Visited right after dinner on a Tuesday with Travlr. Brand spanking new look, located upstairs from Birch and Barley. Room length bar to the right, bar tables to the left, small area of couches and chill out spots in the back. For whatever reason, I had always imagined this place as a small basement bar, it is neither of those things. Both the tap list and bottle selection here are world class. I appreciated that sample (4 oz) sizes were available for all tap beers. The service was great, super friendly and knowledgeable. It helped that Travlr seemed to be a bit of a none quantity here. I had a really great time here, and it will certainly be a must hit when I am back in DC. Thanks for meeting me out, Gene.

Bar in semi dodgy neighborhood with serious beer menu. Lots of great stuff on tap and much more in bottles. Great place.

CK is the hot place in town. Just always stupid crowded even early Monday evenings. What!? Come here on Friday or Saturday night and you can forget about it. It is insanely packed. OMG. But if you know a few people and are polite, you can get your drinks very quickly no matter the crowd. Selection is so big it’s a little terrifying. But if you really dig deep into the bottle list- its extensive but most of the beers are expensive and mediocre. This is a place that could really throw it’s weight around to get better beers like Port/LA, FFF, Surly, New Glarus, RR, Struise, De Molen. Sadly, almost all the exclusive beers are exclusive for a reason: they suck. There is a huge emphasis on Italian craft beers, which are mad expensive and usually suck. Food is insanely good, but you pay for it.

**UPDATE** I’ve warmed to this place over the past year for a number of reasons. One, though they don’t have happy hour like Paradiso, you can always get tasters of what’s on tap for a pretty good deal. Usually around $3. Two, they have kept the same staff for a long time. I’ve made friends with a lot of them and it’s nice to know someone behind the bar when it gets mad crowded, which is almost always the case. Three, they do clean their tap lines meticulously and staff labors all day doing this detailed necessity. Four, they have been throwing their new found fame around to get lots of exclusive beers. Now Struise and De Molen is quite common and even Cantillon is doing an event here. I’m very proud to have CK as a sort of local bar and think the staff is top notch. Without a doubt, the premier beer bar in DC if lacking the homey, relaxed atmosphere of Paradiso.

A must-visit if you are in the DC area. Great selection of draft and bottles. We preferred to try the 4 oz. pours ($4 ea) and sampled all kinds of great beers. Reasonably priced for such a varied selection. Good food but the focus here, for me, was the beer. I’ll be going back soon.

Fantastic choice including 4 cask ales, 2 imported. All Bar One of the beers were of good quality (though I don’t think the exception was the pubs fault). A fantastic beer emporium, a must for any beer lover.

I try to get there whenever I’m in DC. This last trip I got there. I wanted to learn about a particulat style of beer so I asked the waitress to bring me an selection of 4oz pours that would be instructive of the style. She did a supurb job. I love the place for not just for the 4oz pours, but that they pour them willingly. I learn so much every time I go. The food is a little eccentric, but all prepared extremely well. And yes, timing is everything, people do know about this place and it can get crowded.

Show up early. If this place was ever a secret, then that time has passed. CBS was doing a story while i was there and took up half the space, which is large, but fills up rapidly. Among the best tap and bottle lists in the country, and I’ve been around. Great staff that keeps the place feeling like it belongs to a neighborhood instead of a corporation. Outstanding!

Fantastic beer bar in downtown DC. Bar is upstairs above a amazing restaurant. Low light, loft-style place with an extremely long bar and some booths and couches. Tap selection is always top-notch. Even with the frequent tap-takeover events, there are more than enough additional taps for other beers. The large binder documenting the bottle selections is daunting. Each bottle is stored in one of many fridges, each set to the proper temperature. Prices can be a little high, but they often have beers or events that you won’t find anywhere else in the area. Great food offerings that pair nicely with the diverse beer selection.

ChurchKey is my go-to place. Lots of great taps, a constant cycling of great new beers to try, an attentive and knowledgeable wait staff, and good (if expensive) food available.

Flat out one of the best beer bars I’ve ever been to. Huge tap list, bigger bottle list, small pours available, incredible service, and a really sweet atmosphere.