Crafting the Ale

Retired NCIS Agent Opens Craft Beer Bar in National Harbor

The craft beer business is booming and no one does it as well as The Brass Tap Craft Beer Bar. After an exhaustive search for the right franchise opportunity, retired United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent Mark Ridley and his wife will open the first Brass Tap bar in the area at the National Harbor at 164 Fleet Street this summer.

After a successful 29-year career with the NCIS, six and a half years as deputy director, Ridley decided that it was time to do something different. An avid home brewer for 16 years--Ridley brews craft beer and his wife, wine--retirement presented the perfect opportunity to take his passion to another level.

“It was just time to retire and do something different,” he said. “I wanted to do something I really wanted to do.”

The Brass Tap has everything the couple were looking for; a mission to educated the masses about craft beer and a variety of entertainment options.

Why National Harbor?

Ridley always intended to bring Brass Tap to Maryland, near his home. He first looked into opening a location in Annapolis but someone beat him to it. He was glad they did because he really loves the National Harbor location.

National Harbor turned out the be an even better location for the bar.

“The Harbor is unique because you get a wide mix of people. It really fits the Harbor’s personality,” Ridley said. “It has everything. It’s eclectic and iconic with a good mix of people here. It’s the best possible location anyone could find.”

With more than 40 franchises currently open, Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer and wine bar celebrated for its more than 300 varieties of imports, local craft beers and a large selection of premium wines and cigars. Set to open in about three to four weeks, the National Harbor location will have 60 different kinds of beer on tap and will continue to rotate the best regional beers from the area as well as recognizable national brands, Ridley said.

Additionally, the new location will have entertainment such as trivia nights and 55-inch televisions showing ‘all sports, all the time.’

With just a few finishing touches left to be completed, The Brass Tap-National Harbor is set to open soon.

“We’re just trying to get to the finish line at this point.”

For more information about The Brass Tap franchise, visit www.brasstapbeerbar.com. For updates on the progress of the National Harbor location, call 301-965-9116 or visit their Facebook page at @brasstap.NationalHarbor.