Best Washington Breweries Where You Can Grab Cold Craft Beer

Home to lush evergreen plantations, a diverse culinary scene, and a vibrant Pacific Northwest paradise to escape into, Washington DC also has some of the best breweries in the country. Here local brewers often showcase their creativity and treat locals with new, interesting flavors, with options such as sour beers, barrel-aged beers, and other imaginative concoctions.

There are breweries for all tastes. From family-operated breweries serving craft beer to warehouse-sized taprooms, you’re sure to get something to quench your thirst. The best part is that the craft beers here are truly unique, with one-of-a-kind notes of rich, fresh, and fruity flavors that you won’t find anywhere else. Here are the best breweries in Washington DC where you can find cold craft beer.

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3 Stars Brewing Company

6400 Chillum Pl NW, Washington, DC 20012 3starsbrewing.com

Lively brewery featuring growlers for sale and plenty of craft beers and an exclusive tour of the facility!

Take a quick look at what is the menu at 3 Stars Brewing Company and you will understand why it’s among the top breweries in the city. They have done a great job in delivering on the promise of bringing only locally hand-crafted ales to the DC beer lovers. Founded by two chaps – Mike McGarvey and Dave Coleman, 3 Stars has over 200 different distinctive beers with creative flavors that will surely keep you coming back for more.

Bold ingredients and funky flavors like pecans and peppercorns are the calling card here. Try something new on the urban farmhouse draft list or order the house pints that come with individual 6oz. tasters, and flights of four tasters, as well as crowlers. The brewery has other variety including beer hall drafts and even single cans just in case you want something to take out. They have a variety of seating options along with curbside pickup and delivery across all DC locations.

If you’re not a fan of beer, they also offer non-alcoholic options to enjoy!

Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery & Taproom

2052 West Virginia Ave NE #102, Washington, DC 20002 atlasbrewworks.com

Popular brewery offering an eclectic menu of craft beers, tastings, and growlers!

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to kick back and relax with friends, then you should head down to Altas Brew Works. This neighborhood brewery located in Northeast Washington produces handcrafted beer in 20 barrel batches in a 100% solar-powered Ivy City facility. This means that when you come here, you can expect to get only fresh products and plenty of flavors ranging from the crushable District Common lager to the Citra and Mosaic Dance of Days pale ale.

Their Half Street Brewery and Tap Room are free to visit with plenty to offer. You will get crowlers and 6-packs on the go plus delicious dining delights provided on-site by Andy’s pizza. Stop by for a pint or two and a slice and enjoy the cools vibe here. Tide yourself over with some friend crispy wings along with a savory dessert and order your favorite wine or cold, fresh draft beer.

After a run through the flagship treats, go ahead and try their seasonal offering on tap, including their interpretation of classic German “Festbier,” offered during fall months.

Denizens Brewing Co..

1115 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910 denizensbrewingco.com

Fun and unique brewery offering made-from-scratch menus for both food and craft beers!

When you’re a beer enthusiast or just craving a good brew, you’ll love the selection at Denizens Brewing Co. There are plenty of reasons to make your way to this woman-owned brewery. But one thing that stand out is their dedication to craft something for everyone – whether you enjoy a hoppy IPA, a crispy lager, or a barrel-aged stout. They have over 150 unique beers with a wide range of styles waiting to be tried out.

Hungry? Both its Riverdale Park and Silver Spring have plenty of room to hang out and enjoy a pint or flight of beer while digging into delicious dishes such as fries, pretzel bread, roasted buffalo cauliflower, jumbo wings, rockfish tacos, and more. The food here is made from scratch with seasonal, sharable plates that you can enjoy with your favorite Denizens brew.

The same case applies to their beer where they encourage sampling, sharing, and celebrating only the best brews. You should definitely check out their extensive beer menu sometimes!

Hellbender Brewing Company

5788 2nd St NE, Washington, DC 20011 hellbenderbeer.com

Modern, bright brewery that prepares Euro and American style ales served by the growler and pint!

For years, Hellbender Brewing Company has served European and American-style beer to the city. When you come here, you will understand why it’s hard not to like this brewery named after a big, gnarly salamander. They offer draft and to-go options at the taproom. Hellbender also scores highly due to its mash press filter brewing system which is known to reduce grain, water, and energy use during production.

Swing by any day of the week and enjoy selections such as the popular Panda Strike Force with bright and complex aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, and resiny darkness on the finish, or the Rubia – an American ale with a custom dark roast coffee sources from neighbors at La Coop Coffee. Vanilla and coffee aromas dominate this option with a chocolate finish.

Whatever option you decide to try, you are sure to have a great time!

DC Brau

3178 Bladensburg Rd NE suite b, Washington, DC 20018 dcbrau.com

Famous craft brewery offering free tastings and tours as well as growler fills!

What better way to close your week than with cool music, great beer, and good vibes in the beer garden. There is no better place to experience all this than at DC Brau. Since 2009, when it opened its door, DC Brau has been serving great hoppy ales of all types. Many of their hard seltzers and beers are cultivated with the idea of creating a memorable and refreshing experience for guests. They also offer barrel-aged options to enjoy.

Come in for the Dock Days of Summer every Sunday afternoon as the live band takes over the dock for a chill afternoon of endless music and beer to relax and enjoy. The fruity flavors of Full Transparency pair well with just anything and you will have so much fun than ever before!

Right Proper Brewing Co. Brookland Production House + Tasting Room

920 Girard St NE, Washington, DC 20017 rightproperbrewing.com

World-renowned tasting room with varieties of beers brewed on-site!

What started as a small neighborhood brewpub in Shaw in 2013 is now among the popular tasting room in the city. They offer an eclectic range of fresh, delicious beer, alongside delicious dishes for guests to enjoy.

Perhaps what stands out at Right Proper Brewing is their Brookland Production House and Tasting Room in Northeast, DC which is open for pours on the weekends. A visit to this neighborhood favorite is never the same, whether you walk in for a casual drink or make a reservation for indoor dining. The core beers and latest offerings are served through glasses, flights, bottles, cans, and growlers to go.

Be on the lookout for some Baron Corvo, the farmhouse favorite that features fruit, funk, and spice. Don’t forget to check out the Saturday food vendor schedule just in case you want to stop by during the weekend and enjoy a snack alongside your beer.

Red Bear Brewing Co.

209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002 redbear.beer

Modern and industrial spot serving brewed on-site beers and local cider and other spirits!

Looking for something to fill your stomach or sip along as you enjoy your chit-chat with friends over the weekend? Why don’t you try the craft beverages at Red Bear Brewing Co?  They are dedicated to ensuring that the people of the district thirst is vanquished, their lives changed, and have fun while at it.

The craft beer here has a little bit of a West Coast flare, inspired by the Seattle roots of its founders. The patio is spacious with indoor and outdoor seating, free board games, and weekday happy hour from Monday to Thursday in the afternoon.

As for the beers, they offer a wide variety on the tap and to-go options. Grab a Red Bear on the go from kegs, cans, growlers, to crowlers.  After that fire up the system and sip some Skookum, a combination of the malty backbone with piney hops and grapefruit just the way you like it.

By now, it’s no secret that Washington locals take their beer seriously. DC is home to a wide variety of breweries and tasting sessions throughout the year. If you’re planning to engage in some fun and meet some like-minded beer aficionados, then you should check out these breweries for a world-class mug of beer in DC. So, which are your favorite breweries in Washington? Let us know in the comments!