Nestled deep in a Chantilly, VA shopping center, less than a 5-minute drive from the Dulles Expo Center, is a brand-new brewery, Ono Brewing Company. The Hawaiian-themed brewery opened in September 2017 and since hearing about them, we had been dying to visit. One afternoon, while pregaming for a Lady Gaga concert in Washington, D.C. we decided to check it out and see what Ono was all about. Upon arriving at Ono, the building looked unimposing. Once we walked in, however, the expansive tasting room was unveiled. Windows extended along one side of the room, which was lined with tables inviting both large and small groups to congregate. The tables were made from reclaimed wood, setting a homey vibe. In line with the Hawaiian theme, there were tropical plants hanging from the ceiling. On the opposite side of the tasting room were exposed beer taps. This caught us a little off guard, as there was no bar and there seemed to be no bartender in sight.
We walked up to the short counter that served as the cashier area, and introduced ourselves to the owner, Scott. He proceeded to explain that Ono operates as a self-serve tasting room. That would explain the lack of a bartender and the exposed taps. Scott instructed that the first step is to choose your glass – either a 5 oz. tasting glass or a 16 oz. pint glass. Second, rinse the glass in the star sink, which sprays water up into it. This doesn’t just clean it but also allows for an even, clean pour and a substantial, fragrant head. And third, pour your beer. He handed us a chip card, which he linked to our tab and gave us instructions for pouring the beer. By placing the card on the sensor above the tap of your choice, you are free to pour as much (or little) beer as you’d like.
The price per ounce ranged from $.40 to $.60. This equates to $5.00 – $7.50 for a pint. Scott gave us some pointers while we were pouring our beer. If you pull the tap slowly, you are likely to get all head. Instead, you should pull the tap quickly to reduce the amount of foam. Seemed simple enough, right? Well, it still took some trial and error. Once, we forgot to put the chip card on the sensor and thought the keg had kicked. After Scott checked, it turns out that nope, we just had a blonde moment. Another time, we didn’t pull the tap fast enough and poured a pint of mostly foam. All in all, there were really no issues with executing the self-serve experience, once we got the hang of it.
There are some positives to this method of selling craft beer. The brewery can keep a more accurate total of the beer sold, there is less waste, and the consumer only pays for what they drink (or spill). It also means that Ono has a smaller staff than traditional breweries, which allows them to pay competitive wages (this helps compensate for the fact that tips aren’t expected.) But, in case you are feeling generous, there is a tip jar and all the tips are donated to charity. The December tips totaled $1,944.13, which were donated to Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Inc. (ECHO)
In Hawaiian, Ono means “delicious” or “tasty”, a testament to their beer. Scott and his wife, Cyndi, brought the tropics to NOVA after living in Hawaii for many years. Most of Ono’s beers are fruit-infused, and they make an effort to utilize fruits when they are in season. None of the flavors are artificial-tasting, but rather are delicious, juicy and natural. We visited Ono on a chilly mid-November day, the time of year when everything is pumpkin-flavored. Ono had one Pumpkin Stout on the menu, but it was refreshing to see a wide variety of other brews.
Ono had 8 varieties of beer on tap with something to satisfy a variety of palates. Even though many of their beers have a fruit foundation, there are some exceptions, such as the Beach Blonde Pale Ale, a crisp, easy-drinking beer. Matching the season, there was the Teacher’s Apple IPA (100 IBUs) made with locally-sourced apples from Rinker’s Orchard in Stephens City, VA. Don’t be fooled, it wasn’t a typical hard cider, but instead a hoppy, bitter IPA. Scott even gave us a taste of a pomegranate sour beer that they were planning to release in the future. Because it wasn’t made with Brett, it was an easy drinking sour beer, without the face-puckering tang.
Once we tried every beer on the wall, Scott challenged us to a little experiment. He suggested that since you control what you pour, you can mix and match flavors into one, delicious beverage. There were some examples printed on the menu or you could just experiment! We started with the Big Kahuna IPA (a blend of 4 different hops) and mixed in the Manako White Ale to cut the bitterness. We encourage you to use your imagination and try different combos. Ono even runs a contest where you can post your favorite combination on social media and if they love it they’ll add it to their menu!
Even though Ono is different than your traditional brewery, you can still take home a 32 oz. or 64 oz. growler of your favorite brew or combination. Just ask a staff member to fill it for you. If you get hungry, feel free to bring in your own food, or order delivery from a nearby restaurant. They also sell snacks in the tasting room, and occasionally have a food truck. They sometimes have entertainment, which they post on social media, or you can contact them about hosting your own event on site. The outside area is pet-friendly, but currently small. Ono hopes to expand the area to allow for more furry friends and day-drinking in the sunshine. Being that Ono is so new, we are excited to see them grow. We will definitely stop by again to see what’s on tap and visit with Scott and Cyndi. From the second we walked in the door, they treated us like Ohana (family). Until next time, aloha and mahalo!
Date of Original Visit: November 19, 2017