1921 Biergarten at the Heurich House

I loved this spot ! During the day we stopped by and it was a lovely garden outside the museum, and then in the evening they were hosting a mini market with local vendors and their Biergarten . The drinks were good and the pretzel was great, and it was a great environment to hang around outside and relax. The mini museum exhibit in the Biergarten was very cool.

This is a fun private museum where -- are you ready? -- some of the items on display in the museum are also available on tap for drinking! And check the posted hours for weekly Happy Hour pricing and promotions! This Biergarten / Museum is hidden in the beautiful gardens of the Heurich Mansion -- it is a relaxing retreat from the Urban landscape of DuPont Circle. So happy to have found this hideaway (and did I mention that it is stocked with beer?)

Nice garden area with good beer options. Nice atmosphere and was easy to get a table even though there are no reservations (first come). There are no onsite food options (other than giant pretzels), but you can bring food with you- we saw people with take out pizza.

Can beer in a beat up beer garden. It’s cheap and better for young people. It’s near by to some cool stuff you can walk to.

Very comfortable and pleasant beer garden with tables and chairs. Beer, wine, pretzels.

Hours are unreliable. If you plan to go maybe call ahead. It's been open during its posted hours 1 out of 3 times we've gone

Super cute, laidback beer garden that’s not usually crazy crowded. Some nice beer/wine/cocktail offerings - their pretzels are fine. A really lovely place to spend an afternoon/evening!

Top tier biergarten, shout out Hayley!!! The pretzels are yummy, loads of cool and local beer options, and great atmosphere. Perfect for a Saturday hang in DuPont.

Really great vibe and scenery in the Biergarten! I was there on a Thursday evening when it was chilly, so not too many people around. When the weather is perfect, expect this place to be packed, though. Among their beer and wine selection, they have the Anxo Liberty Apple Cider, which is good if you're okay with hoppy things. Staff was nice and quick with service. We arrived just as the sun was setting, so the Biergarten gave off a romantic, warm glow. With lights strewn about, the mood into the night was just as lovely. It's great place to chill out, but only until 8pm. I wish they were open at least an hour later!

Haven't been the the house itself but they have a Biergarten outside in the evenings and on weekends that is lovely! They had a large selection of beers as well as wine and a couple cocktails. They also served pretzels and cheese which weren't anything special but nice to have. It was a lovely setting in the garden with a number of picnic tables as well as some Adirondack chairs and string lights to light the space as it got darker. There were a good number of people on a Wednesday night but not so crowded it wasn't possible to find a table.

Such a beautiful house to walk through with a really pretty garden in the backyard! They also have WiFi so it's a cool place to work or read a book. The bar in the back (kind of looks like a bungalow) has a small exhibit about the Heurich family and their brewery which was really cool! And they served an interesting selection of beers

Went here for a work happy hour and it was lovely! We ordered drinks inside the museum which featured a lot of cool beers and the history of them. The menu is mostly beer and cider but they have some cocktails and wine too. I loved the one I chose - it was a blood orange gose at a very reasonable $8. There's plenty of seating (benches with umbrellas, Adirondack chairs, etc) in their outdoor garden - perfect for spring/summertime. Great spot in the heart of DuPont for a drink!

We visited the Biergärten behind the museum on a warm holiday weekend. There was music playing, lots of seating, and people playing bags. All beer is canned, and you buy it inside a little extension of the museum that talks about the origins of the house Senate beer. Super relaxed vibe and a great place to spend a sunny afternoon.

WASHINGTON D.C.- Looking for an interesting site to visit having exhausted all the typical DC stuff like the Mall? This museum - the ornate home of DC brewing magnate Christian Heurich - is definitely worth the time. Tours are limited in size and on a very set schedule, so buy tix in advance and you'll get an -hour-long tour through the Gilded Age mansion and some interesting history. Bonus, there's a beer garden where you can buy Senate Beer, which replicated a recipe of long-defunct Heurich Brewing. Tickets are around $12 a person.

