Maryland, Virginia, and DC Area Brewpubs

This page lists known brewpubs in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC area.

Beer prices listed are for regular beers made at each brewpub. Prices may vary for seasonal and guest beers. All information is current as of the Entry Last Updated date given at the end of each entry. Prices and menus may change without notice. For the most recent information, give the pub a call.

If you have any comments, or know of a local brewpub that is not mentioned here, please contact us.

Quick Reference

  • Maryland
  • Washington DC
  • Virginia

    • Maryland

     * Baltimore Brewing Company (DeGroens): Baltimore, MD
    Beers: German Lagers and Ales
    • Regulars - All of the following are usually available:
      • Pils
      • Marzen
      • Dark (Dunkel)
      • Hefeweizen
    • Seasonals - Some of the specialties they occasionally have available include:
      • Maibock
      • Doppelbock
      • Weizenbock
      • Alt Fest (Alt Bier)
    • No guest beers are available.
    Food: German and American grill.
    • Appetizers include all the usual bar munchies (Wings, Nachos, etc). In addition, their German-style Soft Pretzels are excellent. Other house specialties include Nurnberger (pork sausage), and Fried Camembert.
    • Salads, soups, and sandwiches are available.
    • Entrees include a variety of excellent German-style food (Sausages, Cabbage, etc) along with American grill foods (Steak, Ribs, Seafood, etc).
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Glass (12 oz): $2.00
      • Half-Liter (18 oz): $3.00 ($2.00 during Happy Hour).
      • Pitcher (60 oz): $8.40
    • Appetizers range from $1.25 for a Pretzel to $9.95 for Shrimp.
    • Sandwiches range from $5.75 for a Burger to $6.50 for a Grilled Chicken Club.
    • Entrees range from $7.25 for Kasespatzle to $15.95 for a NY Strip Steak.
    Beer To Go
    • Growlers are available at the brewery. There is a $12 deposit on the Growler itself. It costs $6.50 to fill the Growler with a regular beer, $8.00 for specialties.
    • Growlers of some of their beers are also available at some other outlets, such as Sutton Place Gourmet.
    Atmosphere
    • Relaxed, open atmosphere, reminiscent of a German beer hall. Only complaint is that the accoustics are not great so it can sound kind of noisy even when there aren't a lot of people there.
    Comments
    • They also sell their beers in draught form to area pubs and restaurants under the DeGroens label.
    • Beers are generally considered to be some of the finest lagers available.
    • Recommended appetizers include the Calamari and the Pretzels.
    • Recommended entrees are anything in the German Fare section. What's the point of going to a German beer hall if you're not going to eat German food?
    • Food portions tend to be quite large.
    • All of the beers are highly recommended.
    • Beer samplers are sometimes available.
    Hours
    • Mon - Thu: 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
    • Fri - Sat: 11:30 am - Midnight
    • Closed on Sundays
    • Happy Hour: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm weekdays
    Address
    • 104 Albemarle Street
      Baltimore, MD 21202
      (410) 837-5000
    • In Little Italy, convenient to the Inner Harbor area and the National Aquarium.
    More Info:
    Entry Last Updated: October 1, 1995
    * Wharf Rat (Olivers): Baltimore, MD
    Beers: Very Traditional British Ales
    Food: British-style pub fare.
    Prices
    Beer To Go
    Atmosphere
    Comments
    Hours
    Address
    Entry Last Updated: September 17, 1996
    * Sissons (South Baltimore Brewing Company): Baltimore, MD
    Beers: British and American Ales
    • Regulars - All of the following are usually available:
      • Marble Golden
      • Stockade Amber Ale
