BabyCat Brewery

I stopped in at Babycat Brewery in Kensington, MD as part of a Metro brewery tour, and I ended up staying much longer than planned. I tried the Belgian Dubbel, Kieffer’s Kölsch, Pumpkween, and Calico Altbier—each one a solid, true-to-style pour. I grabbed a smash burger and dusted fries from their food truck, Cattie Shak, and both were fantastic. As a French fry addict, I can honestly say these fries did not disappoint. The burger was just as good—top notch brewery fare. The space is on the smaller side but very welcoming and personable. I got to meet both the owner and the brewer, which added a great personal touch. Even at lunchtime, the place was buzzing with energy—locals riding up on their bikes, families dropping in for lunch, and a lively community vibe all around. The outdoor seating made for the perfect setting on a gorgeous day, with a light breeze and great atmosphere. I had intended to explore more breweries on my tour, but Babycat pulled me in so well that I couldn’t leave. Definitely worth the visit!

Really nice place that's tucked away and next to the railroad tracks. Good beer selection and the food is good too. Smaller inside space with a double deck outside. Pretty noisy overall and Lots of kids! A nice small brewery space to hang.

We really liked this place. Still pretty new but they can compete. When we went, it was warm and sunny and the place was packed with people, kids of all ages and dogs. We tried 8 of their beers and they are all very good. The hazy seemed very popular for the sunny day but we didn’t try that one. We loved the dark beers, especially the Black Cat. There is a big interior with plenty of seating of different types and a beautiful live edge bar. The patio is large and dog friendly. They have one of those nice water bottle refill water fountains and multiple single, lockable bathrooms which is great for families and little kids. They have food devices cooking on a grill outside which also had a pizza oven that looked really good. Check this place out for the good vibe and great beer.

Fun place, and a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. Came here with my family and met some new neighbors. The beer is great. I especially like the man tiger. We ordered dinner from Dish & Dram, and sat outside, but there are also food trucks from time to time. They just built a new high deck for adults, and have theme nights (I had glitter beer and it was Taylor Swift night!) It is a wonderful place overall and you should go there!

Lovely little brewery. Beer was really good and a strong variety of styles so there is, likely, something for everyone. Almost as much variety in seating as in beer with a lovely patio area outside. Wish the to-go options were a bit broader otherwise no complaints. No food on site but food trucks do schedule here and there are delivery places nearby that you can order from.

A charming and cheeky brewery offering plenty of superb options and welcoming vibes. Their draft selection is superb - they even had some ‘side pull’ options available. I’d suggest the Czech lager - hit all the right notes. There was even live music when we were there. Looking forward to trying the food on a return visit.

Absolutely delicious beer! It may be a smaller brewery but there is a beer for almost everyone. The staff is great as is the atmosphere. The train going by is pretty unique experience. Highly recommend if you are in the Kensington area.

What an excellent use of space hidden behind an already great little strip. Kid-friendly brewpub with large outdoor area for sitting and play, picnic tables on wood chips, food trucks, a standalone mezzanine, and a farmer’s market on weekends. Leather seats on side, interesting beers, happy locals and kids.

started with a kentucky mule then got the warner mansion sat outside for a bit now i'm inside watching rush hour 1 with arabic subtitles it truly doesn't get better than this, 5 stars

I checked out babycat in Kensington on a Friday night and it was a good time! The place is very family oriented with a small kids playground, dogs, and even had live Irish music! The beer itself tasted great,but the cocktails were a little hit or miss the ratios weren't very consistent between drinks. Prices also felt a bit on the higher side for what you get. Still, if you're looking for a fun, family and dog friendly brewery with good beer and a nice environment, Babycat is worth a visit.

I was charged twice for the same meal and I can reach anyone to fix my charge. My first order never came and the cook at the window said for me to just order again. I told him that I didn't want to be charged twice and he assured me that couldn't happen. But on my bill I was charged twice.

Went here for trivia and It was a great time. The food truck service was quick and the burger was really yummy. The staff were knowledgeable of the different beers and it was an overall great atmosphere for trivia.

Beer, service, ambiance was all great! We were visiting our daughter from California and wish there were places like this there. Such a fun & chill vibe!

Awesome - how did I not know about this place before? Great beer, but they also have fantastic cocktails. The Pineapple Express was super. The outdoor space is so lovely, with plenty of shade and fans. The server was very nice as well. Plus live music??? Fabulous.

Such a great, upbeat  local brewery! Kids friendly, welcoming staff, and live music. As a cat lady, I was initially drawn to this place after seeing "Cat" in their name. And, I'm glad I finally visited here with my partner who also loves cats and beer. The weekend afternoon was a bit busy, but you could still find a seat and enjoy beers. A hipster, fun, cat-themed atmosphere. They have various types of beers, so I'm sure you can find the one you like. Also, I liked the cat-inspired names of each beer. Oats Malone (nitro oat ale) was creamy and rich. Calico was a bit malty and smooth. There are some food options like pizza. The price is decent, not crazy expensive. We'd love to come back and try more beers!

Such a cool place tucked behind one of the little strip malls in Kensington with live music on weekends and food trucks. Try to get a parking spot on the street; the lot is small and crammed. Decent beers, but the food truck last weekend was kind of a bust with decent burgers and gloppy wings slathered with cold BBQ sauce. The upper deck is small but fun. I would steer clear of downstairs with dozens of toddlers melting down all at once. Kind of surprised to see so many lunchboxes and empty juice boxes lying around a brewery. There was a big private event going on, and maybe that was the reason for all the kids, so will try again another evening and maybe go out afterwards for dinner somewhere else. PS: I love kids and have a few of them myself! I just felt like I was at a playground or a kid's birthday party that went on too long.

Nice brewery in the area with plenty of outside space and good food truck set up outside . They have different events during the week as well. They had trivia night when I went there and it was a very pleasant time .

What a wonderful find in Kensington. This is an awesome spot with plenty of beer options and a purrrfect amount of cat flair. While the spot is very kid-friendly, BabyCat has an adults-only balcony. The service was quite exceptional bc the beertender was very chatty and provided plenty of information about the brews when necessary. Also, the bar patrons were pretty friendly. BabyCat seems like a place where you can visit alone and spark up a conversation with a couple of strangers. I hope to visit again in the near future and try more of what BabyCat has to offer.

We ended up at Baby Cat when researching a spot to meet up with some old friends halfway between our houses- the outside decor & patio area gave great upbeat energetic ambiance vibes- but since it was cold we opted for trying to sit inside. Finding a spot was a bit difficult, as the place was quite cramped- they have many tables, but everything was so close together many of the options felt too crowded- I was hoping for a more low-key chill place to catch up, but our table was very close to others & I found myself talking louder to be heard or asking friends to repeat what they said- Also, they had a food truck posted on-site & allowed byof- which resulted in many uncleaned tables- but there were no napkins anywhere- I ended up asking the bartender for a napkin but they said the staff had to bus them- and we had to wait for them to bring a spray & rag over- which I felt guilty about because they only had a few staff trying to manage the beer line- The ordering of beer felt a bit rushed- & many of the brews were on the pricier side considering the other craft options in the area- As for the beers, they had a solid selection for all taste preferences. We opted to try the IPAs. They were average, nothing really stood out as a must-have again- basic haze, bit on the lighter profile side- Overall, it was a good one-time visit for being in the area. It had a lot of energy, But I wouldn't suggest there as our halfway again based on the crowded feeling, pricier pours, and lacking comparable quality compared to nearby spots

Good brewery in Kensington. They don't have a kitchen but they do own a food truck which dishes out pizza and wings. We liked the open space and lots of outdoor seating. When we were there, there was a guitarist belting out songs. They have a Pringle's machine and you can buy juices for the kids. It's very kid friendly and my wife's family had a kids birthday party here. The bartenders were great and friendly. Kudos to them for making this place very welcoming. The beers were quite tasty and recommend doing the beer flight then getting a full pint of the one you like. Lots of seasonal beers too! Good wifi too!

