For years, D.C. drinkers have taken full advantage of the (usually, anyway) mild Mid-Atlantic climate to consume adult beverages outdoors. From the rooftops of Adams Morgan to the shores of Washington Harbour, there's no shortage of great places to eat and drink outside. The city's more recent hospitality history demonstrates the embrace of all things craft beer, whether the beers be homegrown or from certain cult breweries that have extended their distribution to the nation's capital.
Unfortunately, these movements exist on largely parallel tracks, and finding the point at which great outdoor spaces and equally great beer intersect can sometimes be a challenge. Some of the more popular craft beer temples — see Churchkey, Meridian Pint and Birerria Paradiso — are largely indoor affairs, while many of the area's dramatic outdoor gathering spots — think Perry's rooftop, P.O.V. at the W or Sequoia — have beer lists that just can't keep pace with the views. Here, Eater has done its best to draw the Outdoor/Good Beer Venn Diagram so you don't have to, and offer some of our favorites. Extra credit was awarded to those places with a good assortment of local beers on tap and a strong supporting bottle list. With a couple of notable exceptions, views of the sidewalk (or the car you just parked at a nearby meter) resulted in an automatic disqualification.
And stay tuned — as spring and summer progress, more promising beer drinking patios are on the horizon, such as Agua 301 (the patio for the Mexican restaurant, which has a solid Midwestern beer list, is open and finishing up construction).
—Scott Langerman
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