Love, love, love the Heurich House and beer garden. I have been coming here for a couple years, since I became a member to help support the non-profit during the pandemic. At first, we could only enjoy the grounds and the beer/cider, but as soon as they opened the house back up, we were quick to reserve a tour. I just love immersing myself in the rich history of DC. The tours start in the carriage house at the rear of the garden. There you can read about the history of the Heurich family while enjoying local craft beer, wine and snacks like big pretzels. Outside in the gardens there are fire pits and ample seating to sit and chat or just listen to nature and the garden fountain. The house itself is really stunning. The wood work cannot be adequately described with words, you just have to see it yourself. The tour guides are excellent. They know the history and are more than happy to answer questions or go more in depth about certain aspects of the house or those who lived in it. That brings me to their new exhibit, The Working Title. This exhibit is the culmination of research done by the staff and volunteers during the pandemic to better understand the story of the people who worked for the Heurich's on the property. I appreciate the level of work it took to develop this new exhibit and I hope that body of research will continue in the future. It is important to tell the full story of history. Thank you for always providing a great experience! :-)

Heurich House is fun. The tour focuses and explains his life. He lived to102 years, born in the 1840s and died in 1945. He came to this country in the 1870s essentially penniless, his parents having died in Germany, as the US was climbing out of the Civil War. He worked in multiple breweries in the US, finally settling in Washington, DC. Within several decades he was the largest private employer in DC. His buildings had several fires, the house that we tour is one of the first fireproof buildings in DC. It's interesting how the architects and artists painted and otherwise covered non-flammable metal to look like material. The building is full of major innovations for its time and reminded me of the Ringling house Ca' d'Zan. Two very rich industrialists of the early 1900s. One amazing part of his story is how he transformed his company during Prohibition to keep his workers employed. There is a beer garden on the grounds. The foundation that owns the House endeavored to locate and the exact recipe, including the yeast that the company used.

The Heurich House is located in DuPont Circle. In full transparency, I have never visited the museum itself, so this is a review of the beer garden. Located behind the museum, the beer garden is a little escape from the city, surrounded by greenery. There is plenty of seating for larger groups. Play a game or two of corn hole in the warm months. They also occasionally host events (eg pumpkin craft near Halloween). Only slight downside is that I wish they had more drink options. Pro tip: you can bring your own food.

This is my type of museum--a beautiful mansion embedded in the city but still in its own world, small, not too crowded, all about a topic I cherish. Did you know beer is actually just liquid bread? Beer history is great, especially combined with drinking some! Make it an old beer revival (Senate beer) during at Oktoberfest event, and it's just a good time. That's what I attended, and while some people might not see the value of paying for the chance to chat with an expert fermentation scientist about the delicious beverage (with unlimited refills), I thought it was worth the cash! Anyway, the staff at the museum are professional and they put on a wonderful event. Their courtyard is nice, tucked away from the city, and a great place to host a party of sorts. The architecture of the building itself is beautiful and it just makes me want to visit ancient Trappist monasteries in Belgium! I really wouldn't mind checking out another event here.

Beautiful Victorian brew master's castle built during the Gilded Age - truly a hidden gem! Walked by it so many times in Dupont Circle and didn't even realize the castle existed until recently. So glad I got a chance to finally explore it! Definitely make a reservation online - can't visit the museum without a guided tour. There are a few tours in the morning/early afternoon on Saturdays that last about 75 minutes with a $10 "suggested" donation - I just paid it. The stunning castle is decked out floor to ceiling with exquisite antique furniture, beautiful woodwork, intricate carvings, coffered ceilings and frescos, impressive crown moldings, ornate gold mirrors and chandeliers, with helms and mythical lions embedded throughout the house. The fireplace back with lion carving was the coolest feature of the home. It's impressive how the house had cutting-edge technology for its time in 1890 with plumbing and electricity, a "slosh" sink, and an iron and steel foundation. Can't believe this large house took only 2 years to build and complete in 1892. From the tour's dozen or so rooms and corridors (drawing room, parlor, dining room, solarium, multiple bedrooms, bathroom, butler's pantry, kitchen, foyer, tavern) the cozy drawing room used after dinner for cigars was my favorite and most impressive - lavish velvet sofas, tassled crown moldings, and large silk curtains. The German Tavern in the basement had a nice chill vibe - perfect spot to drink beer! The tour is quite interesting and chronicles Christian Heurich's journey as a brewmaster from Germany to the U.S., his 3 marriages including the widow of his business partner, and objective for building the castle to showcase his wealth and entertain clients for exclusive contracts. Lived a very full life at 102 years. Sadly, his brewery started failing after prohibition as larger beer companies cornered the market and consumer taste preferences changed to cocktails. The business never took off after his son tried to continue his legacy with a batch of bad beer. The Kennedy Center sits on the old factory - maybe it's for the best! The tour concluded with a new exhibit in the carriage house showcasing the different types of beer produced (malt, apple champagne, stout, lager). Interestingly, Heurich produced apple champagne during Prohibition and could only sell it for 1 day. The beer bottles along with the memorabilia are captivating. Stunning castle, informative tour - totally worth the $10 "suggested" donation. Highly recommend!

