DC Brau, Chocolate City and 3 Stars in DC proper, Port City and Lost Rhino in Va suburbs, Port City being the closest to the city. These are all production breweries not brew pubs.
Mad Fox brewpub/brewery is just into the VA burbs. Just into the MD burbs, Franklin's is a great choice for brewpub/brewery too.
DC's local beer scene is still pretty new, but it's getting better. To me, DC Brau is far and away the best of the production breweries and is THE brewery to go to if you have to just choose one. Their year-round beers (The Public, Corruption and The Citizen) are only okay, but the brewery typically has several other special beers available, which have been their best beers so far such as: On the Wings of Armageddon, Penn Quarter Porter, Oaked Penn Quarter Porter and Middle Name Danger. For brewpubs, I think Mad Fox is doing the most interesting stuff right now and is the place most worthy of checking out. I should note, however, that I have experienced some horrendous service at this place on multiple occasions, so brace yourself.
