For the first time, City Works will soon host “Brew U Beer School,” a free four-week event teaching guests about different types of beer.

The “school” will have four sessions, each from 6-7 p.m. on Mondays, from Feb. 10 until March 2 at the restaurant (1640 Capital One Drive North), according to a press release.

Each session will be led by beer industry experts and breweries. The event is for “anybody and everybody who wants to learn about beer,” according to spokesperson Colleen Rooney.

“We really want to engage the local community and get them more interested in beer,” Rooney said.

While people can choose whether or not to attend all of the sessions, the more workshops attended will increase people’s chances of winning a raffle for either a $100 City Works gift card or tickets to the Washington Nationals Home Opener and World Series Ring Ceremony.

Here are the topics attendees can expect to learn about at each of the sessions:

• Feb. 10 with Allagash Brewery: the history of beer and how to pour and serve beer correctly
• Feb. 17 with Vasen Brewing: different styles of beer, how to pair beer with food and how to cook with beer
• Feb. 24 with DC Brau: how beer is made with different brewing processes and ingredients
• March 2 with Old Ox and Premium Distributing: beer distribution and draft systems

The sessions are free “to make it accessible to the wider community,” Rooney said. People interested in “Brew U Beer School” can register online.

A new beer garden in a sky park plans to open next year atop Capital One Hall.

Construction is underway on the Capital One Center — the second phase of Capital One’s campus in Tysons, which is set to be completed in 2021.

Called “The Perch,” the outdoor space on top of the parking podium and Capital One Hall — 10 stories above the ground — plans to offer interactive art sculptures, a park, activities like yoga and beer at The Perch Biergarten, according to the website.

The Perch is set to open in the fall of 2021.

The “serene village green” will join Capital One’s planned additions for the Tysons East urban campus:

• an 80,000-square-foot Wegmans grocery store
• a performing arts center with a 1,500-seat main hall and a 250-seat black box theatre
• Davio’s, a Northern Italian restaurant
• more retail in the second half of 2021

In addition to the upcoming beer hall, Capital One is looking to change a previously approved — yet unbuilt — hotel into a new office building, according to Fairfax County documents.

Capital One says that the change would allow for more open space, jobs and retailers:

Consistent with well settled planning and economic development objectives, this application presents an opportunity to further add employment opportunities and vitality at the headquarters campus in a location immediately adjacent to the McLean Metro station…

A lower level lobby and retail uses along Capital One Drive North and Scotts Crossing Road will wrap the parking garage. The approved drop-off area for the previously contemplated hotel use will be removed and replaced with public open space to enhance and activate these ground floor uses…

Additional retail use is proposed for Building 3 in the location of the previously approved garage entrance that will be shifting eastward.

Image via Capital One Center  

Hat tip to Chris H.

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (Jan. 21)

• W&M Tysons Corner Book Club — 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Tysons Galleria (2001 International Drive) — The William and Mary Book Club invites alumni and friends to read “The Martian” by Andy Weir. People are encouraged to come early and grab food for the meeting.
• Disruption & Innovation Club Happy Hour — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Tower Club (8000 Towers Crescent Drive) — This event invites people from around the community to network and meet new people. Tickets are $15 for members and $35 for non-members. RSVP is required.

Friday (Jan. 24)

• Casual Pint Grand Opening — 4 to 11 p.m. at the Casual Pint (6410 Arlington Blvd) –– Throughout the evening of the grand opening, The Casual Pint will be giving prizes away along with free growlers to the first 50 customers.

Saturday (Jan. 25)

• Vienna Theatre Company: “Cinderella”— 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Vienna Community Center (120 SE Cherry Street) — This production is about an adaption of the Grimm Brothers’ classic fairy tale “Cinderella.” All ages are welcome to these matinee performances and tickets are $15 at the door.
• Junior Girl Scout Workshop: Coding for Good –– 3 to 6 p.m. at Code Ninjas (510 S. Washington Street) — This event invites local troops to learn about STEM and computer science while learning badges. Sign-up online is required.

Sunday (Jan. 26)

• Lunar New Year  — noon to 4 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road) — From Visit Fairfax, this event will feature the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe and the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute. This event is free and open to the public.
• Tysons Corner Comic Book Show 2020 — 10 a.m. at DoubleTree Hotel (1960 Chain Bridge Road) — This event will feature comic books, pokemon and magic cards, toys, original art, vintage and present-day sports cards and sports memorabilia. Admission is $3 for adults and free for kids under 12.
• McLean Chocolate Festival — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave) — Attendees can expect a children’s game room and live entertainment while enjoying sweets from local chocolatiers. Admission is $2, but kids ages 3 and under can attend for free.

Photo via Unsplash 

Black Dog Beer Shop, a craft beer store inspired by the owner’s dog, plans to open near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station in early February.

Owner Tyler Cohen, who lives in the Mosaic District, previously told Tysons Reporter that his black dog, Ash, inspired the name of the store.

“I think they just, like, go together,” he said. “Dogs and beer is the thing.”

To gear up for his opening, Cohen has been detailing his tours of breweries across Virginia on the website’s blog.

