Explore the best brews Northern Virginia has to offer by taking a trip along the Beltway Beer Trail.
Northern Virginia knows good beer. With breweries and taprooms scattered across Manassas, Alexandria, Falls Church, and the surrounding counties, it’s no wonder the region has its own dedicated beer trail.
Although the Beltway Beer Trail isn’t a formal entity, it serves as a loose association of 15 must-visit breweries in Northern Virginia. Here’s your guide to sipping your way through it.
Sinistral Brewing Company
Location: 9419 Main St., Manassas, VA 20110
Sinistral Brewing Company follows a simple philosophy: “brewing good beer for good people.” The company started when Blane Perry moved to Virginia from Oregon and found himself missing craft beer, which hadn’t taken off in Virginia yet.
The taproom has around 10 different beers on tap at any given time. Try the Bee City, a lager brewed with local honey.
Eavesdrop Brewery
Location: 7223 Centreville Rd., Ste. 115, Manassas, VA 20111
Tucked behind Route 28 in Manassas in what used to be a racing pigeon loft, Eavesdrop Brewery specializes in making craft brews that offer new twists to classic beers.
The brewery always has 12 original beers on tap, including the newly released Big Pidgey. It’s a fruited sour that offers a tangerine creamsicle taste.
2 Silos Brewing Co.
Location: 9901 Discovery Blvd., Manassas, VA 20109
If you’re looking for a fun night out in central Manassas, swing by 2 Silos Brewing Co. for craft beer, gourmet food, and live music.
The brewery prides itself on offering a wide variety of styles, serving everything from light lagers to barrel-aged stouts. Go for one of the four flagship beers, including Mosaic Goat, Cream Ale, Citralicious, and Main Street Lager. The Mosaic Goat IPA brings together Cashmere, El Dorado, and Mosaic hops to create an over-ripe tropical, citrus, and stone fruit taste.
Make sure you visit Tuesday through Friday for happy hour deals, like $2 off shared plates and draft beers and $5 off house wines and house liquors.
Enjoy your beer with a small plate, salad, or pizza from Pour House restaurant.
The Farm Brewery at Broad Run
Location: 16015 John Marshall Hwy., Broad Run, VA 20137
Spend a relaxed evening sipping ales and lagers at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run. Here, you’ll also find games, live music, and food trucks.
If you want something easy, go for the Broad Run Blonde, a golden American ale with a smooth finish. You can also try a seasonal brew, like the Black Bear Honey Porter, which offers rich roast and chocolate malt flavors with a hint of honey.
Satisfy your hunger with a loaded hot dog and side of onion rings from the Windmill Café.
Audacious Aleworks Brewery & Taproom
Location: 110 East Fairfax St., Falls Church, VA 22046
With 20 beers on tap at Audacious Aleworks Brewery & Taproom, you’re sure to find one that delights your taste buds. Some standout options include the Highway to Helles Lager, Pacific Moonrise Sour, Back Porch Slightly Sour IPA, and Mostly at Night Dark Lager. Pair your beer with a hearty sandwich from the brewery’s kitchen.
Check out the robust event schedule, with trivia nights and musical performances occurring regularly.
Note: Audacious Aleworks has a second location in Fairfax City.
Water’s End Brewery
Locations: 12425 Dillingham Sq., Lake Ridge, VA 22192 & 14397 Potomac Mills Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22192
The pour-your-own growler taproom at Water’s End Brewery offers 13 options.
If you aren’t sure what to order, go for the Damn Beer, the brewery’s flagship golden ale. The Adventure Hat, a strong black American ale, is another good option.
Visit before 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to get $3 off a 64-ounce growler pour. Flights are also offered, allowing you to sample three 6-ounce pours.
Sweetwater Tavern
Locations: 45980 Waterview Plz., Sterling, VA 20166; 14250 Sweetwater Ln, Centreville, VA 20121; 3066 Gate House Plaza, Falls Church, VA 22042
Head over to Sweetwater Tavern, a microbrewery with a Southwest theme that serves handcrafted beer and Southwest-inspired cuisine.
Try the Kissing Bull, a golden lager brewed with specialty malts with a toasty, smooth finish, or the Blood Moon, a Belgian red with a sweet and tart cherry taste. Pair your beer with a rack of baby back ribs or wood-grilled filet mignon.
During the summer, sit at the locations’ outdoor bars and patios.
