have. This amounts to waiting 20-30 minutes for a drink because the waitstaff has to run back and forth to the cooler for every one of their tables to see if it's in stock. Service was fine, and I often chatted with some nice folks who worked there. But they were definitely understaffed.

I'd much rather see a beer bar that has 10-20 taps of serious, quality beers than a place like the Brickskellar which claims to have 1000 bottles but has nowhere near that amount. Also, the reviewer who said "what's the point of having shitty lagers from around the world?" is spot on. Brickskellar won't always have your Rogue Chocolate Stout or Oaked Arrogant Bastard, but they likely have some lousy foreign adjunct lager, for which they'll charge you quite a bit.

Also, you can't order draft beers in the basement, only upstairs. That's kind of ricidulous. A proper beer bar ought to have draft beer. I can buy a bottle at my quality liquor store up the street for 1/4 the price and drink it with friends at my own home.

The Brickskellar ought to ditch their "1000 bottle!" b.s. menu and get their priorities right as a proper beer bar. Keep a proper stock, keep up with what they claim to offer. They ought to get some taps in the basement, too.
Feb 06, 2009
The Brickskeller in Washington, DC
Place rating: 3.74 out of 5 with 187 ratings