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Brickskeller - CLOSED
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Nightlife Bars Hotels, Restaurants, Bars [Edit]
1523 22nd St NW(between N Florida Ave & N P St)
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 293-1885
- Nearest Transit:
-
Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red)
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
369 reviews for Brickskeller
Review Highlights
"The beer selection is second to none."
(in 78 reviews)
"...has a massive beer selection from all over the world."
(in 19 reviews)
"What country does Spinach/Artichoke Dip come from."
(in 4 reviews)
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369 reviews in English
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Review from CHRISTOPHER F.
Arlington, VA
1/4/2012
Closed...
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Review from Ruth C.
12/7/2010 1 photo
Four and a half stars. Wilfred recommended this awhile ago, so Hyunoo and I came here as part of the bar crawl on our friends' chucation. It was hard keeping a leash on HP as he darted back and forth across the street with some severe drunken OCD. ;) My mates were quite appalled that I produced a lighter so easily for the smoker outside. Granted, the Asians in our crew was quite sloshed already, so fumbling down and up the stairs to find a table for six buried behind the white-collar crowds was of no significance to us.
Our needs were simple so we didn't hit any unavailable selections, but obviously from reading other reviews YMMV. Weird diner-esque tablecloths, reasonably noisy and somewhat dimmed. I looked over the pictures I took here and honestly my camera barely made it off the table, nevermind actually getting any good food shots. WD ordered some sweet potato fries that came out hot and gently seasoned in good time. I gorged on them with whipped mayo buttercream. I love my starchy drunk food replete with fluffy dipping sauce; sad to hear they're closing.Listed in: R* haunts: liver failure…, The Graveyard
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Review from Pam Z.
12/8/2010
Rumors abound that Brickskeller is going to be sold! Hopefully this isn't true, or they keep it's laid-backness and the best beer selection in DC. Brickskeller is a DC institution! A facelift couldn't hurt though. http://dcist.com/2010/...
Whatever happens, I will always think fondly of Brickskeller. If it closes down, I'll be forced to go to its sister institution, RFD.
Don't be an idiot and order a Bud light here. You are the in the mecca of international and domestic beers and you should try something new! They're open until 2 or 3 am, so you have plenty of time to get through a few. Great place to go after happy hour to wind down (they don't have a happy hour of their own, but they're going on my hh list).
Service is friendly and knowledgeable, and it definitely doesn't feel like you're in the craziness of Dupont when you're here. Food is typical greasy bar fare, but you're here for the beer, right?
Yes, their dumbwaiter is manual and they will be out of half of their beer selection. Sit at the bar or give the server multiple options for your order. They have over 1000 bottled beers to select in the thick manual they call a menu see here: http://www.lovethebeer..., and you'll definitely be able to get quite a few on tap. I'll trust Christopher C's expertise on their extensive German beer selection. I myself go for the Belgians, asian style beers, and west coast microbrews. They even have a more than decent representation from Africa and countries not known for their beer!Listed in: Geometry, DC Specialties, Eulogies
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Review from Kevin L.
Washington, DC
12/11/2010
This is the easiest review I've ever written. Went here last month with a friend to celebrate some long-awaited good news both of us received. Was very interested in the historical selection of beers, most importantly their stout options.
Walked in.
Were ignored.
Caught attention of waitress.
Were reluctantly seated and left with menus.
Place stinks, but not as bad as the attitudes.
Were ignored for an additional ten minutes (note: NOT crowded).
Tired of waiting.
Walked out.
I read the other day that this place might be closing next year. No surprise there. Can only imagine the hiring process for a place seemingly loaded with despondent shit holes, and from reading recent reviews, it seems they don't even have many of the beers they claim anyway, so no loss. -
Review from Lowen B.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2011
I can't believe this place closed; Brickskeller had an amazing beer selection and it was a favorite hangout of my DC poker buddies.
Then again, the food was pretty awful, it was dark and stuffy down there, the service wasn't great (you couldn't get much help selecting a beer from there 10-page beer list) and there was absolutely nothing trendy about it.
They just had pages and pages of great beers from around the world to try. And that was why we kept going. But in the end, I guess Brickskeller was too "old Washington," and was replaced with places like Matchbox, or even Blackfinn.Listed in: Favorite Places in DC
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Review from Julia Vipsania A.