A neighborhood brewery that makes you feel right at home. I'm not a beer drinker, but I did enjoy the Catnip Bender. They had me at "flavor bouquet" in the description. I also tried the Cat-Tails, BabyCat's own mixed drink creation, in the raspberry ginger flavor, which I did find quite strong. They describe it as having the equivalent of 1.5 shots of 80 proof alcohol. So, if you're not in the mood for beer, they have some other things on the menu. On top of that, very nice service from the bar. My friends and I got dinner from the food trailer ("The Cattie Shack") on the premise, which offers cheeseburgers, falafel burgers, wings, and fries. A big heads up if Steeze is selling burgers there: expect a lot of people! BabyCat's Instagram always has updates on food. A big selling point here is the patio. It was a warm evening in March and it was a great place to enjoy the weather. The top deck is also a unique aspect of BabyCat where you can hang out above the patio. Another heads up: they welcome kids and local families do love hanging out at the brewery.

Small spot tucked away behind dish and dram. You gotta park out front even though there is a small lot back by the brewery which sucks. We went around 1pm on a Saturday and by 230 it was really busy. The staff was nice. People had their kids and dogs inside. The beer was ehh. The stout was very good but the pale ale wasn't great. Kolsch and pub ale lacked flavor. If you live in Kensington and want a neighborhood place to go to with your kids and dogs and don't mind mediocre beer, this place is for you. If you love craft beer, Silver Branch, Denizens, 3rd Hill are much better. I hope with time this place will bet better at brewing. I think it has a lot of potential.

So, i'd found out about BabyCat while looking up directions for somewhere else on google maps a little bit back and I loved the vibe of a cat themed brewery and their all cat related beer names. After coming back from camping early due to weather, and one of us taking a nap, we popped over to BabyCat for pre-dinner drinks, especially intrigued by their pumpkin beer. If you're going to check them out, you've gotta park in the front of the plaza by The Dish and Dram and some other businesses. BabyCat's behind there, past a whole bunch of signs that say "no parking for BabyCat customers" which to me says that's just staff parking for them and the other businesses. Anyway, we loved the look of their outdoor space, but with the chilly, dreary weather, we chose not to sit outside, option for bar seats on the comfy green chairs. We each got a flight of beer (mine pictured below) and we really enjoyed all of the ones we got. If you like IPAs, come here. If you like good pumpkin beer, come here--Pumpqween is more sweetness of a pumpkin pie forward that spice forward, FYI. If you like cats, come here as there's a loose cat theme throughout and one even hangs out in a room in the back separate from where all the beer is brewed. apparently, as I overheard, that cat is the parent and the actual babycat lives at home with their human, who owns the brewery. The vibes were great inside and we really enjoyed everything we got. Staff was super freindly.

Great beers in a great location in Kensington. The adults-only deck has been a great addition and frequently has open seating.

