After 12 years, Right Proper is still getting it right

Right Proper Brewing Co., the D.C. brewery that has operated for the past 12 years, is expanding again with a new location opening in Eckington next spring.  

What began as a single restaurant and bar next to the Howard Theater on U Street has now grown into an operation that oversees production and distribution in Delaware and all over the DMV.  

Still, the company says its focus is on bringing value to D.C. neighborhoods and making high quality “beer flavored beer.”

“It’s kind of like a Cheers situation,” said Bri DeOrsey, a bartender at Right Proper’s Brookland bar and production facility.  

DeOrsey has worked at the bar for eight years, one of the only employees who has been on staff since before the pandemic. In addition to bartending, DeOrsey also handles event coordination and other responsibilities for the company.  

She said that, even with the company’s expansions, it’s still a neighborhood spot, with a neighborhood feel.  

“This was an old autobody shop,” she said, referring to the Brookland location. “There are neighbors who still remember it as that.”  

While the company strives to keep the vibe local, customers like Bob Woodward and Jocelyn Nieva make the journey, regardless of the distance. 

“There are no great breweries near our house,” said Nieva. The two, who live near American University, routinely bike the seven miles to enjoy a drink at the Brookland location.  

“We’ve been coming here for years, and we love it.” Upon hearing the news that a new location is opening in Eckington, they both agreed it would be “one more place to drink.” 

The new location in Eckington will be the largest of the company’s three locations, though it will be similar to the Shaw location. The overall focus will be to bring value to the community. 

“They don’t really have a restaurant over there,” said Thor Cheston. He and his wife Leah Cheston co-own the business. “We’re looking forward to being of service to the community,” he said.  

According to Thor Cheston, construction at the Eckington facility started two weeks ago, but there’s no official opening date yet.  

“We would love to have an official date,” he said. “As of right now, Maypril.” 

While the brand is successful, the focus remains on making high-quality products. “We could sell more than we’re actually producing,” said Chris Broome, head brewer and production manager for the company.  

Broome has been with Right Proper for about two years but has been a brewer for 10.  

He said that while other breweries are focused on new and unique, Right Proper is leaning into four core beers, keeping things simple with a focus on the details.  

The choice to keep a limited product line reinforces the company’s overall goal of reducing cost and increasing quality, he said.  

“When you think of D.C. craft beer, we want you to think of Right Proper,” Broome said. “We aren’t trying to re-invent the wheel. We’re making beer flavored beer at the highest quality possible.” 

At current capacity, Right Proper brews and distributes about 5,000 barrels of beer per year. Current plans to expand capacity in the next six to 12 months are underway, with a goal of 6,500 barrels per year.  

Going beyond that, however, would be a challenge.  

“The more tanks you have, the more space you need for raw materials,” Broome said.  

Since raw materials for beer making attract rodents, the production facility also employs Prima, to help combat pests.  

“Prima is a working cat,” Broome says. “Lots of breweries have them.”

Prima is just one of several ways the Right Proper has been able to innovate through the volatility of recent years. Partnerships such as Zeke’s Coffee, which operates inside the Brookland location, allow the shop to offer something that otherwise wouldn’t be on the menu.  

“Zeke’s is very good at making and serving coffee, and we are really bad at it,” said Thor Cheston. “We’re not going to pretend we know what we’re doing, so we’re going to get people who do. We make very good beer and we’re going to stick to what we know.” 

For Leah Cheston, it’s also about being able to pivot.   

“Sometimes it still feels like we’re surviving the pandemic,” she said. “You just keep going.”   

She said she and her husband both worked in the restaurant industry and started Right Proper because they saw a need for more places in D.C. where you could get a relaxed, comfortable environment and good affordable food.   

Over the years, she learned it doesn’t necessarily get easier.  

“There’s no destination really,” she said. “You just get better at flexing.”  

Like her husband, Leah Cheston expressed excitement about becoming a part of the Eckington community.   

“We identified Eckington as a place that needed more amenities,” she said.   

The 5,500 square foot location will seat 180, and will feature a full kitchen, but smaller brewing capacity. While there will unfortunately be no brew cat because of the restaurant, she said the kitchen is sure to be its own draw.   

“People forget we have really good food,” Leah Cheston said.     

The new facility will be located at 1625 Eckington Place, NW.