Month: November 2019

Brewer Spotlight – Redbeard Brewing Company

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Brewer: Jonathan Wright

How long have you worked at the brewery? Since founding Redbeard in 2012.

How did you get involved in brewing? It was a combination of factors over the years. I was a bartender in a beer-centric bar, I worked in a beer-centric market, I started home brewing, and then after a couple of self employment stints, I decided it was time to open a brewery.

Tell us something people don’t know about your brewery:  That we exist? It still surprises me after seven years how many people don’t realize we’re here. We might need to fire the marketing guy! But he does a lot of other stuff, like brew, so maybe not. Seriously though, something I’d like people to know about is our commitment to our local community in Staunton and Augusta County. We offer up our taproom for cultural events, we provide market space for local vendors, serve as a venue for developing musicians, and we donate 1% of gross sales to local performing arts groups, animal welfare groups, and area schools. 

What’s your favorite food and beer combo?  I have always felt that the circumstances in which you are pairing your beer and food combo (location, occasion, mood, etc), and personal tastes should impact your selections more than the opinion of someone like myself. I like beer and food across the board generally.

Tell us about your pets:  In order of size: One Hamster: Pepper. One Cat: Obe. One Dog: Stargazer. The dog wildly prefers our sofa to brewery visits. The cat and hamster’s opinions are yet TBD.

What is your favorite thing to do in the Shenandoah Valley?  When I have the opportunity to truly enjoy the fact that we live here, I’d say I value quiet time in the woods most.

What’s the best way to spend time in the outdoors in the Shenandoah Valley? Walking around Staunton for a few hours prior to a beer at Redbeard.

Holiday Eats + Beerwerks Beer 

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It’s the holiday season, and there are so many things to do!  Let us help you plan your beer-centric seasonal menus. Beerwerks breweries offer hundreds of different beers and you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment, but we know that can be overwhelming. Since beers are not equal when it comes to pairing with food, we’ve created a handy guide for your back pocket. 

Turkey Dinner 

According to TheSpruceEats.com, you should pair a traditional roasted turkey and fixings with Amber ale or a lager-like Oktoberfest, brown ale, or a strong golden ale like triple. If you prepare your turkey in a smoker, you’re better off with a hoppy brown ale, Scotch ale, or porter.

We suggest: 

Ham

Whether you’re sitting down to a fancy ham dinner or just tucking into a VA country ham and hoop cheese sandwich, you’ll want a tall glass of beer by your side. The wheat malt in beers like hefeweizen and witbier pair nicely with the glaze and sweetness of pork. 

We suggest: 

Pizza

We all have those nights during the holiday season when it just feels right to snuggle up at home with some edible (and drinkable) comfort. You already knew this, but beer and pizza are a perfect combo. The yeastiness of each mirror each other and the beer’s carbonation cuts through the fat. According to Drizzly.com, you want to look at the toppings on each pie to factor into your choice. While a pilsner is best with a cheese pizza, the slight bitterness of a pale lager will offset the kick of pepperoni. And if the tangy sweet and salty flavors of Hawaiian pizza float your boat, you should pair it with a hoppy IPA

We suggest: 

Chili

If you’ve ever been up on a ladder all day hanging holiday lights while a “crisp” seasonal wind whips around the corner of your house, you’ll know that nothing warms you better than a steaming bowl of spicy chili and a beer on the side. Dry stouts and amber lagers are excellent choices to pair with the heat of the chili. You might even want to dump a bottle into the pot!

We suggest:

Pie

Team pumpkin, right? Break away from drinking milk with your pie. Some might want to double up on the pumpkin and drink pumpkin ale, but we think you should try pairing your pie with an oatmeal stout. A sweet stout will complement and not overpower the delicate spices in your pie. If seasonal gourds don’t appeal to you, and you like your pie all American, pour yourself a porter to go with your slice of apple pie.