Heurich House Museum is a mansion from the Gilded Age just south of Dupont Circle. For a home in the city, it's massive, but for a museum, it's small. It's truly a museum/event space for locals, not tourists (though, tourists are welcome). The Heurich House is the mansion of Christian Heurich, a German immigrant who was the oldest brewer (he died at age 102) and big time business owner in DC. Outside of the government, he owned the most amount of land and employed the most amount of people. His large brewery now houses the Kennedy Center. This home is a historic property remembering Christian Heurich's legacy in DC. They offer tours (suggested donation of $10) Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays that last an hour long. In addition to that, they always have events from book clubs to brewing classes to a famous Christmas market every year. What most people don't know is they have a large garden in the back open to the public Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. They have benches, picnic tables, and even an art gallery in the carriage house for people to enjoy for free. It's the perfect respite from the city!

This place is a great museum. The Romanesque gothic exterior is always a feast for the eyes: what could be better than a brownstone castle just sitting in DuPont. It turns out there is also a German-style holiday market in the courtyard this time of year. They serve warm spiced wine and beer. (The latter is brewed according to the local recipe of the owner of this palatial house. The house was built for a local brewer of German extraction who was once at the very top of DC's economic heap. The signs and docents provide all sorts of details about the house and its former occupants. The interior is mostly in very ornately carved wood. It contains original gilded age furniture and artwork. Definitely worth a visit.

What a cute area! I absolutely adored the garden. There were several places to sit both out in the open or a little more secluded for privacy. The greeter was very nice and gave a thorough overview of what to expect and how to navigate the space. The folks in the carriage house were very nice as well. Enjoyed the apple cider beer and chill vibes for pretty much the entire time they were open. It's so easy to lose track of time enjoying nature and conversation at this location. Perfect for a solo outing, date, or meeting up with friends.

I came here on a tour of the house pre-pandemic and it was fantastic. Definitely beats some of the mansions in Georgetown in many ways - there's a lot more to see, the guides offer a wealth of knowledge about the place, the beautiful furniture is an added bonus to the architecture, and they make beer! The garden area is nice and I think serves as an event space. I finally got a chance to come for their christkindlmarkt (2021) and it was grossly packed (get your tickets in advance!) which sort of distracted from the boutique nature of the place, but the local shops that were there all made up for it. It was really great to see local businesses, including the museum's store. I'll definitely be back with out of town guests and hope to check out their other events.

Christkindlmarkt at Heurich House Christkindlmarkt was a small outdoor holiday market with a variety of unique vendors. I bought Lavender Earl Gray tea, Smoked Maple Syrup, and a Cranberry shrub mixer. They also had German food and drinks. The pretzel and dip were very tasty. Admission also included a tour of the Heurich House. Although I have gone on a tour of the house before, it was good to see it again. The house is dark inside, very castle-like, with plenty of detailed wood work. It was interesting to hear about the family and their brewery. This was a good event, and I'm glad I went.

Such a cool visit! Our docent was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the house and the history and the house itself is beyond gorgeous. Meticulously maintained, it is a neat peek into a little mentioned piece of history in DC. There is a suggested $10 donation to keep the house running. Upon passing of the last Heurich member, the house was sold to the historical society but then purchased back by grandchildren when they realized that it was in danger of being sold for office space. Even the upstairs rooms are rented to businesses to help pay for place. Most people on our tour had reserved in advance via the EventBrite link, but there was certainly enough space for the few who showed up at the last minute without reservations.

Beautiful house. We went for museum day 2014, and they were doing extended hours and self-guided tours. One perk of the self-guided option is that you could explore unsupervised and take pics to your heart's content. However, I imagine we missed some of the interesting stories that a guided tour could offer. Given that it took us less than 30 minutes to walk the entire grounds and take it all in, we probably could use some tales to pad the time. Still, lots of beauty to see and revel in as you imagine living your life in a palace like this. They said the top two floors of the house are closed to the public, and that's a shame, but still, you get three stories to explore. The conservatory is especially gorgeous, with huge windows, tons of natural light, and a nice fountain at the head of the room. Our favorite room, though, was the bierstube in the basement. Not only does it feature a large collection of great German steins and nice carved wooden chairs, but the walls are adorned with German sayings that at first glance seem like they might be traditional quotes. Instead, take a look at the translation guide near the door. The gems include "he who has never been drunk is not a good man," and "never let yourself be pained by thirst, there is many a keg left in the cellar." Some true words of wisdom right there, folks. The walls advertised beer-related events held at the house throughout the year, and our brief tour makes me wanting to come back for some of that fun. Definitely worth the visit.

