Most restaurants and bars employ a host to greet guests, and Bardo is no exception. But its host is different from others -- he has four furry legs and a wagging tail.
Bardo, an outdoor brewery in Northeast D.C., begins its brew program one year after opening. The brewery's resident dog keeps an eye on the operation. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Bardo, a brewery in Northeast D.C., recently received the OK to begin brewing. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Bardo's host is different from most others -- he has four furry legs and a wagging tail. And his name is Bar Dog. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Bardo's collection of mismatched chairs, art and random artifacts contribute to the laid-back, quirky ambiance of the brewery. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
"We're making the same old [Great American Beer Festival] award-winning beers, and we're going to add some new beers too because there's new varieties of hops and all that," says Stewart, who also has plans to brew a Tibetan-style beer. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Unlike other breweries in D.C., Bardo is an outdoor operation. It's located in a formerly vacant lot on Bladensburg Road. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Over the winter, Stewart rehabilitated the small brick building on the property that was once an illegal strip club, a barber shop, a tavern and a saddle shop. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
During the week, Bar Dog spends his days napping and shadowing Stewart, who gets to the brewery between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. to brew and/or maintain the property. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
The outdoor brewery is dog-friendly and is equipped with entertainment -- movies are screened on shipping containers and corn hole is set up on the lawn. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Over the winter, Stewart rehabilitated the small brick building on the property that was once an illegal strip club, a barber shop, a tavern and a saddle shop.
He tore out linoleum to expose the heart pine floors, built some tables with leftover wood from his farm and installed two bathrooms. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
The indoor portion will serve as the bar during the winter and, of course, a place where Bar Dog to remain dry on rainy days. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Unlike other breweries in D.C., Bardo is an outdoor operation. It's located in a formerly vacant lot on Bladensburg Road. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Bardo's collection of mismatched chairs, art and random artifacts contribute to the laid-back, quirky ambiance of the brewery. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
Bardo is brewing pale ale, ginger beer, an IPA, an imperial stout and more -- many of which are recipes resurrected from Bardo's first go-round in the ‘90s. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WASHINGTON — Most restaurants and bars employ a host to greet guests, and Bardo — a brewery and beer garden in Northeast D.C. — is no exception. But Bardo’s host is different from most — he has four furry legs and a wagging tail, and his name is Bar Dog.
“This is his domain. He doesn’t like to leave,” says Bill Stewart, co-owner of Bardo. Stewart adopted Bar Dog, an Australian cattle dog, from West Virginia at about the same time he and his brother Andrew opened the brewery in D.C.’s Trinidad neighborhood.
Bar Dog’s job isn’t limited to welcoming guests: He frequently tweets to announce the brewery’s specials and he entertains other dogs at Bardo (yes, you can bring your dog). He’s also the brewery’s security guard.
“He lives here day and night,” Stewart says. “He knows when the gate is locked, it’s his domain. If you climb the fence in the middle of the night, you have to talk to Bar Dog. It probably isn’t going to be a good conversation, either.”
Unlike other breweries in D.C., Bardo is an outdoor operation. It’s in a formerly vacant lot on Bladensburg Road — so Bar Dog’s patrol role is an important one.
“We like the outside,” Stewart says. “And really, in D.C., there are not many vacant lots left. So there’s really not much outside area, unless you’re in a park. And you can’t drink in those.”
Stewart says last year, a few guys climbed the fence and attempted to take a few things from the brewery, but Bar Dog “chewed them up.”
“I guess word got out, because we haven’t had a problem since,” Stewart says.
During the week, Bar Dog spends his days napping and shadowing Stewart, who gets to the brewery between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. to brew and/or maintain the property. The brewing responsibility is a new one, though. Despite opening last year, Bardo only received the OK from the District to brew last month.
For the last 12 months, they’ve been serving other craft beers on draft. The Stewarts are now making pale ale, ginger beer, an IPA, an imperial stout and more — many of which are recipes resurrected from Bardo’s first go-round in the
