I can finally cross off the District Chophouse and Brewery from my beer to-do list. I’ve tried their beer at festivals, but I had never been to the restaurant on 7th Street in Washington, D.C. Why did I wait so long to visit?

A summer weekend called for a family trek into the city for brunch and a museum. We took the Metro to Chinatown and walked a couple of blocks to the District Chophouse. The Sunday brunch menu was excellent, but of course I was there for the beer. I ordered the sampler, which came with the:

• Light Lager
• Amber Ale
• Oatmeal Stout
• IPA
• Hefeweizen
• Velvet Ale (a nitrogenated version of the Nut Brown Ale for a creamier head and velvety smoothness)

Just as their names imply, the beers are straight-forward – nothing contrived here.  The IPA was my favorite, and all of them were well-made. District Chophouse offers a solid line-up of quality brews!

The family and I enjoyed excellent service and a delicious brunch. In addition to being a craft beer enthusiast, I’m a breakfast sandwich enthusiast, and Valdez’s Breakfast Sandwich is top-notch. Scrambled eggs and rosemary ham stuffed in a flaky croissant with melted white cheddar cheese is my idea of heaven on earth. Forget the beer, I’d return for Valdez’s Breakfast Sandwich alone!

After brunch, we went to the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. We spent a couple of hours exploring the interactive exhibits, including the simulated shooting range, crime lab straight out of CSI, and set of America’s Most Wanted. There are a lot of cool interactives and interesting stories, but the best thing about the museum is its proximity to the District Chophouse!