The Brickskeller

I worked at the Brick for five months and still visit every time i am back in DC. First off, you have the understand the history of the Brick to appreciate it fully. The Brick is now over fifty years old and is still a family owned establishment. The beer list is quite massive with listings broken down into two parts: domestics (by state) and imports (by country). The servers at the Brick may not always have the best of attitudes. This is mainly due to the fact that they all run their own beer and food (most of the time esp. when the dolly is broken upstairs), split checks on tables anywhere from 5 to 30 people and buss their own tables. The sections are very large which also leaves the servers scrambling regardless. This is no excuse for poor service but it does seem to be a running joke for diehard fans of the Brick. Here are a few insider tips from a former staffer to make your visit to Brick one to remember. Beer shipment arrives on Wednesday. As such, beer stock is the worst on Mondays and Tuesdays. The best day and time to visit is early on Thursday. Have two or three choices ready to make life easy for your server. Better yet, tell your server what kind of beer you like or are looking to try and give a price point and 99% of the time you will love what they bring you. I.E. "I would like to try a barley wine under $6.00 etc." If you are upstairs, order something on tap for your first round. It only takes two to three minutes to get those and then you have plenty of time to peruse the menu to find that special brew you always wanted to sample. Food is good if you know what and how to order. The kitchen is very small and outdated. Orders come into the kitchen on a first come first serve basis. That means if a large party of 30 puts in food orders for burgers, pizza, etc. before your party of 3 for french fries and cheese sticks, yours will not be made until the party of 30 is brought to the table. Order as soon as possible. Food will take a while. This is hard to explain to hungry patrons but it is just the way the kitchen functions. The best items on the menu no fail are the nachos with everything, crab cake sandwich with added provolone (not on the menu but they will make it for you), monte cristo, buffalo burger medium rare with provolone. Don't forget to ask for your spicy mayo. It is amazing with everything esp crab cake and burgers. Upstairs is best for large groups, downstairs is ideal for parties of 2-4. Taps upstairs may be expensive but are often times one of a kind samples that you cannot get anywhere in DC or in the US for that matter. Unfortunately, they do not have standup service. It is bar policy so please don't get upset when your server or the bartenders ask you to go back to your table to order. That is why tables are at a premium and sometimes there is a long wait at the door. Call ahead for larger parties at all times. Bring your ID! No matter how old you are, they will check it and send you away if you don't have it. Tourists are the ones hit hardest by this DC law but that is what it is DC LAW, not the door managers trying to be ulgy to you. Lastly, this is a fun place with kinks and quirks all its own. Stay patient, and have fun. If you do your server will go above and beyond to make sure you have a great time. While at the Brick take a stroll around (after you get your first round of course) and check out Dave's amazing collection of beer bottles, cans and kegs from all over the world and from as long back as you can imagine. The Brick is a wonderful place with a unique atmosphere and classic old school DC charm. Go for the experience, stay for the beer. I hope this helps you enjoy your next visit a little more. Cheers! -L Martini more

They say the best nights are the ones you don't remember. Enter the Brickskeller. At the suggestion of the owner of San Francisco's venerable Toronado, one of the best beer bars on the Left Coast, I went to the Brickskeller back in 1998 when in DC for a business meeting. I remember the physical layout of the bar, the fact that they had Old Potrero Single Rye Whisky, and that they had a kick-ass burger. What I can't recall is what I had after the burger, or getting back to the hotel, or pretty much any details about that night. Needless to say, I list that night as one of my best business travel experiences of the past decade. Yesterday, after meetings in DC, I introduced my new colleagues to the Brickskeller - and by the end of the night, nine of us were searching through the list of over 1000 well maintained beers for hidden gems, having top notch burgers (and the spinach and artichoke dip was pretty darned good as well)! For a world-travelling beer geek, the Brickskeller is the place to go to bring up memories of brews past... Adnams from Suffolk, Boon Gueuze from Belgium, Augustiner from Munich, Rauchbier from Bamberg (with all its smoky goodness), perfectly sour Berliner Weisse, Gaffel and Reissdorf Koelsch from Cologne, Uerige Doppelsticke from Duesseldorf, Geary Pale Ale from Maine, Hitachino Nest Lacto Stout from Japan... every bottle bringing forth a memory of places visited and beers shared with friends. Or even better failing to bring up any memories at all... more

This place has one of the largest lists of beers I’ve ever seen. The problem is half these items are never in stock. When you come here don’t get your mind set on one particular item because chances are they might not be in stock. Other than this small problem this place is a nice place to get a drink. more

The Brickskellar, near DC's DuPont Circle, has a great bottled beer selection, and more than passable food. As mentioned in other reviews, have a backup choice when you order beer, but don't worry. Due to the great variety, there's still a delicious beer for every palate. A great place to try a new beer! more

Brickskeller Inn is a beer lover's dream. This dark and cramped tavern is home to the one of the largest selections of beer in bottles anywhere... over 500 I believe. If you are visiting for Miller Light, keep moving-- this is a tavern for real beer aficionados. Food is standard pub fare, but nothing jumps out at me as being exceptionally amazing. Come for the beer, and make an excuse of ordering a few more rounds by getting some food, too. more

I love trying new things and this is the place to go if you're up for an adventure in beer drinking. If you're going to go and order a Miller Light... forget about it. Go to Front Page and be unoriginal. I gave the bartender a few suggetions of what I normally drink and she was able to suggest some new beers for me, and was extremely knowledgable about her recommendations. The second bartender we had definitely was winging it with what he recommended (granted, I asked him to recommend a fruity American beer, and perhaps that isn't his forte) but picking at whim proved fortuitous nonetheless. Good atmosphere, lots and lots and...lots of beer choices, and slightly difficult to find. A good choice for an after work drink or three. more

The Brickskeller is one of my favorite places in DC. The previous reviewer was right, the Brickskeller does not stock all of its beers, so don't get your heart set on one beer before you order or you'll be destined for disappointment. The atmosphere is low key and fun, and the beers are cheap and exotic. I like the white chocolate Dixie beer and they have a shandy (anyone from the UK will appreciate that). If you're looking for a low key place to hang out at with friends to have a drink (or two, or three...), go to the Brickskeller! more

The beer list is by far the Brickskellar's main attaction; with over 500 beers available, it boasts one of the largest beer selections of any restaurant in the world. However, just because the beer is printed on the beer list doesn't mean its in stock. The staff will tell you to have a second choice in mind, and you'll usually need it. Sometimes a third choice. That said, with so many beers to choose from even your 5th choice is going to be a very, very good beer. Oh, these beers are all bottled, not on tap. Pub fare is the rule, including well-regarded onion rings and buffalo burgers. more