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

Crooked Run, which started with Virginia taprooms in Sterling and Leesburg, opened a D.C. taproom near Union Market in early 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. The kitchen operates as Pizza Serata, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Chris Morgan (Maydan). 

A longtime member of the local brewing scene, Denizens just closed its original Silver Spring location in October 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. 

Franklins is a Hyattsville destination, serving 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 Matryoshka Imperial Stout (9.0% ABV). The food menu changes frequently to fit the season, with schnitzel and pulled pork featured for fall. A cool patio setup sits under a graffiti-covered bridge.

Solace is another Loudoun County that recently 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, 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. 

This unassuming brew pub doesn’t make many headlines. The roster touches the spectrum of flavors and body. Sip a pint, half-pint, or 4-ounce taster of Oat Pale, Cream Ale, American Amber, or another one of the bar’s featured drafts. Its bar operates Thursday to Saturday night.

Ambitious beer startup City-State Brewing Co. unveiled its Edgewood facility right off the popular Metropolitan Branch Trail in 2021. The 13,000-square-foot microbrewery and taproom, almost six years in the making, comes from neighborhood resident and former congressional aide James Warner. The bar deals in D.C.-themed brews, such as the 8 Wards IPA, Equal Marriage hefeweizen, and the Trainspotter pub ale. 

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.

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. 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.

This husband-and-wife-owned brewery is approaching a year 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, and a rotating schedule of food trucks provide food to hungry visitors.

This gay-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. Try a Skookum, a Pacific Northwest-style red ale, or a DC Dirt, a roasty and silky American-style porter. Regular events include drag bingo and trivia nights conducted in sign language.

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 hosts weekly events like half-priced food on Mondays, with 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, at a youthful five 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 a 4,000-square-foot taproom and a petite, one-barrel brewhouse in Oakton last fall. 

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 highlight. The same goes for the hoppy and fruity Integral IPA, and the malty Port City Porter. It plays a strong seasonal brew game too, with options like Oktoberfest and the holiday Tidings Ale. The tasting room is open daily, with a regular rotation of food trucks.

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. Aslin also has area locations in Alexandria and Herndon.