Two stars, and I really wanted it to be more. This place is five minutes from my house, and the idea of a reliable local spot for a couple of beers is genuinely appealing. The beer itself is quite good, and the bathrooms are clean. No complaints there. The issue is atmosphere, or the lack of it. Service was efficient and accurate, but the bartenders ranged from detached to noticeably unfriendly, which doesn't exactly set the mood. There was a live band the night I visited, and they were good. They were clearly trying to get something going, but it just didn't take. Part of that may be the crowd, which I realize a brewery can't fully control. But it's a strange fit for the location. Seven Locks sits in an industrial park in a more modest part of Rockville, and the clientele skews heavily toward families who've come with kids, tablets, and dogs, and who aren't particularly interested in talking to anyone they didn't arrive with. There's nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't make for a lively bar experience. The result is a place that has the ingredients for something great but feels oddly joyless in practice. I'll probably try it again hoping something clicks, but right now it's a hard place to love.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

7 Locks Brewing - just a view from the bathroom. - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Eh, 7 Locks Brewing is an interesting place. My good girlfriend and I came here on a Friday night for a drag bingo show put on by a partnered business, Absolutely Dragulous. I'm going to be honest.. this was not really a place that I think is appropriate for a show, a drag show at that. Lots of kicking, spinning, vogueing - and it was distracting to getting my drink down. I wish the space was more opened for the event. Additionally, the parking wasn't the best either. We parked on the street, about 0.2 miles away and were pleased to see there wasn't a charge posted on the meter. Almost an hour into the bingo show, my friend and I were hungry, and did not want the bags of chips floating around 7 Locks. So we left without finishing the game and went to go settle those hunger sounds. Overall, I don't think I would return to 7 Locks. There were a few missed moments and to top it all off, the crowd wasn't the most inviting either, as I asked a gentleman at a single table by himself, if the seats were taken (as my party of 2 stood for the first hour), and his response was that he would "let me know" once he finishes his pizza. Just - kinda rude in my opinion too. read more

7 Locks Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

A nice, relaxed space with a good selection of beers. We enjoyed the cranberry sour and the blueberry stout - both very unique and tasty. Their IPAs were also very tasty. There is no food (besides snacks) available, but they do have a shelf of games available for folks to play. read more

Remember when micro-breweries were a thing, well they still are! 7 Locks Brewing has been around for years and I've been many times through the years. It's a micro-brewery, but also a neighborhood bar. Nice and spacious, they have many unique offerings on tap, as well as canned and usually a few wine choices that rotates. It's nice I can usually try something new every time I go. There's no food, but you can bring what you want or get delivery. There's lots of seating inside, so it's great for parties and gatherings! There are a few games around or you can bring your own. Best of all, the service is great and the bartenders have been amazing every time I go! They even offer free tastings if you want to try before a full pour - I didn't even have to ask, the bartender was so friendly and just offered when I was indecisive because everything sounded good! read more

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I knew I'd be in the Rockville area this past Sunday, and researched nearby breweries. 7 Locks came up in a search result (however it being named after a prison didn't, lol). That said, I went to check it out. It was very brewery-ish, if you will. In a warehouse type building with minimal lighting, an open garage/bay door on a nice day, some billiards games, plus people with dogs. I sat at a large bar in fairly comfortable bar chairs. I ordered a flight, and was pleased that I got 5 samples! I set about choosing my beers, and soon they were placed in front of me. Out of the 5, I really enjoyed 3, which is a big deal! And it was a nice environment to sit in and linger over my samples while catching up with a friend. I'd visit again next time I'm in the area, for sure. read more

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We had a good time at 7 Locks Brewing on a lazy afternoon with my niece and her husband. They came to visit from Missouri. The prior day, we went to Glenstone, the great museum in Potomac, Maryland. They visit breweries every place they travel. Thanks to the family interest, I've been to maybe a dozen or so from coast to coast. This is a bar; I don't know if they do a tour or anything, and it doesn't look like they do. But we hung out and enjoyed a flight for each couple. I liked every one of the five pours. I especially like sours. They had two options, one with a raspberry lemonade flavor profile and another with guava. They allow dogs. They have a board with photos. They also are LGBT friendly. They have two big Pride flags hanging. It seems they have events and board games, etc. That has become more common. I've read that alcohol consumption has decreased, and beer as a refreshment is threatened. That is too bad. I'd visit 7 Locks again if offered an opportunity. It seems like a place you could hang out. read more