Arlington, VA
11/6/2010
Brickskeller: Come for the hundreds of beers in a little basement bar, stay for the dudes who leer at you every time you stand up.
I was here for an admittedly disorganized birthday party, so I wasn't too perturbed when the servers had no idea who I was trying to find, but somehow this place managed to be even more disorganized than we were. You would think that any restaurant with a hillion jillion beers would logically assume a hillion jillion people would want to come and so it might be a good idea to have half a hillion servers, or at least more than three. Apparently not! Refills and re-orders took upwards of a half-hour. When tabs came out, they were completely mixed up. This is not a good thing at a restaurant with beers anywhere between $2 and $80.
This also featured one of the strangest experiences I've ever had at a restaurant.
AGRIPPINA: Um, I don't really drink beer. Do you have any scotch?
SERVER: Yeah, sure, at the bar.
AGRIPPINA: What do you have?
SERVER: I don't know, let me check.
About fifteen minutes later he came back with a glass of scotch. Never mind that I hadn't even ordered one, here it was.
AGRIPPINA: Ah, what's this?
SERVER: ...I don't remember.
It was Lagavulin 16, which is very tasty but really? That is just bizarre. Combine that with the groups of bros who leer at you--- trust me, I am not really a leer-able person by any stretch of the imagination so this just exponentially magnified the skeeze factor---and I was happy to skip out early.Listed in: I'd Rather Get Laid At…
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Review from Karen L.
Washington, DC
11/7/2010
When a bar tries to be a dive, it's forgiven many sins. When it's not trying to be a dive but is still guilty of those sins, it's a dump.
The Brickskeller is a dump. A dirty warren of 1960s-era rec rooms filled with Plexiglas cases of dusty beer cans from your grandfather's generation. God only knows what's living in that carpet.
But first you get to meet Lurch at the bottom of the stairs. He's the employee controlling the chain that is meant to keep people out. He has zero people skills -- just who you want greeting customers, right? -- and he'll lumber off to find you a table, but he won't be happy about it.
Once seated, you'll peruse the extensive beer menu, which likely has pages missing, which you'll figure out once you realize it has no beer from any country that begins with the letters A through E. Grab a menu from another table. Pick several backups.
Normally, you'd then meet your server, right? Well, no. Sure, you'll see servers walking through the room, but they won't stop by your table. I suspect they're horribly understaffed.
When you finally convince a server to take your order, you'll learn that they are out of many of the beers you were interested in (hence the backups).
Don't expect your check to come, either. The only reason we paid was because we ran into our server on the way out.
Want an impressive beer list? Go to Churchkey. -
Review from Brooke M.
Arlington, VA
10/3/2010
This place is awful. The service is terrible, the selection is poor, and the ambiance is nonexistent. First of all, the bar is located in an "inn" that is reminiscent of the Chelsea Hotel in New York circa 1978 (all it needs is its own Sid and Nancy). You walk downstairs into this basement dive bar that smells like a musty cellar and looks like the bar my uncle built in his basement. Many of the servers and hostess are slow (both physically and mentally) and very unhelpful. The food is horrible, and I'm pretty sure they have bugs and rodents crawling around in the kitchen.
I understand people visit this hole in the wall for the beers, but honestly, you can go to ChurchKey and get better service, food, ambiance (and be around better looking people) and pay the same as you would at Brickskeller. -
Review from Pete L.
Washington, DC
6/24/2010
I am done with this place. For years I have tolerated the mediocre greasy food and lousy service because it was in the heart of Dupont circle and the "lot's of unique beers" gimmick was good for friends who were visiting from out of town.
Over time the food has gotten greasier and more mediocre and the selection of beer has diminished conisderably. Sure they hundreds of beer on the menu, but if you order something besides the beers you can get anywhere (Sam Adams etc.), there is a good chance that it's sold out. Seriously, if your only redeeming feature is that you have hundreds of beers, but you stop having them, they why go to this place?
The last straw was when I tried to stop in on a sunday. I walked into the open door with my GF and her parents and was told "We're closed! We don't open till six!!! It says so on the door...leave now!!!"
Well, fuck you very much! I didn't realize that it said so on the door...the door that was wide open! Maybe I should've shut the open door so that I could read the back of it and see that it won't be open for another 2 hours? Here's a better idea, moron. If you're closed, why don't you close the door...and lock it? Then take the key and shove it up your ass.
