Right across the Potomac from Washington, D.C. the Northern Virginia region of the Commonwealth is an interesting blend of historic urban areas, suburban communities, and rolling farmlands at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But each of these landscapes have something in common; they all are home to a surprising number of award-winning craft breweries. Out of Virginia’s over 200 breweries, Northern Virginia has about 40 craft breweries along five beer trails, offering several distinct day trips for those looking to discover what Virginia’s craft beer scene is all about. Use this guide to plan your brew-based outing along the beer trails of Northern Virginia.

BELTWAY BEER TRAIL

Caboose Brewing Company at the Vienna W&OD Trail LOVEwork

Caboose Brewing Company

Photo Credit: Courtney Beazell

The Beltway Beer Trail is made up of 29 breweries in the Fairfax, Prince William, Manassas, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Arlington areas of Northern Virginia. With the furthest north just outside of Reston and the southern portion of the trail near Woodbridge, every brewery is within a 35-mile drive of each other. Plan Your Route

Water’s End Brewery—Lake Ridge

The 1,800 square-foot tasting room at Water’s End Brewery is bathed in natural light from the expansive glass windows, but on sunny weekends, grab a seat on the brewery’s patio, which is actually the drive-thru for the neighboring bank during weekdays. This fact speaks to the brewery’s relationship in the community, where both businesses and locals are eager to support the burgeoning craft brewery, newly opened in September 2016. Since their opening date, they have been busy formulating new beer recipes, with 28 distinct beers under their belt to date. They aim to keep about six to eight beers on tap at all times, with only a single staple remaining on the menu, their “Damn Beer”, a refreshing and drinkable golden ale. Every other beer on draft is selected from a steady supply of experimental and seasonal batches produced by the brewing team, giving you the opportunity to try new creations with every visit to the brewery.

Caboose Brewing Company—Vienna

Founded in 2015, Caboose Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Vienna, bringing a farm-to-table philosophy and a commitment to environmentally sustainable practices to both their brewing process and their food menu. They test out a variety of beer styles, and visitors should sample the flight to get a taste for their innovative brewing practices. The brewery is right off the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, making it a popular spot for cyclers to take a break from their ride and enjoy a much-deserved craft brew.

Lake Anne Brew House—Reston

Lake Anne Brew House provides small-batch, hand-crafted beers in their nano-brewery taproom, which sits right off the water in Lake Anne Village Center Plaza. Owned by husband-and-wife team Jason and Melissa Romano, Jason runs the brewing side of the business, while Melissa brings her experience as an architect to create a tastefully minimalistic, modern style brew room. Sit out on the patio under the umbrellas to savor your craft beer with a peaceful view of the water.

Port City Brewing Company—Alexandria

An artisanal brewery in Alexandria, Port City Brewing produces an impressive line of locally crafted ales. The brewery hosts weekly events for guests to try their beer while enjoying social activities, such as Joggers & Lagers, Beer Yoga, Pedals & Pints, and a full calendar of live music, trivia, and special food pairing events. Deriving the name from Alexandria’s rich history as a notable colonial seaport, Port City also pays tribute to the city’s early importance as a major brewing center for the East Coast. From 1862-1916, the Robert Portner Brewing Company was the largest brewery in the South, only closing its doors due to the start of Prohibition in Virginia. Port City became the first brewery to bring craft beer production back to Alexandria when it opened in 2011. 

Other Northern Virginia Breweries on the Beltway Beer Trail

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FREDERICKSBURG AREA BREW TRAIL

Red Dragon Brewery

Red Dragon Brewery

The Fredericksburg Area Brew Trail is comprised of eleven craft breweries in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania, all regions that are also known for their significant historic sites. Get your fill of both Virginia history and craft beer when you travel along the Historic Hops Beer Trail. Plan Your Route

Red Dragon Brewery—Fredericksburg

Located in historic downtown Fredericksburg, Red Dragon Brewery strives to bring together artists, craftsmen, and any beer lover that enjoys creative pursuits. The owners became enthralled with craft beer production after sampling a batch of home beer made by relatives, and since then, have turned the hobby into a passion-fueled career. Today, owners Tom Evans and Dan Baker encourage others to find their new passions by sponsoring weekly events inside the tasting room like Paint & a Pint night, Morning Yoga & Beer, and Nerd Nite, where local experts will bring science and other topics to life in presentations, all while you sip on tasty craft beers.

6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company—Fredericksburg

While the name may seem unusual, 6 Bears & A Goat refers to the owners combined military service, with six of the founders each having more than 20 years in the military and the “Goat” (the mascot of the U.S. Naval Academy) referring to the seventh founder’s service in the U.S. Navy. The brewery has four mainstay brews on draft, including a Blonde Ale, American Pale Ale, Red IPA, and an Irish Extra Stout, and these staple brews are supplemented by rotational and seasonal picks. The brewery partners with Fredericksburg food powerhouse FoodE, to serve up a world-class menu that complements their craft beverages.

Other Northern Virginia Breweries on the Historic Hops Beer Trail

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LOCO ALE TRAIL

quattro goomba brewery

Quattro Goomba Brewery

The LoCo (short for Loudoun County) Ale Trail spans the modern, urban landscape of the eastern corridor to the rural farmland and pastures along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the western part of Northern Virginia. Plan Your Route

Lost Rhino Brewing Company—Ashburn

Surfers refer to riders in search of the biggest, most impressive waves as “rhino chasers”, and the Lost Rhino Brewing Company gives a respectful nod to this term for true adventurers. The owners bring inspiration from the furthest corners of the world to their brewing process, taking priding in combining local ingredients with a global perspective to create delicious craft beers. The brewery holds special events in the taproom several times a week, with everything from live music performances to the unique Bring Your Own Vinyl Night, where attendees bring their favorite records to spin for the entire audience.

Eleven Eleven Brewing Company—Purcellville

Eleven Eleven Brewing Company serves a variety of traditional ales and lagers in a relaxed taproom decorated with cozy couches, a huge bar, and plenty of table seating. A rotation of eight to ten beers are kept on draft at a time, including gluten-free beer options, and are changed out frequently enough to provide a new experience each time you  visit. Local Chef Karen Harper-Fuog cooks up seasonally inspired dishes to pair with the beers, changing to correspond with the brewery’s available selections.

Quattro Goomba’s Brewery—Aldie

 Next to their corresponding winery, Quattro Goomba’s Brewery experiments with various types of beer that will satisfy every type of palate, from the dark porters and stouts to the lighter, fruiter provisions like the La Route Frambroise, a raspberry wheat ale. The tasting room has a brewpub menu of small bites and sandwiches to tide you over while sampling the beers; we recommend the Beer Pretzels with Cheese to share as an appetizer or the “Pig Out” Sandwich if you’re looking for a full meal.

Other Northern Virginia Breweries on the LoCo Ale Trail

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