You’ve carved your pumpkins, stuffed your scarecrows, and hiked to an incredible overlook. You’ve posed for fall portraits, handed out snacks after the soccer game, and raked some leaves. After all that hard work, you deserve to kick back and enjoy a beer against an incredible backdrop. Here’s our round-up of Beerwerks breweries showcasing sweet mountain views. As you visit, make sure to get your 2024 Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail Passport stamped to earn a Beerwerks t-shirt!
Zone C
Rockbridge Vineyard and Brewery
Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery offers plenty of outdoor space with excellent views looking over rolling hills and pastureland. You’ll see rows of grape arbors, a pond, and a pair of silos rising over the farm. Pick from a seat on the deck, at one of the umbrella-shaded picnic tables, or spread out blankets and chairs on the grass. There’s even an open-air pavilion to shelter you if it starts to rain. Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery makes both wine and beer, so you have a lot of wonderful tastes to sample. For fall, try the Blood Orange Wheat ale or the Gold Rush cider. Catch live music on weekend afternoons, and buy a snack of local cheeses from the tasting room or from a scheduled food truck.
Devils Backbone
Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen sits high on a hill, and the mountain views from the enormous deck should appear on postcards. There’s even more outdoor space in the separate beer garden with picnic tables and umbrellas. Celebrate fall with O’Fest Lager or malty Pumpkin Spice Lager, made with pumpkin pie spice extract. The exceptional menu includes appetizers, salads, delicious burgers, sandwiches, and entrees as well as a menu for kids. Check the schedule for live music every Friday and Saturday.
Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery
You’ll be blown away by the incredible mountain views at Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery. Relax at a shaded picnic table or in an Adirondack chair and watch the clouds drift over the Blue Ridge. Kid with you? Don’t worry, there’s lots of room for them to run and have fun while you taste your way through the ever-changing taplist. Upcoming releases include a freshly fermented IPA-Citra/Mosaic, the annual Oktoberfest, and the Belgian Golden Strong. Plan a picnic, or grab something from a Saturday food truck. Check the schedule for upcoming musical events.
Zone B
The Alpine Goat Brewery
The Alpine Goat Brewery spoils visitors with tasty craft beer as well as beautiful views of the mountains from a variety of outside seating areas. You can also see the Valley’s scenery from inside the beer hall-like taproom. The brewery serves several European-style beers as well as regional favorites like IPAs, stouts, and hard seltzers. Try the dark German Schwarzbier while you listen to live music or play outdoor games like cornhole and giant Connect Four. Visitors can also enjoy fire pits, brewery tours, and small-batch beer releases. The brewery is kid-friendly and offers a sandbox and lots of open space for the kids to run and play. In addition, leashed dogs are welcome. Get some small snacks in the taproom or plan to visit during the weekend and evening hours when the rotating food trucks are onsite. Come for live music on the weekends, Saturday morning yoga workshops, and chances to meet the goats and make memories.
Stable Craft Brewing
Stable Craft Brewing’s extensive outdoor space includes a shaded patio, picnic tables, and Adirondack chairs, all featuring swoon-worthy views of the Blue Ridge. Play lawn games, volleyball, and cornhole golf, or stroll the property for more views of the mountains. As the fall weather deepens, pull up a chair near one of several crackling fire pits. Stable Craft’s signature fall flavors include a traditional Oktoberfest and the delicious pumpkin pie-inspired FUmpkin Ale. The brewery also dishes up an elevated bistro menu packed with appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and entrees. Stable Craft’s Friday Night Love series combines live music and cider releases, and as Halloween nears, tour guides from Ghosts of Staunton will be sharing spooky stories from the Queen City.
Pro Re Nata+
Pro Re Nata+ opened its new Staunton location last month, and while you can’t quite see the mountains, you can still take advantage of the fall colors and rolling meadow scenery from the large, dog and family-friendly beer garden. The brewery has taken over the old Skipping Rock location a short, scenic drive from Staunton. Try the popular Tapped Out pilsner or the seasonal Byers Street Brown. In addition to their beer, Pro Re Nata+ also serves several types of salads and creative, customizable pizzas. An onsite food truck prepared Southern-inspired apps, mains, handhelds, and sides. Finish your meal with an ice cream flight. Stay tuned for upcoming events like live acoustic music and silent discos, where the dance music is shared through headphones, but those who don’t want to listen can opt out.
Seven Arrows Brewing
As the leaves drop off the trees, Seven Arrows Brewing’s view of the distant mountain ridge to the east only grows more beautiful. Snatch your mountain peek from a variety of outdoor seating options on the deck, beer garden, and around the firepit. Don’t skip the toasty Fallen Timbers Oktoberfest, brewed with specialty malts and German noble hops. Nobos Kitchen complements the tap list with a tasty lunch, dinner, and late-night fare. Visit the taproom on Saturday nights for live music. Seven Arrows hosts Tuesday night open mic sessions and Saturday morning yoga. Looking for indoor views? Have a look at the art in the onsite Compass Gallery. You might find something you want to buy for your wall at home.
Zone A
Cave Hill Farms Brewery
The outside seating area at Cave Hill Farms Brewery has shaded tables and stellar views of the farm and mountains. For the best views around, climb the silo stairs to the balcony overlook. Fall beers to try include the Oktoberfest, made with German hops and malts and notes of toffee and caramel, and the Cocoa Kisses chocolate stout. The unique indoor taproom is a huge converted bovine loafing shed with a small farm museum. The museum has exhibits on the making of milk products, pre-electric farm tools, buggies, keys, and more. The Feedlot serves tasty bar food and has a kids’ menu. Catch live music each weekend!
White Oak Lavender Farm
If you haven’t sampled the beer at family-owned White Oak Lavender Farm, the fall is the time to do it. While the lavender blooms earlier in the season, the farm still smells amazing, and you’ll definitely relax as you sip flights of beer, wine, and cider. Toast your toes near a fire pit or enjoy a stroll around the landscaped grounds and pause to look at the mountains in the background. The farm hosts live music, wreath-making classes, and festivals. Kids will love the weekend small animal experience, chances to meet and groom the horses and goats, and lavender ice cream. The gift shop is stocked with great-smelling items like essential oils, candles, bath products, jellies, jams, and other good things to eat.
Make the most of the fall weather, craft beer, and mountain view experience. Plan your trip to a Beerwerks brewery today!