There are lots of new craft beer places opening up in DC (including one in Columbia Heights). Have fun trying to sell your diminishing beer collection and shitty food to someone else. -
Review from Jessica B.
Silver Spring, MD
10/8/2010
If you want to recreate the nostalgic feeling of drinking in your grandmother's 70's paneled basement, then welcome to Brickskeller!!
Your grandma may not have as extensive a beer list as the Brickskeller, but I would definitely take my chances sneaking alcohol at grandma's than ever coming back to this smelly hole.
Any place that's infested with mice is not my idea of a good time.
The bartender seems to be from the party of "no", because that's all he ever says whenever I ask him for any of the beers on their extensive list.
By the time I manage to order a beer they actually have in stock, and get my food and my bill, common sense finally kicks in and I realize my money could have been spent better elsewhere in a much more hygenic establishment with better tasting food. -
Review from Huntting B.
Washington, DC
10/3/2010
Awesome pretzel. Definitely one of the best features of the place. I would have given it a four star rating except that they didn't have a couple of the beers on their menu available. It started off with two that were crossed off from the draft menu and that's not a big deal, actually that was a good thing. Unfortunately that didn't continue onto the rest of the menu.
While they have a really big bottled beer menu, one of my pet peeves is ordering something off the menu and it not being there.
They have a great selection of stout/porters! It is a dingy dive bar, that's the ambiance, if you don't like that, then don't come here :) -
Review from David G.
Rockville, MD
12/17/2010
Since leaving my last review many moons ago; or so it seems; my opinion of the place has changed from one of cold indifference to one of warmth and sentimentality. This is due to the following.
1.) The waitstaff really are exceptionally knowledgeable of the beers they have to offer. Not only that, but they will talk about them with admirable interest. You can tell they are into what they do. Not to mention, they're all really rather friendly and pleasant people.
2.) I found my favorite beer ever there. I told the person that I liked smokey beers. I had no idea at the time that there was such a thing as a "smokebeer". Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen... it is heaven if that's what suits your pallate. It's smokey; it's delicious.... some might even say it tastes a bit bacony. But in the best way possible!
3.) The food really is pretty decent. Sure, it won't appear on the cover of Bon Appetit; but I don't want that. I want food for people who like eating more than a few bites. And it's inexpensive. I don't go around looking for a bargain every time I want to fill my stomach; but a fair price never hurts.
This being said? I will be very sad to see it go (Though I'm unclear as to what the exact plans are for the place) when it closes. I will always have the fond memory of the Brickskeller giving me my first taste of my favorite beer though; and for that, I am forever thankful. -
Review from Patrick C.
Silver Spring, MD
12/10/2010
I'm a big fan of places with a good beer selection which has driven me to Brickskeller on various occasions. Every single time I go there, the service has ranged from bad to horrible. On one occasion we had to wait 20-30 minutes before a server came to take any kind of order. And that was after I had to ask another waitress for someone to take our order.
And when you're lucky enough to get a server, chances are they aren't going to have the beer you want. Sometimes the waiter will be able to tell you immediately that they don't have it, but usually they'll just disappear for 20 minutes then come back and say they didn't have it and to pick another one.
I went there for a beer tasting last night, figuring that something like that should at least be a little more organised than a usual Brickskeller experience. I was wrong. In a whole packed room of people, they only had 2 waiters. It took half an hour for us to get a cheese & bread platter. For cheese and bread! Oh, and not to mention that the people giving out the samples skipped our table on two different rounds. When my friend said something, the other waiters laughed about it, like "oh well".
TL;DR: The service will be horrible/non-existant, probably rude, and they won't have 70% of the beers on their menu in stock. If you want good beer, you're better off going to RFD in chinatown. -
Review from Dmytro A.
10/18/2010
The buffalo burger is always overcooked, the service is always s-l-o-w, and this place SMELLS like the basement that it is. They have an okay beer selection. However, the menu stock is poorly maintained, so if you ask for something that is on the menu but a little out of the ordinary, there is a good chance that they don't have it. Also, don't try taking a group of more than four, maximum five.
Some law school friends and I used to try to "force" this as our spot to get back together when I'd pop into town because we were so enchanted by the idea of buffalo burgers and world beers. After a few tries of making it work, we've outgrown that enchantment.
