Part 3 of my Saturday tour of three DC breweries…

Third stop: 3 Stars Brewing Company

After stop 1 at Chocolate City Beer, and stop 2 at DC Brau, this was our last stop before heading back to the burbs.

Where it’s located: On a street of warehouses and body shops in Northeast DC — 6400 Chillum Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20011. We parked on the street because the small parking lot in front of the brewery was full.

Tasting Room and Growler Fill Hours: Saturdays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Tours are held at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Beers on Tap:

• Peppercorn Saison, a Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale (6.5%)
• Winter Madness, a strong Winter Warmer (10.6%)
  
• Southern Belle, an Imperial Brown Ale (8.7%)

After the hoppy brew at DC Brau, I savored the different beer styles at 3 Stars. Don’t get me wrong, I love hoppy brew, but the 3 Stars beers were distinctly different from what we tried at our first two brewery stops. Not better necessarily, just refreshingly different.

It was a tough call for my growler fill. I loved sampling the rich Winter Madness and boozy Southern Belle, but I was planning to drink my growler during the Super Bowl. So I went with the lower ABV Saison, a smooth and spicy brew with a citrusy finish.

The Scene: As we walked towards the brick warehouse containing 3 Stars Brewing Company, it wasn’t clear which door to go in. Somehow we missed the small white board that beckoned with “Tastings & Growlers This Door.”

Once inside, we were met by a small check-in table where we were given three samplings tickets. To the immediate left there was a food truck serving BBQ — yes, the food truck was inside the brewery! Great call on a day that saw the high temp reach only 32 degrees. But we weren’t there for the food.

Off to the left of the large open space was the bar for growler fills. You couldn’t miss it with its long line. We went around the corner to the right to the tasting room and home brew supplies store.

After our three samples, we zipped through the efficient growler line and paused before heading out the door. 3 Stars had the feel of a street fair inside a brewery and we lamented having to leave so soon. Too bad we couldn’t have made a day of it, but we had to get back to Kensington.

Next Stop: Home

As I looked at the map below showing the location of the three DC breweries, I noticed something…it wouldn’t be difficult to add one more stop to the brewery tour: Franklins Restaurant, Brewery and General Store in Hyattsville, Maryland. Next time!