I think this place has the same floorplan as the Des Moines, IA Rock Bottom... it also resembles the Walnut Brewery in Boulder. Overall it has the same features of Rock Bottom places, shiny this n that, wood everywhere, long polished bar, but the beer quality was lacking for the most part. The Bourbon Stout, which is supposed to be one of the best beers made in DC, I found almost undrinkable. The oatmeal stout was close behind. However, I found the Hefeweizen to be spot on for the style, rich, juicy, appropriately tart, just wonderful. The waitstaff was decent, they forgot to serve us water on a 100 F day, but during both times we visited over the weekend the brewer was hanging out at the bar and talked to us for a while.

Beer available, July 2006: Bourbon Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Hefeweizen, Light Ale, Amber Ale, Brown Ale.

Large place in the heart of the Chinatown/tourist area. Large bar area with seats at the bar and tables. Nice looking interior. Friendly, efficient service. Beers are mostly pretty good, but not spectacular. Food is tasty steakhouse fare with a decent amount of seafood. Portions are massive, so you really get a second meal with each one you order!

Friday lunch hour in May 2006: Nice semi upscale restaurant with a nice menu in a well restored historic building. I had low expectations for this Rock Bottom affiliate, but the three beers I tried were all the way good. The bartender was all over it, too. Liked it.

It’s nice to have a brewpub in a nice steakhouse. It’s a great change of pace from the typical brewpub fare. The decor was full of dark wood and polished brass. It looks like the kind of place Gatsby hung out in after he made his money. They had 8 things on tap. The sampler was very reasonably priced. The beers ranged from solid to pretty good. The food was excellent. They really know how to do a burger. I think I’ll do a steak next time. Since it;s close to the Landmark E street theater, I’ll definitely go back.

classic bar for older guys who like jazz and tradition. Decent but not on the edge beer. Top professional staff, who are friendly at a buisness not passion point. Basement and bathrooms are a 5 minute or so special elevator ride down. Good sized bar, a decent number of tourists at the tables. No patio available. No guest taps, just about 7 of their own, and outside of the bourbon aged which is overated, nothing to define the edge as its conservative DC. Good as a stopover waiting for the worst traffic on the continent to clear.

Stopped in here a few times while I was in town. Dark wood paneled room with lots of glass and shiny brass. I didn’t eat while I was here but the beers were okay. Nothing really spectacular (although the Spring Bock was surprisingly tasty). Enjoyable though. A very surly bartender the first night... someone much friendlier the next day. OK.

This place has a small bar area but overall the restaurant is adequately sized but cramped feeling. The service is attentive. There was one seasonal available, and it was the same one from a previous visit four months ago, the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout. I have yet to eat here, but the menu looks similar to the Denver location.

This place definitely has the upscale brewpub chain feeling, though not as sterile as the Capitol Hill Brewery. I stopped in and had their imperial stout which was served in a pint glass for some strange reason. The bartender was himself baffled by that fact. There was a decent array of beer available. If I was to pick a brewpub in town to sample some DC brews I’d come here.

A grand old place with a 1930s look to it, art nouveau meets bierhaus, prohibition era music. For a chain, the beers are OK to solid. Menu is limited to steak which is the speciality...no complaints here, love the complimentary cornbread.

January 2006. The layout is awkward enough to be intriguing. I enjoyed both stouts, and now wish I had paid more attention to the other beers. Bar staff was willing to discuss the stouts.