Top of the Hops: RFD Washington

In the wide world of beer, there are a handful of arguments that will never die. American microbrew innovation or European tradition, IPAs or Stouts, the list goes on and on. One truth universally accepted as such however is the superiority of beer straight from the tap over that found in it's bottled brothers. Yes, when it comes to beer, freshness is king.

That said though, your average bar offers roughly only a half-dozen draughts, one or two of which are usually of the mass-market (bud, coors, miller) variety. So while there may be a bump in quality, more often than not, the variety is decidedly lacking. Unfortunate? Yes, but thus is life - life without Regional Food and Drink Washington that is. Located in Chinatown, at 810 7th Street, Regional Food and Drink (known better as RFD) boasts the largest tap list in the district. The younger sister-establishment to the storied Brickskeller, in addition to their formidable stable of draughts, RFD also offers a solid dinner / snack menu (the majority of which is cooked A La Biere) and a rather gaudy selection of bottles to boot. Suffice it to say, these people like their beer.


When I was there last week, I enjoyed a glass of Leffe Bruin, a phenomenal Belgian brown ale, and a bottle of Baltica #6, a Russian porter with an incredibly unique aftertaste. The beauty of RFD is the freedom from limitation though, so if you find yourself in the neighborhood, drop by and discover something new. If you're not exactly a big beer person, or just can't seem to make up your mind, than the knowledgeable waitstaff are always glad to help you out with a suggestion.

If you are looking for good beer in the city, than look no further than RFD.