Capitol City Biere de Garde

Draught at the Downtown location. Amber with a lacy head. Aroma of spices, medicinal herbs, caramel, and earthy hops. The flavor has some toasty, toffee, and caramel malt sweetness, and earthy bitterness, and lots if medicinal spice. Medium bodied with lively carbonation. The spice is a bit overboard and could definitely be mellowed, but didn’t ruin it.

Pint @ Capitol Hill. Lightly hazy honey yellow colored body. Frothy, yeasty, full and rich, which is something of an odditiy at this brewery, and there’s a bit of pepper and spices, some soapy scents and flavors as well, and some mellow cherries and mild funky yeast in there as well. Texture becomes gritty (maybe even chunky) over time, and the yeast is nice enough, just barely tart. A good one to drink.

Didn’t realize "Biere de Garde" was it’s own style when I tried this, it was recommended by the bartender at the VA location. Poured a medium golden color, and a great spicy aroma as well as a great spiced flavor, I really enjoyed this beer.

Date: 07/15/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

hazy pink, whispy white head, light sweet berry aroma, nice sweet fruit flavor, strawberry sweetness, a typical strawberry wheat, where is the Belgian?
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Date: 07/15/2006
Words: Draft
Words: Brewpub

clear gold, fine cream colored head, light carmel aroma with a hint of spices, lots of funky spicey flavor, light lingering bitterness,

Aroma: 3/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Draft at Downtown location. I am somewhat unfamiliar with this style of beer, so I didn’t know what to expect. Copper color, with a thin white head. Malty aroma. Flavor is that of spices, with some ginger.

Sampled on tap on 7/15/06 at the downtown location: Pours a lightly effervescent copper with a thin ring of white head. Has a toasty, earthy grainy and sweet biscuity malty aroma. Starts with a sweet earthy grainy maltiness, some mild toasty malt and a drier bittering hoppiness. Has some warming alcohol in the finish.

Sampled on draught at the brewpub in Shirlington, VA. Very interesting and flavor example of biere de Garde, brewed with black pepper and ginger. This beer pours to murky, caramel color, with a thick, creamy, white head, and a moderate carbonation. The nose on this beer is spicy, with aromas of ginger, and crushed black pepper. The palate is firm, with good pale and toasted malt flavor, paired with a very evident, spicy/peppery back drop. This beer finishes with more pale and toasty malt up front, then ends with some spicy ginger and black pepper, paired with some warming heat. Very interesting, spicy, beer. You really can taste the black pepper in this beer. I enjoyed it, but it might be off putting for some. Makes a nice beer to match with a number of dishes on the Cap City menu.

Draught at Downtown location during RBSG DC 06 Weekend Clear amber color, no head and light lacing. Nose of lightly spiced beer, sweet malt, light carbonation, some esters and a touch of that ginger. Moderately hopped and floral. The flavor is sweet and syruppy, lightly tart and a bit of estesrs, but way too sweet and uncarbonated. Should be dry and fizze. N’est ce pas?