Best part of this place is the collection of beer bottles and cans dating back DECADES. It's almost like a museum! -
Review from Colleen M.
Washington, DC
12/10/2010
Well, with well over 300 reviews, the Brick being there since 1957, having it's own wikipedia page, and it being listed in the Guinness World Records, there is not much I can tell you that you don't already know or could read from someone down below or a quick google search...
However, I can tell you something that you may not yet know, the Brickskeller has announced it is closing on December 18, 2010. As of recently, the establishment has obviously had its problems with smell, staff, and beer selection, but if you have not been I highly recommend you go sometime this week. It is an experience to be had no matter what... I wonder what they're going to do with all the old beer cans lining the walls? -
Review from Cameron B.
Washington, DC
5/9/2010
I have Three things you must follow to enjoy your trip to Brickskeller:
1.) Sit at the bar, and rellie on the expertise of the bartender (tip them well)
2.) DON'T eat food here, rats, bugs, bland fried food and slow service...you should be here for beer, get a $5 foot long before hand and let this place to what it does best!
3.) Don't cry over spilled beer! This place has an EXTENSIVE list of beers, if they don't have the one or two you reeeeaaalllllyyyy wanted that day, take it as a sign from above to try something you wouldn't have thought to try!!
Brickskeller is old English for potential beer heaven! -
Review from Julie J.
Arlington, VA
6/2/2010
I have heard about the Brickskeller for years. My parents used to go there in the 60s and 70s and they still rant and rave about it. I do like the fact that it's a hole-in-the-wall. The entire place is decorated with old beer cans, bottles, and memorabilia. That's my favorite kind of bar! Anyway, here are my thoughts:
1. The obvious: They have a bazillion kinds of beer from all over the world. That's their shtick. If you loooove beer, you probably need to come here just to say you did. With 1,032 choices of bottled beer on the menu, the Brickskeller is listed in Guinness World Records as "the bar with the largest selection of commercially available beers."
2. It was freaking hot in there. I'm not usually one to complain about temperature, but it was like a sauna.
3. Don't eat the food. I repeat, don't eat the food. It's not good.
4. It's in a basement and it's a little smelly. If you don't like dive bars, don't bother.
5. It's located between DuPont and Georgetown so it's not really Metro accessible. -
Review from MacRae O.
4/27/2010
Boy do I love Brickskeller, and here are the reasons it's the shizz:
1) You don't have to spend 3 hours getting hooch-ified in a sequined halter top slit down to your navel and eyeliner that would make Cleopatra cry with envy. Put your jeans on, slip into your flip-flops, throw on your favorite tee, you're good to go. Dark dive bar not smack dab in Georgetown, Adams Morgan, or Dupont. Love.
2) They have every beer you can name, and all the ones you've never heard of -- from all the countries you can name, and all the ones you've never heard of. At least, theoretically they do. A lot of the time they're out of whatever you're really wanting to try, so it helps to have two or three back-ups in mind.
3) Table service. Woooooot! I don't have to fight my way to the bar! Plus, someone will bring me that awesome spinach artichoke dip along with my next beer.
4) Tons of beer on tap. I'd rather drink beer on draught than out of a bottle or can any day of the week.
5) Beer beer beer beer beer beer beer beer beer.
So many reasons to love Brickskeller.Listed in: Where Everybody Knows Your…
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Review from Juichia C.
Atlanta, GA
10/6/2010
I don't like the vibe, nor the layout of this place. Sure I'm not a beer drinker, but I've enjoyed myself at other beer places much more. I often find myself yawning and zoning out when I'm here, even when I'm with large crowds of people. Maybe I've just had bad luck here... I don't know.
The place is big, and often filled with nerds. Not that I have anything against nerds and beer snobs. Just pointing it out. The beer selection is great, as everyone knows already. They do offer other drinks and liquors. Never tried the food here, but have no desire to.
The service here sucks. It's slow, and they're often forgetful. When asked to recommend something, the waitress had a very difficult time. -
Review from Flor D.
9/10/2009
Don't Do It. Resist the urge to get anything besides the beer.
Go for the Beer. Go for the banter. Go for the BEER.