      • Edgar Allen Porter
    • Seasonals - One or more of the following are sometimes available:
      • Old Yeats Celtic Red Ale
      • Gunga Din IPA
      • Stonecutter Stout
      • Hefeweizen
      • Redweiser (Raspberry Wheat)
      • Nut Brown Ale
    • A variety of guest beers are available in both bottled and draught form. These tend to include Domestic and Imported light lagers (Budweiser, Rolling Rock, Coors Light, Miller Light, Amstel Light, Heineken, Fosters, etc) as well as more interesting products (Pilsner Urquell, Anchor Liberty, Rogue Ale, Bass, etc).
    Food: Cajun.
    • Appetizers include Gumbo, Wings, Gazpacho, Pasta, and Seafood dishes.
    • Salads, soups, and sandwiches are available.
    • Entrees are creatively designed variations on traditional cajun dishes with a Chesapeake Bay twist.
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Glass (10 oz): $2.00 - $2.25
      • Pint: $3.00 - $3.50 ($1.50 during Happy Hour)
      • Pitchers: $6.50 - $7.50
    • Appetizers range from $3.50 for the Soup Of The Day to $8.50 for the Pasta Of The Day.
    • Entrees range from $13.95 for the Pasta Du Jour to $19.95 for Hickory Smoked Prime Rib.
    Beer To Go
    • Beer is available at the brewery in both Growlers and Party Pigs.
    Atmosphere
    • Very nice and intimate, but not formal. The walls are decorated with beer and Baltimore memorabilia.
    Comments
    • Sissons is generally considered to have the best food of any of the area brewpubs. Sunday brunch and desserts are excellent. The Gumbo Of The Day is always a winner.
    • Monthly beer tastings.
    • The weak point is really the beer, which is only average. Stick with the Edgar Allen Porter and you'll be fine.
    • Parties of 8 or more will have an 18% gratuity added to their bill.
    • Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed in the dining room.
    • Beer samples, consisting of 5 6 ounce glasses, are available for $4.50.
    Hours
    • Daily: 11:30 am - 2:00 am
    • Happy Hour: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Address
    • 36 E. Cross Street
      Baltimore, MD 21230
      (410) 539-2093
    • In the Federal Hill district.
    Entry Last Updated: July 9, 1995
    * Olde Towne Tavern: Gaithersburg, MD
    Beers: British Ales
    • Regulars - Five or more of the following are usually available:
      • Windridge Light
      • Gaithersburg Golden Ale
      • Forest Oak Amber Ale
      • Belt's ESB
      • Irvington Pale Ale (unfiltered)
      • Harding's IPA
      • Log Towne Porter
      • Diamond Stout
      • Cask Ale on Mondays until it runs out
    • Seasonals - One or more of the following are sometimes available:
      • Centennial Ale
      • MacAaronson's Scotch Ale
      • Olde Towne Weizen
      • Nut Brown Ale
      • Pumpkin Ale
      • Ebeneezer's Christmas Ale
      • various fruit flavored wheat beers
    • One tap is reserved for a guest beer. Many other guest beers are available in bottles. These include a few Domestic and Imported light lagers, as well as a decent variety of interesting American craft brews and imports.
    Food: American Grill.
    • Appetizers include all the usual bar munchies (Wings, Nachos, etc) plus a few seafood items.
    • Salads, soups, and sandwiches are available.
    • Entrees include such things as Lasagne, along with grill items (chicken, seafood, steaks, etc).
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Glass: $2.85
      • Pitchers: $9.95
    • Appetizers range from $3.95 for a Basket Of Fries to $6.95 for Shrimp.
    • Lunch menu ranges from $4.95 for Soup And Sandwich to $7.95 for a Strip Steak Sandwich.
    • Entrees range from $9.95 for Vegetable Lasagna to $17.95 for Peppercorn Filet Mignon.
    Atmosphere
