Capitol City Biere de Garde

Brewed by Capitol City Brewing Company
Style: Bière de Garde
Washington, Washington DC USA

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 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.

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.

Clear and coppery, white fizzy head. Real interseting and somewhat complex nose of ginger, toast, caramel, grass, and black pepper. Flavor was similar with up front tones of more ginger and black pepper that balance on a bed of grassy hops. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, spicy finish. 7.5% ABV here for those that need to know. I like it for the fact that it was unique, not the same boring staple beers they always brew. A good effort...

on tap at the brewpub. pours a rich gold /light copper with a thin white head. tasted earthy, like peat. almonds and hazelnuts. when it grows up, it wants to be a single malt scotch. a fine sweet aroma. this is a really good beer.

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.

A pleasant little surprise from the folks at Cap City. Slightly sweet with just a twinge of hop at the very end.

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.