By Katie Allie
Not so long ago, breweries were few and far between in West Virginia. Today, thanks to some timely and important legislation, West Virginians are seeing a lot more craft beer being poured in their home state. With 21 breweries currently producing and selling beer, many of which also have tasting rooms or small pubs, there’s a great selection of local beer to support no matter where you are in the state.
Editor’s Note: Because the list of operational breweries in West Virginia is constantly changing, we chose to use the West Virginia Craft Brewers Guild’s membership list to create this map. These are confirmed breweries currently operating.
1. Bad Shepherd Beer Co.
Charleston • www.blacksheepwv.com
The owners of Black Sheep Burrito & Brews bought out Charleston Brewing Company in 2016 and launched their craft brewing brand, Bad Shepherd Beer Co., in January 2017. All of their beers are available on tap at Black Sheep Burrito & Brews or in growlers. They plan to begin self-distributing soon and are working on some bourbon and wine barrel aged treats in the meantime.
2. Banning’s, Inc.
Summersville
Joining the craft beer scene in January 2017, Banning’s is exploring a unique market angle with its six brews. In addition to pints available for purchase, they’re working to partner with local restaurants to pair their beers with specialty food items. Their first customer, Fran’s Family Restaurant in Summersville, serves a variety of homemade foods that goes well with Banning’s classic brews.
3. Berkeley Springs Brewing Company
Berkeley Springs • www.berkeleyspringsbrewingcompany.com
Berkeley Springs Brewing Company and its brewpub offer up everything from pale ales to stouts and host a monthly homebrewers’ meeting. Their range of craft beers, brewed with Berkeley Springs mineral water, are always on tap at the brewpub. They also offer growlers and a smaller, 32-ounce howler. Watch for their new brews: Girl Scout Stout, Old Oak Stout and George’s Toe Butter, a new 9 percent ABV IPA that features 10 different additions of hops.
4. Big Timber Brewing Company
Elkins • www.facebook.com/bigtimberbrewing
Big Timber Brewing is a member of the beer scene in West Virginia that is doing so well, they’re set to expand this year. Currently their taproom is open six days a week, with tours available upon request. Their new facility will have regularly scheduled Friday and Saturday tours and will enable expansion into canned products and eventually a larger taproom with dining capabilities.
5. Blackwater Brewing Company
Davis • www.blackwaterbrewingwv.com
Specializing in European-style session ales and lagers, Blackwater Brewing Company is a welcome part of the outdoor recreation scene in Davis. Their products can be found on tap next door at Barrels Brewhouse and throughout North Central West Virginia. Blackwater Brewing is focusing on expanding their brewing repertoire—anywhere from 12-15 brews are in the works at any given time. Tours and tastings are currently available upon request.
6. Brew Keepers
Wheeling • www.facebook.com/brewkeepers
Brew Keepers began brewing craft beer in 2016 and is already expanding into restaurants around the state. Stop by to sample what’s on tap, watch the brewing process take place and pick up a growler. They brew every day in small batches and currently produce seven popular beers, with plans to introduce more options this year.
7. Brewstel Brew Stop & Hostel
Elkins • www.facebook.com/brewstel
Only brewing since October 2016, this place, with its impressive 21 taps, is adamant about “getting the liquid across the palate to the people.” They like to showcase their goods along with those from other West Virginia breweries while helping guests discover what they like. Part brewery, part hostel, part homebrew supply store, they put on regular food events that go great with craft beer.
8. Bridge Brew Works
Fayetteville • www.bridgebrewworks.com
Bridge Brew Works is one of the older breweries in the state and distributes widely throughout. Visit their taproom for a tour, Tuesday through Saturday, and try their year-round brews, Long Point Lager and Mountain Momma Pale Ale, or their seasonal beers. Be sure to check out their Seldom Seen Saison, a collaboration with the West Virginia Land Trust.
9. Chestnut Brew Works, LLC
Morgantown • www.facebook.com/chestnutbrewworks
The beer at Chestnut Brew Works follows an organic flow from start to finish. Their flagship Halleck Pale Ale has proven so popular that they began hand bottling it for sale in the taproom. Check out their Wild and Sourful, a Belgian pale ale aged for more than a year in red wine barrels and inoculated with funky microbes.
10. Dobra Zupas
Beckley • www.dobrazupas.com
Dobra Zupas stays busy in Beckley with both craft beer and a restaurant to complement their evolving lineup of brews. They have 11 taps in all, showcasing seven of their own beers and leaving the rest to a rotation of other local brews and ciders. Come in for a growler or find them on planned tap takeovers around the state and in a few restaurants in Charleston.
11. Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company
Maxwelton • www.gvbeer.com
With a motto like “Get Out, Explore, Bring Beer,” it should be obvious that Greenbrier Valley Brewing is a fan of West Virginia’s great outdoors. Housed in what was once a large upholstery factory, their taproom is open Friday through Sunday, where you’ll find samples and tours by appointment. They also host regular movie nights and other in-house events that pair well with good friends and cold beer.
12. Lost River Brewing Company
Wardensville • www.lostriverbrewing.com
A brewery and pub in the Potomac Highlands, Lost River Brewing Company has been brewing great beer for six years, offering up four of their own beers on tap and a changing menu that sees a seafood addition every week. You can also take a tour or fill up a growler to hold you over until the next time you can stop in.
13. Morgantown Brewing Company
Morgantown • www.morgantownbrewing.com
Known for its great microbrewery and dining experience, Morgantown Brewing Company also offers up event space and a new speakeasy on-site. Stop by for a tour and sample from their 10 taps or pick up a growler or keg. They typically also have rotating small batch and casked limited edition beers available, and they pair their brews with menu items. A discount is available for members of the American Homebrewers Association.
14. Mountain State Brewing Co.
Thomas • www.mountainstatebrewing.com
The largest distributing brewery in West Virginia, Mountain State Brewing Co. was founded in 2005 by two friends and has grown into three locations. The original Thomas Brew House offers tours, or you can venture to the Morgantown and Deep Creek, MD, outposts where they also serve pub food. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a pint made by one of their two West Virginia Golden Horseshoe Award winners.
15. North End Tavern & Brewery
Parkersburg • www.netbrewery.com
North End Brewing’s products can be found in select establishments all over the state where they self-distribute: Parkersburg, Vienna, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Morgantown, Charleston and Huntington. They brew between three and six fresh beers each month and always have their award-winning flagship amber ale, Roedy’s Red, available for consumption. You can also get a growler of what’s on tap.
16. Parkersburg Brewing Company
Parkersburg • www.parkersburgbrewing.com
Originally founded in 1864 by German immigrants, Parkersburg Brewing Company resumed production in September 2016 in a new location as a brewery and pub that serves both year-round brewed staples and seasonally brewed craft beers. They currently offer tours and have plans to expand both the tours and their menu. Their beers are available in northern West Virginia, and they offer growlers and unique crowlers, 32-ounce cans they seal right at the bar.
17. Pubstomper Brewing Co.
Westover • www.pubstomper.com
In spring 2015, two West Virginia University students won the Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition with their idea for Pubstomper, and things haven’t slowed down since. The first batch of their righteously dank ales was released in October 2016, and they currently produce their flagship Pubstomper Pale Ale Imperial IPA in cans, which are distributed throughout the state. They have plans to expand into limited release brews and are adding more flagship options soon.
18. Screech Owl Brewing
Bruceton Mills • www.screechowlbrewing.com
Open Wednesday through Saturday, Screech Owl Brewing has a tasting area with five of their 10 beers on tap for sampling or to take home in 32 or 64-ounce growlers. Although they’re a small batch facility focused on quality, they grew to more than 12 times their original size in the last year. It’s no surprise you’ll be able to find them throughout the state, from Morgantown to Charleston.
19. Sophisticated Hound Brewing Company
Princeton • www.facebook.com/sophisticatedhoundbrewing
Born from a love of home brewing and a retired racing greyhound named Denouncer, Sophisticated Hound Brewing is making a name for itself. For now, this nanobrewery’s products, including its flagship Racer 8 American Stout and 1863 Pale Ale, are only available in growlers, but in 2017, they will begin distribution throughout Southern West Virginia. Sophisticated Hound donates a percentage of its profits to support Star City Greyhounds, a greyhound adoption organization.
20. Stumptown Ales
Davis • www.stumptownales.com
Having recently quadrupled their brewing capacity, Stumptown Ales is a hop-loving brewery with 10 taps that has been brewing since August 2015. With the purchase of a new 10-barrel system, they’re producing at a capacity that now allows them to distribute throughout the state, although you can still get growlers on-site. They also feature a small menu to complement their beers.
21. Wheeling Brewing Company
Wheeling • www.wheelingbrewing.com
Located in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market, Wheeling Brewing Company does more than just pour pints—it also supports local businesses by using their products at the brewery’s restaurant. The brewery produces more than 30 unique brews a year, some of which are collaborations—like their Omni Baltic Porter, created alongside Omni Strategic Technologies. They regularly host musicians, so stop by for a flight, pint or pitcher the next time you’re in town.