The store is set to hold a grand opening at 2672M Avenir Place in 18 days, according to a countdown on the website.

The store plans to be open from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays, according to the website.

Updated 1/20 — Corrects the hours for Caboose Brewing’s locations in Vienna and Merrifield.

With the shake-up of breweries and nightlife in Tysons, people are seeking new places to go for a beer with friends or colleagues.

Though Tysons Biergarten closed in November, there are several upcoming spots that opened in the last few weeks or are preparing to open. Tysons Reporter compiled a list of local breweries and bars around the area that people can check out if they want to grab some beer.

Tysons

Whole Foods recently became the epicenter of The Boro with its High Point pub. Open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., seven days a week, the location caters to lunchtime and happy hour crowds.

The pub offers a full range of drinks, including cocktails, wines and also more than 16 local brews from around Virginia.

Located in Tysons Corner Center, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (7861 Tysons Corner Center) brews its beers on-site and even offers a view of its brewing facilities and brewery tours. It is open daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Watering hole Tysons Social in the DoubleTree Tysons (1960 Chain Bridge Road) offers local craft brews. The tavern is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Xtreme Wings and Bar (8119 Watson Street) has specials and events for people looking for something to do while they enjoy a beer. It offers karaoke on Tuesday and Saturday nights, according to the website, which added the location is open from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. seven days a week.

A self-proclaimed pour house, City Works (1640 N. Capital One Drive) has around 90 locally crafted beers on tap. A full list can be found on the bar’s website but there are brews likely to appease even the pickiest beer snob. City Works is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Falls Church

The Casual Pint in Falls Church (6410 Arlington Blvd) opened earlier this week and offers dozens of various Virginia based brews. Locally owned and operated by Darren McClure, guests can enjoy the low-key atmosphere, which includes wooden tables and a colorful draft list. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. (2822 Fallfax Drive) is a Nano brewery, which brews beers from IPAs to kolschs. People can find a taco stand inside along with indoor and outdoor seating. Hours vary each day of the week but can be found on the location’s website.

Audacious Aleworks Brewery and Taproom (110 E. Fairfax Street) specializes in small-batch ales. The taproom in downtown Falls Church has up to 20 beers on tap at any given time along with free popcorn and board games.

Dominion Wine and Beer (107 Rowell Court) has a well-regarded bar above the store, serving wine, beer and food, while offering growler fills to go.

It is open Monday through Thursday 4 until 9 p.m., Fridays from 4 p.m. until 12 a.m., Saturday from 12 p.m. until 12 a.m. and Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m.

Merrifield and Vienna

Sweetwater Tavern (3066 Gate House Plaza) has a microbrewery is located in Merrifield where visitors can find hand-crafted brews and lunch and dinner menus. Hours of operation are different each day of the week and can be found online.

Caboose Common (520 NE Mill Street) in Merrifield has tons of open seating for people to enjoy drafts brewed on-site. The industrial-style setting is multi-functional and allows people to use the location as a co-working space during the day and as an after-work hangout spot.

The location is open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays until midnight.

Caboose also has a brewpub called Caboose Tavern in Vienna (520 Mill Street NE) off of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. Caboose Tavern is open from 4-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from noon to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Coming Soon

The owners of Tysons Biergarten closed the previous location in anticipation of The Shipgarten at Scotts Run, which will include a beer hall. It will likely open in the spring.

Solace Outpost is looking to start brewing its own beer in the former space of Mad Fox in Falls Church in May.

Photo via Giovanna Gomes on Unsplash

Catherine Douglas Moran contributed reporting

When Solace Brewing opens a new location in Falls Church, people can expect a casual spot to grab beers.

Called Solace Outpost, the new pub will take over the spot previously filled by Max Fox Brewing and include food from BlackFinn and Freebyrd Chicken, according to a press release.

Co-founder Jon Humerick said Solace decided to partner with H2 Collective and Pub Partners, which runs BlackFinn and Freebyrd, because the agreement allows each vendor to play to their strengths and best serve future customers of Solace Outpost.

“We’re the beer guys, we know brewing. We don’t know restaurants,” he told Tysons Reporter.

While Mad Fox Brewing had more of a sit-down, formal atmosphere, according to Humerick, he said he plans for Solace Outpost to be causal. “It’s going to be similar to what we have here in Sterling.”

The location will feature both indoor and outdoor seating and have “rustic-industrial” decorations — including wood accents and a concrete bar, he said.

Solace Outpost will be the company’s second brewing location, and Humerick said the location will produce a “significant volume” of beer.

“The new brewery will feature experimental IPAs and other beers and methods, such as kettle sours and smaller batches but will keep a core quartet of Solace favorites — Sun’s Out Hops Out, Lucy Juicy, Partly Cloudy and Crazy Pils — permanently on tap,” according to a press release.

Going forward, Humerick added that they are still working with Solace’s partners to work out the details and he will have more details within the coming months.

Photo via Solace Brewing/Facebook

(Updated 1/16/20) After several delays, The Casual Pint is now open in Falls Church.

The bar offers dozens of locally sourced brews to customers and a spokesperson told Tysons Reporter that the grand opening will take place next Friday (Jan. 24) at 4 p.m.