Port City Brewing Company
Location: 3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304
Port City Brewing Company has been serving award-winning brews since 2011. Owned by Bill and Karen Butcher, the brewery offers year-round brews, as well as seasonal and occasional offerings.
Try the Monumental, a complex and balanced East Coast-style IPA, or the Cobblestone, a sour citrusy beer that’s reminiscent of the sunlit glow of weathered stones. Bring your pets along with you. They’re welcome in the outdoor beer garden.
Aslin Beer Co.
NoVa Locations: 767 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170 & 847 S Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
Aslin Beer Co. was founded in 2015 by Andrew Kelley and Kai Leszkowicz, who both married a daughter from the Aslin family.
With a goal of making beer fun, the company offers a range of ales, lagers and specialty brews. The Aslin Lager, an American amber lager, is a solid choice.
Happy hour, from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, offers $5.99 for all full-pour draft beers.
The Herndon location features a new taproom, as well as a rooftop deck with views of downtown. Alexandria serves as the company’s main production facility, where guests can lounge in a large indoor taproom.
G34.3 Brewing Company
Location: 8532 Terminal Rd., Ste. L, Lorton, VA 22079
Visit G34.3 Brewing Company’s space-themed taproom for some good brews and a classic neighborhood bar feel. The name comes from G34.3, the largest deep space cloud of ethanol in the universe. It’s enough ethanol to make 300,000 pints of beer for every person on Earth.
Since opening in 2020, the company has developed a dozen beers, many of which have space-themed names. Give the Interstellar Ale, a pale ale that is brewed with wheat and just the right number of hops, a try.
Fair Winds Brewing Co.
Location: 7000 Newington Rd., Ste. K & L, Lorton, VA 22079
Fair Winds Brewing Co. produces beers based on the philosophy that one-size-fits-all doesn’t work; rather, beers should be crafted based on the moment and with inspiration.
There are currently 14 beers on tap, ranging from hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts. Give the Potomac Banks Lager, which is reminiscent of breakfast cereal with notes of honey, a try. It was produced in collaboration with Visit Fairfax in recognition of the south Fairfax County area known as the Potomac Banks.
Food can be brought in from outside.
Caboose Tavern
Location: 520 Mill St. NE, Vienna, VA 22180
After walking, running, or biking along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, relax with a cold beer in your hand at the Caboose Tavern. The tavern is in a converted warehouse in an industrial part of downtown Vienna. The owners designed it to create an inclusive and comfortable space.
The tavern serves a wide range of beer options, ranging from crisp German pilsners and mouth-watering hazy IPAs to tart fruit goses and American brown ales.
The best way to experience its offerings is to go for the build-your-own flight. For $13, you get four 4-ounce pours of any draft. Consider trying the 80 Shilling, Huckleberry Sour, Boxcar Brown Ale, and Ctrl Alt Delete.
Pair your beer with a gourmet burger or brie grilled cheese from the tavern restaurant.
Note: The sister space, Caboose Commons, is located in Fairfax.
Lake Anne Brew House
Location: 11424 Washington Plz. W, Reston, VA 20190
The community-focused Lake Anne Brew House helps Reston residents practice a live-work-play lifestyle. Visitors can enjoy small-batch handcrafted beer inside the stylish mid-century modern taproom or on the deck overlooking Lake Anne.
The business was opened in 2016 by husband and wife, Jason and Melissa Romano. He comes up with the signature recipes, while she handles the business side of things.
Jason currently has eight beers on tap, including the Live Work Play, an IPA featuring citrus hops and balanced malt, and the Fairfax 250, an IPA featuring juicy tastes.
Ono Brewing Company
Location: 4520 Daly Dr., Ste. 102, Chantilly, VA 20151
Ono Brewing Company combines all things Hawaiian, with the family behind it having connections to the state. The word “ono” means delicious, which is what guides the company’s brewing efforts.
The self-serve beer wall offers 12 craft beer and hard seltzer options. Give the Island Time coconut brown ale a try.
You can relax in the tropical-themed tasting room or on the tiki patio with your beer in hand.
Bunnyman Chantilly
Location: 14140 Parke Long Ct., Chantilly, VA 20151
Mustang Sally Brewing was on the original trail list, but it merged with Bunnyman Brewing in 2025. The merger infused vibrant energy and creative spirit into the brewery.
The brewery has a self-pour system, so guests pay by the ounce. Try the Potomac Pils, a pale pilsner with a crisp, dry finish. The Triple Jam cider is a good choice for those who are gluten-free.
Enjoy your beer in the tasting area or outdoors.
