Woodbridge / Lake Ridge Beer - Brew Republic Bierwerks

After going to the bank, a lite dinner at Zoey’s Kitchen and then looking at some of the gadgets at the Apple store, it’s time for a beer.  Thankfully I can walk to these locations since they are in the same shopping center! Brew Republic Bierwerks makes shopping more fun, well at least for my wife!  Brew Republic gives me an excuse to just let my wife do her thing, and me mine…drinking good beer!  Located in the Stonebridge at Potomac Center, (click here for location) and open 7-days a week, Brew Republic is a brewpub that opened in September 2016 and is surrounded by lots of shopping and restaurants, with a new ice rink and an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema opening in 2018.

The atmosphere is industrial with open ceilings and ductwork, high and low set tables and chairs and plenty of space up at the bar.  You will also see multiple pipes leading to a large glass wall enclosure.  Inside that enclosure is a variety of tanks where the production of magic happens that makes this place so fun to come to.  Beer!!  With space to hold over 200 patrons and some outdoor seating Brew Republic has a little bit of something for everybody in the family.

Being a brewpub allows for the selling of more than just beer.  Wine and food are also sold on premise with a small kitchen in the back offering up finger foods, sandwiches, dips, chips and pretzels.  There are 13 ‘permanent’ menu items; they also offer 5-7 floating menu items which change on a regular basis.  Soft drinks, water and an in-house root beer is also available for those designated drivers or kids to partake.  However, it is the beer you should really be here to enjoy.

Speaking of the beer, they generally have 9 beers on tap, some days less, some days more.  Recently, they have launched a Guerrilla Pilot Series in which they have a weekly small batch of beer available on Monday’s in the tap room… no growler fills!!  It is a limited production, no more than 10 gallons and once it is gone it is gone. They also distribute to various establishments in the DC metro area.  You can enjoy a Brew Republic beer while dining at David Burke’s BLT in the DC Trump Hotel or at the Holiday Inn bar at Quantico Marine Base; check their website (below) for locations.

So, let’s get into the beer.  If you want to try the beers before getting a full pour, order up a flight!  You will get six 4oz pours for $13 dollars.  You can order beer in either a 4oz or 12oz pour or take some home in a 32oz of 64oz growler which you can buy on-site or bring your own.  The average cost for the 4oz runs about $2.50.  If you want a full 12oz pour the costs will average you $6.75.  To take some home the 32oz average is $12.85 and the 64oz is $19.50.  Disclaimer: All average prices were based off the posted price and number of available beers at the time of this review and subject to change.

The beer is even a cheaper Monday thru Friday as there is a ‘Happy Hour’ from 3-7pm where you can take advantage of 25% off food items and $2 off a 12oz pour.  Additional beer concoctions are also available at different times of the year.  As of this review they are currently offering up a “StrawBEERy Lemonade” made with their Patriot 212 Helles Larger.  My favorite though was the Christmas holiday BeerNog which was made with their Requiem Baltic Porter.  I can imagine Homer Simpson sitting next to with me going… “Mmmmmm, Beeeer Nooooog”!  Thursdays are their regular “Randall” beer night, where the patrons… known as ‘Citizens’… pick the infusion earlier in the week that will go into the beer…. Citizens Choice!

There are many events going on at any one time.  Whether they are at a local beer event or here in the establishment there is something to do.  There is Trivia Night Tuesdays, Karaoke Fridays and Live Music Saturdays and on occasion, “Beer & Donut” nights they have with Duck Donuts… it is surprisingly good!  If you want to know more, you need to check out their website (down below) or follow their social media pages.

They also have a beer club of sorts known as the “Beer Commission” and it is a little different than many of the other beer clubs I have seen around.  The primary membership is a ‘Quarterly’ membership and if you want to become a ‘Beer Commissioner’ it is going to cost you $17.99 monthly in administration fees.  There is also an unadvertised annual membership that you can only view/purchase on the online store.

 

They say, “Membership has its privileges” so what privileges are we talking about?