Throughout the evening of the grand opening, The Casual Pint will be giving prizes away along with free growlers to the first 50 customers, according to owner Darren McClure.

“We are getting to know everyone in the neighborhood and people’s reaction to the spot have been very positive,” McClure said.

The location is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at 6410 Arlington Blvd, Suite E.

Employees are currently running through the systems, trying to work out the final kinks, according to a spokesperson.

At the grand opening next Friday, The Casual Pint will offer free growlers to the first 50 customers and drink specials all day, according McClure.

Mad Fox Brewing Company closed in Falls Church back in July. Now, a new brewery is set to open in the vacant space in May.

Solace Outpost — a collaboration between Solace Brewing Company, H2 Collective from The Hilton Brothers and the Blackfinn Ameripub group of Northern Virginia — will occupy 444 W. Broad Street, Suite I, according to a press release from MoKi Media.

“The new brewery will feature experimental IPAs and other beers and methods, such as kettle sours and smaller batches but will keep a core quartet of Solace favorites — Sun’s Out Hops Out, Lucy Juicy, Partly Cloudy and Crazy Pils — permanently on tap,” according to a press release.

People can also expect a yet-to-be-announced independent pizza concept at the brewery.

“The Woodmont Properties owner of the space closed the deal earlier this month,” the Falls Church News-Press reported yesterday (Monday).

The new brewery is set to open in May, the press release said.

People will have to wait a few more weeks before they can enjoy a beer at The Casual Pint in the Falls Church area.

Owner Darren McClure previously told Tysons Reporter that The Casual Pint (6410 Arlington Blvd) was going to open yesterday with a grand opening party on Jan. 17, but said today (Jan. 10) that the opening has been delayed until later in January.

McClure said the spot is still awaiting inspections before it can open.

Inside The Casual Pint, employees were working on setting up the draft board, which offers guests more than two dozen drafts, which will occasionally rotate. Many of the options that will be available are locally sourced from breweries around Virginia.

McClure decided to open The Casual Pint on Arlington Blvd three years ago and has been working up to the location’s opening since.

People have already been knocking on the door, hoping the bar would be open, an employee told Tysons Reporter.

Once more people move into the Loren apartment complex next door, McClure said he expects the location to become a popular spot.

Just next door, BurgerIM, Jon Smith Subs and Orangetheory Fitness announced upcoming openings with window covers.

Construction crews were busy working outside, but it was unclear when any of the locations will open.

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Monday (Jan. 6)

• Daf Circle — 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Iranian-American Community Center (2236 C Gallows Road) — People from around the community are invited to come and make drum music with friends and other community members — no previous skill required. A $10 cash entry fee will be collected at the door.

Thursday (Jan. 9)

• Fall Church Chamber Networking Breakfast — 8 to 9 a.m. at Original Pancake House (7395 Lee Hwy) — This event invites anyone interested in the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce to attend this meet and greet. No registration is required but attendees are expected to pay for their own meals.

Friday (Jan. 10)

• Dining in the Dark — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Greenhouse (2070 Chainbridge Road) — Ever wonder what it is like to remove one of your senses and let the others take control? At this event, you will be blindfolded by a waiter who will serve you a four-course meal along with a wine pairing for $99 while a DJ plays music.
• Vision Board Workshop — 6 to 8 p.m. at BRAWS Office (114 Courthouse Road SW) — This event will teach attendees how to put together a vision board and help people design what they want their lives to look like. A $10 donation is suggested to benefit Bringing Resources to Women’s Shelters. Snacks, wine and supplies will be included. All are welcome.
• “(the) unRuly TheaTre pRojecT” — 6 to 8 p.m. at Bards Alley (110 Church Street NW) — This teen improv group will perform a free show for the public. No RSVP is required. “These talented teens make up the show as they go along, so that each show is completely new and hilarious,” according to the Facebook page.

Saturday (Jan. 11)

• Children’s Clothing and Toy Swap — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Philip Catholic Church (7500 St. Phillips Court) — People are invited to gather at Hayden Hall and either donate or swap gently used or new items for kids. All items not claimed at the end of the event will be donated to families in need. The event will also accept bedding, strollers and bouncy swings.
• Resolution Buster Bash — 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Settle Down Easy Brewing (2822 Fallfax Drive) — To celebrate the release of its new hard seltzer water, the brewery is hosting a party. The first 50 people to attend will receive a free pint glass with $1 off refills all day. There will also be food and various beer specials.

Sunday (Jan. 12)

• Ski and Snowboard Waxing Workshop — 9 to 11 a.m. at REI (8209 Watson Street) — This winter, people can learn how to make their rides down the mountain go more smoothly with regular waxings. No prior experience is needed. This workshop is free and open to all.
• Dog Adoption Event — noon to 3 p.m. at Chico’s Natural Pet Market (6349 Columbia Pike) — Anyone interested in adopting a furry friend can stop by to meet new friends in need of a home. Volunteers will be available to ask questions and the shelter is also looking for foster homes. This event is free and open to the public.

Image via Facebook