It was a warm Thursday evening when the cube and I decided to explore Georgetown and Dupont Circle. I had heard stories of the brick joint serving 1k plus beers. 1000 beers, really? My beer gut smiled in joy...
We stepped through double doors and were greeted with a "your ID please!" Once allowed in, we plopped on some bar stools and asked for a menu. Did I just say menu? HA! It was more like a paper pamphlet with pages and pages of beer names across various continents. Africa, India, Europe, the US, and El Salvador. Of all things right, I had to fly to DC to encounter some Suprema?!?!
Loved the delivery system of the beer-and if you go to the second floor-you will see what I mean. Waitress was sweet, and offered us some good tips. After having the pumpkin ale and some HORRID HORRID spinach dip with bread, we bounced like bandits in the night.
Again..I stress my point:
Don't Do It. Resist the urge to get anything besides the beer.
Go for the Beer. Go for the banter. Go for the BEER. -
Review from Bucky K.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2007
You know how you can tell I'm from the Midwest? For my Dad's B-day , I bought him a black shirt with the "beer-iodic" table on the front in shiny gold print from Brickseller. You know how you can tell my Dad is from the Midwest?? He will absolutely wear the t-shirt... a lot!
Brickseller is known for their collection of beers and they should be. I was completely floored and overwhelmed when I opened the BOOK of beers they have available. Somewhere north of 500 beers on the menu. 500. No, that is not a typo. Obviously, I didn't try them all, but the staff was knowledgeable in helping me choose some great beers. They even found some beers that my wife found agreeable and she is not much of a beer drinker, per se.
Everything in the basement comes from a can or bottle. There is an area upstairs called the "Brick" which has beers on tap. Speaking of the basement, they boast about having the world's largest collection of different beer cans/bottles which doesn't really help the fact that it already looks like your Uncle's basement from the 70's that he still thinks looks cool and refuses to touch a thing.
We just had drinks while we were here. The food being served around us looked good yet typical of pub food. I prefer to drink my dinner anyways. Brickseller is a very unpretentious spot to waste your night away in DC.Listed in: Mr. Bucky Goes To…
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Review from Ben V.
McLean, VA
7/23/2011
I was sad to hear that this place closed down. I was there last year and the beer selection was amazing. It was top dollar and they were out of a lot of beers. But it's hard to keep that much in stock. The bar tender was friendly and chatted with us all night. It will be missed.
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Review from Jim D.
11/9/2008
Without a single doubt, this is one of my favorite bars on the planet. It may be dingy and dirty, but my love for this Valhalla of beer halls is unfailing.
The beer selection is awe-inspiring. Just absolutely unsurpassed. Being able to offer virtually any type of beer from all corners of the globe is something not many other bars can match, at least none that I know of yet. It always feels like an adventure perusing that little white pamphlet - searching for my next discovery, my next conquest. I feel like Ponce de León searching for the Fountain of Youth in DC. Yes, they might be out of a specific beer you're looking for but they have over 1000 beer choices here. I am sure you can find a suitable substitute somewhere in that library of a menu.
The friendly service can be choppy though, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. So be prepared for the crowds and the hit or miss service. The food is solid considering it's typical pub grub.
Beer enthusiasts should most definitely pay a visit to the Brickskeller. It's one of those great bars you just don't come across all that often. It's a fun atmosphere. People are carefree, unpretentious and just plain ol' nice. Good beer has that social effect. I am one happy camper here. -
Review from Steve L.
2/15/2010
Welcome to the basement of Brickskeller, here's an overwhelming list of bottled beers - but don't worry, they're largely unavailable.
Oh, suggestion? Hm, let me ask someone else instead.
Oh, that kind of beer? Hm, let me go ask that guy again.
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That was pretty much my experience at Brickskeller. The food was very meh as well. I won't go out of my way to come back here. -
Review from Miriam W.
5/2/2007
Claims such as "Home of the World's Largest Beer List" are generally lost on me. I don't need to page through 300 beers if you've got two that I like. However, even I was impressed by the enormous selection at Brickskeller. Pages upon pages of beers categorized by country; it was like traveling around the world from the comfort of a barstool. From Lithuania to the Philippines, Brickskeller's got every beer producing nation covered and a whole lot that'll make you go, "They make beer THERE?"
