Small Town Adventures: Winchester Virginia

Everyone knows Virginia boasts some great breweries and great brewery cities like Richmond, which has long been one of our favorites. The Virginia Beach and Norfolk areas have plenty of options as well. But if you've read anything by THEbreweryauthority before you already know we specialize in small brewery towns and there's a certain section of Virginia that's right up our alley.

The trip up and down Interstate 81 in western Virginia is lined with quaint towns and history filled micro cities. For years we've traveled this section of highway as a gateway to the south and skipped by all these towns that were simply an exit sign on the road trip. Recently, we have made an effort to stop or stay in these towns for at least one night to experience the small town culture and, of course, the breweries. Yes, each one of these towns has at least one brewery and in most cases, several. Towns like Roanoke and Harrisonburg have 5 plus breweries!

Our latestest adventure took us to Winchester VA. Another town just off 81, Winchester features SIX breweries which are all within walking distance. Winchester is great for those that desire all the amenities of a major city but hate the hassle of a bustling metropolis. Stay downtown and you can stroll through Old Town Winchester where you will find cute shops, any type of culinary delight you can imagine, and three of the 6 breweries all within a couple blocks. Not to mention several bars with a unique spin to each of them. I'll go into detail later on, but for now, let's focus on what you came here for. The breweries!

Winchester Breweries

For a beer traveler, having six breweries all within a few blocks is the dream. No driving, no traffic, no headaches.....well except the morning after if you're enjoying these breweries a bit too much. I mentioned earlier that three of the breweries are within the pedestrian walking area of Old Town which stretches only a couple blocks. However, you may want to start with the farthest brewery, Eschutcheon Brewing, which is about a half mile walk north of Old Town.

Eschutcheon Brewing

Some may think a half mile walk is too daunting so perhaps stop on your way into town. But I think most of us beer adventurers can handle this modest walk. Eschutcheon Brewing's warehouse brewery features a simple taproom and a loooooong curved bar with the brewery visible behind glass windows. This straight shooting brewery focuses on many different styles of beer and is actually the sister brewery of another brewery later on in this article.

Beer Pick: Either the Vienna Lager or the porter. Just a simple porter done extremely well and without all the sweet adjuncts that get in the way of a really great beer.

Winchester Brew Works

Technically, Winchester Brew Works is inside the Old Town Winchester section of town, however, it's about a block away from the popular pedestrian street. Soon after your first step through the door you will discover the amazing mural of the Shenandoah Valley that covers one side of the taproom. In the corner you will find a retro game setup complete with all the video games of your childhood. Winchester Brew Works is definitely one of the more visually appealing breweries in town, so even though it's a long one block journey, make sure you get there!

Beer Pick: No particular beer stands out at Winchester Brew Works. Your best bet would be to grab a flight and pick your own favorite!

Dividing Creek Beer Co

After a short walk you will arrive at Dividing Creek on the pedestrian mall (actually Loudoun Street) and come to discover a long, quaint taproom with an even better front patio area. I'm not sure about you, but one of my favorite things to do at a brewery is people watch when possible. Dividing Creek may be the best place in town for this, although almost every restaurant and bar in Old Town offers front patio seating.

Beer Pick: Great beer awaits you at Dividing Creek but our pick has to be any of the red ales. The rich, malty molasses is a nice changeup from IPA heavy beer menus.

Alesatian Brewing

Less than a minute walk down the street you will find Alesatian Brewing and like Dividing Creek you have the opportunity to sit outside and people watch. However, the first level of this brewery is actually a pizza joint. If you want that authentic brewery taproom experience then head upstairs and grab a seat at this cozy area. They even fit the brewhouse up there! And don't worry....you can still get pizza from downstairs!

Beer Pick: If you're in the mood for a mouth puckering sour then Alesatian is your place! Not into sours? Grab a pint of the Pizza Bier, which doesn't actually taste like pizza, but this red ale was made to be paired with a pie.

Broken Window Brewing

Another half block away you will find Broken Window Brewing which is the sister brewery of Eschutcheon Brewing. They must have fixed that broken window because I couldn't find it! What I did find was yet another quaint, cozy, and welcoming brewery in Winchester. This brewery sits inside an old stone building that holds more history than my brain can absorb, so I focused on absorbing some of the mouth watering libations Broken Window offers. Complete with friendly service and a number of board games, there's no way you won't enjoy your visit to Broken Window.

Beer Pick: Another brewery with plenty of options. Our pick has to go to the quenching Witbier. Even better on a hot day.

Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen

The final stop on your Winchester VA brewery tour is Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen. If you're like THEbreweryauthority then you hit all these breweries in one day and NEED to end with a meal and Vibrissa easily has the best food of all the breweries in town. This brewery is also the most modern looking and has much more space than the others, especially if you include the fire pit ridden biergarten. The hanging swing chairs were unexpectedly comfortable and the Adirondack chairs outside were nearly impossible to get out of (in a good way.)

Beer Pick: Hard to pick a favorite here. The dark lager was amazing but the fruit punch sour IPA hit the spot. So many unique brews here!

