WASHINGTON, D.C. - Local home-brewer Brian Barrows entered Meridian Pint’s yearlong home-brewing competition in January 2011 with no idea he might win. It came as a total surprise to Barrows when he got the chance to brew his winning beer on DC Brau Brewing Company’s system. The local brewery will release Barrow’s beer, named Your Favorite Foreign Movie after the line from the Steely Dan’s song “Peg,” on the 24th of July at Meridian Pint in Columbia Heights.
Your Favorite Foreign Movie is a traditional Patersbier, a low-alcohol (4.0% ABV) Belgium-style brew. Patersbier literally means “fathers’ beer,” as it’s traditionally brewed as an easy-drinking table beer for Trappist monks. The style is extremely rare; the closest commercial relatives are Petite Orval or Chimay Dorée, which are notoriously difficult to find in the US. Barrows said he enjoys brewing Belgian-style beers for their simplicity and because yeast plays a staring role in the aroma and flavor. “My version has an aroma of light banana and clove derived from the use of the same yeast used by the Chimay Brewery, and a hint of sulfur from the use of pilsner malt,” Barrows said. “Your Favorite Foreign Movie has only a mild malt flavor to balance out the light bitterness from the hops, the light spiciness from the yeast and the high level of carbonation.”
The panel of judges that selected Barrows’ beer included DC Brau’s own Jeff Hancock, Brandon Skall and Chris Graham; Meridian Pint Cicerones Sam Fitz and Tim Prendergast; as well as several members from the home-brewing club Brewers United for Real Potables. There was also a “people's choice” portion of the vote derived from the 75 people who purchased gift cards from Meridian Pint as admission to the event.
When Barrow’s brewed his beer at DC Brau’s facility in northeast DC on July 10th alongside brewers Chris Graham and Mikey Fishbone they jammed to the beer’s namesake, Steely Dan. Approximately 60 kegs of Your Favorite Foreign Movie should be available on draft at numerous bars and restaurants around DC by the end of the month.
DC Brau Brewing Company, founded in 2009, is located in North East Washington, D.C. Co-founders Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock are DC locals with a passion for brewing, complimented by years of experience in beverage distribution. DC Brau’s signature brews include: The Public (Pale Ale), The Corruption (IPA), and The Citizen (Belgian style Ale), with seasonal and special brews to follow. For more information on DC Brau, visit http://www.dcbrau.com.
