Highest-rated beer in Washington DC
If you drink beer鈥攁ny beer鈥攜ou're probably familiar with the craft beer explosion that began in the late 2010s, and you likely fall into one of two camps: IPA warrior or lager loyalist. The great thing about a beer-related revolution is that there is no wrong side. Whatever your preference, cheers to you.
The brewery business is indeed a revolution by many counts. According to the Brewers Association, the number of breweries in the United States 鈥攁ll while beer consumption, on average, was declining. For the first time since 1999, , making it the lowest amount of beer consumed in the U.S. in a generation.
Like all revolutions, this began as a desire for change鈥攁s an overthrow of the old and the monopolistic. When combined, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors (formerly MillerCoors), two of the largest beer companies in the world, comprised roughly 72% of total beer sales in the U.S. around 2013. A decade later, that in 2023, with smaller brewers claiming a larger share.
With a taste of the innovations and variety coming out of craft breweries, consumers are demanding a higher-quality product鈥攁nd are willing to pay more for it. Over the last decade, between May 2014 and May 2024, beer prices have overall.
But how can you determine the best craft beers in an increasingly crowded market? If you're curious about the most popular beers in your home state, compiled a list of the highest-rated beers in Washington D.C. using ratings from . A maximum of five beers per brewery were included.
Read on to plan your next local beer tour!
Note: Photos of each beer are included where available from BeerAdvocate; otherwise, stock images are shown.
#23. 8 Wards
- Rating: 3.53 (10 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: City-State Brewing Company
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#22. Southern Torrent Saison
- Rating: 3.68 (16 ratings)
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 5.50%
- Brewery: Hellbender Brewing Company
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#21. Bullpen Pilsner
- Rating: 3.68 (14 ratings)
- Type: German Pilsner
- ABV: 4.80%
- Brewery: Atlas Brew Works
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#20. Blood Orange Gose
- Rating: 3.72 (17 ratings)
- Type: Gose
- ABV: 4.40%
- Brewery: Atlas Brew Works
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#19. Ignite IPA
- Rating: 3.74 (19 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: Hellbender Brewing Company
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#18. Bare Bones
- Rating: 3.8 (26 ratings)
- Type: K枚lsch
- ABV: 5.00%
- Brewery: Hellbender Brewing Company
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#17. Penn Quarter Porter
- Rating: 3.86 (583 ratings)
- Type: American Porter
- ABV: 5.50%
- Brewery: DC Brau Brewing Co.
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#16. Dance Of Days
- Rating: 3.86 (44 ratings)
- Type: American Pale Ale
- ABV: 5.70%
- Brewery: Atlas Brew Works
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#15. Silent Neighbor Stout
- Rating: 3.95 (29 ratings)
- Type: American Stout
- ABV: 6.70%
- Brewery: Atlas Brew Works
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#14. Space Reaper
- Rating: 3.97 (98 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.20%
- Brewery: DC Brau Brewing Co.
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#13. Full Fathom Five
- Rating: 4.02 (18 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Bluejacket Brewery
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#12. Ornithology
- Rating: 4.05 (11 ratings)
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 4.00%
- Brewery: Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw Brewpub
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#11. The Imperial
- Rating: 4.05 (15 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: DC Brau Brewing Co.
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#10. Baron Corvo
- Rating: 4.01 (44 ratings)
- Type: Bi猫re de Garde
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw Brewpub
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#9. Li'l Wit
- Rating: 4.08 (12 ratings)
- Type: Witbier
- ABV: 5.00%
- Brewery: Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw Brewpub
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#8. For The Company
- Rating: 4.1 (13 ratings)
- Type: Helles
- ABV: 5.20%
- Brewery: Bluejacket Brewery
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#7. Lost Weekend
- Rating: 4.03 (120 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.30%
- Brewery: Bluejacket Brewery
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#6. Ravaged by Wolves
- Rating: 4.13 (13 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw Brewpub
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#5. Open Window
- Rating: 4.22 (10 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Bluejacket Brewery
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#4. Perfect Places
- Rating: 4.2 (12 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Bluejacket Brewery
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#3. Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne
- Rating: 4.09 (66 ratings)
- Type: Berliner Weisse
- ABV: 3.60%
- Brewery: Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw Brewpub
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#2. Wake up in the Future
- Rating: 4.23 (15 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.50%
- Brewery: DC Brau Brewing Co.
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#1. On The Wings Of Armageddon
- Rating: 4.31 (2,112 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.20%
- Brewery: DC Brau Brewing Co.
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This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.