Port City Brewing

Port City BrewingPort City Brewing
Port City BrewingPort City Brewing
Brewery, Bar, Beer-to-go

3950 Wheeler Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia, 22304
United States

(703) 797-2739 | map
portcitybrewing.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.88
Beers:
53
Ratings:
3,464
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.12
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
92
pDev:
8.98%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by clayrock81:
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.93/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
What you basically want when visiting a small brewery in suburban setting. Food truck outside, band ready to play, people inside and out (unfortunately you can't walk outside to food truck with beer or relax at table due to commonwealth law). Lots of people, crowded, however not too noisy and bar area not crowded so not a problem with beer time waiting. Bartenders know their beer, they're quick, don't mind helping you out, they have a nice sample deal (6 6 oz samples for $10) so while it's simple/no frills you can't go wrong here.
Jul 28, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.93 by SierraFlight from Virginia

Feb 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.2 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Mar 04, 2020
Photo of mschenk
Reviewed by mschenk from Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
This is a brewery located in an industrial section of Alexandria VA. The beers are very good overall and they have a selection of about 10 different brews they are pouring at any time. Mostly open just evenings during the week expect for holidays when they have extended hours and also in the afternoons on the weekend. You can get pints, 8 oz or a 5 oz tasting of any 5 beers they have. Downside is that they do not serve food although every now and then there is a local food truck in the parking lot. The website advertises the food trucks. I enjoy their beers. They are of consistent high quality. They brew all different styles.
Jan 22, 2020
Photo of Tripel_Threat
Reviewed by Tripel_Threat from Michigan

3.94/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Walked up to the brewery on a swelting Sunday. I was drenched in sweat and ready to cool down. When you first walk in, there's a smallish sized tasting room with bars for sitting and tables around the floor. A serving bar in in the far right. I took a seat next to the water cooler at the bar along the window.
The place is bigger than it seems, with more seating upstairs (and bathrooms that aren't as crowded)
Service is friendly, but this is a pure tasting room; if you want a brew, you've got to get it. Luckily they kept the lines to a minimum.
Plenty of ales on tap, with quite a few styles available. Two lagers, even!
Aug 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.97 by Hurl4bru from Massachusetts

Jun 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.37 by gabe71tx from Virginia

Jun 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by srw from Virginia

Feb 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by chiefz1 from New York

Jan 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.08 by seeleeger from Virginia

Nov 25, 2018
Photo of LifesAnesthesia
Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia

4/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I've been to Port City quite a few times, the selection is always pretty decent - your standards like IPAs, seasonals, some of their more popular beers are always on tap, but they typically lack when it comes to more experimental stuff you'd expect to see on tap. The vibe is good - pretty much seems very "DC" with food trunks typically always on location with a more industrial vibe. Service is always on par and everyone seems friendly. Overall, a pretty enjoyable brewery to go spend some time at.
Sep 29, 2018
Photo of VirginiaGuy
Rated by VirginiaGuy from Virginia

5/5  rDev +21.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Tastes like London.
May 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by Brian1357 from Virginia

Nov 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by chrisjkale from Massachusetts

Sep 09, 2017
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Rated by Cindicameron from Virginia

4.61/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Had a great time here, just wish they had. Ether air conditioning.
Aug 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nace4 from Virginia

Jul 21, 2017
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Reviewed by h4ximus from Virginia

4.14/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
The oldest production microbrewery in NoVA, and bless them for getting it right from the start. The flagship beers are almost uniformly excellent, so while they could be forgiven for not going crazy with one-offs or embracing industry trends, you always know you'll find a beer or three you like. They made a conscious decision not to serve food, which is a bummer, but when food trucks are there that makes it easier to hang out a while.
Apr 28, 2017
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
Visited on a busy Saturday.

So, yes, the place was busy - mostly young professionals and a surprisingly number of families (really young kids fits into the previous statement). It appears to still have a local flavor to it, also mildly surprising for a production brewery. Conversation was plentiful, and the groups we interacted with were pleasant and friendly.

Port City is first a production brewery, for the populace, and in my impression, classic in style. To that end, they check the boxes. Their quality in so far as "wow" beers is low, their quality as to solid beers in style is pretty high.