    • Bright, white, and antiseptic. Upstairs is suitably loud when a band is on. Tables in the dining room are very close together so plan on being cozy with your neighbors when the restaurant is busy!
    Comments
    • Live bands on Friday and Saturday nights.
    • Beer sampler consisting of 6 6 ounce beers is available for $5.95.
    • Entree portions are very large.
    • Beers range from uninteresting to quite good. The Forest Oak Amber, a Pacific Northwest style ale with nice bitterness and a little too much carbonation, is recommended; as is the Log Towne Porter, a sweet dark ale with slight roasty notes.
    Hours
    • Daily: 11:00 am - 1:00 am
    Address
    • 227 East Diamond Avenue
      Gaithersburg, MD 20877
      (301) 948-4200
    • About 20 miles north of Washington, DC.
    Entry Last Updated: September 17 , 1996
    * Ram's Head Tavern (Fordham Brewing Company): Annapolis, MD
    Beers: Wide Range
    • On Tap
      • Franziskaner hefe Weissen
      • Murphys Stout
      • Guinness Stout
      • Newcastle Brown Ale
      • Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
      • Woodchuck Cider
      • Many More!(I'll add them soon)
    • Bottled
      • Many bottled beer from various Countries.
    Food: Wide Range
    • 54 item menu categorized as "eclectic".
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Pint (16 oz): ?
      • Pitchers (60 oz): ?
    • Entrees: ?
    Comments
    • Two levels with three rooms and an outdoor beer garden.
    • Has been a pub serving other people's beers for some time, and have recently started serving their own made in a 12.5 bbl brewhouse of German origin.
    • All drafts are reduced during Happy Hour.
    More information
    Hours
    Address
    Entry Last Updated: July 13, 1996
    * Mount Airy Brewing Company - Firehouse Pub & Grill: Mount Airy, MD
    Beers: Red Ale
    • Red Ale
    • ??
    Food:
    • Chilli
    • ??
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Glass: ?
      • Pitchers: ?
    Atmosphere
    Comments
    • I've heard that they have babysitting, at least on Sundays.
    Hours
    • Sun - Thu:
    • Fri - Sat:
    Address
    • 233 South Main Street
      Mount Airy, MD 21771
      410-795-5557
    More information
    Entry Last Updated: September 17, 1996
    * Duclaw Brewing Company: , MD
    Beers:
    • Regulars - All of the following are usually available:
      • Braeger House Brown Ale
      • Bare Ass Blonde Ale
      • Bad Moon Porter
      • Mad Bull Marzen
      • DuClaw Light
      • Misfit Red Ale
      • Big Male Pale Ale
    • Seasonals - Some of the specialties they occasionally have available include:
      • Cherry Cream Ale
      • English Pub Draught/Cream Ale
    Beer To Go
    • Half-gallon growlers (called "Ole Growler") are available on site. They cost $12.99 for the first fill, but only $5.99 for each refill after that.
    Food: Classic American
    • Many items feature DuClaw's own beers as an ingredient.
    • Plenty of "heart-healthy" meals to choose from.
    • Certified black Angus beef for all steak dishes.
    Prices
    • Beer $2.75 - $3 per pint
    • Appetizers range from $5 - $10
    • Sandwiches, soups & salads range from $3 - $10
    • Entrees range from $6 - $19
    • Look for daily dinner specials and Express Lunch specials
    Atmosphere
    • Large restaurant with two floors, a two-story glass-walled brewery in the center, large bar, game room.
    Comments
    • Children's menu has lots of options.
    • Open for brunch Sunday mornings at 10 am.
    • Catering and take-out available.
    Hours
    • Mon - Sat: 11 am - 2 am
    • Sunday: 10 am - 2 am
    Address
    • 16-A Bel Air South Parkway
      Bel Air, MD
      (410) 515-3222
    • 3 miles west off I-95 Exit 77B (Route 24)
    • Across from the Festival Shopping Center
    More Info:
    Entry Last Updated: January 31, 1998

