Washington, DC New Menu Report: 09/30/15
If you feel the urge to sport lederhosen, order beer in German, and sing raucous drinking songs, you are not alone. October makes everyone feel a bit Germanic and dream about frosty beer steins, bratwurst, and oompah music so why not join the fun. Taverns, brasseries, and pubs are all celebrating Oktoberfest in their own way, and if beer isn't your thing, then try a hoptail or tropical tiki drink, they are all on offer this week.
Boulevard Tavern and Urban Heights
On Wednesday, October 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Urban Heights is featuring a special Breckenridge Brewery tap takeover featuring their Vanilla Porter Nitro and new Breck IPA. When you buy the beer from the special menu you get to keep the glass and are eligible for special giveaways. And the very next day, Thursday, October 8, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. repeat the same beer menu and fun at Boulevard Tavern. Prost!
Brasserie Beck
Searching for a different kind of brunch menu? Then try the special Oktoberfest brunch menu at Brasserie Beck on Saturday, October 17, from 12 to 4:00 p.m. You can sit on the patio and enjoy all-you-can-drink German drafts like Dinkel Acker, Erdinger, and Hofbrau for $40. Tasty Belgian and German cuisine will be served a la carte for under $7, so be sure to try things like fried Bratwurst fritters, beef Frankfurters, potato and Gruyere pierogies, and choucroute sandwiches with braised pork shoulder, sauerkraut, pork belly, and sunny side egg and mustard aioli.
District Commons and Penn Commons
Chef Jeff Tunks' brassy American taverns, District Commons and Penn Commons, are bringing back a customer favorite by serving popular beer cocktails, or hoptails. District Commons is offering the Georgetown Maid prepared with Jameson Caskmates [aged in stout seasoned casks], Dominion Oak Barrel Stout, and Llord's Coffee Liqueur. At Penn Commons they are channeling colonial classics like the Rattle Skull made with Thomas Tew Rum, Laird's Applejack Brandy, lime juice, nutmeg, and DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter.
Farmers Fishers Bakers
Oktoberfest and Halloween drinks may be on everyone's minds right now but beverage director of Farmers Fishers Bakers, Jon Arroyo, has gone island crazy. He's still got white sand beaches and tropical drinks on his mind and has added a fun, new Tiki cocktail menu to keep summer alive. Coconut, tropical fruits, rum, little paper umbrellas star in the menu with drinks like Mai Tais, Zombies, Daquiris, and Bahama Mamas.
Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal and the DC Wine Examiner. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva.