Red Bear Reviews

Terrible service..sat at the bar empty glass for 20 min while two bartenders serve only people in line not at the bar.....then....serves two people sitting next to me and completely ignores me sitting there ...no glass in front of me...this was a return trip..service first time ok this time...not....won t be returning until folks learn how to be attentive .....

Red Bear is a great addition to the NOMA neighborhood. I love that all the rainbow flags around the place. The macaroni and cheese is delicious! It tastes likes someone s grandma is in the back cooking it up. The Brussel sprouts are ok, but they aren t crispy like most restaurants are serving them these days. The cider is not for people who drink cider because they aren t beer fans. The ciders are tart and hoppy. I am not a beer fan, so I ordered a mixed drink. The whiskey I got was delicious, but I m not sure what kind of whiskey it is. I will definitely be back to Red Bear. I love that they make board games available. I think the only bad thing about the place is that their outdoor space is tiny, so it probably won t be a good spring time destination.

Great beer, amazing staff, and delicious food. Couldn't ask for much more.

Great addition to an area that desperately needs more neighborhood watering holes. Beer is pretty decent and varied and they have a good setup in the building. While they do sometimes offer food through a food pop up kitchen, it is not every day and it varies (but you are there for the beer anyway). The only real problem is the place can get incredibly loud and the place is cavernous so everything echoes, making it hard to have a conversation.

Terrific selection of beers. All the IPAs and darker barrel aged selection I tried were terrific. Food was a bit pricey, but delicious.

Visited from Seattle and felt at home in this reclaimed wood, gay-owned bar. Plenty of IPAs on tap and a huge board game selection, it felt like Ballard!

Other amenities: beer flights, easily accessible places to charge your devices, on-site brewing, live music.

Red Bear isn't your typical brewery. I'll let you find out for yourself why though. But very inclusive environment with exceptional beer. We happened to get there right as a wild game of bingo was taking place.

Great variety of beers & bears. Get the cheese fries! Welcoming atmosphere w/ a neighborhood vibe.

Definitely into this spot! They have 15ish beers on tap and offer different pour amounts at various prices, which makes us an affordable spot. Most of their beers are darker (red ales, stouts), something to keep in mind for people who prefer the wheats of the world.

Their bar food is on point with things like cheese curds and sandwiches that are juuust different enough to make you feel a little fancy.

Their board game library is among the best in DC and totally free to borrow from!

They have diverse beer/cider tasting for you to choose from. I am obsessed with the fact they have mountain of cards and board games for us to play with.

Staff was extremely rude the second we sat down and made it clear that she had preconceived notions about the many faces that my group of friends represent. During her introduction she was trying to tell six health care workers how to act during Covid. Unlike other places this place requires you to wear a a mask when the servers are at the table (as you should) even if you drop off a drink while drinking. We came there to play games and the staff member couldn t be bothered to let us know what games they had. Last my friend made the fatal mistake of drawing something on his order tab that was clearly not directed towards the staff in any way shape or form. While he should not have done that this. We will all lectured and kicked out. When I looked at the tab I then realized they were about to charge us if I didn t come back to correct this. I m sorry, we respect support and love all people but it was clear that this establishment doesn t feel the same. Will never support this establishment again.

To their response. 1) i recognize that they should have not done that 2) they were not going to give us our money back unless we ask 3) the individual acted by himself, so please do not take us and have audacity to categorize us as one person. Your response is copy and paste reply that paints a narrative that works for their story. 4) maybe tour staff should have said that there was no games instead of rolling their eyes and saying ughh I ll go check. We have nothing then abruptly walking away. Further, during a distressed economy you can t have staff that is as unpleasant, unprofessional and told us that having separate tabs would be too hard for them. They were looking for excuse to kick us out from the time we sat down.

This place was packed for the grand opening. Fish themed popup provided the food and it was really good especially the fried calamari! I liked the DC dirt porter.

Went to the soft opening and the place was busy and booming as if it had been opened for months. On the corner of a quiet street it brings a lively element and something fun to do to the neighborhood. I Loved the atmosphere and my husband said the beers were tasty. We are looking forward to going back to try more beers and of course I have to taste the food.
#fallynsfoodieexcursions
#redbeardbrewery
#beerfoodies

Good beer, huge selection of games to check out and play while you are there. Nice neighborhood and family place, but also a good place to explore different local beers. A bit loud and crowded when we were there, but we would definitely go back!

