DC/MD/NoVA Beer Updates (2025)

Looks like BabyCat (Kensington MD) is opening a second location in Bethesda according to their website.

 

Reddit is never a place for level headed discussion. There's definitely a certain type of people posting on that thread

 

They're done

 

Anyone have opinions on the breweries near Berkeley Springs, WV: Locust Post, Cacapon Mountain, Berkeley Springs Brewing.

 

Haven't been to Locust Post but the other two are pretty 'meh'. Decent spots if you want a beer but don't go expecting anything close to spectacular

 

yeah, go as a tourist but don't expect much. I'd say Cacapon is the better of the three.

 

Anyone have details on BA Abraxas at the NRG bars? Per their official, NRG-managed Untappd profiles, it's now on the menu at Churchkey, Shelter, Rustico, and Planet Wine.

 

I was at Rustico Alexandria last night and they did have it as a bottle to purchase, but the menu was not updated to list it. Based on some of the other bottles like coffee abraxas being $50 I assume it would cost more.

 

Thanks for the info! Did you get a sense whether it was for on-site consumption only or available to-go? I'd honestly be willing to open my wallet a bit if I could enjoy it on my own couch, using my own preferred stemware, poured at my own preferred serving temp, and, er, following my own preferences on whether I'm wearing pants.

 

I vaguely recall going to Cacapon once, I would have liked to spend more time there.
Unfortunately I was with a group of people that all had differing opinions on what to do and where to go that weekend.

I’ve looked at Locust Point before, haven’t been yet. Usually when I’m in that area is when I’m in a hurry to the get somewhere else.
It does look good though, that 4.9 out of 5.0 rating of 230 people on Google Maps says a lot.

Berkeley Springs looks pretty good too.

 

No idea sorry. I know they typically let you get bottles to go, but not sure if they have many bottles.

 

High Side has BA Abraxas to go: $70

 

I REALLY should have bought the full set when i was in st louis a couple of years ago

 

Responding to my own post, BA Abraxas is $110 for on-site consumption and $55 to go at Rustico. I'd imagine it's similarly priced at the other NRG spots that got it, though the sales tax difference probably pushes the price up a bit at their DC locations. I'm glad no one on this board knows my wife, because she really doesn't need to know how much I dropped on my two bottles. Never thought I'd see the day BA Abraxas was available for local purchase.

As a side rant, the Rustico employee handed me my bottles at full-on fridge temp. I don't understand why NRG's beer-focused places don't have refrigeration options that are more appropriate for stout serving temperatures. I see photos posted by numerous people on this site with their fridges modified to hold at 55 degrees, and they're not making money off the suds like these bars are. Are you going to be happy dropping, say, $110 on a beer like BA Abraxas only to have it served way too cold to show the nuances of its flavor? Are you going to be happy dropping that kinda coin only to wait an hour or so for the beer to warm before you can even start drinking it? This is a big reason why I prefer drinking at home rather than in a bar or taproom. Stouts and barleywines make up the majority of my beer consumption, and those just won't be as enjoyable at the serving temperatures most of these businesses seem content with.

And yes, I know I just ranted about the BA Abraxas I just bought locally and conveniently, possibly the most "first-world problems" thing I've ever done. Shut up.

 

$55 to go and double for on site? I believe you but why does that seem backwards?

I feel you on the price but, seeing as how regular and the variants are $35-$40 in Baltimore...not a bad deal

 

Seems logical to me. If you're consuming on site, you're enjoying their attentive wait staff, their atmosphere, their stemware, their heating/cooling, etc.

 

For beer, I feel Elkton has a step up on Cave Hill, though our experience at Cave Hill was interesting. I could see the farm getting a good crowd going with live music and did like the farm equipment museum, as we were there way off peak time.

BrewHaHa seems like a randomly run business to us. Small spot and no one has been there during posted open hours. So much so that I assumed it had gone under by our second visit to the area.

And if you head to the area, perhaps obviously Harrisonburg isn't far off, with Pale Fire, Borthers (not personally a fan, but still), and maybe some other spots.

 

$15 for a draft pour at Crafted in Ashburn.

 

Didn't see it posted previously but after over 33 years, DC's first post prohibition brewpub, Capitol City Brewing's last day will be Thursday Aug 28th.

 

Their Shirlington location closed a few years ago.