The Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Microbreweries
Washington DC

 

 

 

 

Hellbender Brewing Company
5788 2nd StreetNortheast
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 827-8768

Hellbender Brewing is a microbrewery located just over the DC line near Tacoma Park, MD, and is in a warehouse in an otherwise residential neighborhood.
There are several parking spots near the front door, more parking is on the surrounding streets.
Inside the front door, one goes up several steps to a very large tasting room with a home-made bar across the back.
After purchasing a beer, one is encouraged to stand around and drink it as there are only two picnic tables to accommodate the thirsty masses.
The room is unadorned, and has eight doors leading to "Private" places.
The brewing operation is probably behind one of the doors.
Hellbenders serves four of their own beers, which were tasty but not particularly true to style.

 

 

DC Brau Brewing Company
3178 Bladensburg Rd NE,Washington, DC 20018
(202) 621-8890

DC Brau is a small brewery in an older area of Washington, DC, that is open on Saturday afternoons.
The venue reminds one of a beer fest. One stands in line to enter, shows an ID, and gets 4 tickets.
Turning left from the entrance room, one is in the brewery and can just wander around.
A 38-can per minute canning operation is running constantly and is fascinating to watch.
The place smells good: a neighborhood deli has a grill set up with brats and burgers cooking.
Back by the door is a walk-in cooler with taps on the side where they are busy filling growlers, and selling six-packs.
Besides the growlers, DC Brau sells their beer in pints and tasters, and also 32-ounce Crowlers.

 

 

 

Atlas Brew Works
2052 West Virginia Ave NE
#102, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 832-0420

Atlas Brew Works is a brewery in a warehouse district in Washington, DC.
One enters through the loading dock into the working brewery, a forty barrel system.
To the right is a modest bar and a walk-in cooler.
The bar can accommodate perhaps 15 or more patrons. There are no chairs.
Atlas makes two year-round beers as well as a seasonal, available in pints or growlers.
The brewers at Atlas are proud of the fact that they sell their beer to over 100 accounts in DC proper.
But due to restrictive DC laws, the tasting room is only open on Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00, and only on six days a year.

 

 

 

 

"They who drink beer will think beer ." ....Washington Irving