Don't let the warehouse facade of the building throw you off as unimpressive because the beer inside is superior and the atmosphere is super chill. There were so many selections of beer to choose from I opted for a simple flight of three because I was short on time but I could have selected five. I'm so glad I stopped here. The service was friendly and quick and the porter was on point. I'm not from the area but just passing through which is a shame because I would love to become a regular here. It is that good. read more

7 Locks Brewing - Main beer list of the day - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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The facade of the building is very plain but once inside, it's extremely spacious. The inside looks darks due to the color of the walls but there is plenty of lighting. I came here around 3PM on a Sunday and stayed to closing at 7PM. They have a ton beer selections brewed by themselves along with some wine options. I recommend the Potomac Fog and the Snakehead. The only downside is there are no food served here except the small bags of chips they sell. However you are allowed to order or bring your own. There are plenty of board games that one can play along with shuffleboard and Jenga. The staff was extremely nice and helpful. They didn't rush us or tell us they were closing right up to the closing time. They also provided free tasting of any beer on request. This place is a perfect hangout spot with friends for a relaxing day. read more

Love a local brewery, and the folks are friendly. The beer is decent, but the space is very loud. It's family and pet friendly, but difficult for conversation. Nice selection of games and activities. read more

Went here a while back and met up with a group -- parking is rather limited right in front of the place, but there is plenty of street parking. The only tradeoff is that the street is metered until a certain time, so you may end up disappointed if you don't get a spot right in front of the brewery. The interior is nice -- there were plenty of tables to sit at. And they have quite the vast selection of beers and so many board and card games to choose from! Still exploring beers, but the Devil's Alley IPA I had was good! I only had one, since I knew I wasn't hanging out too long. I shared food that was brought in -- I didn't get to try any options the brewery itself had. But I'll have to come back for that and their occasional events, like trivia and live music! It's a cool spot, and my interactions with the staff were great. read more

Great beers, unique location, awesome staff that made fantastic recommendations. Fantastic overall experience. read more

7 Locks Brewing - Double flight! - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Simple, yet perfectly adequate space for sharing a pint with friends. Good beer, friendly service and even our four legged friends can hang out! I wish they had a bit more offerings for snacks but pizza can always be delivered, so it isn't a big problem. Will definitely be back. read more

The beer is great i got the hazy ipa and the food truck was this next level Jamaican which mixed perfectly!!! I'd definitely come back and the service was the best. One suggestion the blue grass performer was so loud i and my party were very bothered. read more

Visited this past weekend overall, had a good time. I don't venture into MD much as I'm from NOVA but it was nice to try a new spot. The beer was cheap, I got 4 beers for $28 which was a steal and cheaper than anything I'd get in nova. It was pretty good as well. My favorite was their version of an amber, the surrender RyePA. If you're looking for anything other than beer, such as seltzer, they don't have any. We sat outside and switched inside and there aren't a ton of tables as it's not a huge brewery. It's also more industrial so don't expect the grass scenery that you get at other breweries/wineries. They did have live music which was nice. They also had board games to play. We ordered a pizza but I wasn't a huge fan of this. It was too much dough and not very flavorful. I'd skip this next time. I wish they had other food options to offset the beer but I think pizza was all they had. Overall, I recommend this spot mainly bc it was affordable. read more

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A surprisingly nice mico brewery at a place you would never expected where there are warehouses in rockville. Excellent collections of custom beers. read more

Great atmosphere. Lots of beer to choose from and you can do samplers if you want it to try lots of different ones. Very casual and dog friendly. Have games and cards available. Bring your own fave food. Check to see if there's a food truck when you're planning to go. read more

This place is dope, worked out well. Had the baby on Sunday so was tryin to culture it right, beer and football! I was impressed with the quality of the beer and the coziness of the spot. I like how it was quiet, great place to go and unwind and have great beer, def wanna go back! read more

