As your friendly neighborhood Beermudgeon, it is my duty (and, TBH, my livelihood) to constantly remind you that every season is beer season.
But if I have to pick one season that is especially tied to the libation I sometimes refer to as "barley pop," it's got to be baseball season. Note that I don't say "spring" or "summer." That's just too limiting. From late March through October, there's nothing I'd rather do that take a seat in the sunny bleachers with a hot dog and brewski in hand. It matters little how the home team is doing, but even better if they are in the pennant race.
In Washington, did you know that you couldn't buy a beer at the ballpark until 1956? Although the Washington Senators' Griffith Stadium was festooned with beer advertisements in the years following Prohibition, longtime owner Clark Griffith was a teetotaler who opposed alcoholic consumption (but not revenue generation) in his building. After he died, his nephew and heir, Calvin Griffith, set up a beer garden in front of the left-field bleachers, which also shorted the notorious left-field line from 388 feet to "just" 350 feet. Sadly, this meant that one of D.C.'s most iconic brews - Chr. Heurich's Senate Beer - was never served at a Senators game, as Heurich went out of business that same year.
Fortunately, Senate Beer got a second chance. Right Proper Brewing Co. was asked by the Heurich House Museum in 2019 to recreate the beer based on some recipes rediscovered at the National Archives. Originally slated to be just a one-off for an event at the museum, Right Proper was asked to brew the beer for sale at Nationals Park for the 2020 season, which was, of course, curtailed by the COVID pandemic. Right Proper shifted gears and sold Senate through its taprooms and its retail partners (such as Calvert Woodley) - a minor-league tryout, if you will. Senate finally got its Big League callup in 2021 and has been a staple at Nats Park ever since.
To get your own taste of D.C. brewing history, join us Saturday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at The Beermudgeon's Table for a free sampling of Senate Beer and other brews from Right Proper Brewing Co. And you can pick up the beers you need for your baseball viewing pleasure.
Cheers!
Jon, Your "Play Ball!" Beermudgeon
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Right Proper Brewing Co. Senate Beer(Washington, D.C.)
Brewery Description: "The Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. Senate Beer - a classic corn lager - brand was popularized in the 1890’s, survived Prohibition, and was produced until 1956. Right Proper’s Senate Beer revival was developed by analyzing a 20-page laboratory report on Senate Beer from 1948 to recreate the historic DC hometown favorite." ABV: 4.7%
Tasting Sale Price: $12.49/6pk 12oz Cans Reg. Price: $13.99
Right Proper Brewing Co.Rosette Saison w/ Hibiscus(Washington, D.C.)
Brewery Description: "As DC blooms with cherry blossoms, we reintroduce Rosette Saison, our Spring seasonal. This Belgian style farmhouse ale, named after our company logo, features hibiscus flowers and lemon peel. The hibiscus gives it a pink hue and fruity aroma, while the lemon peel adds refreshing acidity." ABV: 6.0%
Right Proper Brewing Co.Big Tomorrow IPA(Washington, D.C.)
Brewery Description: "Brewed with a majority of Pilsner malts, this brilliant, bright, West-coast style IPA is bursting with grapefruit, lime zest, ripe stone fruit and pine needles." ABV: 7.2%
Other Right Proper Beers Available at Calvert Woodley
Raised By Wolves Pale Ale - 12.49/6pk (Reg. $13.99)
Lil' Wit Wheat Beer - 12.49/6pk (Reg. $13.99)
Haxan Porter - 12.49/6pk (Reg. $13.99)
Senate Bock - 12.49/6pk (Reg. $13.99)
Right Proper Mixed Pack - 22.99/12pk (Reg. $24.99)
All Sale Priced through Sunday, April 5
Maine Beer Co.Spring Kölsch(Freeport, Maine)
Brewery Description: "Native to Maine woodlands, Azure Bluets appear where they are least expected. To many, they are a welcome first sign of spring, appearing in early April as the snow begins to melt. They pepper the ground in tufts of tiny stars with pale blue petals and a yellow center. This Kölsch-style ale recipe stemmed from the Black Barn Program, and has since grown to become a perennial favorite. Aromas of lemon, honey, and rose, followed by notes of fresh-cut grass, and bread dough." ABV: 5.0%
$8.49/500ml Bottle
Maine Beer Co.Wolfe's Neck IPA(Freeport, Maine)
Brewery Description: "Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment is a farm-based education, research and visitor center set amidst more than 600 acres of conserved open space on the coast of Maine. Their work is dedicated to creating a world where agriculture and food systems support farmer viability, thriving ecosystems, and vibrant communities. The beer has aromas of pineapple, mango, guava, coconut, and orange with notes of onion and garlic and underlying toasted bread and pine." ABV: 6.5%
Heavy Seas Beer Small Craft Warning Über Pils(Halethorpe, Md.)
