Sweetwater Tavern - Merrifield, VA Brewery/BrewPub/Beer Bar Reviews
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November 23, 2008 @ 09:38 AM EDT
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Type: BrewPub
Sweetwater Tavern
Overall: Great    Score: 74.6 / 100
3066 Gatehouse Plaza
Merrifield, VA 22042
United States
(703) 645-8100
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Listed Since: August 1997
Last Updated: October 2002
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Beer Guide for Merrifield, VA
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alternatives
(9 within 5 miles)
1) Sweetwater Tavern
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2) Courtyard
(2 miles)

3) Dogfishhead Alehouse
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nearby hotels
w/ online reservations
1) BRIDGESTREET-LINCOLN AT TYSONS
2) BW FALLS CHURCH INN
3) BW TYSONS WESTPARK
4) COMFORT INN ALEXANDRIA
5) COMFORT INN LANDMARK
6) COMFORT INN TYSONS CORNER
7) COURTYARD TYSONS CORNER
8) DAYS INN ALEXANDRIA
9) DOUBLETREE TYSON'S CORNER
10) ECONO LODGE METRO
11) EMBASSY SUITES TYSON'S CORNER
12) FAIRVIEW PARK MARRIOTT
13) HAWTHORN SUITES LTD ALEXANDRIA
14) HILTON MCLEAN TYSONS CORNER
15) HOME-STYLE INN
16) HOMESTEAD STUDIOS FALLS CHURCH
17) HOMESTEAD TYSONS CORNER
18) HOMEWOOD STE FALLS CHURCH
19) INNS OF VIRGINIA - ALEXANDRIA
20) INNS OF VIRGINIA-FALLS CHURCH
21) MERRIFIELD RESIDENCE INN
22) OAKWOOD EISENHOWER
23) OAKWOOD FALLS CHURCH
24) QUALITY INN GOVERNOR
25) RAMADA LIMITED FALLS CHURCH
26) RESIDENCE INN TYSONS CR
27) RESIDENCE INN TYSONS CRNR MALL
28) SHERATON PREMIERE AT TYSONS COR
29) TOWNEPLACE SUITES FALLS CHURCH
30) TYSONS CORNER MARRIOTT
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within 5 miles
1) Ball-Sellers House
2) Benjamin Banneker: SW 9 Intermediate Boundary Stone
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4) Carlin Hall
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6) Falls Church
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8) Northwest No. 1 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
9) Northwest No. 2 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
10) Northwest No. 3 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
11) Southwest No. 7 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
12) Southwest No. 8 Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
13) West Cornerstone
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Overall Average User Rating
Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Great Good Great Great Good

Review Page: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ ALL ]
Individual User Reviews
Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Great So So Great Awesome! Good
I went to this place after searching for something near Tyson's corner. My bar tender was Ian, a pretly but jolly young man. The tavern had about 5 beers on tap, including a Scottish ale and their 2001 award winning imperial stout. The imperial stout was especially good as it was aged in a Jim beam bourbon barrel. About 10% alcohol. I'm a big fan of bourbon shed beers, and ended up taking home a growler. It was the last one they had too! Ian have me a free drink as well. I ordered the Tex mex egg rolls and the jambalaya. The Tex mex had a nice spice to it. The jambalaya had large pieces of shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage. Overall, I would fine here again as well. I would definitely recommend this place to those beer lovers in town or near by. Ask for Ian as well. You won't be disappointed. disappointed.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Chip Scott Chip Scott, Newark, DE
(02/17/2008)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Awesome! Great Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
Eight crafted brews on tap, plus local and national brews. Great appetizers, breads, and menu. Western theme, call ahead for seating, no reservations. Second restaurant in Centreville, VA; (703) 449-1100.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Tim Roth Tim Roth, Fairfax, VA
(08/14/2007)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Good So So Great Great Great
The food is pretty creative and well prepared. For starters, the Tex-Mex Eggrolls are a good beginning. They are crispy and maybe just a bit zesty. I like very spicy food, so feeling a little tingle to must mean they have a bit of spiciness.

Of the soups, the Chicken Tortilla and Lobster Bisque are quite hearty and enjoyable. The Clam Chowder, though pretty good, was a bit floury tasting for my liking.

At some point, a plate of breads will appear. The jalapeƱo cheese bread and the sweet rolls are excellent. Feel free to ask the wait staff for more of any of the specific breads you liked after it is all gone.

The Asian Two Noodle Chicken salad is a pleasant experience. Even more so if you subsitute grilled tuna for the chicken. I believe there is a slight extra charge.

Burgers are good, though at times a bit dry when cooked more than medium. The fries are good; but if you get the Basil Redskin Mashed Potatoes is the winner. I know, fries go better with burgers. Just making a suggestion. The chicken fingers are a good choice as well if you are looking for typical pub food. The crab cakes are of rather good quality, though I prefer a regular tartar sauce served with my fried or broiled seafood rather than the below par remoulade. Lacking for me when looking for pub food is a good batch of fish and chips.

