C N E D E R G Atlas Brew Works
Brewing Environmentally Friendly Beer While Being Extremely Good-Looking by Catherine Plume
J
ustin Cox, the founder and CEO of Atlas Brew Works, really likes beer. A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, he became a self-professed “beer nerd” after drinking his first “noncrappy” macro lager while an undergrad at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He eventually moved to the DC area and received a law degree from George Mason University in 2009 – honing his microbrewery skills between exams. Cox began entering his beers in competitions, and started to win awards. His passion for brewing grew while his interest in his day job at the General Services Administration waned. As he puts it, “I decided to open a brewery to avoid being angry at myself when I was older for not giving it a try. The name Atlas came from the brewery’s proximity to the Atlas District, and then, generally, I just like the short and strong name.” And he provides a non sequitur with a snide smile, “I also like to
Atlas Brew Works’ impressive solar array. Photo: Atlas Brew Works
12
E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m
answer questions about how we manage to produce the best beer in DC and still be extremely good looking.” Atlas Brew Works opened in 2013, and the rest is history. The brewery hosts a portfolio of 16 brews, ranging from the ever-popular District Common Lager to the more eclectic Silent Neighbor Pumpernickel Stout. Six brews are available year-round and another 10 are available seasonally. You’ll find an eclectic set of drawings on Atlas beers, including one of John Hancock’s pen, a nod to the brewery’s past as the drawing was included on the can of Atlas’ first draft beer. But Atlas goes beyond brewing good beer, as it has a strong environmental ethic to its work. Since 2015, the Ivy City location has been powered by a 68 kW solar array located on the brewery’s roof that was installed by DC-based Solar Solution. According to Cox, “We decided to go solar for a few reasons. One is to keep in with our environmental stewardship ethos, but it also makes good business sense. There is a financial benefit to cheaper green energy. Oh, and, by the way, we did not pay for the solar installation in beer, though the guys did spend a lot of time checking out our production system.” While Atlas is proud of its solar-powered beer, it also employs other green practices. Atlas beer is packaged in 100% recyclable aluminum cans. As these cans weigh significantly less than bottles, Atlas uses less fuel in its beer distribution system. Atlas also reclaims the water from the brewing process, and it donates the spent grains from brewing to local farmers for animal feed and compost. The grains come from many places, including Britain, Germany and the Czech Repub-
lic, but the majority is grown in the American Midwest. You can buy Atlas beer in reusable glass growlers – either their own or even one from another brewery. Just make sure they’re clean before you bring them in. Atlas’ good green ethic is paying off. It will soon be opening a second venue, a brewery and tap room at 1201 Half St. SE. The opening date is pending due to the coronavirus outbreak. Just a few of Atlas Brew Works’ beers – packaged in 100% According to Cox, “We’re recyclable aluminum cans. Photo: C. Plume fortunate. People in DC and in the great DC area really enjoy our beer! We put a lot of efworks/v2/online-order#!/order). Gift cards fort into creating, brewing and marketing are available: https://www.toasttab.com/atour beer, and the response has been great. lasbrewworks/giftcards. We’ve been looking for a new production As of this writing, Atlas is taking orders home as we outgrow our Ivy City space. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and making deliverWe came across this Half Street location in ies in batches between 4 and 6 p.m. Note Capitol Riverfront. As big DC sports fans that customers must show a valid 21+ ID to ourselves, a location just outside Nats Park the driver and meet them curbside. and not too far from Audi Field was just too Cox notes, “We are open! The best good to pass up.” thing about running a brewery is that we alThe Half Street brewery and tap room ways have plenty of delicious beer on hand, will be just that, a 10-barrel brewhouse and we’re doing what we can to make sure along with a large bar and pizza kitchour customers have access to it. It’s a great en. While the roof lacks the space for sofeeling to make a tangible product that peolar panels due to the size of the building’s ple enjoy, and see your dreams come to frumechanical systems, the site will eventually ition and be enjoyed by others.” have solar panels installed over the awning How does Atlas brew such good beer and a solar canopy over the patio space. and still be extremely good looking? Once According to Cox, the Half Street locathe current coronavirus restrictions are lifttion will get the remainder of its electriced, tours will be available at the Ivy City loity needs from offsite renewable wind and cation on most Saturdays at noon, 2 p.m. solar sources. and 6 p.m., staff time permitting. Stop by Atlas Brew Works is still operating deand find out for yourself – and buy a beer spite the coronavirus. While the brew pub made from solar power! itself is not open to the public, in line with Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a DC’s Alcohol Beverage Regulation Adminwriter and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www. istration (ABRA) recent regulations, Atlas’ DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter: @DC_RecyIvy City brewery is offering onsite pick-up cler. She is also the chair of the DC Chapter of the of cans and draft beer growlers. It is also Sierra Club, but the perspectives expressed are her providing delivery in the Ivy City, H Street, own and do not necessarily represent the positions Trinidad, Carver/Langston, NOMA, Capiof that organization. u tol Hill and Kingman Park neighborhoods (see https://www.toasttab.com/atlasbrew-
