The Best Breweries Around D.C.

Published 20 hours ago• 17 minute read

Shiny brewery barrels — Red Bear Brewing’s massive U-shaped bar in NoMa stretches 85 feet and features 24 mirrored tap lines on both sides.

Where to drink craft beers in and around the District

by Updated May 23, 2025, 3:13pm EDT

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Red Bear Brewing’s massive U-shaped bar in NoMa stretches 85 feet and features 24 mirrored tap lines on both sides.

The D.C. region is beefing up its credentials as a craft beer destination, with breweries pouring ales and lagers at taprooms throughout the District proper and in the surrounding suburbs. Pioneers like DC Brau and Port City Brewing have been at it for a decade or more and are now household names in the District. Beer lovers across the region can experience tours and tastings at full-scale production warehouses, sip a flight or a pint at a neighborhood pub, or grab an excellent taco or burger from a pop-up food truck parked on-site.

D.C.’s booming beer market only continues to grow, with Brookland-born stalwart Right Proper Brewing Co. gearing up to open a third location. Last year, Atlas Brew Works expanded across the Potomac to Alexandria, and Aslin Beer Co. set up shop down in Virginia Beach. And this summer, Commonwealth Brewing Co. opens a second taproom and facility in Old Town Fairfax.

: Hellbender Brewing Company shut down in late 2024, and City-State, Edgewood’s ambitious beer startup since 2021, ceased production this year. And Old Ox Brewery closed out in Loudoun County this spring.

Here are 18 essential breweries for local beer fans. —Additional reporting by Travis Mitchell.

Tierney Plumb is an Editor of Eater’s Northeast region, covering restaurant news in D.C., Boston, Philly, and New York. She was previously the editor of Eater DC since 2022.

Emily Venezky is an Editorial Associate at Eater, assisting Eater cities and national with editing, writing, and administrative support. She also covers restaurant news in Washington, D.C.

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It’s worth a trip up to Rockville to visit this brewery started by former college roommates Jim Beeman and Keith Beutel in 2015. The founding “Surrender” rye pale ale caused a trademark claim with multimedia giant Turner Entertainment. The brewery has a revolving list of food trucks outside on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, along with live music events on weekends.

Three beers on a table — The 15-barrel brewhouse is churning out red ales, stouts, and more.

The downtown Silver Spring brewery’s four flagships are influenced by brewing traditions in Belgium, the British Isles, Central Europe, and the Americas. Visitors can saddle up to its breezy biergarten to sample its beloved gnome-themed Saisons, Glass Castle Pilsner, Dr. Juicy IPA, and much more.

A can of beer — Silver Branch’s Quantum Shift flagship IPA.

Crooked Run, which started with Virginia taprooms in Sterling and Leesburg, opened a D.C. taproom near Union Market in 2023. The inventive brewing program categorizes beers into categories like new releases (lucky customers might encounter Sticky Rice, a Berliner Weisse made with mango, coconut and rice milk), traditional, hoppy and fruity and sour. Grazie Nonna chef Julian Addison also operates his NYC-style J&J Pizza at the taprooms in Sterling and Leesburg.

Two pizzas are being picked up by hands on a wooden table, surrounded by Caesar salad, mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, and pints of beers — Enjoy signature New York pies and sides while sipping on Crooked Run brews.

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A longtime member of the local brewing scene, Denizens closed its original Silver Spring location in 2023 and moved operations to its Riverdale Park beer garden and barrel house. Beer lovers who aren’t afraid to get weird can always find some experimental and interesting drafts on the Denizens list. For a more accessible pick, go with the Southside West Coast IPA or the Born Bohemian Pilsner. D.C.’s Dacha Beer Garden just announced plans to take over its original Sliver Spring digs.

Prince George’s County’s first microbrewery, Franklins claims to be the only combination restaurant, brewery, and toy store in the world. The Hyattsville destination serves a slew of homemade beers in just about every style. The small size of the operation means you can expect super fresh beer on its draft tap list, from Bombshell Blonde to the Twisted Turtle Pale Ale to a potent tripel called 3 Body Solution (11.8 percent ABV). The burger is not to miss, either. A cool patio setup sits under a graffiti-covered bridge.

Solace is another Loudoun County brewery that put down roots inside D.C. proper. Its Navy Yard taproom is a destination for hop heads and sports fans, with ample space both inside and outside — with bonus views of the riverfront. The Sun’s Out Hops Out Session IPA (4.7 percent ABV) is good for all-day drinking, and the Crazy Pils is a popular pick. Food centers around burgers, tots, and brats (vegetarian options, too) along with some healthier grain and salad bowls. Solace has two other locations — one in Sterling and another in Falls Church.

When D.C. Brau opened in 2009, it claimed the honor of being the city’s first packaging brewery since 1956. DC Brau is perhaps best known for its flagship hoppy brews: The Public American pale ale, the hazy Joint Resolution IPA and The Corruption IPA. Brewery visitors can get tastes of the rest of the standard lineup as well as seasonal and one-off creations. Swing by the 50,000-square-foot mega facility’s taproom framed with fun murals from local artists and outdoor beer garden from Fridays to Sundays. Options for pickup and delivery, too.

DC Brau beer — DC Brau set the stage for many breweries to follow in D.C.