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Chill spot to grab a beer. Went midday, Saturday and it was empty. There wasn't a food truck when we went but I know they do have food trucks at times. The beers are great and they rotate with some seasonal selections. I do love a place that has shuffle board! Definitely check this spot out if you're looking for a great local brew. read more

7 Locks Brewing - the inside of the restaurant - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

7 Locks has a very chill vibe with a nice beer menu and lots of space in an industrial-style brewery setting. It's very family-friendly, with board games, TVs showing the Simpsons and a movie (Fast and the Furious), and someone had even brought their little dog which was running around the room. The bartenders are friendly and patrons are welcome to bring in food from nearby. We saw a table where they had Ledo's pizza, and my table got food from the food truck stationed outside (note to self - not doing THAT again). There's a nice outdoor seating area too. If you don't have a car, 7 Locks is a little out of the way. My main motivation for checking this place out was that I'd found them listed as an official dropoff location for the recycling of Paktech (the plastic beer can holders). The bartender accepted my haul, but there wasn't anything in the brewery explicitly noting Paktech recycling or dropoff, so I'm not sure what the real story there is. I might return if in the area, or if I see any new beers that seem worth checking out. The menu on Memorial Day weekend 2023 was IPA and ale-heavy, which usually isn't my preference, though the Below the Belt Blonde ale was excellent. read more

I've been here once and had a good time with my family. I like that you can take a tour of the on site brewery. It is very spacious. The staff is nice and helpful. What I didn't quite like is that there's no food whatsoever. Yes, you can bring your own food or get it delivered there but it'd be good if they offered some small plates at least. The ambiance could be improved, it's not very attractive, I think they went all the way industrial for decor but some more lighting and wall decor that makes sense could offer a more welcoming space. Their outdoors seating needs work. They just put the tables out there. I understand that they specialize in brewing beer but maybe considering those upgrades could improve the influx of customers and generate more sales. I will go back to this place, as I said, I did have a good time and the beer was great! read more

This brewery is a fun spot to hang out and play games with friends while drinking beer. The parking situation is less than ideal and it can be tough to find parking if their small lot is full, but inside is spacious. We were able to grab a large table for a big group on a Saturday without problems. I wish their beer selection was a bit more diverse as when I went, there weren't some styles on the menu. However, everything we tried was really good and reasonably priced! read more

This was a really cool spot. A friend and I decided since it's getting warm it's time to hit up all the area distilleries and this was first on the list. I really enjoyed the indoor outdoor feel and the drink options are pretty good. Since it was our first visit we decided to share a flight to figure out what excited our taste buds. I would definitely recommend this place to friends and I'm sure we will be revisiting. read more

7 Locks Brewing - The Flight - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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If we're reviewing just the beer itself 7 locks is probably 2.5 stars. The beer isn't particularly high quality, definitely in the bottom 25% for local microbreweries. HOWEVER, 7 locks is always a fun hang. Great chill environment with sports on TV, a great Thursday Trivia Night, top quality live music on Saturdays (whoever books their acts is great). Friendly staff and the place seems to be both dog and family friendly. I always love coming here, despite the mediocre beer. Glad to have this place in our neighborhood! read more

A 1st visit to a hidden bar in Rockville! Pretty small, but spacious layout, due to an industrial warehouse interior. There was Corn Hole in one area, board games, card games and some tables to get seated. For a large group, most people were standing near the bar. There was a projector and a couple of TVs to watch football. The atmosphere was alright and the beers were pretty good. Just that you can't order food or other drinks since they do not serve anything else besides beer. There was a food truck, Anabel's Mobile Kitchen outside where you had to order food if you wanted to eat something... After a while, decided to try the Empanadas since just drinking beer wasn't enough. Price was $9 for decent sized Veggie Empanadas for 2. It was very delicious and I had to get another order of it. So, I paid $20 ($2 for tip) for 4 pieces. A little pricey, but no other food choices... Another option was to bring your own food, so maybe next time, I'll buy food from somewhere and go to the bar. Second dilemma was finding parking. A frickin' hassle! Minus 2 for no food service and parking issue. Other than those inconveniences, the place was fine. Met some new people during an event. read more

