DC Brau — Restaurant in Washington

So you will pull up to a nondescript strip mall and wonder if you're in the right place. Good news: you are! If you park in the strip mall, just look for the Homecoming Gate, a large white I-beam arch that a tractor trailer could drive under. You will see the "DC Brau" sign and you will know that you are almost home.

Head down the asphalt hill and you'll second guess yourself again: "Wait, is this right?" you'll ask to the air. Almost there, almost there, young Padawan. You will be convinced you're approaching a loading dock (you kinda will be) but by halfway down the slope the smell of mash hops and warm fermentation will confirm you're in the right place.

Walk through the awning and BAM! you are now in the living room of those cool roommates you had in college who were into beer making and thrashed to metalcore, making microbrews as well as they shredded electric guitars. But there is no ego or pretense here, just a chill, try-something-new ambiance of rad. Hang out with friends you never knew you had. Growlers, merch, stickers, laughs, all in the bottle.

Congratulations. You have...

Truckers: See photo. From i495 - west on US 50 to South Dakota ave NE, right on US1 alt (Bladensburg rd NE). You'll want your tandems forward and to take at least the middle lane if not the far right if you can to make the left into the facility. Park in the entrance, walk around back next to dock 2 is a door with a phone number you can call if there is no one in sight. If you're in an OTR truck +/- 75' it'll be tight. Dock 5 has about 65' of forward space (could be better if they didn't park cars across from the docks) that you have to get 75' of truck into, in other words, you gotta bend the trailer onto the dock and your tractor will have to stay 45°-90°. There are cars everywhere you don't want them to be but is what it is. 15 skids in/out...

Thank you for introducing me to beer after not liking it for 30 years! I may not be able to pronounce it, but I sure do love the varieties I tasted there. I had the Penn Quarter Porter and the (excuse my obvious misspelling as well as mispronouncing) Hefeweizen. Both were great for a beginning beer palate & the hint of chocolate wasn't bad either.

The staff was more than pleasant - they were all just plain fun and into the brewing story. I took the tour and can now really appreciate what I was drinking. Certainly worth the drive from far out Upper Marlboro. i'm definitely a growler prowler now. Thanks Brandon and Jeff, and of course, my tasting guide: Lizzie.

To quote a washed-up governor,...