DC Brau Brewing Company

Hands down the best beer in D.C., Zehn von Zehn and the Celestial Gardens were awesome collaborations, plus Ben and Jen make you feel like you’re right at home when you come and visit!

For real? My second visit here and I get another order wrong. I asked for the Belgian which I had gotten last time instead of the hefe (which I ended up liking), and now I got the pale ale. My goodness.
I get a growler of Belgian to go and it’s filled with Pilsner! I’m done with this brewery.

Love their beer and the cozy, industrial tasting room which is a great spot to chill and enjoy the brews on tap. Especially like the corruption and el hefe and brau pils. Definitely check them out; probably the best brewery in the district.

DC Brau brews one of my favorite local beers (The Corruption) so I was quite excited on a rainy Saturday afternoon to finally visit the brewery for a sampling and a tour. Located in the far reaches of North East DC in an industrial area, it’s quite easy to drive by and miss it on the first pass. It’s behind the post office so use that as a landmark. There is ample parking in the back, and, from my understanding, at least one food truck parked outside (on this visit it was Urban Poutine) during hours of operation as they do not serve food themselves. There are a few tables when you first walk in, however, to the left after you walk in, there is a second bar and a bunch of picnic-​style tables. Tours are offered Saturdays only, every hour on the hour between 1pm-​4pm. They are first come-​first serve, however, when we arrived at 1:50pm and asked about the availability of the 2pm tour, we were told there was plenty of room left. The tour was about 45 minutes long and actually led by one of the founders of DC Brau. It was great to see his continuing passion for the brand and, besides just talking us through the brewing process, he discussed their plans for expansion in the near future. Pints are priced at $ 5 as are flights of your choice of 3. I started with a pint of Celestial Garden which was an IPL with a fruity taste. I later had a flight of 3-​RIPA the DIPA, The Corruption, and El Hefe Speaks. I enjoyed each sample, however, my favorite was the Celestial Garden. The atmosphere, while leaning towards «hipsterish», was really cool and there were a mixed bag of ages (including some kiddos) inside. I would absolutely return to DC Brau in the future, especially considering they rotate their brews frequently.

I love all things DC Brau! What’s not to love about the District’s first brewery since Prohibition?!? Quick history lesson, while Capitol City Brewing may have been the first brewpub to open in the city since Prohibition. DC Brau became the first package brewery to begin brewing and distributing beer when they opened their doors in 2011. BOOM! Mind blown.
I’ve been to the brewery on several occasions but I’m going to write about my most recent visit, their 5^th anniversary celebration. For their 5^th anny, the pulled out all the stops; 5 new collaboration beers and 5 bands. Let’s start with the collaboration beers.
* Celestial Garden brewed with Austin Beerworks
* Ripa the Dipa brewed with Sun King
* Zehn von Zehn brewed with Port City
* Pink Pallet Jack brewed with Perennial Artisan Ales
* The Wise and the Lovely brewed with Cigar City
If you’ve been to any of their events, you know that there are a host of food trucks lined up out by the loading docks. This was true for this event as well. But in addition to having the space outside the loading docks, DC Brau was able to secure the space behind the adjacent building as well. This made for a great set up as there was a full stage as usually bands play in one of the loading bays. Not only was there more space, but the entire event was being run by the amazing staff at the 930 club. Meaning that entry was seamless, the sound quality was great, and lighting was on point.
In addition to the collabo beers, DC Brau had all the usual favorites on tap as well. You really can’t beat a fresh glass of OTWOA! The 5^th anny beers are currently available in cans with limited distro. Do yourself a favor and pick up a mixed 6 pack.
Congrats to Brandon and Jeff on five years! Cheers!

DC Brau Brewing has the largest distribution out of any DC brewery serving their beers in most DC grocery stores, restaurants, and bars. Their brewery is in NE DC in an industrial area (Major points for being next to a DC chocolate factory).
Every night they have some special going on whether it’s teacher’s night or neighbor’s night. Get a flight or a pint and place some of the games they provide like Catch Phrase in their sitting area.
Note: They don’t do many darker beers. If you want dark beers, go to 3 Star Brewery near Takoma.