7 Locks Brewing - IPA - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

7 Locks Brewing is a solid drinking establishment in Rockville, MD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they've adjusted their brewery layout with lots of outside seating and only a few tables inside. I don't recall exactly what I ordered, but I do remember one of their beers selling out. My point is that they're popular and tasty enough to be gone! I like how they had a pizza vendor outside and I couldn't not get one to go with my delicious beer. I'm a fan! read more

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Dogs are allowed inside if well-behaved so you can bring your dog to have a beer or to participate in trivia, which is awesome! The only issue is that they don't have enough variety or frequency of food trucks so you kind of have to plan ahead and bring your own food. read more

Great spot for beer, music, and games. Inconsistent soda options (sometimes nothing at all) so BYOB if you're bringing kids.

So far my review is with how friendly the business is, and it's not user friendly. The website doesn't specify that they don't serve food and I was jumping through hoops trying to look for a food menu. Finally, I come to Yelp to find out that they don't serve food. Onto the actual bar itself, it's really nothing to brag about. It seems like a good place for families and older people. There's no music playing, one tv on, and there's no ac so you're sweating buckets after 2 beers and a game of jenga. Wouldnt come back. read more

Imagine going to a winery where you can bring your own food, sit down at a picnic table, and stay awhile. Now move that into an air conditioned industrial space and you've got 7 Locks. I've hosted some group events here over the years and it is such a convenient location. Their set up makes it easy for people with kids to bring food for them or for us to have our own picnic and keep going back to the bar for more drinks. Most of the time they have a food truck outside, but that's kind of it for food, so you have to bring your own. They have very limited non alcoholic drink options. I'm not sure what their official policy on outside drinks is, but we've brought juice boxes for the kids without anyone questioning us. Biggest complaint is when they run out of something on tap--inevitably its on my short list of things to try that day! read more

What a fantastic brewmaster, making such great tasting craft beers. It certainly has put Rockville on the map for local breweries and glad to see that many restaurants/bars are also 7 Locks on tap too! The brewery does not offer any food, as the other reviews state, and most of the time I am here, there is a food truck where you can get food. Otherwise, bring your own food. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, where I see people play Zenga, board games, watch tv, and just enjoy the beers here. Count me as a fan (Surrender Dorothy! and miss their Black Lager beer) and glad they also sell beer to go in cans. Don't know if they sell growlers. read more

7 Locks Brewing is a great local brewery. I love that they sell their Surrender Dorothy Rye PA in cans. One of my favorites! Recently they released their Oktoberfest lager in cans. With over 10 brews to try, you can't go wrong. Like many breweries, food trucks are your best option for accompanying your brews. There is a parking lot, but many times during the warmer seasons they have outdoor events with local bands. Parking on the street is easy. read more

7 Locks Brewing - Available in cans starting 6/17/17. - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

We've been meaning to come here since their opening but you know, life, right? So finally the day after Xmas, decided to sneak away from all the holiday hub bub and try out their brews. Firstly, and happy to say, dogs (well-behaved, of course) are welcome. Then, the space is inviting with cozy tables and high ceilings with a few flat screens and one huge projection. Lastly, the beers we ordered, IPA and a stout, were pretty decent. My only issue is too much head on the pour. I can understand on the stout but not an IPA. We also noticed some of the customers had brought in their own snacks. It's a great place to hangout an hour or two with friends or family. Parking is limited in the private lot but there might be street overflow parking. read more

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This was my first time visiting this place but it won't be the last! Great beer with a decent selection and a cool place to hang out for a drink or 2. Live music and a bunch of games! We had a great time! Looking forward to the next time I can make a visit read more

7 Locks Brewing - Billy Goat TrAil x2 - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Hip community brewery tucked into (what's become) the common former industrial space. Love how they tuck local lore & highlights into the beer names. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a cleverly named beer. The brews are pretty solid, nothing that is gonna sweep the GABF, but tasty and satisfying to be sure. Cool vibe. Limited tables inside, but outdoor options available as well. I will pop in anytime I'm around. Drink local! read more