We suggest: 

Cookies 

First of all, who knew there were lengthy webpages devoted to this topic? Ends up that you don’t want to go washing down any old cookie with any old beer. You first need to determine the dominant flavor of the cookie and go from there. For instance, a ginger cookie will shine with Belgian dubbel or triple that will make the spices pop. A sugar cookie goes with anything, but might taste best with a Belgian blonde or a nut-brown ale. If your favorite treats are chocolate chip cookies, try dipping them in an imperial stout or an imperial red ale.

We suggest: 

Beercation Lodging Along the Beerwerks Trail

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Welcome to the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail, a stretch of 15 unique breweries in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. This fall we’ve gathered up limited time packages offered by some of our favorite accommodations along the route. Sweater up and treat yourself to an idyllic weekend in a B&B or inn, a unique lodging, a downtown hotel, or a brand hotel along the Beerwerks Trail. You’ll enjoy the area’s greatest views and brews when you book a limited-time package at these lodgings all within 30 minutes of the Beerwerks Trail.

Unique Stays

Ever wanted to stay in a historic hotel just steps from a 215-foot limestone bridge? How about a suite with incredible views on a working horse farm and brewery or a luxury manor house pairing beer with breakfast? You’ll find something that satisfies your thirst for beer and adventure when you check out these unique accommodations.

Natural Bridge Historic Hotel & Conference Center

Beer +  historic charm + one of Virginia’s natural wonders = the best of the Shenandoah Valley at Natural Bridge Historic Hotel. After exploring the 215-foot tall limestone gorge of Natural Bridge, head out on the trail for your beer adventure. 

Great Views and Brews Craft Beer Package Includes: 

  • Overnight accommodations for two people (Wednesday-Sunday only)
  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Breakfast for two each morning
  • Beer tasting (one flight per person) at Great Valley Farm Brewery
  • Two commemorative glasses 

Stable Craft Brewing

The ultimate beercation starts (and ends) at Stable Craft Brewery. Your onsite suite awaits with great views and all you have to do is literally roll out of bed. Pack your suitcase, and raise a glass to that!   

Beercation for Two – Couples Getaway & Shenandoah Family Getaways include:

Overnight accommodations in one or two-bedroom suites

Package Add-on Includes:

  • Beer Lover’s Deal: Buy $55 Gift Card get a $10 Gift Card
  • Beer Gear Deal: Buy $100 Gift Card get a $20 Gift Card
  • All packages include one Beerwerks Passport per guest

Steeles Tavern Manor

Beer for breakfast? Yes, please! This package is designed for beer lovers who want to start off their Beerwerks tour bright and early. The well appointed Manor House will have you feeling rested and ready to hit the trail. 

The Beerology Package Add-On (Manor House Guests Only) Includes:

  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest  
  • Two Steeles Tavern Manor etched pint glasses upon arrival
  • Mini loaf of Wade’s Mill beer bread
  • Two beer pairings with your first morning’s breakfast
  • 20% discount coupon for a future 2 night reservation (excluding May and October)

Bed and Breakfasts and Cozy Inns 

Sweater up and treat yourself to an idyllic weekend in a B&B or inn along the Beerwerks Trail. Choose from historic suites steps from downtown Staunton, luxurious renovated 1795 log homes, dog-friendly charmers, and more. You’ll enjoy the area’s greatest views and brews when you book a limited-time package at these B&Bs and cozy inns..

Berkeley House Bed & Breakfast

More than a bed and breakfast – it’s the Davenport, Catlett, Birkenhead, Chatswood or Woodrow Wilson Chambers. The Berkeley House is a beautifully decorated, Queen Anne-style home steeped in history and elegance. Just a short walk to downtown Staunton and two unique breweries. 

Craft Beer Package Includes:

  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Two taster flights at Redbeard Brewing Co. to include:  four, 5 oz beers of your choice
  • Two souvenir glasses of your choice

Fox Hill Bed & Breakfast

Slip on that fall sweater, and sit fireside with a cold one. Partnering with Great Valley Farm Brewery, enjoy craft brews with those legendary Valley views at Fox Hill Bed & Breakfast made complete with all your beer-necessities. 

Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail Package  Add-On Includes:

  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • A platter of fruit, nuts, crackers and a Simply Cheddar cheese ball
  • One growler from Great Valley Farm Brewery, PLUS a buy-1-get-1-free taster flight card
  • Two chilled beer mugs
  • Before or after a trip on the Trail, chill on our front porch, picnic on our grounds, or relax by our deck-side fire pit with a delicious cheese tray and a cold one!  

Inn at Meadowcroft 

Experience America’s original frontier in a renovated 1795 log home surrounded by pastoral views and starry skies. These restored cabins offer luxury, relaxation and of course beer. A sunset picnic with beer accoutrements top it off. 

Package includes:

  • Two nights accommodations (second night 20% off the regular room rate)
  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Gourmet breakfast for two
  • Hearty meal upon arrival first night
  • Off-road vehicle ride to viewpoint with 360 degree view of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains for a sunset picnic of cheese, aged sausages, fruit, artisan bread and a cooler filled with a variety of Skipping Rock beer

Sugar Tree Inn 

Enjoy front porch sitting at its finest. With beermosa in hand, get a taste of the Shenandoah Valley with Sugar Tree Inn’s Sip and Wonder Package featuring home cooked meals. If you’re into it, plan a walk or three and come (very) hungry! 

Package Includes:

  • Overnight accommodations Friday and Saturday nights
  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Sugar Tree Inn’s specialty Devil’s Backbone beer cocktail w/Friday night appetizers
  • Devil’s Backbone beer BBQ pork or chicken Saturday night dinner
  • Full country breakfast every morning
  • Beer tasting at Great Valley Farms (One flight per person)
  • Beer tasting at Devil’s Backbone Outpost
  • Sunday morning BeerMosa or Bloody Beer with Devil’s Backbone beer
  • The first 8 couples to book the package will receive free passes to Natural Bridge State Park

Downtown Hotels

Vacation in style at a downtown hotel along the Beerwerks Trail. Choose to be pampered in sleek contemporary, updated historic, or boutique hotel style, all easy walks from vibrant downtowns. 

Hotel Madison

The contemporary and sleek Hotel Madison is located in downtown Harrisonburg and within walking distance of five Beerwerks breweries. The best part: ride in style back to your hotel with the Friendly City Pedicab!

Package includes:

Hotel 24 South

No Uber needed! In the heart of downtown Staunton, the historic Hotel 24 South is just footsteps away from two of the Beerwerks Trail’s micro-breweries and award-winning restaurants. Stick to our brick sidewalks and enjoy the Trail.

Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail Package Add-On includes:

  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Two cold, local brews in Sorrel’s Lounge
  • Two Beerwerks pint glasses

The Blackburn Inn

The Valley’s newest boutique hotel, The Blackburn Inn, mixes red brick, whitewashed wood trim, classical moldings and a storied history with delicious craft beer just minutes away in downtown Staunton. Cheers to that! 

Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail Package includes:

  • 15% discount on any room at Staunton’s newest boutique hotel
  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • One Beerwerks pint glass and Blackburn bottle opener
  • Flight of local beers paired with artisanal flatbread pizza at Bedlam Brewing 

Brand Hotels

Make one of our partner brand hotels your home base. The convenience to downtowns, breweries and interstates, and familiar comforts should make these feel like homes away from home. 

Best Western PLUS

Minutes away from outdoor adventure and great brews, the Best Western PLUS, in Waynesboro, is your home base for your Beerwerks Trail adventure. 

Package includes:

  • Discounted rate and complimentary upgrade to a suite, based upon availability at check-in
  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Certificate to enjoy a free sampler of four of Basic City Brewery’s crafted beers. 

Holiday Inn

Located just off of Interstate 81, settle into your home away from home at Staunton’s Holiday Inn. Surrounded by farmland, but close to historic downtowns and Beerwerks breweries, start your adventure with a hand-tossed pizza and a cold one. 

Valley Brew Adventure Package includes:

  • Spacious sleeping room; choose from Queen or King beds
  • One Beerwerks Passport per guest
  • Breakfast included for two adults in the Exchange, full service restaurant
  • Voucher for one gourmet pizza and two craft brews from Bedlam Brewing