What it is: Shelter is a top-flight beer bar inside the Roost, a new food hall on D.C.’s Capitol Hill. Created by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG)—the same folks behind ChurchKey, Birch & Barley, and Rustico—the bar features 52 taps, including five Czech side-pull faucets and two cask engines. Meanwhile, the Roost’s food options include handmade charcuterie, New York-style pizza slices, a sushi/omakase bar, plus wine, cocktails, coffee, frozen custard, and more.
Why it’s great: The bar’s emphasis is on beers with less than 5 percent ABV; while that is not a hard-and-fast rule, it does ensure a different sort of variety than you’ll find in most IPA-flooded beer bars. As usual with NRG beer director Greg Engert, the selection is all class—with the side-pulls pouring such sublime treats as Schönramer Hell or lagers from Halfway Crooks. There’s also a wide terrace outside, lately featuring table service and heaters for colder days. The location is easily accessible via the Metro, right across from the Potomac Avenue stop.
Details
Hours: 4 p.m.–10 p.m., Monday–Friday; 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday; 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m, Sunday.
Address: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, D.C.
Web: theroostsedc.com/shelter