The beer was ok. We were visiting from Pittsburgh and are big into the craft beer scene here and the surrounding areas. We like to visit local breweries while traveling.
The bartenders made our experience worth not coming back. They were more interested in chatting with each other and being on their phones I stead of customer service.
We were going to come back for dinner but that turned us off.
My husband asked about one of the beers and he never got a straight answer. The atmosphere of the bar itself was great but customer service was terrible. We visited on Wednesday January 22nd around 5pm.
We won't be back.

Love the beer. Not a fan of their food though. Definitely recommend popping in for a pint or few.

The bartender staff are not friendly and never smile. Not very helpful. They do not give a sample of the beer before buying a entire drink. Not recommend.

The beer is great but I wish they had more food options.

Things were fine til some battle ax came out a yelled at me for smoking at the bottom of the stairs (i was definitely over 25 feet away). Won't be back

Incredible new brewery. I've been waiting for this to open for a while. Excellent beers of course but also BBQ and a million board games.

I am a traveler from Oklahoma and always try to hit a craft brewery in every city I visit. I stopped in last night and was blown away. The place was very busy (it was a Saturday) but the service never wavered. I had the Dank Grilled Cheese and it was a lovely experience. The cheeses were flavorful and the bread was crispy and fresh. The waffle fries were seasoned very well. Of course, the beers stole the show. Every IPA was hoppy and flavorful, but the MidAtlantic Lager was one of the best beers I've had in months. Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys great food, service, beers and atmosphere. Kudos.

Wonderful atmosphere, this is a mixture of the PNW craft beers with the young soul atmosphere of DC. The beer is well crafted in the aspect that it has a mixture of beer brewed for the masses and palette picky beer snobs (yes that is me). This is a great place to gather with your friends, chat.... Play board games.... Spend some alone time.... Sit outside.... And observe the wonder mix of people.

So I m sitting at the bar and was told I had to walk to the center of the bar to get my next beer and also to close my tab. There were fifteen people in the place. There were also two employees talking and doing nothing In front of me and would not get me a beer. Horrific customer service and, the beer isn t worth it.

Sorry. Try again on the service.

When I attended the grand opening, I enjoyed nearly EVERY Red Bear brew on tap, even though I'm a) not much of a beer person and b) really don't like dark beers.

The space is amazing, check out a game while enjoying your pint (or flight -- my fave), enjoy whatever food they are serving (pop-up for now, kitchen to come later), enjoy the night's entertainment, and please please please check out every bathroom's decor! XD

Excellent board game selection, good beer, and outdoor seating. I ll be back.

Red Bear lied to me.

A bartender sold me a wristband on Valentine's Day 2020 on the understanding that it would allow me to drink beer at the bar for that night for a flat rate ($35).

The bartender said that ended at 11pm, and that was not what was advertised.

Red Bear lied.

The beer is overpriced and the service is the worst. I went here once and wasn t impressed so I decided to go back and give it another shot. The bartender totally ignored me and took orders from other people who showed up 15 minutes after me. When I asked him about it he was rude. I wouldn t waste my time here again.

We absolutely loved our time visiting Red Bear. The beer and food we're delicious. The staff was very kind and helpful.

No comments on the brews, but their food is great. I've had the cheese curds which are to die for and comfort food for any Midwesterner. I also had the grilled cheese (pictured) which is about the closest thing to a divine experience you can get these days. A bit on the pricey side at $12 but if you can splurge once a month or couple months, go for it.

Myself and a group of friends arrived here and was harassed and spoken to very rudely by the staff and when we tried to stand up for ourselves we got kicked out. They also didn t close our tabs for alcohol that we didn t receive and we had to repeatedly ask for them to delete our tabs and not charge our cards. Do not recommend. Only go here if you want to be picked on and disrespected. This is NOT a queer friendly establishment.

To their reply: they asked us leave because their waitress was looking for an excuse to kick us out from her rude behavior since we walked in. Regardless of what was drawn we had horrible service and will be making everyone aware of the treatment we experienced.

Didn't feel welcomed at all. The staring was unsettling and neither the hostess or the bartender acknowledged me. It's unfortunate because I was really looking forward to trying the beers here.

The ambiance and the food here was fantastic! A nice, lofty space with rustic furniture and an extensive list of local beers. Not really a place for lounging, more like a space for high-energy conversation among friends. Only thing that would make it better is if they had pool or ping pong or something. Will return.

Hands down best brewery in DC. Open, comfy and tons of games. Roasting food on-site which is really good. And to top it off, Amazing beer. I was very very surprised. It s been impossible to find a good porter in DC. Awesome place to get buzzed before going REI. Great recipe for spending too much money. And they are from my home city. Way to rep the Emerald City.

