Photo courtesy of Port City
Port City Brewing Co.
Alexandria has been a drinking town since George Washington ran a whiskey distillery down the road — and its craft scene today would make him proud. As the season shifts and taprooms trade summer lagers for the first crisp beers of fall, there's no better time to pull up a stool. Here's a guide to the local breweries, cideries, and distilleries worth seeking out.
The breweries
3950 Wheeler Avenue, West End
The anchor of the local scene and the longest-operating brewery in metro D.C., founded in 2011 by Bill and Karen Butcher and crowned the Great American Beer Festival's Small Brewery of the Year in 2015. The tasting room has indoor and outdoor seating, weekend brewery tours, and tacos from La Tingeria — the reliable first stop on any Alexandria beer tour.
West End
The buzzy counterpoint to Port City's classicism, Aslin built its following on hazy IPAs and an ever-rotating lineup of experimental, hype-worthy releases. A big, modern taproom makes it a favorite for groups and beer nerds chasing the next limited drop.
The cidery
317 Hooffs Run Drive
Alexandria's homegrown cidery pours a wide range of craft ciders — dry to fruit-forward — in a spacious, playful taproom with a Peter Pan streak. A welcome, gluten-free alternative when the group can't agree on beer, and a fun spot for events and live music.
The distilleries
Pickett Street, West End
History in the making: Motherwell is Alexandria's first operating distillery since Prohibition, founded by four local friends and capitalized, remarkably, by some 60 neighbor-owners. Its Brickwater bourbon is the flagship, with rye, gin, vodka, and a Virginia apple brandy in the works. For now it's a small-batch operation — find the bottles in Virginia ABC stores and at spots like Pork Barrel BBQ, with a King Street tasting room and bottle shop in the plans.
George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill
Just south of the city, near Mount Vernon
For the original article, visit the reconstructed distillery at Mount Vernon — once one of the largest whiskey producers in the young nation. Costumed interpreters demonstrate 18th-century methods over the working stills, and the estate periodically bottles whiskey made by Washington's own recipe. A living-history counterpoint to the city's modern makers, and seasonal, so plan ahead.
Make a day of it. Port City, Aslin, and Motherwell all cluster in the West End within a few minutes of one another, making a self-guided “ale trail” easy to pull off — just line up a designated driver or a rideshare. And keep an eye on Port City's event calendar; the brewery hosts festivals and seasonal releases throughout the year.
Before you go
Taproom and tasting-room hours vary by day and shift with the season, and tour times and seasonal facilities (like Mount Vernon's distillery) can change — always confirm current hours on each maker's site before you head out. Bring a designated driver or plan a rideshare if you're sampling, and check whether food is on-site or brought in. Then settle in and toast to a town that's been making good drinks for more than two centuries.