7 Locks Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Nice brewery with good beer. Decent amount of seating both inside out although outside you are just sitting in a parking lot. Inside there are a bunch of tvs playing sports (on a Saturday afternoon it was college football). The bartender was friendly and gladly provided me with a few samples of beer before deciding on which 6 pack to take home. I tried the Pilsner, red lager, and the Oktoberfest marzen. All three were good with the marzen and Pilsner being my favorite while I thought the red lager had a bit too much alcohol content for my liking at 6 something percent but will give it another try. I went with the marzen this time and look forward to taking home the Pilsner next time as well as trying others. Great local brewery with good fresh beer if you live in the area. read more

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Not even a year old yet, 7 Locks has quickly become on of my favorite places to stop in and grab a beer. Their beer, prices, events, hospitality... all great. The brewery has a very open floor plan with lots of tables and even some lawn games set up like cornhole and over-sized Jenga. There's always a food truck outside (from what I've seen anyway), and you can bring your own food their as well. The brewing equipment is very visible to the seating area and you walk by and check it all out if you'd like. The brewery has a very open, industrial feel to it, but it's also cool to see the bones of a place and what goes on "behind the scenes". On top of that, the owners and employees are always really friendly and helpful. One of my favorite things about 7 Locks is how dog-friendly the place is. Every Sunday, the brewery is open to dogs of all sizes, so you don't have to leave your 4-legged family member behind. Once in a while, they have events to raise money for animal rescue foundations, such as Pet Connection, where a large portion of the proceeds go to the charity. Some of the dogs up for adoption were actually there last time and got adopted! Other events include frequent live concerts (usually local bands). Once a month, there's a group that meets at 7 Locks, goes for a short run in the area, then finishes at the brewery and has some discounted beers while talking running. That's always a great time too. (For what it's worth, it's run through Kimbia-Physio and is on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm, but I don't assume that'll always be accurate - check their events on facebook before going to make sure it's still on). They have a full gamut of beer types and flavors. I have found that their beer isn't too sweet, which has turned me off from a DC brewery or two. It's not too hoppy either. They have more of a middle-of-the-line mellow taste across their board. You can do flights, pints, or growlers, all well-priced. They also have a few Nitro brews - and not just with the really dark beers. There's also usually a barrel aged beer of some sort too, so like I said, full gamut. Even if you don't like everything, they're likely to have something that's up your alley. Things to note: Currently there is a fairly small parking lot and you're usually restricted to street parking. This just comes with the particular area, but maybe things will change in the future. Also, sometimes it can be a bit hard to hear during events or when there's a ton of people, so if that's an issue for you, check their event calendar before going. If you live in the area, like beer, and haven't been here yet, you're doing yourself a disservice - Go check it out! I know I'll be back soon. read more

7 Locks Brewing - Flight of beer at 7 Locks Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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Good beer. Lots of kids running around screaming so if that's your jam, this is your place. But like I said, good beer.

Hands down the best thing about this brewery is the beer: from Surrender Dorothy Rye PA, to Painted Branch Pilsner, to Redland Lager, three excellent offerings that have stood the test of time. It's also closer than a lot of people might think to the metro D.C. area. It has a decent indoor space with bars and spaced out seating, and some picnic benches outside. On weekends they have food trucks parked outside. read more

7 Locks Brewing - the inside of a brewery - Breweries Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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I really wanted to like this place as our local craft brewery. However, there's a few reasons it's just OK. 1. The beer is just OK. Nothing amazing. 2. The staff are just not that friendly and REALLY slow. The guy taking your order seems overwhelmed to grab two pours and ring you up..... the last craft brewery I was at in CA (Heretic) they were slammed and could grab 5 beers and your food order and ring you up in about 90secs... maybe have more people behind the bar to accommodate the lines or pick up the pace?? 3. The atmosphere is fine Nothing wows me about this place. It's just OK. I would love to have this be our local brew pub but with OK beer, less than friendly staff and a so-so atmosphere they haven't won me over yet. read more

This a new experience! I don't drink beer and had a root beer instead. That was tasty. read more

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