For a busy afternoon, the staff seemed to be rolling with the punches. We had very nice interactions with the staff. At busy times they were a bit business-like, but completely understandable.

They might not be brewing off styles, but a decent selection of pale ales, lighter and darker. For a straight up brewery, a decent selection, though they have room for a little adventure here.
Mar 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by macshark from Virginia

Mar 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.61 by silverblaze540 from Virginia

Mar 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Feb 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.17 by swelch1976 from Virginia

Oct 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by atrocity from Virginia

Jul 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by TheBlueJerzzzz from Virginia

Jun 09, 2016
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Reviewed by lowlevelairbear from North Carolina

3.92/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
Cool vibe. Friendly staff and great traditional style selection. The flight system works efficient. $12 for 6 and they are more than generous for each pour.
Apr 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.46 by osickeym from Ohio

Mar 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.61 by tjcamm from Oregon

Feb 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.72 by OldTownBeerGeek from Virginia

Jan 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.93 by LanceH from Canada (ON)

Jan 20, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by Antelmo from Virginia

Jan 14, 2016
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Reviewed by Rockjocknroll from California

4.02/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25
Keeping in mind that I stopped in during limited X-mas Eve hours...

The vibe was mixed; the bartenders made me feel a little unwelcome but not the locals who were drinking there. The locals were very friendly and I chatted them up...we even shared beers. The bartenders seemed like they were trying to be nice but really didn't have it in them. I couldn't tell if it was because they were busy or if they just didn't care that much.

The beers were pretty damned good. I loved that they had an oyster stout (although it didn't have enough brine for me) and different styles of IPA (West and East coast). All of the stouts were good but were surprisingly similar even with different malt bills and ABVs. Their Bock was stellar as was their Wit; the Belgians were almost perfect except they would throw one component in that overpowered the beer.

The sampler system sucks. You get tickets and have to go back for EVERY ONE instead of having a sampler tray. Not efficient for anyone involved; in fact was a pain in the A.

I would definitely try to go back during not-peak hours. The beers were some of the best by far that are being brewed in Virginia and I would imagine that the staff would be way more welcoming when they're not slammed.
Jan 05, 2016
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Rated by beerimthere from Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Good beer, so get there early because it is a small place and gets crowed quick ever during the week
Dec 30, 2015
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Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.67/5  rDev -10.9%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Small place, not a lot of beer choices, beers are decent. Nice people, good to try a few samples, but not a place I'd hit up too often. Not a place to hang out at all afternoon.
Dec 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.07 by speedvagen from Ohio

Dec 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Iamjeff6 from Virginia

Dec 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.46 by DrBass from Maryland

Nov 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.22 by Devman171 from Maryland

Nov 15, 2015
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
A good place to go if one is in the nation's capital. There is sufficient room to accommodate a good crowd and there was a fairly lively crowd there! They are generous with the beer samples ($10 for six 4oz samples) and they have some decent beers. There was a Rocklands BBQ truck outside (they are one of the better BBQs in the area).
Oct 12, 2015
Photo of Sludgeman
Reviewed by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

4.14/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4
My first visit. Visited the tap room on a Saturday afternoon right after lunch. The place was not packed but there were no seats to be had and the bar was at least one person deep all the time. Remember that there are more taps at one of the bars so plan accordingly.

V - Two bars, bright, clean, picnic table seating in the brewery. Maybe a bit small and no outside seating (-). More industrial park meets brewery than some of the other tap rooms I have visited that are located in a industrial park. Still a high energy environment that shouts drink beer. 4.5

Q - Glass steins, snifters and tall thin tasting glasses for the various size pours. Glassware was clean. 4.25

S - Happy, friendly, no surliness or attitude. No table service, but there was someone collecting empties and generally keeping the place tidy.4

Sel - They only serve Port City beers, but there were at least eight different beers on tap ranging from a Wit, IPA, Helles Bock and Belgian Imperial Stout. 4
Sep 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by italianstallion from Wisconsin

Sep 02, 2015
Port City Brewing in Alexandria, VA
Brewery rating: 3.88 out of 5 with 3464 ratings