The first signs of spring have us dreaming of German brews and blooming beer gardens. Grab a stein of your favorite bier at one of D.C.’s best German bars and lift a glass to warmer days ahead.

Biergarten Haus: An awesomely overwhelming selection of German drafts plus one of the largest beer gardens in the city make this H Street attraction the city’s quintessential German bar (1355 H St. NE; 202-388-3053).

Bier Baron: You can’t go wrong with 500 bottled beers and 50 available on draft — the latter of which is available every day paired with a burger for just $10 between 5 PM and 7 PM (1523 22nd St. NW; 202-293-1885).

Doner Bistro: Named after a traditional Turkish dish — the doner kebab — this Adams Morgan spot offers a nicely curated selection of German beers (think Warsteiner Pilsener) and vino, not to mention the traditional hot spiced red wine perfect for colder nights (1654 Columbia Rd. NW; 202-462-8355).

Cafe Berlin: With a sizable front patio perfect for spring and imbibing, this Capitol Hill restaurant has been serving traditional Bavarian dishes alongside a complementary German beer selection since 1985 (322 Massachusetts Ave. NE; 202-543-7656).

Marvin: A bar named after D.C.’s native son may seem like an odd fit for a German lineup, but the Belgium-inspired rooftop beer garden is an ode to Mr. Gaye’s two-year stint in Ostend. The result: Steak frites and waffles meet Southern soul and funk (2007 14th st. NW; 202-79707171).

Cafe Mozart: Wash down cheese fondue or sausage with one of 10 German beers — three on draft, seven by the bottle — at this traditional eatery (1331 H St. NW; 202-347-5732).

Old Europe: Here you’ll find German beers such as Gaffel Kölsch and Köstritzer Schwarzbier on draught, available in 10, 16 and 32-ounce pours, as well a respectable collection of wheat and regional brews by the bottle...and that’s just the “evening beer selection.” (2434 Wisonsin Ave NW; 202-333-7600).

Standard: Open seasonally, Standard was founded by New Englanders Tad Curtz and David Rosner who celebrate D.C.'s comparatively more mild temps with Southern barbecue and at least a few German drafts in this 14th Street beer garden (1801 14th St. NW; 202-986-8486).

Check out our Ultimate Guide to D.C. Beer Gardens for even more.