If you drink beer in the DMV, you probably already know this. If you’re from out of town, welcome. This is for you. We think you should try these local beers.

Let’s start with mixed fermentation. Alexandria’s Mieza A Host Of Delights, Oak Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale w/ Fortune Plums took bronze at the Great American Beer Festival last year. It’s pouring where it belongs, alongside the great Belgian producers in the Gargoyle tent. In that same tent you’ll find Pen Druid, from Sperryville, VA. This farm brewery still uses a wood-fired kettle and employs a coolship. Start with Spontaneous Peach, then check out Mars, which is an unholy combination of IPA and mixed fermentation biere de garde.

Keeping it Virginia, Wheatland Spring (Kraken) puts the farm in farm brewery. They’ve brought Tabula Rasa 2025, a Mixed Fermentation Saison w/ Estate Grain. Yep, both yeast and grain come directly from them. Over at Medusa, Maryland gets in on the action. Maybe you’ve seen Sapwood Cellars pop up on Tavour over the last few years. Give Eastern Slope Gin Barrel-Aged Mixed Fermentation Saison w/ Fir Tips a spin and then have Barrel Threads 2026 imperial stout for dessert. Make room for DC, too. Host brewery Bluejacket is also at Medusa with Past Lives 2025, their Wine Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale w/ Peaches & Apricots, but we really recommend Reflections, a Dry-Hopped Festbier w/ Hersbrucker.

brau dueling grounds vienna
Pic via Mike Stein

DC has lager water, really. Make time for Henceforth’s (Rodan) collaboration with The Beery Godmother. It’s a pale lager with a grain bill that’s 38% rye. It’s got a lovely chew and that rye snap at the end… chef’s kiss. Be glad you didn’t have to sparge or shovel all that grain out. They’re also pouring a delicate altbier made with Maryland malt from Bear Branch. DC Brau‘s Dueling Grounds Vienna-style lager makes for an excellent compare and contrast. It’s their latest year-round beer and you can say you had it the day before it makes the final table, or medals, at GABF (Poseidon).

Lost Generation excels at making both lagers and IPAs. Good thing this brewery in the Medusa tent is bringing one of each, a Czech-style dark lager and a West Coast IPA. You should try both. Other Half has DC-made freshies in this tent, too. Keeping it IPA, Right Proper‘s newest is Croquet Club, a 6% clear beauty with enough Riwaka to please (Poseidon).

The area’s freshest beer might be the Rauchbier from Silver Branch. It was packaged earlier this week and previous versions have been excellent. Like Henceforth, it’s in Rodan. Get your smoke on. Also in this tent is Ocelot, which has German-style Pils Sunnyside Dweller, long an area favorite.

Got a sweet tooth? Urban Garden is DC’s newest brewery. Sweetie-Pie is a Blond Ale w/ Sweet Potato & Spices that’s remarkably well balanced, and they also have a herbal, botanical IPA and a chamomile-accented ale. They’re in Cyclops and you should try them all. Cheers!