Cheers to Craft Beers 

Whether you’re set on having a beer-centric vacation or you just want to try out all the local brews, Staunton is the place to be for Craft Beer Month. Staunton’s walkable downtown boasts several breweries and restaurants where you can tap into the diverse tastes and flavor-forward profiles of the local craft beer scene. Plus, the Queen City is centrally located along the 19-brewery Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. Here’s how to get to know your local brews and toast Craft Beer Month in style.

Local Craft Breweries

Microbreweries specialize in beers made with high-quality, often local ingredients, lovingly crafted by one dedicated brewer. Independent breweries support the local economy and bring the community together for beer, music, and events.

Queen City Brewing

Queen City Brewing serves more than 30 beers in its extensive selection, which you can order by the pint, mini pint, or flight paddle of eight. This down-to-earth brewery, which opened in 2013, holds the title of being Staunton’s first brewery since Prohibition! Take a seat in the industrial tap room, or relax outside on the patio. While there’s no onsite kitchen, Queen City often hosts food trucks and welcomes carry-out. Stop in for regular live music (see schedule) and open mic nights every Wednesday. 

Redbeard Brewing Company

Redbeard Brewing Company makes its beer on modern equipment, but handcrafts it from start to finish using traditional techniques. Redbeard guarantees variety with 10-14 taps. Take a seat in the renovated tap room out outside in the beer garden which welcomes kids and dogs. Hungry? You can buy charcuterie snack packs or snacks from a vending machine. You’re also welcome to order in or bring snacks from home. Redbeard hosts lively events most nights of the week. Join the fun with karaoke, music bingo, game nights, Dungeons & Dragons, comedy, and more. Live music fills the taproom on Friday and Saturday nights, and bigger names perform in the Groovin’ in the Garden on select Saturdays through October. 

Seven Arrows Brewing

Seven Arrows Brewing serves several always-available core brews as well as rotational and seasonal beers that are specifically tailored for the time of year. The beer will draw you in, but you’ll also love the onsite Nobos Kitchen. The delicious lunch, dinner, and late-night fare emphasize locally sourced ingredients. Sit in the large tap room or head outside where seating ranges from open and shaded tables on the deck to seats around a fire pit and picnic tables in the graveled beer garden. There’s live music on Saturday nights and open mic and trivia nights each month.

Stable Craft Brewing

One of the many draws of the Stable Craft Brewing experience is that it’s family-friendly with plenty of games, music, and activities to keep everyone busy. They also serve delicious craft beer and cider that’s been made onsite using sustainable farming practices. The large exterior space has extensive decking, a patio, picnic tables on the grass, lawn games, and fire pits for roasting smores. There’s even a 9-hole cornhole golf course. You’ll enjoy the brewery’s panoramic views of the mountains and its location on a working horse and hops farm. On-site dining options emphasize farm-to-table fare in appetizers, dinners, and hand-helds. Best of all, you can book onsite accommodations and stay the entire weekend on the farm! Check the events schedule for live music on Fridays and Saturdays, trivia, crafts, and seasonal celebrations.

The Alpine Goat Brewery

The Alpine Goat Brewery in Weyers Cave opened in March and focuses on European-style beers and regional favorites like IPA and stout. While the beer is the star of the show, you’ll also enjoy the community feel and beautiful mountain views from the beer hall-like taproom and outside patio. Visitors can enjoy outdoor games, fire pits, brewery tours, and small-batch beer releases. The brewery is kid and dog-friendly. Purchase small snacks in the taproom or wait for the rotating food trucks that will be onsite during evening and weekend hours. Events and activities include live music on the weekends, Saturday morning yoga workshops, and chances to meet the goats and make memories.

Pro Re Nata Plus 

Staunton will soon host a third brewery! According to the Daily Progress, Pro Re Nata will soon open a tap room and restaurant, Pro Re Nata Plus, in the former Skipping Rock location just outside of town. Pro Re Nata brews a line of flagship beers as well as a rotation of seasonal flavors, and the tap room will serve beer, liquor, and cocktails. The Staunton location expands on the brewery’s original operation, which opened in Crozet in 2015, and will become the primary production space. Pro Re Nata also owns Staunton’s old Coca-Cola bottling plant, which it will renovate for event space in the upcoming year. 

More Breweries on the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail

The Staunton-area breweries are part of the 19-stop Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. The breweries on the trail are less than an hour’s drive from one another, and there’s a lot of the Valley to enjoy in between. Sign up for a Beerwerks Passport and collect stamps from eight breweries in different zones to earn a t-shirt. Most breweries host fun activities like live music, trivia, yoga, and more. Most breweries are dog and kid-friendly.

Staunton Restaurants Serving Craft Beer

Of course, you don’t need to go directly to the source to get craft beer. Dine out at any of these Staunton restaurants that serve craft beer.

• Baja Bean Co.
• BLU Point Seafood Co.
• The By&By
• Byers Street Bistro
• Chicano Boy Taco
• Clocktower Restaurant & Bar
• Depot Grill
• The Green Room
• Jake’s Convenience Store
• Marino’s Lunch
• Mill Street Grill
• Pizza Luca
• Queen City Bistro
• Seed to Tail
• The Shack
• Shenandoah Pizza & Tap House
• Second Draft Bistro
• Yelping Dog
• Zynodoa

This hot weather is probably making you thirsty! Now’s the time to quench both your thirst and your curiosity about Staunton’s craft beer scene.