Over Labor Day weekend, I visited my BFF Derek in D.C. for what I thought was going to be my last chance at a summer vacation. Mother Nature had different plans. While we had to cancel our day at the pool, I had an amazing time exploring the city with the best tour guide. Friday, we embarked on a brewery tour so I could taste all the hoppy (or malty) goodness D.C. has to offer. Here are the brewery stops to make in D.C.

1. Blue Jacket

21 beers on tap and amaaaaaazing food. I had a big train burger - bacon, cheddar, onion rings, jalapeno relish (!), steak sauce and mayo. It’s so good. I tried out the coffee stout, tripel and strawberry rhubarb berliner weisse. Because I’m still soaking up the last days of summer, the berliner weisse was definitely my fave. The vibe of the place was fun - industrial and modern. It’s in an old navy yard ship and munitions manufacturing complex. Great place to stop.

2. Right Proper

Stop at the Shaw Brewpub and Kitchen for a colorful interior and beer for the soul. I could not decide what to order here. My wishlist included the grisette, gose, brett saison, biere de garde, black lager and anti-imperial stout. I ended up going with the Shawbecker Schwarzbier, Baron Corvo biere de garde and Subliminal Minded brett saison. This place is your best bet for a casual neighborhood bar where the conversation could last for hours.

3. D.C. Brau

One of the better known breweries in the district, D.C. Brau was the first brewery to operate inside D.C. since 1956. The taproom experience was interesting. You could tell the brewery wasn’t set up with a large taproom setup in mind. The beer was great though - I went with the Penn Quarter porter on nitro, a sweet treat.

4. Public Option

I LOVED this place. It’s in an old house on the corner and is quirkily decorated with vintage furniture. I appreciate that they try to keep their menu balanced - three darker, maltier beers, three paler beers and two experimental. Derek and I both got the cream ale - goes down easy with a sweet finish.

5. Hellbender

I was itching for a flight, so this next stop was perfect for me. An uncharacteristically light selection for me - a kolsch, a belgian, a saison and a brett. This taproom is cozy and has an extensive game collection to play while enjoying your beers.

6. Three Stars

Derek and I can’t decide if this was our favorite because it was the last stop on our tour or because it was just that good. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt. The space was fun - the taproom was nestled amongst the brewing equipment. They had a lot of beers up on the board that weren’t available yet and I just might have to make a special trip for that Southern Belle imperial brown ale with toasted pecans. My flight was a tart and sour dream - saison, berliner style rye with raspberry, sour with mango and guava, and another sour? I think? It was a long day. Give me a break.

6 Brewery Stops to Make in Washington D.C.