Beer Bars

Winchester doesn't have JUST breweries. Many different style beer bars fill the streets as well. And like the breweries all are unique. Some have a massive tap list and some offer only a handful of high quality beer choices. All depends on your mood. Below you find a few THEbreweryauthority decided to visit, but don't worry. No bad reviews here!

50/50 Taphouse

The award for most extensive beer list goes to this place. Many of the Winchester buildings are pre Civil War era, but 50/50 Taphouse is a rather new building which has a wide open dining room and a draft list that stretches for days. Local favorites, regional breweries, and national craft brands fill out this menu so if you can't find something for you then I guess you're in the wrong spot! Great spot for bar food as well.

Cork Street Tavern

Originality of a venue is just as important to THEbreweryauthority as beer selection is and Cork Street Tavern delivers. Easily one of the most historic buildings in Winchester.....as well as the most haunted. Although the bar was too busy to experience any ghostly activity, we were able to read up on some of the history of the haunts. A female apparition has been seen and heard throughout the old section of the tavern and it's rumored that the source of some of the hauntings come from bodies buried in the basement during prohibition. Beer, food, or ghosts...this place is a must visit.

Union Jack's Bar and Restaurant

English style pubs can be hit or miss, but Union Jack's hits hard! We really got the vibe of a British pub here. Of course here you need to get the fish n' chips, but apart from that Union Jack's has some other great dishes as well as a stellar beer menu. Like every other bar, brewery, and restaurant Union Jack's has an outdoor patio area for people watching. You Can't argue with sitting out front, however, inside you have a traditional British style pub with all the American style beers you could imagine. Just another unique offering from Winchester.

Macado's

As a history buff we just had to grab a beer from Macado's. Formerly The Taylor Hotel, this place was home to Stonewall Jackson shortly before he moved up the street to a more private quarters during the Civil War. Now this former hotel is a restaurant and bar as well as a haunted stop on your Winchester ghost tour. Since our visit was on a Monday the bar was almost dead so it gave us an opportunity to look around all the sports memorabilia on the walls. The basement area has a second bar and a very "ominous" feeling...a feeling you don't want to experience for more than a few minutes if you're alone!

So many more restaurants and bars fill these few blocks of Old Winchester and many we did not get to experience, but wish we had. The Water Street Kitchen had such great reviews and was always busy when we walked by. From Thai, Italian, Mexican, ice cream, coffee, and so much more, Old Town Winchester has something for everyone!

Days Trips

As a previously mentioned history buff, this area is filled to the brim with American history. From Stonewall Jackson's headquarters, George Washington's office, a Civil War Museum, Harper's Ferry, and numerous Civil War battlefields and more, this area of Northern Virginia has it all. I can do a separate article about all that stuff if I wanted to, but you're probably here for the beer.

Winchester is so much more than JUST Winchester itself. Take a short drive out of town and you're surrounded by breweries, wineries, and cideries. Just east of Winchester you will find three AMAZING breweries. These breweries are not just there to have a quick flight and leave for the next. I simply wish we had more time to thoroughly enjoy the farm breweries of rural Virginia.

Dirt Farm Brewing

The people of Dirt Farm Brewing definitely Farm more than dirt, which is apparent during your nearly vertical ascent to the taproom. Upon arrival you will forget your difficult journey to the top when you witness the view. I've never seen a brewery point their chairs away from the taproom, but I understand why they do here. The view of the valley is magnificent. I'd come back here simply for the view. In fact, Dirt Farm constructed a massive patio that overlooks that very Valley. At first I wondered why they would bother buildinga brewery on top of a mountain....now I understand.

Bluemont Station Brewery and Winery

This old dairy farm, and what looks like an even older plantation, is something out of a postcard. I'm sure countless weddings happen here along with all sorts of bachelor and bachelorette parties. This White House looking venue features a sprawling estate with a large taproom and an even larger, and more enjoyable outdoor area. The landscaping adds so much to this ancient property and sitting under the massive oaks is something from a dream. With wine and all kinds of beer, Bluemont Station has something for everyone.

Bear Chase Brewing

One of the most visually stunning landscapes we have seen at a brewery belongs to Bear Chase Brewing. Like Dirt Farm Brewing, Bear Chase points all their outdoor chairs and tables towards the neverending Valley and even have a large deck area for that very same reason. I can only imagine the amount of money they spent on Adirondack chairs alone! This is a brewery you need to dedicate a few hours to so you can enjoy the view, the food, all the unique areas to relax in, and of course the beer!

We can go on for days talking about the amazing breweries in northern and western Virginia. One could spend weeks exploring all the small towns and breweries each offer. During the Civil War, they called the Shenandoah Valley the bread basket of the south for the fertile farmland that was critical to the war effort. Today you can say the same when it comes to breweries! Richmond and eastern Virginia may get all the hype breweries, but the small town breweries of the west are the backbone of the state's brewing industry. If you find yourself traveling up or down Interstate 81, do yourself a favor and take the time to explore at least one small town along the way. Countless hidden gems are just waiting to be discovered!