For locals and visitors alike, the Metropolitan Beer Trail provides the opportunity to enjoy an active day while sampling from 11 breweries and bars that are walkable and bikeable from the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Northeast Washington DC. Open from April 27 through December 31 of this year, the participating locations offer special offers and discounts as participants stroll or roll through the trail, now in its third year of existence.
Preparing for the Trail
In order to easily view the map to all participating locations and take part in the special offers of the trail, participants should navigate to the Metropolitan Beer Trail website and sign up for the mobile passport. Luckily, no apps are involved. You will receive a link in your email to navigate to your pass, which you can then save as a bookmark in your web browser. Make sure to show the passport at each location when you place your order.
Offers and Prizes
While you can’t expect happy hour prices at the participating locations, most of the bars offer some kind of discount or offer that, paired with walking, biking, and supporting local businesses, makes for a fulfilling day of relaxation and leisure. Additionally, purchases at each location result in the accrual of points that can be redeemed for limited-edition merchandise any time before January 1, 2025.
Offers by location:
Right Proper Brewing Co. - Brookland Location
920 Girard St NE, Washington, DC 20017
Offer: 10% off entire draft beer
The Dew Drop Inn
2801 8th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
Offer: none
The Highbinder Bar at Alamo Drafthouse
630 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: none
metrobar
640 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: 10% off with code MBTrail24
City-State Brewing Co.
705 Edgewood St NE, Washington, DC 20017
Offer: none
Wunder Garten
1101 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: none
Nice & Easy
1124 Congress St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: none
Red Bear Brewing Co.
209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: 10% off beer, specialty brew available, which grants 25 additional points
Andy's Pizza & Beer Garden - NoMa
51 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: Free slice with purchase of beer, limit of 2 per person
Crooked Run Fermentation
550 Morse St NE Suite #120, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: One free 12oz beer or slice of pizza with purchase
Lost Generation Brewing Company
327 S St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Offer: specialty brew available, which grants 25 additional points
(Alamo Drafthouse)
Recommended route
We recommend starting the trail from the north end. Walk, bike, or Metro to Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood on the red line. Right off the bat, you’ll find three participating locations in the nearby area: the Dew Drop Inn, Alamo Drafthouse, and metrobar.
While the Dew Drop Inn offers a unique experience, its location slightly off the main trail, late weekend opening hours (4 pm), and lack of discounts make it a less ideal stop. Though the Alamo Drafthouse doesn’t offer special discounts, it provides a cozy indoor space for shelter in case of bad weather and the chance to take a relaxing movie break. Directly across the street, the iconic metrobar is a can’t-miss spot, where you can enjoy 10% off your beer and the opportunity to sip and relax inside a refurbished old Washington Metro train car.
(metrobar)
From metrobar, we recommend veering slightly from the Trail to stop by Crooked Run Fermentation and take advantage of the free 12oz beer or pizza offer. Head back to the trail to stop by Red Bear Brewing Co., where you can try their specialty brew and enjoy 10% off.
If you’re looking for more pizza, head to Andy’s Pizza & Beer Garden to enjoy up to two slices with a purchase, or to Wunder Garten to enjoy outdoor seating and their rotating selection of food items.
(Red Bear Brewing Co.)
From there, you can walk or cycle home, or stop by the NoMa Gallaudet U New York Ave Metro stop. If you're looking for an alternative to spending all day in museums when friends visit from out of town, the Metropolitan Beer Trail provides a unique way to explore the city while enjoying local brews.
(Wunder Garten)
Author Bio:
L. D.-Johnson is a writer in Washington DC.
For Highbrow Magazine
Photo Credits: L. D.-Johnson; Depositphotos.com