I like the concept. The games are great. Staff is friendly. But, I really disliked the brews I ordered. It's loud, gets really crowded on the weekend, and it can be hard to find a seat. Not the best experience, but I'd be willing to come back to see if it was just a crowded spot.

While it can be more expensive than some local bars, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere and quality beers are worth the price. It's an enjoyable place to gather with a group of friends, large or small, drink some delicious brews and play some local games. I did not try the bbq during my visit but since I'm sure to return soon, I will have to give it a go.

Nasty beer, bad service, and hipster man buns everywhere. Won t be back.

10+ beer selection, cocktails, wine, and mead. Engaging staff. This has sort of become my place. Great space with varied types of seating and a board game selection better than the best board game store you ve ever been to.

What a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Great beer, welcoming vibe. So happy you re here.

Outstanding beers and outstanding vibes. An awesome addition to the neighborhood.

Red Bear has a great variety of brews and the atmosphere in there is awesome. I mean there's a bathroom covered entirely with photos of Jeff Goldblum. Now I can't pee anywhere else. Judging by the flags they have allegiance to both Washington DC and Washington State. I didn't get to eat but I do believe they have a kitchen, and sure to check their events as well - lots of fun stuff going on.

Good beer, tasty food...what's not to like? Great precautions during COVID too!

Decent newish brewery in dc. Ipas are solid, stouts and porters could use a bit more work. Not overly crowded on Saturday around 1ish pm. Have heard it gets super packed but wasn t terrible. Love the games they have and family first atmosphere.

Went to the soft opening on Saturday and it was a success! Great beer and atmosphere! They were surprisingly very well prepared for a soft opening which had a significant line out the door. Great addition to the neighborhood and look forward to many beers in the future!

Great beer, awesome atmosphere, and fun games! They have a nice beer selection with different glass sizes so you can try lots of different kinds. They also have a great board game selection and comfy seating. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Great service, atmosphere and beer. Most importantly the only place to have Seattle-style Teriyaki I've found in the city - and it's very good!

Would'nt recommend. Much better places all over the city.

Great vibe. Great beer selection. Great bar team. Local. Definitely coming back.

Stumbled in here after stopping by REI next door. Small patio, but perfect on a nice day. Large space inside with lots of games to check out and play. Tried two beers and both were excellent.

The service is terrible. Starting with the "hostess" which was a young girl more interested in texting on her phone than answering a question. When she finally did look up she was extremely short and rude in her response. We thought maybe it was a one off but the bartenders were one in the same. The food was over priced and the burgers were tasteless. We love going to breweries but this was really a disappointment. Were European so we're used to slow, substandard service when compared to the US standard but this was the worst. Am expensive disappointing experience.

Went to open night
Good selection of beers, wines, and cocktails
Prices are fair

Great location, good interior layout, board games for group playing, and good ambient atmosphere

Friendly staff, easy to get attention to order

I do recommend that place for hanging out with friends and solo drinking

I got two ciders, both of which were pretty good. My boyfriend got two different beers, and he liked both. Fun set up and they have a ton of game options. My only suggestion would be the addition of some acoustic panels to absorb some sound as it gets very loud with all the voices bouncing off the walls.

Terrible and expensive place!

I ordered woof melon hard seltzer and it was DISGUSTING!! After that I ordered scream inside your heart and another DISAPPOINTMENT!! they brought it as sample like 10oz for $9 and the taste was below average.

BORING PLACE AND RUDE WAITER!!

I will never come back!!

This place was terrible. Looks like a giant, offensively lit barn. The acoustics and everything about it just put me off instantly.

Super fun environment and a beautiful, ADA and metro accessible space! Marmalade Skies is one of the best beers in D.C. Check it out!

I can't recommend this place enough, even after just one visit.
This brewery boasts a spacious room, a menu full of craft beers, and a pristine collection of board games.

--I tried a few of their offerings including a Guava Gose, a Brut Kolsch, and a Witbier. All of which were pretty good, with the Gose being a particular standout.
--As of July, the board games don't cost any money! They have a great selection that is well organized and well-maintained. Even though this brewery doesn't advertise itself as a board game bar, they are frankly doing a better job than nearly every other board game spot I've found in the city.

I've noticed other reviews citing acoustics in the space. During happy hour after work on a Wednesday, the space was only mildly crowded and volume levels were not an issue for me.

Cons:
-limited kitchen options outside of featured menu days (though they are expanding this in the near future)
-lighting levels were high (not an issue for me while playing board games, but may not create that intimate mood lighting if that's what you're looking for)

Please do yourself a favor - grab three or four of your coworkers and check this place out!