If your into beer brewing history this is a place to stop by and learn nothing about brewing. I enjoyed visiting the museum for the architectural aspect. But You will need to plan it with with their beer events because there isn't too much history to be learned. We visited during the Christmas Festival and could have honestly skipped it.

How appropriate that this castle is only a few blocks away from the Brickskeller. It was built by Christian Heurich, the world's oldest brewer (he died at age 102). This victorian mansion was constructed in the late 1800's and still contains the most of the original furniture and decor in its 31 rooms. When I worked nearby, I often had lunch here on the furniture in the garden park which is pretty secluded. . Presidents drank Heurich's beer and his brewery was one of the few to survive Prohibition. Why not knock off work early and check this place out, then raise a glass of beer to Mr. Heurich? Make it Foggy Bottom, which his grandson is currently brewing.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Interesting story of the Heurich family. How many times have you passed the mansion and wondered what it is or who lived there. Excellent docent very knowledgeable telling the story of Christian Heurich.

This was an excellent place to visit while touring DC. We did a brewmasters tour which included samples from local breweries. The tour of the house, history, and brewing information were all fantastic. It was a fun event, highly entertaining, and very informational. Highly recommend!

I had high hopes I would attend and have it bring back fond memories of my childhood in Berlin where I spent 5 years. I had hoped to share some of the culture with my daughter. Instead I was met with an overly militant group of staff and volunteers ushering is through like cattle; aggressively scolding us for holding a beverage THEY SOLD US 10 feet from the door, as we unknowingly tried to walk in. We attended during the Christkindlmarkt event and were supposed to have paid for a "special early access pass", but that didn't seem to matter when they opened up the museum to everyone at the same time, so it was just herds of people being rushed through to quickly to enjoy anything or even ask questions. Further insult was learning that half the museum was not open to tours during this weekend event. So instead of paying a "suggested donation of $10" on a normal day, I paid $25 non-refundable dollars to be rushed through half the museum by people with nasty attitudes. [of course not all the staff and volunteers were unpleasant; some were a real asset. But the experience was overshadowed by the negative energy given off by the few.] And the market part of the event was a joke! While the vendors were nice, and enjoyable, there were only maybe 20-30. For $10 I attended Sugarloaf Craft fair the weekend before (and will be attending the weekend after too) and experienced hundreds of skilled craftsmen. It is taking a second trip to fully enjoy all the artists and venders. Save your money and your time -- order pizza and a movie and stay home

I recently went back to the Heurich House for the third time, and the tour keeps getting better and better. Also known as the "Brewmaster's Castle," the Heurich House museum is probably the most underrated house tour in DC. That's because you get several experiences in one: 1: Christian Heurich, the German-American brewer who built this mansion as his personal residence at the turn of the century, owned and operated the largest brewery in the District. So you get a pretty comprehensive history of the brewery and Christian Heurich's personal rise to prominence, which is interesting in itself. 2: When he built the home, he was pretty well flush with cash. The inside feels downright regal, and the attention to detail in every corner is amazing. Every time I've gone back, I've noticed at least 10 new features that had previously gone unnoticed. Overview from their website: "The 31-room home is replete with hand-carved wood, 15 fireplaces with individually carved mantles and cast bronze fire backs, hand-painted ceiling canvases, luxuriously furnished rooms, and original turn-of-the-century Heurich family collections." 3: Many of the furnishings and technologies (yes, technologies. central vacuum, working elevator, fireproofing etc...) were inspired or purchased at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. If you're a World's Fair junkie like me, this aspect of the house is pretty cool. 4: The tours I've been on are all small and intimate. The tour-guide is incredibly passionate about the house and very accommodating of any question, no matter how detailed (and always has the answer as well...) This is definitely off the "beaten-path" for tourist destinations in DC, so you're going to get a more personal experience. Requested donation at the door is $5; Tours run Thursdays and Fridays at 11:30 and 1, and Saturdays at 11:30, 1 and 2:30. Highlights include the German tavern-room in the basement, the incredible dining room where every piece of wood and adornment was hand-carved or crafted on-site, and the wonderful garden in the back that's open to the public during the week. Can't recommend this place enough!

This Museum definitely falls under the category of "how the hell did I not know about this place sooner?" Lovely little garden (open for the public during lunch time) authentic Victorian (everything in the museum is what the Heurich family used) and they have a nice space for events. The tours are limited, so definitely check their website.

