Historic move: Bier Baron adds downstairs taps

Fresh beer now available at that old bar formerly known as the Brickskeller (Tim Carman/The Washington Post) For the first time in its long history, the bar formerly known as the Brickskeller now has taps downstairs. Megan Merrifield, who bought the Brick last year from long-time owners Dave and Diane Alexander, has installed 28 draft lines on the ground level of the bar now called the Bier Baron.

Merrifield believes the Brick/Bier Baron never before had taps downstairs in its 50-plus-year history. The Brickskeller opened in 1957.

Combined with the 24 taps upstairs, the Bier Baron now has a total of 52 draft lines, serving up a mix of American craft beers and European imports. You can review the Bier Baron’s current draft list here.

What’s more, beer director Dorlyn Catron is planning several special events, including a homebrew competition for April. A panel will judge the submitted homebrews, and the general public, for the price of a ticket, will be allowed to sample them. No date has been set yet for the event, Merrifield says.

Bier Baron has already done much to upgrade the food offerings, but Merrifield notes the place now has house-made pierogies, clam and mussel dishes and pasta with homemade sauces. Lastly, Merrifield says she plans to reopen the hotel above on May 1, rechristened as the Baron Hotel. You won’t recognize the place, she promises.

“The difference will be night and day,” she says.