Brewery Description: "Our infamous “Über” Pilsner (and a Heavy Seas classic) returns after a long-awaited hiatus with something to prove. It drinks crisp, clean, and deceptively smooth. Bold malt character meets a snappy hop bite for a balanced, refreshing finish. " ABV: 7.0%
$12.99/6pk 12oz Cans
Heavy Seas Beer Little Loose Easy-Drinking IPA(Halethorpe, Md.)
Brewery Description: "Big flavor meets sessionable delight with 'Little Loose' - this easy-drinking IPA embodies the same bold hop character, aroma and flavor as our flagship Loose Cannon IPA, but at an approachable ABV. Enjoy hoppy bliss without losing your footing!" ABV: 4.0%
$11.49/6pk 12oz Cans
Port City Brewing Co. Bold & Bitterful IPA(Alexandria, Va.)
Brewery Description: "West Coast Style IPA hopped with a truly classic blend of Citra, Centennial, Chinook, and Cascade hops, Bold & Bitterful boasts big grapefruit and orange zest aromas, complemented by subtle floral and herbal undertones. This IPA finishes dry, leaving a lingering, satisfyingly bitter bite that you'll want to keep sipping." ABV: 6.8%
$13.49/6pk 12oz Cans
Aslin Beer Co.Maybe Shark IPA(Alexandria, Va.)
Brewery Description: "Easy drinking, bright IPA with notes of clementine, grapefruit, stonefruit and mango." ABV: 5.5%
Silver Branch Brewing Co.Cloud Nine Hefeweizen(Silver Spring, Md.)
Brewery Description: "A traditional German Weizen yeast gives our Hefeweizen complex flavors of banana and clove, while finishing crisp and satisfying. Pour one today to help you reach your own personal Cloud Nine" ABV: 5.0%
$14.49/6pk 12oz Cans
Other Half Brewing Co.Donuts Hazy IPA(Washington, D.C.)
Brewery Description: "A hazy IPA brewed with a hand-selected blend of hops giving notes of lychee, passion fruit, stone fruit, and sweet orange. Brewed with: Citra, Kohatu, & Riwaka." ABV: 7.5%
$19.49/4pk 16oz Cans
Other Half Brewing Co.Ivy City Helles Lager(Washington, D.C.)
Brewery Description: "A crisp German style Helles with pilsner malt and German Select, Hallertau Mittelfruh, and Tettnanger. Notes of meadow flowers, herbs, pine, citrus, and spice. Brewed with: Spalt Select, Tettnager, Hallertau Mittlefruh." ABV: 4.7%
$13.99/4pk 16oz Cans
Other New and Returning Beers this Week
Aval Cider (France) Blanc
Br. Dupont (Belgium) Saison
Hofbrau (Germany) Maibock
Maine Beer (Maine) Lunch IPA
Manor Hill (Md.) IPA
Other Half (D.C.) Blue Crab IPA, Green City IPA
Paulaner (Germany) Hefeweizen, Original Lager, Salvator Doppelbock
Sierra Nevada (Calif./N.C.) Summerfest Lager 12pk
Zero Gravity (Vt.) Green State Lager
