How do you like your Flying Dog? Doggie Style or as Old Scratch Lager? You’re in luck, you can have this local (Frederick, Md.) brew both ways and drink it too, after a visit to either of two new boutique wine and beer shops in Bethesda.
Manager Justin McInerny says the craft beers and wines at Capital Beer & Wine are all hand-selected. The wines come from small family farmers from Rockville to Patagonia, who are in “overalls and boots all day.”
“Most of our wines come from small producers who don’t have the means to submit to Wine Spectator,” he says. “We’re selling stories, not scores.” Customers can sample the beer and wine at weekly tastings and make a choice from 140 different beers and over 300 wines. Included in the beer offerings are names like Old Dominion, Fordham Queen Anne Kolsch and, another local dog–Baying Hound Taj Mahound from Rockville. Brands and varieties change seasonally. The store opened in March at 7903 Norfolk Ave. in Bethesda.
Carlos Ramirez and Francis Namin, the local restaurateur who most recently opened Food Wine & Co. on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, just opened Beer Wine & Co. last week. Ramirez says that the boutique wine shop offers over 500 top wines from around the world, with a point score of 86 and above, and over 300 international craft beers, including those from local breweries. Ramirez says that though similar in concept, this is a totally separate enterprise from Cork 57, a wine store owned by Francis’ brother Fred Namin, on Bethesda Avenue. “We are heavier on the beers,” Ramirez says. “We are on the other side of Bethesda; we aren’t competing with him.” Beer Wine & Co. (301-951-0100) is located at 7029 Wisconsin Ave. in the former McCormick Paints location. The website, www.beerwineandcompany.com is still in the works.
