Spring beer recommendation, local to DC/MD

We are spoiled in NC. There is another brewery in DC now to check out - BlueJacket. Also, Port City is out of Alexandria. They have some solid beers. Sorry, don't know specific ones we'll enough to recommend for spring, but try their non-dark beers. The Public from DC Brau is a very good spring beer. Don't know any Belgian style.

Not quite as local, but close enough is Troeg's out of Hershey, PA - Hopback Amber, Sunshine Pils, and Perpetual Imperial Pale Ale are all excellent, the first two being good spring beers IMO. Don't know if you'll see those on tap or not. Victory Headwaters and Prima Pils are other PA beers for spring. Oh - AleWerks out of Williamsburg is good and there are some other good VA breweries like Devil's Backbone and Hardywood and Blue Mountain from Richmond and the mountains.

I did the opposite move a few years ago - DC (Arlington) to NC (Chapel Hill, now Charlotte). DC area had zero craft breweries back then, so it's getting better!

 

Hit up Right Proper. Lots of belgian style beer and a fantastic apa. They don't can or bottle but they do growler fills.

 

There are plenty of great shops in nearby DC that will give you exactly what you are looking for.

There's a very a solid and varied selection in the DC area.

 

Near Bethesda you have growlers in Gaithersburg, Frederick has a few breweries, and dc has some now.
So what brought you to Bethesda

 

Growlers is phenomenal. One of my favorite breweries overall. Everything they make is good to great. However, 1. they don't can and 2. a pipe burst in the building a few months ago and completely wrecked the place. It's currently under repair and the owner decided while they were repairing it he wanted to remodel the whole building. Thus, they're still a few months from reopening. However, SBALDWIN made a great recommendation with this place and you should absolutely give it a shot some time!

As for local breweries whose beers you should try: DuClaw, Heavy Seas, Evolution, Burley Oak, Full Tilt, Union. It's really sad how few breweries we have in these parts and a few of those you may actually have to travel outside Montgomery County to find despite the breweries being located in Baltimore.

 

Monocacy Brewing Co in Frederick is another nice small, local brewery. If you like coffee stouts, their Brewtus is a solid choice!

 

+1 I just had a Brewtus the other day and it blew me away. I'd rank it right up there with FBS and Wake N Bake. And it's local and year round which makes me happy.

 

There are actually quite a few local breweries. I don't really think you'll miss a beat craft beer wise coming to the area from NC. If you're looking for bottles/cans some of the top/local breweries In DC: DC Brau. In VA: Port City, Devils Backbone, Lost Rhino, Hardywood. In MD: Flying Dog, DuClaw, Heavy Seas, Evolution, Union. In DE you have Dogfish Head and Dominion.

There are also a ton of brewpubs and other small breweries in the area that serve on premises or to local bars and restaurants in the area.

 

You gotta be missing the Jade in bottles, and tall boys of Hop Drop!

Lost rhino has some pretty good stuff, new one in purcellville, va call Adriot Theory is making some pretty good stuff, they just launched in January of 2014.

If you head down to Richmond, about a 2 hour ride, there are some good ones including Hardywood, hit up Mekong for good local beers and good food.

 

Dogfish ale house Gaithersburg. All dogfish beers on tap. Food decent.
What made you make the move to Bethesda

 

- Beer prices (and cost of living) in MD stink compared to surrounding states, that is for sure. If you work near Bethesda at least you don't have a horrendous commute. Many people live in southern PA, WV etc and drive 2 hrs to work each way in to DC area to beat the cost of living issues and get away from the congestion and crowds.

Been down to Big Boss while on business in Raleigh/Durham about 4 years ago. One of the best brewery experiences of my life. That place was awesome and the beers were solid as well.

Recommendations above are all good. If you're looking to support local folk, up in easter Fredneck County, there is a new farm brewer called Frey's making some good stuff I've seen bottled in stores now. I've had his Berliner Weise and also a Black Rye IPA both were solid brews. Also Milkhouse Brewery is another small farm brewery putting up some respectable, mostly low ABV farmhouse ales, bitters etc. Not sold in stores yet, but I highly recommend you take a trip up there early on a Friday evening or Saturday once the weather is nice the patio out back will be open and I think they'll have some musical guests and such. Its a relaxing, nice visit to get away from the big city of DC area.

 

As others have mentioned, definitely head down to DC, head north up to Frederick or drive (non rush hour of course) over to Northern Virginia when buying beer. Don't bother thinking about buying beer in Montgomery County, unless it is a dire emergency. Unfortunately for you, your days of finding a great selection at your local grocery store (now in Bethesda I assume) are long gone.

 

If you are in Bethesda and find yourself in Silver Spring side of Maryland, you can check out the Quarry House Tavern.

Personally though if you were to go that far, you might as well hit some of the places in DC, or the other places mentioned by others already.

 

Troegs newest Spring seasonal, Cultivator, is really tasty. I'd look for that.

 

Yes I liked the Cultivator alot. Probably my favorite Troegs beer to date.

 

I realize many of these have already been mentioned, but I figured I'd list everything out (that I can think of) that is within 2 hours of DC:

DC:
DC Brau
Chocolate City
Atlas Brew Works
3 Stars
Bluejacket
Right Proper
Bardo

VA:
Port City
Mad Fox
Starr Hill
Lost Rhino
Devils Backbone
Hardywood
Adroit Theorgy
Blue Mountain
Wild Wolf

MD:
Evolution
Denizens
Beltway Brewing
Flying Dog
Heavy Seas
Union Craft Brewing
Stillwater Artisanal
Brewers Art
DuClaw

DE:
Dogfish Head