Heurich House Museum

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"Up until 1956 the house belonged to the same family that famously owned the largest brewery in D.C.; the brick Dupont digs now offer tours but are perhaps best known for the 1921 Biergarten on the back lawn, where visitors can sip alfresco pours from local breweries, distilleries, and wineries while sitting around fires or at Oktoberfest-style tables (with a holiday market from December 6-13). For more beer history, head to the carriage house’s HOME/BREWED exhibit to view objects from the original brewery." - Abi Newhouse

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"A well-preserved Richardsonian Romanesque mansion built in the 1890s for German-American brewer Christian Heurich, this museum highlights period technological innovations like electric lighting and speaking tubes while exploring the lives of the family, household staff, brewery workers, and craftsmen; tours are available by reservation (Thursday–Saturday) and the property includes a backyard biergarten." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

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"The historic brewery-turned-museum reopened for tours and its backyard biergarten again serves Senate Beer, a historically accurate revival of a D.C. brew." - Tierney Plumb

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"The Christian Heurich House, better known as “The Brewmaster’s Castle,” was once the home of one of the largest employers in Washington D.C. Today, it continues to serve as one of the grandest places to grab a beer in the whole country. Built in the 1890s by European beer brewer Christian Heurich, the gothic edifice was made to be the brewer’s grand palace. Heurich came to the states in 1866, but had been brewing beer since childhood, learning the art from his father. When he arrived in the U.S., Heurich threw himself into building a beer brewing empire. He created a massive fireproof brewery, where the Kennedy Center stands today, that could pump out over 500,000 barrels a year, becoming the second largest employer in D.C., eclipsed only by the government itself. Using the wealth from his massive brewing business, Heurich built his grand home with his second wife. The home was inspired by the elaborate Victorian trends of the late 1800s, featuring stone arches and a tall tower rising above the rest of the three story house on one side. Heurich lived in the elaborate home until his death in 1945 at the age of 102. The Christian Heurich Brewing Company closed down just over a decade later and was demolished in 1962. Heurich’s home, however, has had a second act as a national historic landmark. The first two floors have been preserved, and the spirit of the brewing business that led to the construction of the house is preserved as well. Regular beer events are held in the space like Oktoberfests and a monthly beer tasting called “History and Hops,” where visitors can have a beer while taking tours of the available space in the house. Prost!" - ATLAS_OBSCURA

"The Brewmaster's Castle Built from 1892 to 1894, this uniquely intact Victorian mansion was the home of German-American philanthropist and beer magnate Christian Heurich. Considered the world's oldest brewmaster, he ran the Christian Heurich Brewery on the site where the Kennedy Center now stands—until his death in 1945 at the age of 102. At this museum, visitors can learn the story of one of D.C.'s most successful entrepreneurs and his family, his influence on America's brewing industry, and the construction of his 31-room mansion. As D.C.'s first fireproof home (he had a fear of fire), it is replete with hand-carved wood, 15 fireplaces with individually carved mantles, hand-painted ceiling canvases, luxurious furnished rooms, original Heurich family heirlooms, a bierstube ("beer room"), elevator shaft, and gas and electric lighting fixtures."