Greg Engert is the Beer Director for Neighborhood Restaurant Group hot spots including Churchkey, Birch & Barley, Rustico, and the Capitol Riverfront’s Bluejacket brewery.  On Saturday, September 12th, Greg and Neighborhood Restaurant Group will host Snallygaster in The Yards. The 4th annual Snallygaster festival features 300 beers from across the globe, curated by Greg himself, and benefiting local food non-profit Arcadia. Tickets are still available for this amazing day of craft beer, fine food, and music here!

What do you love about working in the Capitol Riverfront?

I love the historic nature of the area. At Bluejacket, we get to make beer in a former boilermaker factory built back in 1919, in one of the few true remaining industrial areas around. This is one of the most eclectic and exciting neighborhoods in the city right now. 

Snallygaster is a great chance to try new beers. What are your recommendations for "can't miss" beers that are new to the festival this year? 

With over 300 beers, we have something for every palate. I suggest sampling a wide variety of what is on offer.  For the uber-geeks, don't miss The Bruery Grey Monday, Allagash Ghoulschip and Perennial Barrel-Aged Abraxas. Also, we will debut the beer my fiancé and I brewed for our wedding, Kelsey & Greg's Wedding Ale. You don't want to miss out on this 4% ABV Sour Blond Ale aged on 1,000 pounds of local peaches and nectarines!

Tell us more about Bluejacket's support of the Arcadia Center.

We hold Snallygaster each year to fund our partner non-profit food organization Arcadia and also work with them year round. We are delighted by the increasing opportunities for including Arcadia-grown fruits, herbs, spices and hops (!) into our brews.

What's your favorite place in the neighborhood? 

I love Nationals Park and the Washington Nationals, so being in the shadow of the stadium is a dream come true.

Bluejacket recently expanded its offerings with a bottle shop and tasting room next door to the brewery.

We are really excited about the Bottle Shop & Tasting Room. We are offering 18 bottles in the shop at all times, which is a fitting compliment to the 20 drafts and 5 casks on offer in the restaurant and bar. On tap in the Tasting Room, we offer a mix of must-try flagship brews for newcomers, who might just want to pop in for a taste, as well as additional small batch, super rare new releases available by the taster.

What has been your favorite moment in the Capitol Riverfront? 

As we approach Bluejacket's second anniversary, opening the doors to the neighborhood that first afternoon in late October 2013 still tops the list.

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