Two Ways to Get Beers for Less

Before inflation hit a few years ago, Washington's most popular after-work events were "Dollar Bud Nights" at Lucky Bar and the Front Page, where interns, students, nonprofit employees and bike messengers packed bars to suck down $1 bottles of beer. It was a simple idea, but an easy way to draw crowds on Thursday nights. (Scandalously, the price has since risen to $2, but these nights are still relative bargains.)

It's still possible to find beers for a buck -- including Wednesdays at Rock Bottom Brewery, Thursdays at the Pour House and Fridays at the Bottom Line -- but those events only happen one night a week. Few places seem willing to offer deals day after day.

Here's one to save for those times when the rent is due but you want to get together with a group of friends: Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 7, Adams Mill Bar & Grill sells a selection of domestic drafts for $1. That includes your Budweiser, your Miller Lite, your High Life. Nothing fancy, but sophisticates can pony up another dollar for Pilsner Urquell or Adams Mill Amber. Appetizers are half-price. You'll be competing with softball teams and flip-flopped young professionals for space at the picnic tables on the bar's front patio.

On the other side of the happy hour spectrum -- and just a little more expensive -- are the new specials at Birreria Paradiso, which cut prices on all drafts at the Georgetown beer bar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 to 7. Aficionados will think they've gone to heaven: You can get a pint of cask-conditioned ale (local brewer Capitol City last week) for $2; a goblet of Chimay or snifters of strong, rich St. Bernardus 12 only costs $4.12. When I stopped by, the best thing I tried was, not surprisingly, a beer I'd never heard of: Poperings Hommel Ale, a honey-hued Belgian ale with a surprising amount of hops. For $3.62, it was an easy decision.

Drinking powerful beers on an empty stomach is never a good idea, so Paradiso offers "half pizzas" -- literally one-half of their personal 8-inch personal pizza -- for $4.25 and small antipastos.

-- Fritz