The Best Brews and Blue Ridge Views
When our guests ask us which one of our local craft breweries is our favorite, our answer is always the same: it’s whichever one we’re currently sitting in. And while that may be true, it’s not necessary very helpful to folks visiting our area. Luckily, there are other resources out there to help you decide which breweries to visit. One of the best resources available is a website called The Brew Ridge Trail.
The Brew Ridge Trail is comprised of six different breweries, all located just minutes from Afton Mountain B&B: Blue Mountain Brewery; Blue Mountain Barrel House; Devils Backbone Brewing Company; South Street Brewery; Starr Hill Brewery; and Wild Wolf Brewing Company. All of these breweries have won awards at major beer festivals, including the Virginia Brewers Cup and the Great American Beer Festival. Needless to say, these brewmasters know what they’re doing. They all have FANTASTIC beers.
Oh, and the food! Four of the six members of the Blue Ridge Trail have outstanding restaurants, serving both lunch and dinner. The other two feature some of the best food trucks in the area. All six offer live music featuring outstanding local talent. So even if you’re not a beer lover, you still have reasons to pay a visit.
The Brew Ridge Trail website provides a host of resources and options to help you plan your outing. That starts with a Trail Map so you can figure out the optimal route for a self-guided tour. If you need a bit more guidance, they offer three different Itineraries, with detailed suggestions on how to plan out your day to optimize your trip. And then if you want to find out what special events and product discounts the members of the Brew Ridge Trail will be offering during your visit, they provide a comprehensive Calendar of Events.
Which brewery is the best? This one! And if you want to combine a stay in the Afton area with a tour of some of our area's best breweries, you may want to consider our Craft Brewery Tour Package.
Fun Facts:
Blue Mountain Brewery is the “original” Nelson County brewery, having opened in 2007. Their brewpub includes a large pet-friendly outdoor seating area, bordered by two hop fields.
Blue Mountain Barrel House was founded in 2011 as a sister brewery to the original Blue Mountain. “Barrel House focuses on the higher-end beers from Blue Mountain that require special processes, special ingredients, and a whole lot of patience.”
The Devils Backbone Brewing Company Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows sits on 100 acres surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Outdoor dining and beverages are available at the Oak Grill and Meadows Bar.
South Street Brewery in Charlottesville was given a new life when it was purchased in 2014 by Blue Mountain Brewery owners Taylor and Mandi Smack. Taylor was the brewer at South Street from 2001 to 2007.
Starr Hill Brewery’s Crozet Tap Room features a different food truck each weekend. From seafood to tacos, the creations of local food truck chefs are only made more delicious with a pairing of one of Starr Hill’s beers.
Wild Wolf Brewery was born by renovating a 100-year-old Nelson County schoolhouse into a restaurant with an adjacent brewery. Their four-season pavilion houses free live music every weekend. And their dining room offers mountain views from the fully enclosed wrap-around porch.
Editors Note: This post was originally posted in 2013 and has been revised and updated for accuracy and completeness.
