My last few blog posts have focused on the winter mix-packs that I’ve been sampling, but my winter beer-drinking has not been confined to bottles. I’ve also enjoyed a lot of great draft beer at my local brewpubs and beer bars. Here’s part 2 of my Winter 2013-14 DC Brew Tour:

Part 2: Bluejacket, Washington, D.C.

When Visited: December 13, 2013

Occasion: My birthday! I’ve been anticipating a visit to Bluejacket for a looong time. But the trek from Kensington required a special occasion, and I could think of none better than celebrating my birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

Beers Sampled: As we sat down for dinner at the Arsenal, Bluejacket’s restaurant, I was overwhelmed by the beer menu. There were 25 house beers to choose from  –- 20 on tap and 5 on cask. The illuminated beer menu:

I was glad to see that they offered four-ounce pours so that I could sample a wide range of brews on the menu. Over a leisurely and delicious dinner, I made my way through 5 rounds of 3-beer tastings. I sampled:

• Forbidden Planet, a dry-hopped Kölsch (4.2%)
• White Album, a hoppy Hefweizen (5.1%)
• The Stowaway, a Dunkelweizen (5.7%)
• The Stroppy, a sessionable Pale Ale (4.7%)
• Lost Weekend, an aggressively hopped IPA (6.0%)
• Trouble, a Duo Bruin, or sour Brown Ale (5.9%)
• The Expat, an Elderberry Bière De Garde (5.1%)
• The Duel, an IPA finished with Brettanomyces (5.9%)
• Harlow, a Belgian Strong Ale (8.4%)
• Scarecrow, a dry Saison (5.8%)
• Seersucker, a light Berliner Weiss (3.5%)
• The Ingénue , a Gose brewed with lavender (4.3%)
• Bird of Prey, a strong cask-conditioned IPA (7.0%)
• High Society, a Barleywine, with suggestions of fig newtons and tootsie rolls (9.6%)
• Cashmere, a strong Belgian Quad (9.8%)

I loved the beer menu at Bluejacket! Though overwhelmed at first, I quickly settled in with round after round of tasters. The three IPAs I tasted were superb, and I regret not trying the fourth IPA on the menu. Bluejacket brews some of my favorite styles —  flavorful but hard to find styles such as Bière De Garde, Saison, Berliner Weiss, and Gose. And the strong beers were well-built and well-disguised.

So while I tasted 15 of the house brews, there were still 8 that I didn’t get the chance to try! A reason — make that 8 reasons — for a return visit.

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