• You have a duty as a Commissioner to sample each new brew that is released when it comes out and provide some feedback.  You get a free 4oz pour of new releases on your next visit.
• A 64oz growler fill per quarter… you provide the growler of course.
• A 16oz pour in a Commissioner only glass instead of the regular 12oz glasses.
• A Brew Republic logo sticker for each year you are a Commissioner (a $1.50 value… which breaks down to ~$0.38 a quarter.)
• 5% discount on all food (except during Happy Hour)
• 10% discount on all merchandise.

There is a stipulation however; since the terms are quarterly you must be a member for three months at a time to qualify for things like the 64oz growler fill.  So, the big question you may ask… is it worth it??  As with any membership, it really all depends on how often you come and use your membership.

Let’s break it down.  If you have at least 4 Commissioner beers a week, which are 16oz, the extra 4oz you get with each pour equals a ‘free’ 12oz pour after three beers and with the average cost of a 12oz pour being $6.75 that is $27 in discounts over a month.  Since you get that ‘free’ 12oz after 3 beers in a week, that leaves the 4^th beer per week and add those over the month you get another 12oz beer for a total of 5 beers.  This translates to $33.75 in discounts in one month which adds up to $101.25 per quarter and if you add in your 64oz growler fill with an average cost of $19.50 you have a total discount of $120.75 per quarter.  Now subtract your $53.97 quarterly Commissioner fees and you net back $66.78… well… uhhh… $66.40 if you subtract the quarterly cost for the logo sticker…. Lol 😊

There is NO discount for purchasing the annual option… not even an extra logo sticker!!  That option is going to run you 12 months of $17.99 up front for a membership cost of $215.88, and I have the proud distinction of being the first annual member.  Primarily because I did not want to do monthly automatic draft on my debit card.  Taking the above numbers, we can calculate annual discounts totaling $483.00 and after the $215.88 administration fee, you net a savings of 267.12!

To answer the question if it is worth it…. YES!! Again… they key is how often you come in and take advantage!  Using the average beer costs and pours outlined above, the quarterly growler fill is the saving grace.  You still save money as a Commissioner even if you only have 2 beers a week and your quarterly growler.  However, slip to one beer a week… and you lose.  Matter of fact, your Momma, spouse or significant other should smack you for signing up if you are not going to average at least ONE beer in a week!!  Jeeez!

Another perk that they have added for Commissioners and regular citizens alike, is a ‘rewards’ system using an app called ‘Five Stars’.  This is like any other reward program out there you see with hotels, airlines, etc.  For every dollar spent on food and beer, you get a ‘point’.  Those points add up and you can get free beer, food or even merchandise if you accumulate enough points.  Membership is free and all you have to do is sign up at the brewery.

At this point I should discuss the bad side of things…. Yep… must do it.  My main issues with BRB is the beer prices… they are higher than every brewery I will review and I understand the need for the prices but hey… I keep coming and drinking.  The other stickler is the acoustics of the place.  Ok, I will admit, I am a lot older than when I used to bang my head at concerts and clubs of my youth but I just can’t hang anymore when they have the live music or other loud music playing.  The acoustics make it hard to understand the lyrics and all the reflection of the sound waves makes it almost impossible to have a discussion with your spouse, date or mates.  Some people like it and that’s cool but come 8PM on Saturdays… I’m peace out and gone.

Ok… this post has gone on long enough.  To sum it up… Brew Republic is a place I frequent often when I want a beer. All the staff are awesome and the owners always take a moment to visit as many customers as they can.  I even get a hug, at times, from one of them when I come in <blush>.  I highly recommend it… coming in for a beer or two that is… hugs are awesome too and a bonus!!  There is lots of shops and eats around Brew Republic to enjoy then drop in for a beer.  Tell them Joe Bob sent you… you might get a discount!!  Ok.. I’m lying… you will NOT get a discount but maybe I’ll get a free beer!  Oh, one can dream… Check them out!  You will not be disappointed.  

Find them here:

Web:  https://brewrepublic.beer/

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