Can Washington, DC handle another brewery? Atlas Brew Works’ Justin Cox and Will Durgin think it can. They’re doubling down on their belief and will be launching DC’s newest craft brewery this spring. Named after the area’s trendy and transitional Atlas District, where hip new restaurants are now as common as boarded-up store fronts once were, Atlas Brew Works has big plans to bring unique and mature beers to the Nation’s Capitol.

When you look at the growing DC craft beer industry, you might think it’s getting overcrowded – but you would only need to look at Portland, Oregon to realize you might be wrong. Portland is currently home to some 40+ breweries. DC’s population of 600,000 is slightly larger than Portland’s, yet it has less than 10 native breweries. Granted, DC’s impressive urban sprawl brings it beer from neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia, but there’s no indication of a slowdown in DC’s demand for local brews.

Will and Justin will be putting the Atlas name, which is alive with mythological imagery, to good use with their imaginative disposition towards brewing. They’re planning on starting with three main beers that deviate from the typical flagships. First – Rowdy, a rye beer that teeters on the edge between a Pale Ale and an IPA. Second – District Common, a beer brewed like a California Common, but named for its location of origin. They’re keeping their third beer a secret, so the eager and thirsty will have to be patient.

But crowd-pleasers aside, what drives Will and Justin is producing beers with a pronounced maturity level. “We’re not guys who just throw hops at problems,” Will joked. Instead, they intend to make full-flavored and complex beers that aren’t just fizzy hop sodas.

Will, who most recently brewed professionally in the Pacific Northwest, found himself influenced by winemakers in Portland, but he also draws inspiration from pros like Rob Tod at Allagash. One of the things Will and Justin hope to explore is combining the scientific aspects of brewing with the art of winemaking. “I could be a really good winemaker,” Will said, “if I took everything I know about science, and forgot it.” His quip touches on their eagerness to experiment with barrel-aging and souring. Likewise, Justin is an expressed sour beer fan and award-winning homebrewer who convinced Will, his longtime friend from college, to come to DC and co-found the brewery.

Atlas Brew Works now occupies a 9,200 square foot industrial space in Northeast, DC with a somber yet paradoxically inspiring view of the expansive Mount Olivet cemetery. With plans to have their beer hitting local bars and restaurants this spring, Will and Justin are busy with all manner of preparations to get their 20 barrel system up and running. For two guys putting their hearts, minds, and wallets on the line, they’re remarkably calm and down to earth. Without a doubt, they’ll be a welcome addition to the growing DC craft beer scene.