A year after its opening, Bardo Brewpub is finally brewing beer. Brothers Andrew and Bill Stewart began producing their first brew—a ginger beer—Tuesday, and it should be on tap in about a week and a half. Other beers, including a stout and IPA, are about three weeks away. The Stewarts plan to eventually resurrect all 24 beers from Bardo Rodeo, the Arlington brewpub they ran in the 1990s. For the first couples weeks their beers are available, Bardo also plans to offer 1994 pricing with $10.75 pitchers and $3.75 pints (including tax).
Among the first crop of revived recipes? The Marion Berry Lambic, a nod the Ward 8 councilmember, which is described on the menu as “a Lambic with lots of Oregon Crackberries Marionberries.” (Marionberries are a blackberry-type fruit from Oregon.) The painting above hung in the original Bardo.
Marion Barry seems to be a recurring theme among area breweries. Early last year, Chocolate City Beer released a limited edition barrel-aged imperial stout with marionberries called Mister Mayor. The beer’s tagline? “Beer for Life.” And in 2012, Flying Dog Brewery created created a poster for its UnderDog Atlantic Lager with a photo of Barry next to the phrase "Crack one open D.C." But at the request of Barry’s lawyer, the ad was taken down.
Y&H has reached out to Barry's camp to see if he has any thoughts with local brewing community's obsession with him.
Bardo Brewpub, 1200-1216 Bladensburg Rd. NE; bardodc.com
Photo courtesy Bill Stewart