November 22, 2009 [ Updated December 1, 2009 ]
This place has a phenomenal list of beers 50+ taps and 500+ bottles. Certainly the place to go when in DC if you want a huge selection of good beers (other establishments might tout a larger list but they’re always out of stock on many of them). Food has looked tempting, but I haven’t had any yet. Staff is overworked but within the environment, they’re quite attentive. Prices are fantastic, two sizes of beers allows me to get a cheap 4 oz glass of a beer I may only want a little of. The only downside to the place is it is busy busy busy. Aside from how packed it got, I’ve gotten a seat at the bar two out of five times I’ve gone. I’ve actually walked out twice (out of five visits) without even placing an order due to how crowded the place was, even on a Tuesday night.

November 4, 2009
We started out early and beat the crowds at the upstairs bar. Started with 4 ounce sample of all 5 cask ales - Ola Dubh, Bell’s Two-Hearted, Heavy Seas Winter Storm, Wollaver’s Brown Ale and Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale. All priced at $2 except the Ola Dubh which was $6. Then we progressed through a nice selection of draughts, all well-kept and reasonably priced. Finished with some incredible bottles: Alvinne’s Oak Barrel Podge, De Ranke’s Noir de Dottignies, and Les Deux Brasseurs collaboration of De Proef and Allagash. Staff was very attentive, friendly and mostly familiar with what was on offer, especially considering the place was absolutely packed and their selection is enormous. Greg Engert, the beer manager, took time to chat and pour each of our bottles, despite being in constant frenetic motion. The charcuterie was average, nothing too exciting, but the flatbread was amazing (we tried two varieties). This place has already vaulted to the top of DC beer bars, and I hope they keep up the good work.

October 30, 2009
55 beers on tap (a huge bottle list as well), classified as Malts, Roasts, Fruit &Spices, Tart & Funky, Crisp, Hop, Smoke, and Authentic Cask Ale, I had previously only tried about half of them elsewhere, so a bar with over 20 drafts I’d never heard of will keep me coming back. You can buy a regular size glass (10-16 oz. depending on the beer) or get a 4 oz sampler (many for as little as $2). The World Series was on and the bar upstairs (Churchkey) was packed, but you could still find a seat. The bar in the restaurant downstairs (Birch & Barley) was mellow, with no TVs and pretty much empty bar, nice and quiet. the bartender did not bring back the change and I find assumed tips arrogant, so a mark down on service.

October 26, 2009
Went to the grand opening of this bar and had a really good time. The place was packed which affected the ambiance and service rating, but the beer list and tap selection was one of the best in DC. Also, the prices were amazing (for DC) for the quality beers that they were offering. The kegs reside in a loft on the top level and are temperature controlled for each tap, making the beer taste as it should. They also have a beer organ, where the pipes contain the lines also coming from the ’control room’. I will definitely be going back again and offering a rating with food and a better description of the bar.