Capitol City Brewing Company Introduces Some Savory Seasonal Beer

The Capitol City Brewing Company logo

Juli and me

By Punch Pep Correspondent Elizabeth Fischer

Beer and Valentine’s Day had one thing in common this year – me… Well – possibly more than just me as I did witness many couples enjoying the same beers; and … Valentine’s Day.

Prohibition Porter with Vanilla and Saison

Valentine’s Day – a day of love & celebration – Hallmark’s coup – and on this day in 2012 – Hallmark won again – the roads were busy, the sidewalks packed, the restaurants filled with tables of two, and, ah yes, the smell of love was in the air….  The holiday made for cupid, couples and love; and of course, friends and new adventures (look for my Burlesque article).

The Tapping - Prohibition Porter with Vanilla

I was lucky to be invited to Capitol City Brewing Company’s “express your love for beer and celebrate to your heart’s desire” – a Valentine’s Tapping Party unveiling two new seasonal brews: the Saison, a draft Belgian-style farmhouse ale, akin to a Blue Moon – a honey malt with flaked oats; and the Vanilla Porter (cask), Capitol City’s signature Prohibition Porter blended with vanilla beans.

Saison

The Saison reminded me of spring in a mug… light on the palate, refreshing, clean and a bit complex.  I could easily imagine drinking the beer on the patio surrounded by friends on that warm spring day that tempts all to leave the office early.

Vanilla Porter

The Vanilla Porter reminded me of all things winter – comfort and warmth.  It is smooth and velvety, less hoppy and full of vitality & energy.  It is the perfect beer to sip by a blazing fire with snow softly touching the window pane.

The Bar

another POV

chatting and drinking

Both beers are worth a taste.  So head to one of the two locations – in DC or Shirlington.  And for those that didn’t know (and I was one of them since I first went to the old stomping grounds just shy of Union Station) – Cap City DC has moved to a new location on 1100 New York Avenue (well actually on 11^th and H).  The pub faces the street with floor to ceiling windows, a welcoming and inviting interior and a centrally located bar stool for many.

Guests enjoying themselves

Cheers!

and more Cheers!

I was joined by others, including Steven and Juli, for the seasonal beer taste.  Besides beer, the guests enjoyed hummus, chicken fingers, nachos, & mini burgers.  Have I mentioned: I love hummus! Well, I do and Cap City’s was delicious.  A perfect match to my beer.

mmmm...hummus

mmmmm...nachos

people loved the chicken fingers

the mini burgers were a huge hit

Cap City prides itself on coming up with seasonal beers.  It offers four stable beers – Capitol Kolsch, Pale Rider Ale, Amber Waves, and Prohibition Porter.  The other offers are tweaks of beers of yesteryear or other brew masters.  The beers are brewed in Shirlington Virginia and shipped to DC (the only drawback of the new location).

The Casks Kegs

The Brew Master

For this tapping, 1 batch of the Saison was brewed and 1 cask of Vanilla Prohibition Porter.  A batch is a 15 barrel system making up 28 to 30 kegs.  (Oktoberfest & Pumpkin are created with a double batch).  A cask is what is seen with the Brew Master.  Thus you must hurry to enjoy the tastes and sounds of Cap City and these two seasonal offerings.

The Brew Master at work

Next up – the Cap City’s Cherry Blossom Festival Beer.

Some history:

Capitol City Brewing Co. opened its doors in 1992 as the first brewpub in the nation’s capitol since prohibition, thus giving its citizens and its many visitors the freedom to enjoy some of the finest handcrafted beer in the country.  On the front of the menu is the symbol of freedom, the Lady Freedom, a statue found atop the namesake, the United States Capitol.  The dedicated brewers identify and use only the highest quality hops, fresh yeast and select malt to brew many of the world’s great ales and lagers.  Capitol City’s state of the art craft brewing system is located in the Arlington (Shirlington), Virginia restaurant and enables the talented brewers to closely monitor each phase of the brewing process and provide beer within hours of completion, fresher than ever thought possible.

*** Attorney Elizabeth Fischer is Punch Pep Correspondent. She is working as an Entrepreneur, Lawyer and Student (environmental studies), covering events for Pamela’s Punch as a generalist correspondent. When she is not working, studying or playing soccer or tennis, she is walking her pups, traveling the globe, running marathons, and enjoying all DC has to offer. Contact her at elizabethfischer15@yahoo.com.***