The Best Beer Bars in DC

DC has been enjoying a booming beer scene for a few years now , and it ’s no longer uncommon for our public house to serve brewed - on - premise beers , have dozens of draft handles , and ply 30 - page beer lists : basically , DC has established itself as a strong beer township . Bolstered by the field ’s killer brewery , which incline to focus on local ingredient and distribution , our beer bars have shifted their focus from quantity to low density , and curate their menu with an eye toward seasonal oblation and regional loyalty . We ’ve rounded up a mixture of constitution that keep the District ’s beer scene on stage .

Pizzeria Paradiso

GeorgetownA staple of the DC beer conniption decked out in a pizzeria costume , Pizzeria Paradiso presents one of the finest curated beer menus in the intact townsfolk . The carte du jour always reflects traditional seasonal offerings without overwhelming you with a 50 - page bible of beer alternative – plus , the stave have it off how to pair their beers with their pizzas , should you want help . The choice to pick out your own flights intend you’re able to give yourself a taste of the odd soured Brett beer or cherry - infuse cider on tap . In a futuristic show Pizzeria Paradiso ’s website lists the virtually - real - sentence beer menu , include long - form bottleful , hard - to - find beer , and an anticipatory “ Coming shortly ” section to tease future beer - delights . Perhaps the near part about Pizzeria Paradiso , though , is their comprehension of some ubiquitous darling from brewery like Sam Adams and Allagash , making this a address for beer snoot to bring their less - enlightened ( OK , annoyingly obsessive ) friends .

ChurchKey

Logan ’s CircleThere is a reason ChurchKey is much synonymous with DC beer : this spot helped make beer culture in the District , and it remains at the forefront of the DC beer scene . ChurchKey has an impressive raiment of taps and bottles , the beer broadcast here introduces trends into the market , and honestly , the Disco Fries are one of the best thing you ’ll ever put into your mouth . But perhaps most significantly , ChurchKey has made the intimidating world of beer nerdery easy to understand : rather of categorizing their beer in style , they use flavor profiles like “ Crisp , " “ Fruit & Spice , ” and “ Tart & Funky . " This makes bellying up to the barroom at Churchkey find like you ’re about to venture on a guided journeying into the unknown – in like , a really pleasant agency , of course .

Big Hunt

Dupont CircleThe Big Hunt may seem like an odd survival of the fittest , give its cartoonish , jungle - themed wall hangings and dark - in - the - daylight ambiance . But what was once a headquarters for the Miller Lite bunch has blossomed , over the retiring few years , into one of the chillest taproom for uncommon brews . The beer program at the Big Hunt reveals surprising depth , typically offering a few trending style , local brewage , and usually something vainglorious ( meaning “ potent ” ) and unfit ( meaning “ adept ” ) to take the edge off your workaday DC beingness . While the upstair deck seating room is genuinely tempting , the Big Hunt is best enjoy on a weeknight or Sunday : the crew get insane here during meridian 60 minutes , and the downstairs has a bigger beer pick .

Biergarten Haus

H StreetBiergarten Haus is the very best at what it does : outdoor drinking of tall German - style beers while nosh on pretzels and Wiener schnitzel . No other measure in the area follow quite so close to the target , and Biergarten Haus continues to impress after years on the view . fall early , and aim to socialize at long judiciary tabular array over elephantine Gertrude Stein of ale . Though the home can get a bit elbowy and the service inconsistent deeply into a Friday or Saturday night , the former bird gets the wurst , as they probably say in Germany , and also the best posterior . Bring your whole supporter - family and plan on spending a few hours in the waning evening sun on a Wednesday .

RFD

Gallery PlaceWalk into RFD , and you may imagine you ’ve just landed in a former TGI Friday ’s . This space seriously lacks decor , but do not mistake : RFD represents the very best translation of a beer bar , with no pretension . The selection here is much larger than you ever envisage , and the white potato bambino covered in bacon and Malva sylvestris pair perfectly with basically anything in this animation . RFD is the variety of beer bar you trick your coworkers into run to , express mirth into your tulip glass of cask Wee Heavy while they jubilantly sip a Coors Light .

St. Arnold’s on Jefferson

Dupont CircleAnother drear horse cavalry nominee , St. Arnold ’s sticks with one affair and one affair only : Belgian Decadence . The front - and - back menu at St. Arnold ’s offers more option for panache of mussel than it does beers , but every beer here was take with care . draft come in fluctuation of “ great ” and “ Dude I Ca n’t cease This ! ” But you may , and then you ’ll have another Belgian - style abbey ale or trippel before venture the very shortsighted distance to the metro to call it a night , because these beer are serious , this is the kind of spot that fills your whole evening .

Smoke & Barrel

Adam ’s MorganSmoke & Barrel , the barbecue reefer have by the same people who brought you Meridian Pint , continues to exhibit itself as a semi - occult beer lover ’s paradise . This stead tender remarkable barbeque , plentiful vegetarian options ( which is … pretty charming , considering ) , an impressive whiskey program library , and then begild the lily by offering a continually rotating pick of rare , seasonal , and luscious beer . Why does Smoke & Barrel get to do three things implausibly well while the relaxation of us fight to even find one ? be given into it , and grab yourself some tasters of improbably well - curated drafts with a side of brisket – or vegan spare ribs .

churchkey interior beer bars