Portner Brewhouse Opens in Alexandria’s West End

It is always exciting to find out that a brewery or pub is opening in your neighborhood, especially when said neighborhood is largely devoid of craft beer havens. After many years of rumors and rumblings, Portner Brewhouse officially opened its doors on March 7, 2017 in Alexandria’s West End.

It has been 101 years since the Robert Portner Brewery was shuttered by the scourge of Prohibition, and now its name is being revived by members of that beer scion’s family. Both Margaret and Catherine Portner could be seen walking the floor, working beside their servers, on opening night.

A small shrine with the original brewery’s memorabilia contrasts with the bright, gleaming tanks, open floor plan, and relatively ample lighting. A long glass case filled with mugs (styled after the original brewery’s design) and metal drinking vessels (for those who invested in the new brewpub) separates the bar area from the main dining room. The bar itself is a long, heavily varnished wooden rectangle, and t