Normally a dark, subterranean bar with nothing but endless refrigerators for ambiance (unless you count the writing on the bathroom walls) would not be my scene yet somehow Brickskeller swayed me still. We bellied up to the bar where I started with nachos and a Hoegaarden. What could be better on a warm Tuesday night than nachos and white ale? Not much!
My only grievance? I wish Brickskeller would serve beer in chilled glasses. After all, who doesn't love a frosty, cold one?
If you're a beer lover, you will love this place. And if you're not, this would be a good spot to become one.Listed in: Best Places for a Drink in…
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Review from James P.
Bethesda, MD
6/12/2009
My impression when I first came here? Pretty much wow! Although wait was about 45mins on a really busy night, I was just amazed at the selection of imports they had. I gotta say I was really excited and wanted to try a bunch of stuff. The bad part? They were out on 4 of the 5 beers I ordered.. sigh. And everything I tried that night tasted the same so it was meh. The pizza here is pretty good, and that says a lot because I don't like pizza =\.
Anyhow, the past couple visits have been quite dull to say the least, maybe it's just seasonal because the place is empty as of late. Feels weird since the first time I visited which was a super cool atmosphere. I'm big into Japanese beer and wanted to try some of the nonexistant ones like the Hitachino Nest but they never have'em when I'm there so I've given up on it. They always have the usual Kirin Ichiban, Asahi, Sapporo etc but I can have those whenever =\. Orz -
Review from Jeff W.
1/20/2010
2.5 stars for the basement
Brickskeller appears to be wonderful with a giant manifest of beers from all over the world. But when you start digging deeper and see that 1) they're out of half their offerings and 2) you could buy most of their beers at Total Wine, it takes a lot of wind out of the sail. I was really hoping for hard to find selections, and seasonal specialties on tap. Heck, maybe even a cask or two. But 20 DFH and 10 Stone beers in bottles that I could get at most any specialty beer store is really not that impressive to me.
One thing that was admirable, however, was the knowledge of beer that employees had. They obviously have tried most of them and can provide recommendations and also do a great job of pouring. The waiter will bring the bottle to your table and then pour it for you. I also like their cocktails that they had featuring beer. I tried one of the items which just sounded too creative and unique to turn away. If you grow tired of just sampling beers this can be a fun way to mix it up, and they're reasonably priced as well.
Overal Brickskeller is ok. I wouldn't shy away from returning but I don't think it's the quintessential beer destination that some make it out to be. Even if they're consistently out of a lot of beers they still have at least one that will please somebody. -
Review from Matthew D.
Washington, DC
9/27/2007
Terrible! I would venture to say that 'Brickbreaker' on my Blackberry has more personality and deserves more accolades than Brickskeller.
My first trip there was so long ago that it is irrelevant but a few days ago, I popped in to have a drink with friends. The good news is, if Brickskeller goes out of business, their staff and management are highly employable candidates for positions at Dick's Last Resort. In other words, RUDE RUDE RUDE or as Stephanie Tanner would say, "How Rude!"
Their beer list is a farce as many of them are "sold out" and their staff treats you like you just made them get up and miss the best part of Jerry Springer's "I'm Screwing Your Brother" marathon. I would highly recommend this place to cutters (those who enjoy self-mutilation) or anyone looking for that extra umph to go completely postal.Listed in: Stab Me in the Face with a…
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Review from Mel B.
Washington, DC
7/5/2008
Disclaimer: I am NOT a beer drinker, but I know a good venue when I see one and regardless of if I love or hate the "main event", whether it be Chinese, Thai, wine bar, ice cream shop, whatever, I like to think I know how to consider the overall picture. This overall picture deserves two stars.
The addendum to that disclaimer is that I am allergic to wheat so beer doesn't treat me well. However, I am aware of at least one variety out there that is brewed gluten free and if any place were to have a gluten free beer, then it would be this place. Turns out they had Green's Belgian Gluten Free and it was in stock! SCORE!
Brickskeller's score: 1
Unfortunately, we need to start at the beginning, however, and Brickskeller's score didn't start out so positive. We waited for several minutes before any employee even looked at us, not even a hello from the bartender. When one girl finally came over to us she gestured for IDs. Hello to you, too, and thanks for being pleasant my first time here.