There aren’t enough words to describe the way I feel about this place, the people that work here, or their beer.
I can usually only get over here on the weekends and it’s always busy. Despite that, we’ve always been able to get drinks quickly and find a seat/​counter space to stand at. There’s always a food truck out front on weekends, or you can bring your own food in. Dogs are also allowed.
The staff is always friendly, and helpful. And if you’re like me and come here often, they’re likely to remember you. They do tours on weekends for the public (not to be confused w/​The Public) or you can arrange for a private tour for your group ahead of time (which I highly recommend). The art work in the tasting room and the brewery is always a treat to see. It doesn’t change, but they’re pieces that you’re likely to find something new every time you see them.
They always have their 3 core beers on tap (I’m partial to The Public), as well as a few of their others depending on the time of year. OTWOA is a must have for us whenever we see that it’s on, as well as the Stone of Arbroath their scotch ale. They also usually have something different (or familiar, as it were) on nitro that’s fun to try. Their Brau Pils, their take on a classic German pilsner, is growing on me more and more, and, actually, the artwork on this can is my fave so far. They also released a recreation of Christian Heurich’s Lager recently. It’s very good, but it’s also a sneaky 7%. Just know, if you drink too much of this and find yourself dancing on a table– you’ve been warned!
Kudos, Brau. You’re one of my DC faves and I cannot wait to see what else you’ve go up your (tattooed) sleeve.

DC Brau is an awesome brewery located outside of the city. I would recommend driving out there since I don’t think it was next to a major subway station. DC Brau is located in the back of a strip mall and is a little hard to find. I actually passed it the first time. You need to go past the post office. Once you find it it’s well worth it. There are $ 2 sizes of their brews so it’s great to sample. There usually are food trucks outside and you can bring the food inside the brewery. Everyone was very helpful and nice explaining the different types of beer and about the brewery.

Our group showed up a little before they closed-​they close early on Saturdays. I will say that the beers they have on tap are better than a lot of the canned stuff that they have. They have a large space and two bars and a lot of space to sit and talk. We missed their tours but the guys behind the bar were pretty cool and I even talked one of them into giving me a beer slightly past last call. Both of the beers I had were Double IPAs and were hoppy but were distinguishable enough that they both had character. I want to go back earlier so that I can sample a lot more of their stuff.

My boyfriend and I come here maybe once a month. The beer is delicious and fresher than anywhere else. But it’s the atmosphere that makes this place so charming. The staff is knowledgable and friendly. The art work is outstanding. It’s a hidden gem that’s worth a peek. Come out Saturday’s when there are free tours and local food trucks available. You won’t want to miss it.

What a great hidden gem in DC. Why drive an hour or more to the wineries when we’ve got a local brewery in DC?! (I know wine vs beer but this was just as much fun). Tucked away in a ‘strip mall’ DC Brau offers yummy beers in a warehouse setting. There is plenty of room to stand but only a few table and chairs. A food truck is available if you get hungry and they even have some kids books to borrow if you bring the young ones. Pets also seemed to be welcome. We skipped the tour but that’s available if that’s your thing.

So I came here not for the brewery, but for the Beerasana event. It seems like they do it every month, and tickets are only 15 dollars. It includes a yoga class, held in the Brau offices, and then a beer ticket. It’s a weird event, but pretty cool.
The yoga was very basic. It’s flow, but gentle. Probably really good for beginner yogis. Everyone brings their own mats and just spreads out wherever on the floor. You’re maneuvering with desks and chairs, but it’s fine. The class was nice and easy.
Then you get a drink ticket (while in savasana) and can grab a beer to drink. Not a ton of space, but you park somewhere to finish it. A food truck stopped by, which was great because it’s hard to do yoga and then drink on an empty stomach. If I come back next time I’d bring my own food to really make sure I have what I need.
Overall, it’s a funny pairing, but a great experience!

If you live in DC and like beer, a visit to DC Brau should surely be in your cards!
BEER — Drinking local is cool & hip so that’s why we all do it, duh! But really, a flight of 3 or a pint for $ 5 is a good deal.
On Saturdays they have a new food truck come but if not there are some snacks inside for sale.
TOUR — Saturday’s only. Really chill tour guide, but it can be hard to hear if you’re in the back. Sometimes it felt rushed but if you do have questions, feel free to ask.
SPACE — The brewery itself is big but the seating for visitors is limited. Come expecting to stand so that if you do get a seat you feel lucky. One restroom for all, sorry. They do have board games to make up for it??? :)
Overall, some good times and good beer to be had here. Cheers!

