Best of the Blue Ridge - Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail

Each year, the readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors nominate and vote for their favorite businesses, attractions, adventures, and more in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This year, over 200,000 votes were received in 50 categories. The results are in, and the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail is officially the Best Beer/Wine/Spirits Trail of 2023!

Consisting of 17 breweries all located within an hour’s drive of each other, the Beerwerks Trail guides beer enthusiasts to discover award-winning craft beer in a variety of styles. Along with producing the best craft beer, the breweries are ideally situated to access the Shenandoah Valley’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and proximity to dining with an emphasis on farm-to-table fare. The Beerwerks Trail provides access to vibrant downtown and cultural scenes, national parks and forests, and historical sites. What are you waiting for? Hop on the Trail today!

Want to visit?

The Beerwerks Trail travels through the Valley and is divided into three zones from north to south.

Zone A: Harrisonburg, Elkton, and Rockingham County
Zone B: Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County
Zone C: Lexington, Natural Bridge, and Rockbridge County

Plan your route today!

Grab your passport

It’s also a great idea to pick up a newly-redesigned Beerwerks Passport at a Beerwerks brewery or visitor center. Not only can you keep track of the breweries you’ve visited, but you can also work toward earning each year’s free t-shirt. Just get your Passport stamped at 8 Beerwerks breweries within two zones and send it in to receive your “Drink-in the Valley” t-shirt. The color for 2023 is military green, which goes with everything in your wardrobe. Wear it with jeans. Wear it to work out. Sleep in it. Dress it up with heels and lipstick!

Since 2016, this popular program has marked over 52,000 stamps and awarded almost 7,500 shirts. Get your Passport and start earning those stamps!

Which brewery should you try first?

You won’t be able to stick to just one, but you have to start somewhere, right?

Check out an event this weekend:

Visit our events page for an up-to-date roundup of brewery fun!

February 10 at Pale Fire: Enjoy a sample of what’s coming up at the June Red Wing Roots Festival with the Official Winter Roots Pre-Party & Performance featuring Maya de Vitry.
February 11 at Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery: Mimosas and Brunch with a chocolate torte and music by the Goodson Band. The Hitchin Post will serve food on-site.
February 11 at Stable Craft Brewing: Blooms, Besties, & Brews Galentine’s Day Flower Arranging Workshop. All levels of flower-arranging skills are welcome at this interactive workshop led by Harmony Harvest Farm.

Try a brewery with an awesome view:

Walk to nearby downtown fun:

The Friendly Fermenter offers easy access to downtown dining, art galleries, and live music in Harrisonburg.
Heliotrope Brewery is steps away from Lexington’s finest shopping, entertainment, food and drink, and more.

Grab a stage-side seat for live music:

Basic City Beer Co.’s outside beer garden is an excellent space to relax and enjoy live music and craft beer.
Restless Moons Brewing Company fills the stage with live music each Friday night.

Try your hand at trivia, karaoke, crafts, and more:

Redbeard Brewing Company hosts weekend live music, a monthly book club, karaoke, and bingo each week, a monthly “bad” movie night, and a monthly D&D session.
Brothers Craft Brewing holds weekly Arts & Drafts and Gamer Thursdays, Comedy Open Mic nights, and special seasonal events like the upcoming Saint Linda Valentine’s Brothers Beer Dinner. Brothers also supports charity with events like this month’s Souper Bowl February Food Drive.

Sunday Funday Karaoke at Redbeard Brewing

Bring your pets and kids:

Chow down with onsite food:

Stable Craft Brewing dishes up a chef-inspired menu with apps, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and dinners like chicken fried steak.
Cave Hill Farms Brewery serves tasty snacks and appetizers like nachos, pretzel bites, sliders, flatbreads, and quesadillas.
Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen’s menu includes appetizers, salads, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, and macaroni skillets.

How about a nearby adventure?

The Beerwerks trail runs through an area rich with opportunity. From world-class hiking and mountain biking to museums and farm-to-table dining, we have your next adventure waiting. Here are some of our favorites: