Brewer’s Name: Jon Bowman
How long have you worked at the brewery? When did you open? Does your brewery or site have an interesting history or connection to the Valley? I’ve worked here since April of 2019, and we opened Labor Day weekend of 2019. The brewery is located in what once was the loafing shed of the dairy farm. Owned by six generations, the farm was given on a King Land Grant in 1759.
How did you get involved in brewing? I was part owner in a brew pub, and when we lost our brewer, I decided to take over rather than hire someone else.
Can you tell us about your brewing system and production process? Tell us more about the beers you make. Do you specialize in something or do you offer a wide range of styles? How many beers do you have on tap? We have a 10BBL three-vessel system with five 10BBL fermenters and two 10BBL Bright tanks. I brew on average one or two times a week to supply the 12 in-house taps. We are currently not distributing, so everything is onsite. We offer a little bit of everything from our best seller Biking Viking Blueberry Blonde to IPAs, sours, saisons, Belgians, and dark beers.
What’s your favorite food and beer combo? I’d recommend our own “FeedLot” nachos paired with a refreshing Hoppy Gator!
What is your favorite thing to do in the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail footprint? I love taking in all that the Valley has to offer: the beautiful mountain hikes, the gorgeous back country road views, and the fantastic craft breweries and vineyards.
Can you describe an ideal afternoon/evening that involves a trip to your brewery? An ideal day involves a day hike into the Shenandoah National Park with a picnic lunch. This is best followed by an evening under the stars by the fire listening to the soft sounds of nature and enjoying a refreshing craft brew.