My husband and I love DC Brau! The beer is awesome, the people are great, and the ambiance is nice and laid back. The tap room area is fairly small so bear that in mind if you have a largish group. Kudos to the DC Brau staff for having a sampling of children’s books, kept toddler high by the bar. That was thoughtful and my little Empress appreciated it!

Meh not worth the drive to the outskirts of DC on the Maryland border to visit this place. I enjoyed a few of their beers whenever I visit DC (The Public, Corruption), but the selection available in the taproom weren’t all that great. I think I liked 2 of them, and the rest were just average. The guy working at the brewery was super cool though, and he suggested some good places for us to check out in the city to eat and drink. If you have limited time in the area, I would visit some of the other local breweries and tap rooms before this one.

DC Brau was an awesome experience… We went there with city brew tours (which is definitely recommended, if your interested in Brew tours)… DC Brau had awesome beers and a great atmosphere… I would love to live down the street and pass by there once a week, for a beer or two.

It’s a really cool brewery. I don’t remember which one is my favorite because I tried all kinds of beer at a few breweries. But I remember some of them are pretty tasty. Cool decorations. Also artistically cool staffs. I’ll be back there soon!

Rocks!
Taste:
Good and unique! There are many kinds. i tried all of them. I’m not an IPA fan but I enjoyed mostly.
Price:
Average. They sell not only beer but also many t-​shirts and healthy snacks.
Atmosphere:
Big dogs, cool beards, some small kids, cool decorations, stout doormen, funky hair color women, etc… Good for friends, families, …everybody! BBQ food truck was there. I missed trying it.
Parking:
Right in front of the door means behind the building. You’ll see.

Finally made the trip out to DC Brau… the Über from the Rhode Island Metro wasn’t too expensive and is definitely doable. I liked the beer and the people were extremely helpful, and their friendliness is the reason that decided to rate 3 stars instead of 2.
My main issue with DC Brau is that it seems as though now that they’re in grocery stores in the DMV area and beyond, they’ve kind of forgotten about their roots of being a local brewery. What I mean by this is that nothing much about this place screamed unique, in comparison to other breweries in the area. Their brewery doesn’t seem to try to get guests inside, probably because they already have plenty of customers to sustain themselves in the marketplace.
I must also note that this was a Saturday afternoon, when breweries are usually livened by visitors… yet DC Brau maybe had 25 customers, who filled all of the available chairs in the front tasting room (s).
I will definitely be going back so that I have the opportunity to experience a tour and will update this review accordingly, but until then, I’m a bit disappointed with a brewery that claims to represent DC in their name.

DC Brau is a must visit at some point if you like beer and are in the city. It is also solely responsible for my recent interest in IPAs, so thanks for that DCB! :)
They have several really great brews, with my favorites right now being the SOA and the OTWOA. The tours they run every hour only last about ten minutes and allow you access to the entire place, so if that’s of interest to you, I would say go for it! Just remember to wear closed toed shoes.
There is ample parking behind the building and they often have a food truck out back and they have random snacks and some cool merch available for purchase, along with cans, growlers and kegs of beer.

Great local beer made by good folks!

Yes you can go here to try the beer that’s on tap, then get growler fills, but they were only filling/​tapping 5 – 6 different beers, most of which were their core series easily available around the area. So really only 1 – 2 special beers of interest on tap. Crowded for tours, a lot of people here. There is nothing nearby to stay occupied so it is quite the journey for only one special beer on tap. Ambiance inside is cramped, loud. Plus side is that DC Brau is very popular and makes good beer, and I’m happy to see it is expanding and will probably last awhile.

Fantastic brewery! The staff was friendly and it’s pretty cool how such a small staff pulls off brewing and canning the beer. While maybe not the most polished of breweries with maybe not the most comprehensive tour it is nice to support the under dog and it’s clear that the staff enjoys what they do. The beer is also fantastic (all that sexy filtering I guess) and the prices for flights and pints are reasonable. I wish the food truck had stuck around though…

Neat place. We weren’t able to check out the renovated area because they weren’t prepared due to the holiday. But they do have a brewery mascot that comes and greets everyone at the door. Definitely worth coming out to.