There are many other dishes that stand out, such as the pork chops, the ribs are decent and always a steady choice. The blackened Prime Rib is better than expected as well.

The real thing to go to Sweetwater for is the specials. Along with the fish on the menu, many of the specials are based around a nice piece of grilled fish. Listen closely as the waiter reads off your choices!

If you are still hungry, have another stout or go with the Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle! If you do not like chocolate, the Key Lime Pie makes a good choice for you.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Mike Mike, Springfield, VA
(06/09/2007)


Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
So So So So Lousy Lousy So So
This used to be one of my absolute favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience tonight. The smoked chicken queso with chips was an unappetizing, gelatinous mess that contained no identifiable chicken at all.

The Boot Hill Brown ale was surprisingly bitter for a brown.

The service was lousy. The server never checked back to see how things were. Only after I shoved 7/8 of the plate to the far edge of the table and sat there for several minutes did he show up and ask if I wanted a box. I told him no.

He fetched a manager who deducted the food from the bill, but the experience was a very negative one.

Go to Chili's--the chips and queso dip are a LOT better--and cost 1/3 less.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Cary Herin Cary Herin, Woodbridge, VA
(06/05/2007)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Good Good N/A Good Good
Weisenbock time agian, One of my favorite styles, St. Nicks weisenbock, is creamy and flavorfull, Like apple cider with a bananna blended in, Its a seasonal thing, wont last long. Have benn going happy hour thursday or friday, Get's crowded had to find parking at 6-7. I've even had to park across gallow rd once, Usually don't eat there. Thier website keeps up with beer changes, seems to be the only brewpub who does it.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from pat pat, silver spring, MD
(01/23/2007)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Great Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Great
I ate/drank here on 1/14/07 and was also here about 18 months earlier and the beers were better then. Don't get me wrong -- they were good yesterday but they lacked the body and flavors that I remembered. The Stout was excellent. The other beers were mostly non-distinctive. I will definitely try this place again in a few months to see what else is on tap.

The food is excellent and the service is friendly and fast. I would recommend this place and wish there was one closer to home.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from GD Elder GD Elder, La Plata, MD
(01/15/2007)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Awesome! Great Great Awesome! Great
This place has service, selection and quality. Its' usually packed and parking can be tough, but you can pull up to the bar, ask to taste a beer and actually get no hassle and a short beer to make your decision. And if you never wanted to drink 2 liters of beer, don't ask for the growlers. The crew in all Sweetwater's are great, but stop into Merrifield and witness as personable and well serving a bar crew as the DC area can offer.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Mike Brick Mike Brick, Annandale, VA
(05/05/2006)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
told it was 1.5 to 2 hour wait and went to Uno's next door instead, and te food there was actually good.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review Falls Church, VA
(02/26/2006)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Great Good Great Awesome! Great
I haven't been by in close to 4 years. It was as good as I remembered. A good selection on hand, but their steam beer tap had gone dry the day before :(

Food is always excellent and the staff is first rate. On the downside, it is always busy, and parking could be tough to get. But it would be worth the three or four minute walk from the far reaches of the lot to get to a place like this! Definitely worth a visit.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from John Gezelius John Gezelius, Orange, CA
(08/03/2005)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Great Good Great Great Great
SW Merrifield put an Imperial Stout on early in the month. This is a Big, Big, beer; rollicking in at over 10%. Genuine Russian Imperial flavor and tending toward the bitter side but still very drinkable and an excellent accompaniment to the chipotle/lime seared scallops. Well worth the visit. They also had a very nice Wit and a Dark Lager "Mexican" style on tap as well. Food and service were outstanding. HOWEVER-

This facility does not take reservations and is ALWAYS crowded (I wish I had a microscopic piece of the action here!). They do have a call ahead service so you can find out what the wait is and be in the front of the line when you show up. Parking can also be a drag but there's a cluster of popular restaurants right next door so it's always a battle to be near SW's entrance. Take all this into consideration so you are not disappointed by your visit.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Beer Island Beer Island, Lancaster, PA
(05/22/2005)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
My favorite food to order from the menu is the roasted chicken salad, it is excellent. I don't know why this person thinks sweetwater is so bad. He must have been mistaken in his critique. Maybe he should consider not smoking in restaurants...the other patrons would appreciate it.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review manassas, VA
(10/08/2004)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
So So Good Great Awesome! Good
Went back two days later. I'm really impressed with the service. Mo fewer than 5 people tended to the table without it seeming to excessive. Pulled Pork Sandwich was very good. Beer on the ohter hand is served way to cold. Pale Ale initially didn't seem to have any taste but as it warmed up the hops became more evident and would be good if the refrigerator was turned up a bunch. Springbock on the other hand was mediocre. They seem to have a list of about 15 potential brews with 6 being available at any one time.

Write Your Review Reply to this Review Report Review See more reviews from Bob Morseburg Bob Morseburg, Seattle, WA
(05/25/2004)

Beer Quality Beer Selection Food Service Overall
N/A