One Hell of a Beer

So far, most of the Halloween events I've been writing about are costume parties and haunted houses and such. Here's one for the beer connoisseurs: Brasserie Beck is having a fall clearance sale today. Beer sommelier Bill Catron is trying to get rid of his current lineup of draft beers (Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden, etc.) to make room for a slate of seasonal winter and Christmas beers that are going on tap next Tuesday.

Help Brasserie Beck kick some kegs today. (Kevin Clark/The Washington Post)

What I'm more excited about are the bottles that he's trying to move. Catron has somehow stashed away 12 cases of Lucifer, a strong, spicy golden ale. After the Riva brewery, which produced Lucifer, was sold, its new owners stopped production of the beer, Catron said. But these three-year-old bottles look and taste great with age, and are just $5 each today. (A reminder: There are only 12 cases, so first come, first served.)

Those who prefer fruity lambic beers aren't left out: Catron has champagne-size bottles of St. Louis Framboise for $12, which, he proudly points out, "is less than you'd pay at Whole Foods." (He used to be the beer guy at the Clarendon store.)

Oh, and those draft beer specials? $5 each until the kegs kick, except for the Hoegaarden, which is $7.50 because it's served in extra-large half-liter glasses.

So stop in today for a Lucifer, then head back Tuesday for Delirium Noel, Scaldis Noel and other holiday drafts. I'll see you there.

-- Fritz