DC area bars/breweries on the Virginia Side

Mad Fox is always solid. Good food, too.

Rustico & Pizza Paradiso in Alexandria also always have great, diverse taplists.

 

Rustico has a location in Ballston (Arlington) as well. They do a decent job of updating their taplists. On ambiance alone I always preferred the Slaters (Alexandria) location; it was only a mile from my house too which helped. Parking there is much easier too. Either way, can't go wrong with them (same ownership as Churchkey). Also, within the same brand of restaurants, in Del Ray (small neighborhood in Alexandria between South Arlington and Old Town), is Evening Star Cafe. They have a bar upstairs that we loved to chill in and they always had good beers on (you can't count on their beer list online being up to date though). Evening Star is attached to a little wine shop that always had great beers that were long gone everywhere else still available, prices are a bit high there though.

Fireworks Pizza in Arlington was a $ spot for beer and food. Wait times can be crazy there but it's worth a shot. Whole Foods Clarendon down the street from Fireworks sometimes has gems on tap/available for growler fills.

 

Ocelot Brewing is a new brewery near Dulles. They are worth checking out, as well as Port City in the Alexandria area.

Everyone above has given great bar recommendations. I personally find Pizza Paradiso to be the best place (I prefer the Georgetown location). While the tap list is not huge, the consistently have the most interesting selection around and have TONS of bottles. They always have lots of stuff no one else in the area has. You can also check out World of Beer & Lost Dog Cafe. There are a couple locations around the area.

 

I completely blanked on Lost Dog Cafe. Visited the Columbia Pike location frequently (close to the Pentagon). They always have a decent taplist, the sandwiches are great and the carryout store is excellent. There is underground parking as well (entrance just around the corner).