Audacious Aleworks Brewery — Restaurant in Falls Church

I’ve been going to Audacious since like 2019. I’ve had many good experience in the past and one very disappointing one recently.

Pros: -Good selection of craft beers, especially if you like interesting sours or IPAs. Good dessert-y stouts sometimes too -(Generally) nice, fun vibe with friendly, personable bartenders and staff -Good deals on growlers or cans of their own beers. I used to get growlers regularly during the pandemic when they were otherwise closed. -I’ve only been to one of their planned trivia nights but it was a lot of fun! Great prizes -I live in the area nearby and if I ever have guests from out of town that like craft beer, this is usually the first spot I take them too.

Cons: -Do not plan a large party or gathering here. I reached out to the manager of the brewery 2 months in advance to ask about hosting a company event for 20 people. They seemed very accommodating over email and assured there would be plenty of seating inside the air conditioned taproom. The only stipulation from them is that I couldn’t set up too early because they opened at noon. I arrived at 11:40 am and the entire tap room was full of people watching the Olympics. The manager had given my work group of 20 people 3 small tables outside in the parking lot/heat and about 9-10 chairs. The manager said he actually opened the doors early for the Olympics watchers, but not for my scheduled group. As I brought over catered food for my work party, customers and their kids from inside the taproom started coming out and trying to pick at our company’s food and sit at the few tables we WERE offered. I understand that at the end of the day, the brewery is a business and wants as many customers as possible. I am usually not one to leave reviews at all (negative or positive), but I feel that this incident warranted it. If you do plan an event at Audacious, check with them first and make sure it’s not on the day of a major sporting...

We stumbled into Audacious Aleworks on a whim, and I’m so glad we did. This place has an energy you can feel the moment you walk in - lively and welcoming with overall good vibes.

Let’s talk about the unsung hero of most spots: the music. Whoever’s curating and controlling the volume here deserves a raise. It was the perfect balance - loud enough to set a mood and make you actually notice the music, but not so loud that you’re shouting to have a conversation. If you own a bar or restaurant, stop by here, take notes, and copy it.

The beer list is as creative as it is extensive. I started with the Thirsty Work New England IPA. It’s juicy, smooth, and pleasantly approachable even if IPAs aren’t your go-to. Then I took a gamble on It’s Kind of a Big Dill, their pickle gose, and I’m officially a fan. If dill isn’t your thing, consider yourself warned, but for me, it was a home run. The Piave Italian Pilsner? Absolutely one of a kind. If you like crisp, it’s very good. It could easily be compared to Peroni.

Food-wise, it’s what you expect from a brewery menu - pretzels, hot dogs, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Simple but done well and satisfying.

The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and refreshingly non-intrusive. It felt like they genuinely enjoy the place, and that kind of attitude is contagious.

Bottom line: If you’re a beer lover (or just someone who enjoys discovering new spots with good energy), this place is...

June 2025 update: Still loving Audacious. Their beer is so good and they always have a good variety to choose from. They are probably the most balanced local brewery I have ever been to. Their epic grilled cheese sandwiches still live up to their name as well. The staff is always friendly and the vibe is just chill. Will be back again soon! :-) 6/24/23: Another great visit. They were offering a special chicken wrap this weekend and it was delicious. Blood Orange Gose, Campfire Stout, and two other stouts we had were perfect too. Thanks! Audacious is my favorite place to grab a local brew and hang out with friends. The vibe in this place is so chill and the artwork on the walls personifies the fun, creative theme of their beer. They offer a rotating variety of small batch brews and debut new options throughout the year. Whether you like sours, IPAs or stouts, you will find something to fit your pallet here. They are also very supportive of the local community and offer their location for fundraisers and parties for special occasions free of charge. The bar food is good as well. We had popcorn, a giant pretzel and a couple different grilled cheese sandwiches. They are known for their grilled cheese and I would say they do seem to have a good thing going. They are also dog and kid friendly. I plan to come back again soon. Thanks for a...