Prost: 6 Great Beer Gardens

H Street NE's Biergarten Haus channels Munich without the airfare.
Photo courtesy Biergarten Haus.

What better way to enjoy the crisp fall air than with a stein of beer at some of the area’s premier beer gardens. Break out your Lederhosen (if you must), put on “Beerfest” and get ready to swill some serious beer. Prost!

• Biergarten Haus

Capitol Hill’s answer to the biergarten, this H Street NE establishment has an enormous outdoor area, live music, and plenty of German beers, complemented by traditional vittles. Complete with German flags overhead, you’ll feel like you’ve taken a really cheap trip to Munich.

14th Street's Standard draws crowds with its outdoor patio, German and American craft beers and excellent burgers.
Photo courtesy of Standard.

• Standard

The best of both epicurean worlds — barbecue sandwiches, fried side dishes and a collection of German and American brews, all featured in a beer garden setting. Check out the Oktoberfest specials like fresh apple cider donuts (served on weekends only), one liter steins and locally made Oktoberfest wursts.

• Westover Market Beer Garden

Arlington’s charming, family-friendly beer garden offers six daily drafts (mostly American microbrews, with a European or Belgian offering), and includes several fire pits, two outdoor flat-screen TVs, and plenty of shade. Sept. 30 marked the grand opening of the Westover Beer Haus — the indoor version of the beer garden that will feature 10 rotating drafts and live acoustic rock.

• Blob’s Park

You won’t find an outdoor garden here, but if you’re looking for an authentic German beer hall experience, then this is your place. Located in Jessup, Md., this family owned business has been celebrating German-style since 1933 and is credited with being the location of the first U.S. celebrated Oktoberfest. They will have you learning polka moves in no time.

• Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden

Baltimore’s newly opened beer garden features a list of more than 30 rotating local, regional and national draft brews. Located at the front entrance of Power Plant Live, the glass pavilion features a retractable roof and the outdoor patio offers a fire pit — perfect for staying warm on a chilly f all night.

• Old Stein Inn

This adorable family-owned restaurant, located outside Annapolis, Md., recently celebrated its grand reopening after an electrical fire destroyed the building late last year. The updated venue boasts a large beer hall-style room as well as a lovely biergarten where you can expect a variety of entertainment, including a “strolling” accordion player.

Also check out these beer-centric events:

• Oct. 7:  Stella Artois US Draught Master Championship
• Oct. 8: 12th Annual Capitol City Brewing Co. Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest
• Oct. 15: Rustico's 5th Annual Oktobeerfest Block Party
• Oct. 25: Dino's Great Lakes Brewing Company Beer Dinner










Ashlie Hughes is pursuing her longtime dream of writing about food and travel. During her free time she enjoys trying new restaurants, searching for the perfect cocktail, and daydreaming about traveling the world. She currently writes a column titled The Aperitif and other articles for Patch.com.