Most fun beer bars in the DC region?

Meridian Pint is great! Just went there tonight. Great selection. Ask about their Secret Stash list - http://meridianpint.com/content/sams-secret-stash-returns

 

Just don't drink in DC after 7 PM, if you don't want crowds. I hatet them too, but sadly most people here don't do anything besides work and drink.

That said, Meridian Pint usually has a little more elbow room than those others, Churchkey is fine if you can grab a table, and Big Hunt is OK on the weekdays. In addition The Passenger over by the convention center has decent selection; not sure on the crowds though.

 

Red Derby in Petworth is pretty good. They have no taps; everything is in cans, but they have a pretty good selection:
http://redderby.com/?page_id=749

$1 off drafts till 8 p.m. (I think it's 8; could be wrong.)

 

Arlington is good, I enjoy Rustico and find crowds to be very tolerable. Firehouse can be good, and when all else fails, then bar upstairs at Whole Foods. I haven't been to World of a Beer yet. On Falls Churh, I've never had a bad time at Space Bar which is almost across the street from Mad Fox.

 

How do you have $1 off drafts if you don't have taps?

 

Mad Fox/Space bar makes a good night for sure, that's actually my plan for Saturday with their Barleywine Fest. World of beer was complete crap when I went a few months back.

 

Meridian Pint my top choice...can get crowded, but is big enough that you can still eek out a place for yourself. Also, next door - Kangaroo Boxing Club. Have only been twice, but good times each visit.

I live around 18th/U...so I'm partial to the Blaguard, which has an 'ok' tap list, Smoke & Barrel and the Black Squirrel basement.

I visited Mad Fox for the first time 2 weeks ago. If I had means to get out that way more easily, I could see myself spending A LOT of time there. Really wish DC had a non-downtown, non-chain brewpub like this (but of course, it would be ridiculously crowded at all times).

 

What does the OP mean by "fun"?

I'd argue that Red Derby and H St. Country Club are the most "fun" because there's stuff to do... Red Derby has a ton of board games and H St. Country Club has mini-golf and ski ball...

I've heard that there's a new place called Atlas Arcade on H St., which is a cheap ripoff of Barcade in Philly, with only about half (or less) the space. Not sure how fun that is.

 

A couple of gallons of barelywine and a then a pile of tater tots at Spacebar sounds like a good day to me. I am pissed I have to go out of town for my niece and nephew's b-day on Saturday, otherwise I'd check out the event.

 

Lameeee. We'll I'll have some for you!

 

Really sounds like you don't like crowds, which.. is a problem, since bars that are good are popular here and get crowded.

Meridian Pint is probably the most accesable of everything else that has been mentioned already. It has a decent on tap list, and it is more of a neighborhood style pub. As someone mentioned it does get busy, but it doesn't get crazy at least not the time I've been there and hung out.

 

I don't like RFD. Went for my birthday about a year ago and the whole place smelled like puke and half the beer on the menu was out of stock. The atmosphere sucks too.

Mad Fox is nice. Their year-around beer doesn't wow me or anything, but it's a solid place. Kind of in a weird in-between location. I've never seen it really crowded in there.

Bilbo Baggins is also nice -- a little pricey. I think they had Frangelic Moutain Brown for like $50 when that was out.

 

I think that has something to do with the fact that it's owned by the same group that ran Brickskeller, which was notorious for have a large beer menu of nothing in stock.

 

Not sure if you were planning on taking the Metro, but all stations beyond Ballston will be closed this weekend.
Damn kids are turning 4, time for them to get some friends instead of inviting their uncle to every event

 

Thanks for the heads up. I live in Baily's Crossroads so I will catch a ride one way and a cab back I think. Next year with school they'll have plenty of friends

 

I misspoke; I was pretty buzzed on Torpedo when I was writing that!

 

Crowds in DC are ubiquitous. Whether sorority girls are a deterrent or not, Big Hunt is still a really solid place to go. If it gets too crowded they can open the back bar and I have only seen both bars absolutely stuffed maybe once or twice.

Meridian Pint is awesome, period. Rarely to they get packed to the gills. I like the bars at both Pizza Paradisos, but those have very limited seating.

Churchkey is still top dog. My strategy is to arrive early or not at all. There are still times when my wife drags me to an event nearby with the promise we'll make a stop into Churchkey... then we do only to turn right around and head back out. No need to fight the masses drinking Manhattan's for the newest Oxbow release...