I stopped by since I was in the neighborhood, and I'm so glad I did! My GPS definitely misled me though haha -- I was directed to the opposite side of the plaza where Dish & Dram and other businesses are. If you love cats, you will definitely love this place... and it's not done in an over the top way either. All of the beers are inspired by cat-related things -- heck, even the wifi password is cat-related XD. I heard there are kittens in the back, and one of the staff was even wearing a cat-related shirt! But cat stuff that aside, it's a very open and awesome brewery. Inside, there are games for adults and for kids, snacks for kids, a bunch of comfy green (my favorite color) seats at the bar, and tables all around. It was dark when arrived, but there's a bunch of seating right outside too! There's a food truck you can order from, though I didn't check it out since I had my own food. You are indeed allowed to bring your own food in! It was towards the end of the night, and I decided to try a beer flight. Kieffer's Kolsch, Catnip Bender, Calico and Hot Tin Roof were my picks. Kieffer's and Hot Tin were definitely my favorites -- the first just had a comfortable flavor... while the latter was SPICY (jalapeno), but still delicious. Catnip was really tart, and Calico was neutral for me. Descriptors aside, I enjoyed every single one and also got to try the Black Cat. It reminded me a lot of Guinness which I typically don't like... but there was a flavor in there that made it quite palatable! I am just getting into beers myself, and I have friends who are doing the same. I am going to return (and hopefully it'll be daytime), and I look forward to trying more things off the menu and seeing the cats :).

BabyCat is still just a baby at six months old! Like most breweries, they don't have a kitchen, so it's either Pringles ($2.00 for a small can) or food from the food truck du jour. we opted for Pringles which surprisingly pair well with their brews. We shared a flight, which are any four choosing of your choice of the day's offerings for $12.00. We chose two pales (Warner Mansion- my friend's choice, and Purrlock Holmes- my choice). We also sampled two Hoppy brews (Catnip Bender- grapefruit infused and Logan's Pale Ale- notes of orange marmalade). I'm glad we tried all four, but I liked the golden Purrlock Holmes the best because it reminded of my days at the pubs in England. We also ordered a half pint of NITRO Caribbean Cat because the toasted coconut was alluring. It was a nice, dark dessert beer. It was packed on the Sunday afternoon we went. The tables outside were all taken, but we scored a table inside ahead of the drizzle. This place is tucked away and difficult to see from the road. I read here that people wrote that parking is limited, but we parked on the street due to the books festival we attended. Now that I know how charming this place is, with a friendly staff to boot, I will be back to sample future brews, and maybe a veggie friendly food truck.

Great local neighborhood brewery. Always a fun time here seeing the local community in Kensington.

Area for the kids to play. Area for people wanting to get away from said kids. Food and drink were great. Everyone had a good time

I had planned to bring a group of 10-15 people to BabyCat for a celebration. I emailed them to ask about arrangements for a large group. They never responded, so we went elsewhere. Apparently they are not interested in serving potential customers.

Perfect place for drinks, and for dinner with a family. Self-serve, with good food. Super casual and fun.

Cool spot. I'll be back for the music. Interesting hard seltzer cocktails. Nice spot in the shopping center for carry out. You can buy from a food truck or bring your own food. Good beer.

cute , family friendly, mellow What a cute brewery in a backyard environment. Respectable , hoppy IPAs. Family and dog friendly, the patio is lovely. Plenty of parking and sesting. Highlight of my DMV trip.

What's not to like? Great beer, a nice patio, friendly staff, and of course, a . This was a great find and I am so glad that we stopped in. Catnip Bender and Feral topped our list. Cheers!

A nice brewery tucked away in a neighborhood. The establishment has a new elevated deck, bike rack and improved layout. The beer is good and food options are a nice addition. Generally go for the catnip or man tiger beer. This strip mall will get really busy at times, try and park close at your own risk. Brewery is family, kid, pet, bike and all welcoming. The mixture of welcomes at times does cause friction. The friction I'll point out is ordering flow disruption. The proximity of the point of sale to the couch, path to bathroom and mixture of traffic, sometimes causes cross traffic and miscommunication. The new bike rack is way outside and not within view, at times blocked by the food truck vendors. Staff is polite. Oh and beer is cold and good.

I'm not a big beer guy. So for me to like this place says a lot. It's tucked behind a tiny series of stores. It's about the last place you'd expect to find a great brewery/beer garden--in a great way. Really great. The beers are great. The vibe is great. The outdoor space is great. The music we heard was great. The servers were great. The crowd was great--a mix of locals, families (and even kids) and hipsters.

