Washington D.C.’s beer scene is burgeoning rapidly, and inner-city brewing king D.C. Brau has a lot to do with it. “Washington DC’s first packaging brewery since 1956” was established by owners Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock in 2009, and the move to cans has helped them expand their reach considerably in the past year. Skall’s invaluable sales know-how and Hancock’s brewing experience (including a stint with Flying Dog) have made major noise throughout the Capital; their award-winning cold ones include the Corruption IPA, The Citizen Belgian-style Ale, and their highest ballot earner, The Public Pale Ale. Having expanded from 5,000 barrels annually to more than 12,000, DC Brau has had no problem getting surrounding states like Maryland and Virginia to join its brew party.

D.C. United, in collaboration with DC Brau Brewing Company, LLC, today announced that DC Brau will brew a limited edition D.C. United specific beer - the only one of its kind in the DC sports world. While the beer is currently without a name, the two have partnered to launch a contest giving D.C. United fans the opportunity to name the new brew. Fans can submit their suggestions at http://www.dcunited.com/brandthebrew.

THURSDAY: 1905 Bistro & Bar (1905 9th Street NW) is dishing out a four-course DC Brau Beer Dinner this Thursday. The meal begins with an oyster shooter (incorporating the DC Brau Citizen), followed by house-smoked pork belly paired with DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter, brau-brined salmon paired with DC Brau Saint Joseph's Tripel, crisp-skin duck breast paired with DC Brau Ghoul's Night Out, and finishes with "coffee and doughnuts" paired with DC Brau Barrel-Aged Penn Quarter Porter. Come early (5:00-7:00 p.m.) for a pint of DC Brau's Tripel on the roof deck. 7:30 p.m. $80.12 (includes tax, tip, and DC Brau glass to take home).

Craft brewers Ska Brewing and DC Brau have joined forces with Ska legends The Pietasters to create a collaboration brew called "Taster's Choice"—a Coffee-Doppelbock—to be released March 27th at Washington D.C.'s Black Cat nightclub at a party featuring The Pietasters. Proceeds from the beer and the party will go to the Todd Eckhardt Scholarship Fund, set up to honor the memory of former Pietasters bassist and songwriter Todd Eckhardt, who passed away in 2001. The fund benefits students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts through the Ellington Fund.