Brickeller's score: -1
So we get shown to a table which is filthy. It's got a table cloth on it that either hadn't been washed in a month or was subjected to major construction work immediately above it that resulted in dust and debris landing on it. Either way, it doesn't matter.
Brickskeller's score: -2
Our server had little personality and the first thing he said was that they were short staffed. Great. Are we supposed to go easy on you now? Are we supposed to appreciate your honesty and tip you more because you're working extra hard? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???
Brickskeller's score: -3
It was just dark and dank and I really was not impressed. Maybe it's fun on St. Patty's day. When it's on a Friday. In a leap year. And it's a full moon. And pigs have started to fly. Otherwise, this place is disappointing in any other context.
Brickskeller's score: -4
The potato skins were rock hard and I'm pretty sure I cut my mouth trying to chew one of them and contracted tetanus along the way.....
Brickskellar's score: -5
All in all, if it weren't for the gluten free beer that they actually had in stock.... well, then this whole Yelp would be entirely negative, but I know that gluten free isn't as important to the rest of you so I refrained from giving them a star just for that. Their score is -4 total, which just happens to be the amount of stars I took away. Good luck with that.Listed in: Gluten-free Gluttony
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Review from Brice B.
10/5/2008
I love Yelp.
As I prepared to review the Brickskeller, I perused the gigantic list of prior reviews, and discovered a review that bemoaned the hot, stinky, run-down environs of this fabled beer hall.
Why do I love Yelp? Because these characteristics give my fellow Yelper cause to give the Brickskeller one star, while I think they up this bar's cred immeasurably.
You know what? It is hot, stinky, and run-down. It also has a huge selection of beers. In my book, those are all reasons to love it. -
Review from Brendan F.
Washington, DC
12/23/2009
Latest brew crush: Unibroue (Québec)
Favorite brew: Don de Dieu
And, they have it. Always. -
Review from Rajan N.
Montgomery Village, MD
11/12/2009
Meredith C. summed up exactly what I wanted to say perfectly - be sure to prepare for a lot of the following:
- "Can I have this one?"
- "Oh, we're out of that right now"
- "What about this one?"
- "Out of that one"
- "How about this one"
- "Out of that too"
- "Ok, and this one"
- "Nope, don't have that, we're out of it"
- "And this one?"
- "Sorry, we're out of that"
So basically, you sort through an extensive menu of beers from dozens of different countries, get rejected on the half-dozen that sounded interesting, and end up having to order a Miller Lite.
I could have done that anywhere else, thank you. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
Updated - 5/4/2009
Wha?! I gave the Brickskeller 4 stars way back in the day?!?!
This may be nostalgia talking, but this place deserves a 5. Easily my favorite bar in all of DC, and missed all the more now that it's not nearby.
Go upstairs for the draft selection, get the cask ale. You won't be disappointed.Listed in: Crazy Good Times, Yelpin' the USofA., Pink Elephants., Belgian Eats., I'm kind of a big deal.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/25/2007 ROTD 5/30/2007
6 months on Yelp and I haven't written a review for the Brickskeller yet??? FOR SHAME!
This *might*… Read more »
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Review from Aaron R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2007
I am a beer snob, so coming here was like being a kid in a candy shop. They have the largest beer selection in the country I believe, if not that then close.
The downstairs is dark and dank which is perfect to me.
Come in get an amazing beer if you can figure out which one is gonna be good from the list of hundreds of beers.
The wait staff are knowledgeable but not experts, but our waitress did know how to do the upside down hefeweizen bottle pour, which is a real talent!! -
Review from Josh R.
Astoria, NY
7/10/2008
It's time for a sing-a-long, folks!
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
A frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer.
In the basement,
The dingy basement,
A 40 year old frat boy chugs his beer.
In the basement,
The table cloth stained basement,
Frat-man grabs the server's rear.
A frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer.
Hush my drunkard,
Be still my drunkard,
The food's no good in here.
Unless you like velveeta
Cold hard nacho "cheesa,"
Just come here for beer.
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
The server will know,
What beer you should get,
But also will give your date 'tude.
Unless you know,
All the 1000s of beers by heart,
She may seem downright rude.
A frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer, a frothy beer.
The last beer of my choice,
Was just given away,
To that ass grabbing frat-man, boo hoo.
Won't you shut up,
You loud drunken slut,
Over at his table too?
