New Sausage and Beer Hall The Berliner Opens Thursday (Dec. 13) with One Free Beer for the first 100

3401 Water Street, NW courtesy The Berliner

From a press release:

“New scratch-made wurst and beer hall The Berliner (3401 Water Street NW) opens near the Georgetown waterfront on December 13 in the space formerly occupied by neighborhood mainstay Malmaison. To celebrate its highly anticipated launch, The Berliner will offer one complimentary beer to the first 100 guests on opening night. The Berliner is the latest concept from D.C.-based The Popal Group, the family-run restaurant group behind Cafe Bonaparte, Lapis Bistro (a recent Bib Gourmand honoree), Lapop, and the former Napoleon Bistro.

Credit: Travis Vaughn Photography

The 4,200-square foot beer hall is located in one of Georgetown’s last original warehouse spaces on Water Street and will feature signature touches like housemade condiments, including curry ketchup which will be available for purchase in the future, stadium-style seating, communal tables, a ping pong table and a family photo wall.

Inspired by family ties and modern Berlin comfort food, the menu includes Bavarian classics such as bratwurst, schnitzel and homemade pretzels with beer cheese, in addition to modern fare such as kofta kebabs and falafel. The Berliner will also feature 24 beers on tap with a variety of domestic, international and seasonal brews ranging from larger producers to to smaller German breweries rarely found on U.S. menus.

The Berliner will spotlight the decade-long sausage-making expertise of Chef Mike O’Brien, with a menu that includes six styles of sausages — three of which will rotate throughout the year. O’Brien was formerly the chef at three of the world’s top-rated beer-focused restaurants: Mikkeller Bar (San Francisco), The Trappist (Oakland) and The Monk’s Kettle (San Francisco). He has also worked at popular D.C. eateries The Salt Line, Cityzen, Birch & Barley and Churchkey.

The Berliner’s three-bay garage doors paired with industrial chic decor and Bauhaus-inspired design offer an authentic venue perfect for a beer hall. The team has also recruited two well-known graffiti artists, Michael Pacheco and Rodrigo Pradel, to create unique murals for the space.

“It’s not every day that culinary talent, conceptual ingenuity and a historic venue converge in one setting,” says owner Omar Popal. “The Berliner undoubtedly upholds President John F. Kennedy’s famous line declaring us all Berliners at heart.”

The Berliner is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 11pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to midnight.“