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This brewpub is known for its rotating selection of artful and experimental brews. Styles tend to be on the lighter side of the spectrum — expect to see plenty of farmhouse ales, saisons, and other rustic styles. Food fits the gastropub model with options like burgers, pastas, salads, and appetizers like beer-battered cheese curds and baked mac and cheese. Right Proper also operates a production house in Brookland that includes a taproom with a dozen rotating drafts. A third location, a pilot brewery and kitchen in Eckington, is scheduled to open soon.

Nathan Zeender, Right Propper Brew Pub’s brewmaster — Right Proper maintains a centrally located tasting room in Shaw.

Atlas Brew Works is part of the growing number of reasons to eat and drink around D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood. Notable beers include the Ponzi IPA, the Blood Orange gose, and the Dance of Days pale ale. The taproom is open for beer fans to tour on Saturdays at 2 p.m. (reserve tickets here). There’s a vending machine with some local snacks and food trucks are a frequent sight as well. Its Half Street brewery and taproom in Navy Yard features fifteen taps, food from Andy’s Pizza, and a huge outdoor beer garden. Atlas expanded across the Potomac last summer with a new brewery and taproom in Alexandria.

A menu board at a bar — Atlas Brew Works showcases its long list of beers behind the bar.

The beloved Brooklyn brewery with a cult NYC following for its hazy IPAs, lagers, and barrel-aged stouts opened its first D.C. taproom and production facility in 2020 at the Hecht Warehouse. The 5,000-square-foot indoor tasting and taproom offers 20 draft pours at a time. Al fresco beer drinkers have 7,500 square feet of outdoor space to work with, between a patio with a covered pavilion and roof deck. Lookout for local food pop-ups like Steeze Burger and TNT food truck to pair with a brew. Cans double as take-home art, labeled with wildly eccentric and cartoon-ish designs of everything from food to animals. Curbside pickup and delivery are available, too.

Other Half’s silver tanks — Other Half’s shiny new production facility.

This husband-and-wife-owned brewery is nearly three years in business in D.C.’s Eckington neighborhood. The adventurous draft list here is anchored by Shift — a hopped lager, and its darker, roasty counterpart, Grave Shift. Other picks include a range of ales, lagers, and seasonal brews. Lost Generation is an easy stop for anyone enjoying a walk or ride along the multipurpose Metropolitan Branch Trail, especially anyone with a furry friend. A rotating schedule of food trucks provide food to hungry visitors.

A lineup on beers along a brick wall — Sip a beer while paging through Faulkner.

This LGBTQ+-owned, game-filled brewery became a huge boon to the NoMa neighborhood when it opened in the spring of 2019. The partners relocated from Seattle, bringing along a penchant for West Coast-style ales and ciders. Options include its popular DC Dirt, a roasty and silky American-style porter, and Pride, World Wide — a hazy IPA brewed for the big occasion in D.C. Regular events include drag bingo and trivia nights conducted in sign language. Props to its Jeff Goldblum-themed bathroom.

Part of the main stretch of 8th Street SE in Barracks Row, this veteran-inspired pub is a casual stop for enjoying small-batch, low-key brews. Options from the tap include the Purple Heart Hazy IPA, the Capitol Keller Pils, and the Pollywog Porter. The menu has everything from stuffed pretzels to smash burgers.

As the name might imply, the team at Audacious Aleworks has brewed more than 100 different beers since opening in Falls Church in 2018. Colorfully drawn name boards hang above the bar and signal the rotating drafts (beers here are produced in small batches and come and go quickly). The taproom serves pub classics like brats, grilled cheeses, and pretzels. Audacious expanded in 2022, with a location in Fairfax City.

This 36-seat nanobrewery in Falls Church, still a relatively youthful seven years old, is already a destination in Northern Virginia. Standby brews include a dry-hopped kolsch and a jalapeno-honey ale. A taco stand inside comes from El Tio Tex-Mex. The brand expanded to Oakton, Virginia with a 4,000-square-foot taproom and petite, one-barrel brewhouse.

Tap lines at a bar — Taps at Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.

Bluejacket comes from Neighborhood Restaurant Group, the local hospitality company that stocks all of its bars and restaurants (the Sovereign, Church Key, Iron Gate) full of outstanding beer. Bluejacket always has a staggering number of drafts to choose from, from IPAs to stouts. It’s also a favorite hangout before and after Nationals games. The Arsenal is the on-site restaurant, serving up hearty plates of fish and chips, homestyle meatloaf, and fried chicken sandwiches. Tours are not currently offered, but the bar does host occasional special events.

Alexandria is the place to savor Port City’s lineup of well-made, straightforward beers. After more than a decade in business, the easy-drinking Optimal Wit remains a best seller. Other favorites include the hoppy, fruity Integral IPA and the malty Port City Porter. Its events calendar is frequently filled with yoga, comedy, and pup adoption events. The tasting room is open daily, with tacos and tostados from Alexandria’s own La Tingeria.

A neon sign — Neon-lit signage spelling out Port City’s name.

Virginia’s Aslin Beer Company moved into D.C. in 2022, setting up along the bustling 14th street corridor with a 211-seat indoor and outdoor beer garden. The bar is decked out with Aslin’s signature neon-styling. In addition to pouring Aslin’s flagship ales and lagers, the space houses a one-barrel brewing system that produces experimental and one-off beers exclusive to D.C. Additional area locations sit in Alexandria and Herndon, plus a year-old locale in Virginia Beach.