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
Annoying patrons,
And food from old tin can rations,
Sadly, killed my high expectations, I'm telling you.
But one thing that's excellent,
Is the immense beer selections,
And finding something brand new.
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away.
A-weeeeeeeeeee, eee, eee, eee ,eee, drink your beer away. -
Review from Danny A.
Washington, DC
3/10/2009
The Brickskeller is comical. They say they have "The World's Largest Selection of Beers." What they have is the menu with the world's longest list of beers. Whenever you try to order something that looks interesting or exotic, they've always "just run out." Always. I live right down the street from the Brickskeller and my friends and I go there from time to time to play our new favorite game - we order interesting looking beers from the menu, which they never have, and we keep ordering until we hit one they do have. The person who orders the most "just ran out" beers and hits one they do have last gets his beer for free that round. Sometimes people will order 5 or 6 beers before we hit one they do have.
Four stars for good location, cool ambiance, and a great idea. Minus one star for false advertising. -
Review from Ruth M.
Oakland, CA
6/9/2008
3.5? Yelp, you fail.
Beer heaven. I stole a menu (I'm so sorry!) just to show off to people. Granted, they don't always have everything in stock, but who would have space for all seven Czech beers, or all ten Romanian beers? This menu is now one of my prized possessions. I consider it a check list for the next 60 years.
I came here during a conference, and amazingly enough, managed to expense all seven rounds and not be hungover for the next morning. The food was pretty good, too.
Basically, I'll be going back to this place at least once a year in January until I leave the transportation field. I don't enough good things to say. It makes me so happy. -
Review from Mike T.
Alexandria, VA
3/26/2009
What can be said about the famous Brickskeller that hasn't already been said?
I stopped by for a little post-trivia food and drink recently and realized that the place that I first went to in 1986 is still the same. Exactly the same. As in the same print out menus with the same beer stains on them from 1986. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Yes, their food is sketchy and their beer selection sadly way lower than what they advertise, but if you go with great people on a quiet night, you are still guaranteed as good a time as I had, just like I did when Member's Only was cool. -
Review from Mahogany G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/7/2009
Review Summary: yes, this place has an amazing beer selection but it doesn't justify treating patrons like crap.
I came here last night and I think considering it was a Monday night, it was an off-night in terms of the crowd. It was filled with douchebags, tourists and douchebaggy tourists. But that didn't really bother me so much considering that I was with friends and wasn't looking to mingle anyway.
What DID bother me was how the manager Mike body-checked my friend as he walked by and in doing so, knocked my friend's drink out of his hand. The water spilled all over my shoes and the floor while Mike looked back, recognised what he did, and continued on his own arrogant and lazy way without apologising or offering a towel to dry my feet or taking the courtesy to mop up the slippery floor.
When I brought up the issue with a server, he looked at me somewhat blankly and said, "well, what do you want me to do about it?" I don't know, man - exercise some of those customer service skills you theoretically have. Use your imagination. Replace my friend's drink. Offer me a towel so my feet stop squishing in my shoes. Mop up the huge spill on the floor. Bring Mike back from whatever hole he is lurking in so I can talk to him politely about what just happened. These are just a few ideas I can think of...
And a small but somewhat integral gripe: there's no free music. Any music played must be purchased via the jukebox. That just kind of bothers me.
I will not return until new management comes in and shakes things around. -
Review from Jesus J.
Silver Spring, MD
10/30/2010
So I don't know very much about beer or alcohol in general - I just know it's delicious. This place is hidden within a building that looks like some sort of hotel. When you enter, Brickskeller is downstairs to your right in the basement. Seems kind of shady, but it's far from it.
There's plenty of seating and the servers are quick and polite. I've never ordered any food here, but I've tried a few different drinks. Their drink menu is so vast, it would probably take an entire year to try every single beverage. They have all sorts of beer and alcoholic drinks for everyone. Amber beers, stouts, you name it. They'll let you sample beers as well. I tend to go for the ambers - always smooth and flavorful without being bitter.
The one thing I've always found a bit strange is the servers I've had didn't know much about beer and couldn't answer a lot (if any) of my party's beer questions. I've been told sitting at the bar is a better avenue for getting a beer-educated server. Maybe dining at Brickskeller or places like it shouldn't entitle you to a knowledgeable server, but either way, it's always a good experience.