Biked here on a Saturday, place was busy but not wild. Very dog and family friendly. Bartenders are friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the inside and outside seating as our visit continued. We were two days early for the newly installed bike locks! The beers are varied and cute, often named after feline inspiration. One stuck out- the raspberry wheat beer, which wasn't too fruit forward which I think happens often in fruit beers. This was more subtle, plus the can art was fun! We liked that could you choose your own for a flight. They also offered lots of other drinks and snacks. A food truck was outside but we didn't partake. There's also a beer store with a deli around the corner. If you're a beer snob, check out the store! Lots of local and lovely brews. Decor is cute too, cat centric!

We ventured to Kensington from DC for our first visit to Babycat and we will 100% be back The beer was amazing and the bartenders were very helpful. They had a food truck outside serving barbecue and someone singing and playing guitar outside. There was plenty of places to sit inside, outside and an elevated deck where kids and pets aren't allowed (everywhere else was kid and dog friendly). Vibes were 10/10 I loved the artwork on the cans and the bathroom wallpaper (you'll have to see for yourself) I can't wait to come back and bring friends and my pups!

This is a great new brewery! I went with my wife and dad the night before Thanksgiving and it was quite busy but we managed to grab their very comfortable couch we had trouble getting up from. The staff was all very friendly, especially Madeline. They had four beers and a cider on tap. The beers were good overall and my wife and I shared a flight of the Amber, American IPA, Hazy IPA, and the Witty Kitty. Our favorite was the Hazy IPA followed by the Witty Kitty but the pint of cider from Pub Dog that we got for my dad was wonderful as well. We look forward to returning and trying different beers as some cool new ones were going to be soon released.

I don't drink so this is more about the atmosphere. This brewery is great for get together with friends. The bathrooms are exceptionally clean. My one gripe is the noise level. There literally is no sound absorption so even with no music, you have to constantly scream. I like the fact that they have a food truck option and outdoor seating. The staff are great. You can order and linger and they are on point with picking up glassware. I'd definitely come back.

Totally digging this purrrfect neighborhood brewery that's a newcomer to Kensington! Suggestions: -make the hoodies $40 ea ($55 is too much) Woulda bought one for $40 and been a walking advertisement for you! -partner w Frankly! Pizza because beer + pizza is also a purrrfect -food trucks outside -sell the pop art Catnip Bender poster (start with size 8x11 -shouldn't the restroom be called the litterbox

Good beer (and good range of options and price points for pours), family-friendly, and just a really good vibe. It's also by the train tracks for added entertainment for the kids!

We've been in twice and really like the vibe there! I'm LOVING the new hazy IPA they have called Catnip Bender and am excited to try the other beers they're brewing there. In the meantime, they're supplementing with other great brews from outside places with the intention of releasing more soon. I really love that they've partnered with Dish and Dram (one of our favs) for food- I wish we could order the WHOLE menu but they have a nice selection of bites that D&D will deliver right to the brewery. One of the days we were there they had a great food truck as well. The bartenders are pleasant and the inside space is really nice. Kind of industrious and I love the wood bar! The outside space seems like there are plans to do more with it, but as we head into the winter it works great with the fire pit. It's hard to tell if they let dogs inside. The workers all say "no" but both times we were there, there were plenty of dogs hanging out inside, so perhaps you have to know someone. Definitely allowed outside though. Parking is kind of a pain, so uber if you're going in the middle of a busy Saturday or plan on walking a few blocks. Excited to see this place get settled and become a new neighborhood watering hole- Kensington really needed one!

Great food truck. Fun trivia. Cute decor. Great beer and staff. Love the hazy ipa! Also, very clean

Cool new brewery in Kensington that has both indoor and outdoor seating. They do sell light snacks inside the bar area such as chips and with a refrigerator filled with goodies like sandwiches. I believe they partner with a neighboring restaurant that you can order hot food from as well. Overall great and relaxing spot that I'm excited to visit again once they have a few more beers on tap.

