4. Big, bold beers are your best bet. I was a bit underwhelmed by some of the more basic brews. The amber ale and the IPA both hit just one note each—malt and hops, respectively. For something with a little more balance and complexity, try Heritage’s higher-alcohol seasonal and experimental brews. The Double Taxation imperial IPA is resinous with a huge, round, malty finish. The limited-release Sovereign Stout is warm, toasty and chocolaty. My favorite might be the Wild Belgian, aged in whiskey barrels. Almost cocktail-like in complexity, it blends a candied sweetness with oak notes from the barrel and the funkiness of Belgian yeast. In fact, among the many barrels in the dining room—beer samplers are served on barrel staves, and some of the booths are even fashioned from reclaimed barrels—you’ll see a rack of whiskey barrels aging future beer releases.
5. It’s not all about the beer. Heritage roasts its own coffee, too, under the brand Veritas, and serves it from two tap lines. Cocktails skew traditional, such as a Negroni made with local gin, and an Old Fashioned with Virginia bourbon. The pub even makes drinks with its own beer, coffee … or both. Try the Arlington Iced Coffee, a blend of bourbon, stout, nitro coffee and fresh cream.
