Excuse Me, Is That Your Blog?

I’ve been meaning to review Quarry House Tavern for a while, in keeping with my DC Beer Tour series, but I just haven’t had the chance. Now that I do, it’s time to give this classic Silver Spring establishment its due respect.

Walk down the thirteen steps into this basement-level bar for the first time and it’s easy to see why the Quarry House Tavern is one of the DC area’s oldest and most respected watering holes. Referring to itself as “Silver Spring’s Favorite Dive,” QHT doesn’t disappoint. The place is dark, dingy and decorated in such a way that you’d have no idea what year it was if it weren’t for the largely hipster crowd. The bathroom is one of the most unique situations I’ve ever seen – you’ve just got to see it for yourself. But all of these things add to the charm of what is the best of a dying breed down here – the authentic, unpretentious dive bar. The experience only gets better when you see the beer list.

QHT’s “Beericulum Vitae” (*This links to a beer list that’s older than a year. The BV changes constantly, and is now divided by type of beer rather than country of origin.) is the most formidable beer list I’ve seen in DC thus far. It may not boast the sheer number of draft beers as RFD (QHT has seven rotating taps and a permanent tap for Guinness), but the variety is breathtaking. From your standard American macrobrews to some of America’s best craft brews and on to some of the most obscure and exotic imports (including a wide selection of Trappist ales), there’s something to please the palate of any type of beer lover. During my most recent visit, I tried two brews from Oskar Blues, a Colorado brewery that was the first to distribute craft brew in cans. The “Ten FIDY” is a delicious, creamy Imperial Stout with a rich, chocolaty taste that, despite the 10% ABV, goes down smooth and leaves you feeling wonderfully warm. Probably the best stout I’ve ever had. The “Dale’s Pale Ale” was decent, especially for a canned brew, but looked and smelled more robust than it tasted. Regardless of personal taste, the presence of Oscar Blues on QHT’s menu is testament to the scope of the venue’s endeavor, as it is one of the few places in the DC metro area where you can find the rare brew. I’ve had countless other beers at QHT and have never been let down. There is the rare occasion when they’ll be out of an especially exotic beer, but given the size of the operation, the quality of the experience and the low probability of this happening, it likely won’t ruin your night. Likewise, the prices are such that you can enjoy two or three unique brews without going broke – markups are some of the lowest I’ve seen in DC, especially when compared to RFD.

What sets QHT above and beyond even the most bombastic beer snob hangouts is the quality of the service, food and entertainment. On even the busiest Saturday night, the bar is run smoothly and efficiently, and you will rarely wait long for your drink even if you are seated rather than at the bar. Food may take a while on occasion, but not without good reason. I’ve never had anything to drink there besides the beer, but I’ve noticed an ever-growing cache of high-end liquor as well, which the bartenders serve with care in addition to managing the taps and bottles. QHT is also home to what I consider to be the best happy hour special in the DC area – half-price burger Mondays, where patrons can choose from third-pound or half-pound patties topped with an array of great stuff (*The food menu, like the beer list, hasn’t been updated for a while on the website, but is basically the same.) and served with a side salad or, as a unique touch, tater tots. And the burgers are damn good. The entertainment is top-notch as well; QHT sports an old-school jukebox spinning everything from Buddy Holly to Weezer and doubles as a concert venue, famous for its rockabilly Saturdays (concert calendar can be found on the main MySpace page).

As an after-work hangout or weekend dive-bar destination, there are few better places in DC than QHT. “Beers. Burgers. Basement.” That’s their slogan – and all three are done exceptionally well. Give QHT a whirl if you haven’t already, and if you have, I’ll see ya there again on Monday.

Quarry House Tavern
8401 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
301-587-8350

Enjoying unique beers is one of my favorite hobbies. Despite the fact that DC is kind of lacking in the regional craft beer arena, there are quite a few good places in the District that boast globe-spanning collections of robust, flavorful beers. I don't fancy myself a beer critic, but I figured it might be a good idea to chronicle my beer sampling adventures for those of you who may share my appreciation.

One of my favorite beer stops in DC is RFD. Owned by the same folks who own DC beer-lover staple The Brickskeller, RFD is located right in the heart of Chinatown, which makes it very convenient when stumbling back to the Metro after a few IPAs. The beer list is astounding, offering over 300 bottled beers from around the US and the world. Though I've never been to Brickskeller, it seems RFD has the advantage with 30-50 beers on tap compared to Brickskeller's almost exclusively bottled list. I've been there three or four times now, and I've never been disappointed with the beer. The food and the service, on the other hand, can leave a bit to be desired.

The menu features pretty standard bar food with a nod to "upscale" dining. Many of the dishes are made with some element of beer, which is unique in theory but nothing special in practice. Prices are a bit on the high side, considering the "meh" quality. But really, it's a beer place, and you can never go wrong with a beer and a decent burger -- both of which are in abundance at RFD.

My only real beef with my latest RFD experience is the service. Last night, my curiosity was piqued by a beer I hadn't seen on their menu before, North Coast Red Seal Ale. Being a huge fan of pale ales, I asked the server what he thought of the beer. He described it to me as a "standard red ale, like an amber." First off, red ale and amber are not the same thing. Secondly, the Red Seal Ale was neither of those. Suspecting he didn't know what he was talking about, I ordered it anyway. It was, as expected, a pale ale. Pretty good, nice and hoppy, but not too complex -- nothing to write home about. Anyway, the point is, if I'm going to a specialty beer place, the server should at least have a clue what they're selling. I know that sounds snobby, but it's not an unreasonable demand. Of course you can't expect them to know every beer on the list, but you'd think they would at least know the difference between types of beers well enough to recommend things. That said, this may have been a one-time thing, as I've certainly had knowledgeable servers at RFD in the past.

As for the physical location, the atmosphere is a bit lacking. It's somewhat reminiscent of a cafeteria, only littered with banners and posters and signs advertising beers of the world. It can attract rowdier kickball/softball crowds on occasion, but they are often relegated to the back patio and the indoor crowd is pretty laid back place.

If you're a fan of good beer, RFD should definitely be on your checklist of places to hit in the DC area.

One more thing, though. If I ever catch someone again in a place like RFD drinking Sam Adams Light, I will punch you and your entire party directly in the teeth. Just FYI. (I kid, I kid. But seriously, Sam Adams makes some good beers. If you're not ready to try more exotic imports or craft brews, at least grow some balls and try one of Sam's real brews.)

EDIT: DCist has alerted me to some disturbing news. We can only hope that was Miller Lite.