Red Bear Brewing makes a good range of beer, including a standard porter and choice of IPAs. Pop-up kitchens serve up the food. Small terrace and large wrap-around bar inside.

Pretty nice place. I'm disappointed that they have the double ipa but overall the beer was great.

Bathrooms had Jeff Goldblum photos and Cats in Space. Pretty nice place overall. Decent beer and a ton of board games! Lots of space to hang out and play games, chat or watch TV.

Great selection of beers, friendly servers, clean environment, and good atmosphere. Beer is a bit pricey but no more than anywhere else in the District. Surprised by how many people were there with kids.

Hamburger in this place it s very recommendable, they use fresh and natural ingredients, the waiters are friendly and beer is very good.

Try the Cupid's black heart and the black currant cider! So tasty!

I've been here twice, once with my co-workers during a weekday happy hour and once with my wife on Saturday. Location right off the NoMa Metro stop is super convenient. The beers are phenomenal, a great selection that offers some thirst quenchers for the summer season. Prices are a bit high when it's not happy hour, but that didn't stop the Saturday crowds from filling the place, even the outdoor space in 95-degree heat! Nice that they have games available. I'd really like to see them work on the acoustics inside though, I measured 79dB which is super loud. I had some concerns for the hearing of the kids and babies there.

Despite a hectic Saturday night crowd, the hostess (I believe her name was Amelia) was extremely personable and reassuring. She was knowledge of drinks and staff and was a welcomed start to an excellent brewery experience!

The selection was just as excellent, highly recommend the Mt Defiance Cider!

Such a fun bar conveniently located in NE DC. The food and drinks are pretty good but my favorite aspect of this gem is the atmosphere and the game selection. The hostess, I think her name was Laurel, was so knowledgeable about all the games and made some great suggestions for my group. I will definitely be back.

A great spot with nice variety and many table games.

Really awesome place to go. Beers are good, they have their own cocktails and ales as well if you don't like beer. Food is really good too. They have a huge selection of games to play. It's a really great atmosphere, you can tell everyone there is having a good time. On our way in we met a woman who was so nice and friendly, and brought us to meet one of the owners! He was pretty nice, and it felt really awesome to be so welcomed to the place. My friend and I stayed for a couple hours at least. And it's a quick walk away from the metro. All around we had an amazing experience and I would love to go back someday!

I love this place : the beer is very good, there's an excellent selection of boardgames, gender neutral single stall bathrooms, and friendly vibes.

I'm not a beer guy, but I'd still come to Red Bear to hang out. Here's why it's a great spot:

1) Space: It's massive! It's in the same building as the REI (where the Beatles played their first U.S. concert). It's one large open room with a large wrap around bar in the center. There's bar seating and tables throughout the space. There are single uni-sex bathrooms in the back.

2) Beer: They sell their own craft beer on tap as well as local wine, mead, and cider (Farmhouse for $8). The prices aren't so bad either for an expensive city like D.C.

3) Food: For now, they have rotating food trucks come into their kitchen space and sell quality food. The day I went Roaming Rooster was selling fried chicken sandwiches for under $10.

4) Entertainment: They have over 100 games (Settlers, Secret Hitler, etc) and a stage for live mucis.

5) Kid friendly: They have high chairs and welcome little ones to enter.

If you want a great chill, fun brewery in NoMa, this is the best option!

A lovely NoMA hidden gem. Tried my first-ever Beyond Burger here and really enjoyed it, plus the waffle fries were amazing. Nice variety of beers as well. We sat on the front patio due to the pandemic so I can't comment on the interior, but the patio provided a decent view of the surrounding area. Staff was also very friendly (all wore masks) and seemed happy to see us. Definitely give this place a try if you're in the area!

Friendly service and decent beer. I had a double IPA called Twinsies. It was very drinkable for 10.5%. Clean bathroom and hand sanitizer on the socially distanced tables as well.

Most of their beers and pretty good! The grapefruit cider they have on tap was excellent. The service was quick and friendly and they have a number of games to choose from. The building itself is clean and while it could get a little crowded and loud, it was still a great time!

Great beer, great atmosphere, and wonderful and attentive staff. The beer selection is fun and diverse. A great place right off the NOMA metro stop off the Red Line and literally right next to REI DC Flagship store. Keep bringing the good suds to NOMA!

So glad to have these guys finally open! Really great addition to the neighborhood. The beers are delicious and the atmosphere is great! It's like a little slice of the PNW here in NoMa.

Came here with a few friends and right at the start an older lady who was serving at the counter did not treat us with respect. You can just tell when someone is throwing out micro-aggressive behavior. Never coming back here again.