Beer is getting better all the time. But - just had the Gumbo at their food truck the "Cattie Shack." Amazing. Chicken, andouille sausage, fresh peppers etc. I like it spicy so to me it was perfect. Highly recommended!

Juicy IPA and a fire pit and neighborhood dogs, Nice fun atmosphere. I don't believe the first to review didn't even drink a beer.

Love this place. Fun band - love the trivia board - Catnip Bender is mighty tasty. We'll mos def be back.

Babycat was a nice, chill place. It was a great location to catch up with my friend on a Thursday early afternoon - not too crowded. There was seating inside and outside in a grassy area near the food truck. There were tables, high tops, Adirondack chairs - lots of options. People with dogs were hanging out outside too. I just got one beer - a raspberry wheat which I think is seasonal (all the beers had cat themed names which was fun) and some food from the food truck. It was pleasant. They had some cute stickers for purchase at the register and some fridges with beers to purchase to go. Cute place that I'd definitely visit again if I'm in the area!

Babycat is fantastic! The vibes are immaculate. The beer and food are amazing. I have to add that I appreciate an owner who jumps into fire with his team. Sam had his hands in the food truck, behind the bar and really set a great example.

This is what this area has been missing for awhile. Loved coming here with our 7 month old daughter. It's got lots of outdoor seating but also has a garage door opening if you're sitting inside but want some fresh air still. It's very family friendly & a fun location that is right off of the train tracks (fun for the kids to see when it's running). I had the Catnip beer which was an IPA that was fruity & hoppy which I really liked! Great place to go when it's nice outside & you're looking for outdoor seating. Parking can be tough on nice days as there is limited parking, but it's in a great neighborhood with other options if you can walk a little.

I met my wife here on a Thursday after work and this place just hit the spot. It was on the chillier side around 55 degrees and baby cat had all the heaters and fire pits cranking to make the place as cozy as possible. Baby cat had all the March madness games playing in their multiple large screen TVs. I had the spruce goose which is an imperial red with 9% ABV and it was lovely while my wife enjoyed there amber ale. 10/10 place I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good time.

Great place to spend a couple hours chilling with friends ... Friendly crew, comfortable surroundings, damn fine brews with good choices!,,,

Helpful and friendly staff. Beer was good, but not as interesting as a few other places I've been. Good location and great atmosphere. Been here twice in the last four months, which is saying something because I'm from out of town. The first time there was a kids birthday party going on and this last time was just before closing and everyone was having a good time. If I lived in the neighborhood Id be a regular.

Above average neighborhood brewery, especially for Montgomery County. It's been really cool to see how they've iteratively improved the space and experience over time. Beer doesn't change a lot, but what they have is well done. Only real gripe is the kids. Completely understand that family friendly is the goal (and my understanding is the upstairs deck is adult only)... but on our last visit 4-5 kids ran laps between the tight tables for over 30 minutes -- disappointing that parents think this acceptable and saying something just results in a no-win situation. Every establishment should be open to well-behaved children and dogs!

The beer here is always great and it's a great place for families and kids. If your kids love trains they'll enjoy seeing the trains roll by!

Wonderful atmosphere! Kid friendly which was much appreciated. The music inside was a bit too loud but we asked the bartender to lower and there wasn't much of a problem afterwards

Great neighborhood place. For a new brewery, the beer is middle of the road but it has potential. I like the location but, as other reviewers have mentioned already, parking is a pain. I wonder if the neighbors hate the place due to everybody using their streets....oh well. And another thing -as mentioned already too-: kids, kids and more kids. Lots of millennials with young children. I wonder if they live around or drink and then hop on the minivan afterwards. I liked it more when there was no outdoor deck. Right now it seems cluttered and a bit claustrophobic. But all in all, with all its flaws, is the type of place I would go once in a while. I just have to think I'm going to a daycare and I'll be ok.