Whether you like your beers hoppy, malty, foamy, creamy, light or dark, nearly 500 craft breweries across the Capital Region offer a variety of tasty draughts for your enjoyment. 

Brewery Tours & Beer-Tasting Experiences in Washington, DC

Craft beers are loved across the US, and Washington, DC is no exception with its creative concepts and innovative brewers.

Atlas Brew Works

Savour award-winning pilsners, pale ales and rotating seasonal brews at two Atlas Brew Works taprooms in Washington, DC. Book a tour for the Ivy City location to learn how the beer is made (and to get a free pint). The Navy Yard location’s proximity to Nationals Park — home of DC’s professional baseball team — makes it perfect for pregame pizza and beer.

Red Bear Brewing Co.

Located in DC’s NoMa neighbourhood, Red Bear Brewing Co. is known for its atmosphere as much as its brews. Enjoy heady stouts, fruity sours and aromatic saisons while playing a lively game of bingo with fellow patrons. During slower times, you can ask the bartenders to borrow from a variety of boardgames. In addition to beer, Red Bear has a full menu of wines, ciders, seltzers, cocktails and mocktails, not to mention pub-style food.

City Brew Tours: Washington DC

Add some extra fun to your DC beer-tasting experience courtesy of The DC Signature Brew Tour. Your guide will drive you to three different Washington, DC breweries, where you’ll be treated to numerous samples of various types of beers, all hand-picked by City Brew Tours experts. You’ll also get behind-the-scenes peeks of how the brews are made and, according to reviewers, an amazingly memorable experience.

More DC breweries and tours:

• Bluejacket
• DC Brau
• Right Proper Brewing Company
• Hellbender Brewing Company
• Lost Generation Brewing Company
• Metropolitan Beer Trail (self guided)

Brewery Tours & Beer-Tasting Experiences in Maryland, USA

The craft beer scene in Maryland ranges from cosy tap houses in historical buildings to locations with large beer gardens and experimental draughts.

Monocacy Brewing Company

Set in a former ice cream plant in the city centre of Frederick, Monocacy Brewing Company is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. Unwind on the outside patio with a rotating selection of lovingly brewed draughts, including the Brewtiful Lager, Riot Rye Pale Ale or the cheekily named Ghost of the Ice Cream Man Stout. Or sample them all on a flight.

Heavy Seas Beer

Located just outside of Baltimore in the town of Halethorpe, Heavy Seas has been delighting the palates of beer lovers since 1995. Visit the taproom to taste one of their flagship brews, the Loose Cannon American IPA, as well as lagers, stouts, ales and bitters. Keep an eye on their events calendar for beer-release parties and other special events.

Maryland Brew Tours

For a beer-tasting experience of numerous breweries across the central part of the state, book a trip with Maryland Brew Tours. These local experts will shuttle you to and from top-notch breweries, so that all you have to do is sit back and relax. They also partner with several breweries to bring you free and discounted beers.

More Maryland breweries and tours:

• Eastern Shore Brewing ( Michaels, Maryland)
• Union Craft Brewing (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House (Halethorpe, Maryland)
• Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm (Mount Airy)
• Burley Oak Brewing Company (Berlin, Maryland)
• City Brew Tours: Baltimore

Brewery Tours & Beer-Tasting Experiences in Virginia, USA

Though known for its wine, Virginia is also home to more than 300 craft brewers whose offerings are as diverse as the state’s scenic landscapes.

Blue Mountain Brewery

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Afton, Virginia, Blue Mountain Brewery means business when it comes to locally produced beers. In fact, Blue Mountain is a farm-brewery that grows the hops it uses in its recipes. Stop in to sip lagers, IPAs and Kölsch-style brews on the patio or dine in the full-service restaurant. Book the brewery’s country inn if you want to spend awhile exploring the area, including Shenandoah National Park.

Ocelot Brewing Company

Just a 15-minute drive from Washington Dulles International Airport, this Virginia brewery is a Loudoun County favourite. Come for the lagers, hoppy IPAs and bitters — but stay for Ocelot’s laid-back atmosphere. Sit at the bar and watch a football or tennis match or head to the game room to challenge your family to a round of pinball.

RVA Brew Crew

Book a private ride aboard this Richmond-based bus for a build-your-own-type beer-tasting experience. With RVA Brew Crew, you have three tours to choose from, all of which explore different breweries across Virginia’s capital city. As you head to your second stop, you’ll be given a list of options to choose from. The possibilities are endless!

More Virginia breweries and tours:

• Stable Craft Brewing (Waynesboro, Virginia)
• Big Lick Brewing Company (Roanoke, Virginia)
• Taste Virginia Tours (Virginia Beach and other coastal Virginia towns)
• Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (Richmond, Virginia)
• Cville Hop On Tours (Charlottesville and other central Virginia towns)
• Port City Brewing Company (Alexandria, Virginia)

Find more ways to experience the flavours of Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, USA:

Explore wineries, distilleries and more breweries.

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