This was a disappointing experience. We went as a group to tour the brewery and although the beer is good, the tour is underwhelming at best. Aside from the place being pretty much in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing special about visiting it.
The tour is a 10 minute journey through essentially one large room from which you learn very little and for which its almost impossible to stay engaged. And there are no free samples afterwards! Sure, you can buy there beer but you can do that at stores as well, so I don’t really see the appeal in visiting.

DC Braun is a fine production brewery in DC, the first since the end of prohibition, growler fills on Saturday afternoon are great, The tasting room has become less of a party as they have stopped giving tasting tickets and have done to two bucks a glass tastes, The growler fill is quite reasonable (11 bucks for 64 oz. but no consumption on premise). A. brewer was happy to answer my beer geeky questions,

Great time and beer.
They also have $ 2 sampler size glasses you can try if your unsure of your selection.
Often there is a food truck outside for food.
Take the tour.

Came here with a few friends on a Friday night and had an amazing time! I was able to take a private tour as a friend of a friend works here. I would highly suggest taking a tour as the entire staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable! I’ve taken quite a few brewery tours in my life, and I’ve always left dazed and confused. These guys explain everything with amazing detail and their passion for the product is evident. Don’t leave without trying On the Wings of Armageddon! Best beer of the night!

If you go for a tour it can get very packed and not worth it. Also they do very little to accommodate the amount of people and different needs. The staff is less that enthusiastic but this tour is also free and you get two small 3oz beers. I guess beggars can’t be choosers but I wish it was more organized. If I’d known this was the case I wouldn’t have driven so far to do the tour. Oh but the DC pizza truck is delicious!

This place is great. Went with a few friends to check out DC Brau on a recent Saturday. The atmosphere is hip with graffiti on the walls, a few casual tables and giant beer making equipment everywhere. Hours are typically 12 – 5, but they don’t start serving until 1:00 and most people wander out by about 4:00.
First of all 4 generous samples are free. Totally completely free. If you hate one of the beers, no harm done. You can buy full glasses or get your growler filled for $ 16. The lines move fast and the 4 samples will let you get a taste of each beer on tap. Free tours of the brewery happen occasionally and its easy to jump in and out of the walk through. The tour guides love answering questions so speak up if you have some curiosities about beer, the process etc.
DC Brau is located pretty far on the East side of the city, but it’s an easy cab ride away and they have plenty of parking if you have a car. They typically bring in a food truck on the weekends, so you won’t be stranded without food.
Visiting DC Brau is a really fun and relaxed Saturday activity if you are looking for something to do.

Even though it was very out of the way, I’m glad my group of girls and I decided to make the trek out to this corner of DC. More of a winery/​vineyard lady, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying this hipster-​y and rather urban spot. Highlights were three free tastings given by very knowledgable brewers, live music by local musicians, and a lively crowd in the middle of the afternoon. DC Brau, you have a new fan!
The downside was we couldn’t go on the actual brewery tour because we weren’t wearing close-​toed shoes. I don’t think this was mentioned on the website.

I pulled up to a strip mall in a sketchy part of DC. If there wasn’t a sign for DC Brau, I probably would’ve thought I was in the wrong place. A friend and I came for the tour on a Saturday afternoon. We walked in, and the bouncer gave us each four tickets for free beer tasting. The room inside smells like hops (of course) and is filled with a few folding tables and plastic chairs. The walls are covered in awesome graffiti art.
Unfortunately, I didn’t like any of the beers on tap that day. It was a pale ale, the IPA, the heffewizen and a porter. All seemed pretty hoppy. But the staff was friendly, and quickly gave us generous sized samples. And when it came time for the tour, we were told that we couldn’t enter because we needed closed toe shoes. Apparently this was on the website, but my friend and I missed it. So, wear sneakers if you go here!

Best beer that comes out of the city. They know what their focus is and the beer shows it. They are on to something here and I hope it stays that way. I still remember the first time I had OTWA. It blew me away not because it was a great brew but because it came from DC and it was so fresh and well done I still crave it! Wish it was a standard beer but hey I rather have it limited and taste great than it be just ok. The tasting room had plenty of room was clean and staff knew their product which you can’t say about some breweries.
If your in the city make this a stop you won’t be disappointed, and hey they even bring in food trucks for you grubbing needs.