    Washington

     * Capitol City Brewing Company: Washington, DC
    Beers: British and German Ales
    • Regulars - Six or more of the following are usually available:
      • Porter
      • Kolsch
      • Arena Amber
      • Alt
      • Nut Brown Ale
      • Bitter
      • Golden Ale
      • Seattle Stout
    • Guest beers include products of local craft breweries on draught. A variety of bottled American craft brews are also available.
    Food: Mixed pub-style foods.
    • Appetizers are standard pub fare.
    • Salads, soups, and sandwiches are available.
    • Entrees include a variety of grilled foods (chicken, seafood, steaks, etc) as well as sausage dishes and pasta dishes.
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Glass: ?
      • Pitchers: ?
    • Appetizers range from $3.00 for a Basket Of Fries to $7.50 for a large order of Nachos.
    • Sandwiches range from $6.50 for a Burger to $10.50 for a Steak Sandwich.
    • Entrees range from $9.95 for Penne Puttanesca to $15.95 for Gulf Shrimp Pasta.
    Atmosphere
    • Open with a large wrap-around bar. Clientelle during the week tend to be trendy business-types, whereas the weekends seem to be more laid back tourists. Main complaint is with the accoustics -- even when it is not busy it can be hard to hear your waitron!
    Comments
    • The guest beers are quite good.
    • Any of the various sausage dishes, which are made with fresh, locally-made sausage, are highly recommended.
    • A beer sampler consisting of 4 4 ounce beers is available for $4.25.
    • Parties of 8 or more will have an 18% gratuity added to their bill.
    • Cigar and pipe smoking are not allowed.
    Hours
    • Sun - Thu: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    • Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - Midnight
    Address
    • 1100 New York Avenue
      Washington, DC
      (202) 628-CCBC [(202) 628-2222]
    • Corner of 11th and H Streets NW across from the Convention Center.
    • 2 Mass. Ave., NE
      Washington, DC
      (202) 842-BEER [(202) 842-2337]
    • In the Postal Square building. Right next to Union Station.
    *** More Locations Opening Soon ***
    • Arlington, VA (opening March 12)
      2700 S. Quincy St.
      Arlington, VA 22206
      (703) 578-3888
    • Bethesda, MD (opening May '97)
      7735 Old Georgetown Rd.
      Bethesda, MD 20815
      No Phone # Yet
    • Baltimore, MD (opening June '97)
      #93 Light Street Pavilion
      Harbor Place
      301 South Light Street
      Baltimore, MD 21202
      No Phone # Yet
    More information
    Entry Last Updated: Feb 26, 1997.

    Virginia

     * Bardo Rodeo: Arlington, VA
    Beers: Wide variety of American, British and German Ales.
    Food: Unique!
    Prices
    Atmosphere
    Comments
    Hours
    Address
    Entry Last Updated: July 9, 1995
    * Blue & Gold Brewing Company: Arlington, VA
    Beers: Wide Range
    • ?
    Food: Cajun
    • Wonderful dinner menu.
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Pint (16 oz): ?
      • Pitchers (60 oz): ?
    • Entrees: ?
    Comments
    • Note that this is a very nice restaurant that happens to make and serve their own beer. It is not a bar and prices are set accordingly. Reservations are recommended.
    • Equipment is a 14 bbl Peter Austin brewery, but they don't use the Ringwood yeast used by other Peter Austin breweries.
    • They have a beer engine for serving cask-conditioned real ales.
    Hours
    • ?
    • Happy Hour: ?
    Address
    • Wilson Boulevard
      Arlington, VA
    Entry Last Updated: April 13, 1996
    * Virginia Beverage Company: Alexandria, VA
    Beers: By the Pint/Mug.
    • The Regulars
      • Virginia Native Gold -- Premium American Lager
      • Gold Cup -- Export Lager
      • Alt -- German Style Ale
      • VBC Red -- Fuggles Based Ale
      • Govenor's IPA -- Dry hopped Ale
      • Harvest Stout -- Oatmeal Stout
      • Virginia Native Dark -- Adapted Bock
    • Seasonals
      • Darkhorse ESB
      • Mai Bock
      • Barley Wine
      • Belgian White
      • Hefe
    • Guest Beers
      • A collection of local breweries
    Food:
    • Home-style Appetizers include regular bar munchies plus Fried
    • Lunch Sandwiches plus daily specials
    • Dinner sandwiches, steaks, seafood pasta, vegatarian & specials.
    Prices
    • Beer
      • Pint - 16 oz: $3.50 ($2.00 Happy Hour)
      • Mug - 10 oz: $2.50 ($1.75 Happy Hour)
      • Pitchers - 60oz: $11.95 ($8.00 Happy Hour)
    • Food:
      • Appetizers: $3.95 (Skins) to $6.95 (Cajun Popcorn)
      • Lunch: $4.75 (Burger) to $9.95 (Crabcakes)
      • Dinner: $5.75 (Burger) to $15.95 (Seafood special)
    Comments
    • The brewer is Brad Wynn, formerly of Wild Goose.
    • The bar has been enlarged since opening.
    Hours
    • Monday - Thursday: 10:30am - 1:00 am
    • Friday & Saturday: 10:30am - 2:00 am
    • Sunday: 9:30 - Midnight
    • Happy Hour: 4:00 to 7:00
    More information
    Address
    Entry Last Updated: March 23, 1998

    Last updated:
    Copyright 1995 by Thomas H. Aylesworth and others.