Awesome experience. Decided to try the brewmasters tour and we were not disappointed. They did the perfect mix of a historical tour with a beer tasting spread throughout. We had three local beers-- pale ale, IPA, and porter. All three were lovely. There is so much history here and I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Took the tour yesterday. I love historic houses, so this was right up my alley. Very well preserved with original furniture, even though it isn't my style. The workmanship was obviously very high quality. The one thing that I objected to was the no photography rule. There were so many things I would've liked to have had pictures of. The only place you could take photos was in the foyer at the end of the tour. I got a good pic of the inside of the fireplace. Interesting tidbit for those interested in history. I'm almost done with the book "Devil in the White City" about the Chicago Columbus Exposition in 1893. It was headed by an architect named Burnham. The newel post at the bottom of the stairs is a replica of the newel post in Burnham & Root's most notable building in Chicago, the Rookery. The original has since been redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright. The connection here is that after the Chicago Exposition, Burnham was in great demand. He was brought into DC, along with Olmstead, to beautify DC. Olmstead was the man who designed Central Park and also did the Vanderbuilt estate, among others. Just strange seeing the connections.

Def a worthwhile gem to visit if u r looking for a historic home to visit. Beautiful architecture & design tricks woven into this home. Docent is informative & gives u a sense of what the period was like as well as the int history of the home.

4.5 stars. Super interesting tours with nice tour guides who know an awful lot about Christian Heurich, his house and, just in general, the great city of DC. They were nice enough to let me go in at 1pm even though I had scheduled a 2pm tour. It was just me and two guides so I got to ask as many questions as I wanted and the whole thing felt way more personal. The 5 dollar cost is more than acceptable and I felt this was 100% worthwhile way to spend 1 hour out of the day. I am glad I checked it out on my last day in DC after a three year stint in the area. I am sure every single person reading this has walked by it not knowing what it was, so I recommend you reserve a tour and go in some time! There are a lot of subtleties within the house, so pay special attention and overall, just enjoy the beautiful old house. The house is a little on the dark side but there is a reason for that and it will be explained

This place is great! Bf and I wanted easygoing morning activity before hitting the crazy D.C. tourist stuff. Our docent was great and I'd go again in a minute. Only one reason to not give five - donation is awkward. Put a price and ask if want to offer more.

The mansion itself is quite beautiful, and almost haunting. The only thing is that there is very limited space to walk around. I understand that they are trying to keep gusts out of the rooms due to the antiquity of the furniture and art work, but you can only see and "feel" so much from the doorway! Since this has been dubbed the "brewmaster's mansion" i was hoping more would be dedicated to the brew history. Instead it just seem like a home that is preserved. There isn't much more that can be sad. I was told that Heurich's granddaughter and daughter are still alive and during special Museum openings the granddaughter comes and provides stories of Mr. Heurich himself, which would've definitely been amazing, however my experience there left a lot more to be desired.

Interesting house to visit. Pay what you want at entrance. Can only take guided tours here. You can sign up online to assure entrance. If you are into brewing, this is a MUST for you.

I used to work next door to this mansion and never knew what it was. Well, it's a well preserved historic home that does tours 2 days a week and hosts private events. It's really gorgous inside - well worth the $5 tour, and off the beaten path for tourism.

Live across from this house and they consistently have events that are loud and - to my thinking - inconsiderate of surrounding residents. They often suggest that their events are quiet but there is loud music (including outdoor movie showings) that go on through the evenings for months. This isn't a comment on the house, which I think is beautiful and a great historic place. But, I wish they would show consideration for the many apartments nearby.

Such a little-known gem in the heart of the city! A wonderful piece of history-definitely worth a visit!

I finally managed to catch a tour here over the summer. It's definitely worth the visit. The tour guide was knowledgable and very patient with visitor questions. 4 stars - it's not as opulent as the society of the Cincinnati around the corner, but it does give some insight on what it must have been like living in the old place so many decades ago. The history is fascinating to me.

If you are a beer fan, especially German beer, then you should hear the story. The house and artifacts are great but with so many things to see in DC I would not but this at the top of the list as you can see great houses everywhere. But... if you have time and $5 then go! It is worth the money.

The tour guide was excellent. I can't believe this tour is free (suggested donations).

Super cool tour! Walk-in tours several times a day, six days a week. Really super interesting and friendly staff. PS. NOT AN OLD BREWERY.

Hidden gem. Amazing this exists in the hustle and bustle of Dupont; I never noticed it before. Generally very well preserved amazing historic building. Intricate wood carved furniture with a German castle feel. Nice "man cave" in the basement too. Interesting experience, and the tour guides were very friendly. Recommend for something off the beaten path after you've done all the museums on the mall.