The 17 craft breweries on the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail are all within an easy hour’s drive of each other. To guide your exploration, we’ve divided our map into three zones. Hop between zones or discover them one at a time, but make sure to mark your progress on your 2023 Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail Passport. As you work toward earning your Beerwerks t-shirt, you’ll need to visit at least eight breweries in at least two zones. Buy a beer and get your Passport stamped. It’s that easy. You’ll be sporting that new shirt in no time!
Zone B is centrally located along the Beerwerks Trail and includes Basic City Beer Co., Queen City Brewing, Stable Craft Brewing, Seven Arrows Brewing, and Redbeard Brewing Company. Here’s what to know if you haven’t yet visited them.
Basic City Beer Co.
Waynesboro’s Basic City Beer Co., named after the lore of the ‘Lost Town’ of Basic City, is known for its laid-back atmosphere and, of course, its excellent craft beer. Located in a historic warehouse, the brewery has a rustic, industrial vibe. You can chill outside on the patio or inside in the tap room or the arcade area for a friendly game of skee ball, pool, or any of the other fun, free games. The brewery also features live music, festivals, and trivia night every Tuesday. Basic City recently opened an 800-person music venue called “The Foundry” adjacent to the brewery and their spring line-up is already bringing great shows to the stage!
Basic City Beer Co.’s top-rated beers on Untappd include:
- The 6th Lord – PA – American – This beer toes the line between a West and East Coast IPA to appeal to any hop lover.
- Our Daily Pils – Pilsner – German – Clean and refreshing German-inspired pilsner and winner of the 2019 Virginia Craft Beer Cup gold medal.
- The Lady – IPA – American – This beer is soft on the palate and juicy
Nearby Attractions
Historic Downtown Waynesboro contains a wealth of restaurants, shops, and cultural destinations like the historic Wayne Theatre, the Waynesboro Heritage Museum, and the P. Buckley Moss Gallery. Waynesboro also has a robust art scene with resident artists and rotating exhibits at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center and a Street Arts Trail with over a dozen stops of murals, sculptures, and Waynesboro’s fishing-themed LOVEworks installment. Download the free Traipse app to add a fun scavenger hunt aspect to the trail. Pro-tip: End your Street Arts Trail with Basic City Beer Co.’s murals and reward yourself with a beer!
Stroll or pedal along the South River Greenway that runs along a stretch of the South River where you can drop a fishing line or launch your kayak. Nearby, the 4.5-mile out-and-back Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail travels under Afton Mountain along an old railroad bed. Hikers and bikers alike will be thrilled by the impressive historic tunnel, but don’t forget your flashlight and a jacket, it’s dark in the middle of the tunnel and a constant 50 degrees.
Waynesboro is just three miles from Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Explore 500+ miles of hiking trails, including a long section of the Appalachian Trail. Visitors can hike to amazing overlooks and waterfalls, camp, picnic, hike, and spot wildflowers and wildlife.
Seven Arrows Brewing
Taste a pint or flight at Seven Arrows Brewing. Their lager-forward tap list has a solid lineup of core beers accented with seasonal and rotational brews for variety. Hang out in the spacious taproom or outside on the deck and patio area, where you’ll find both shade and firepits. On-site Nobos Kitchen creates a delicious menu to complement your beer by “blending old favorites with new concepts” and focusing on local ingredients. The menu has appetizers, burgers, and dishes like shrimp and grits and pulled pork mac and cheese. Seven Arrows hosts live music each Saturday night as well as monthly open mic and trivia nights.
Seven Arrow’s top-rated beers on Untappd include:
- Eventide IPA – IPA – Red – The Eventide IPA is a red IPA based on the American Style IPA and offers a prominent hop aroma with a piney/spicy character derived from Simcoe and Chinook hops.
- Skyline Lager – Lager – American Light – This beer is a truly refreshing light beer that is perfect for any occasion.
- Aurora Pils – Pilsner – Other – Inspired by the Bohemian Pilsener, this lager offers a rich, complex malt profile with a spicy, floral presence of Saaz hops.
Nearby Attractions
Nature lovers should check out Sherando Lake Recreation Area for camping, fishing, boating, and swimming. More than 50 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails wind through the forest around the lakes. If you’d rather get outside closer to town, test your golfing skills on the par-three course at Waynesboro Golf and Games. For even more fun, challenge your friends to a round of mini-golf.
Bakers, cooks, snackers, and people who like to give baskets of goodies as gifts will all love visiting The Cheese Shop Country Market and Deli. It sells bulk spices and baking ingredients as well as snacks, and baking and canning supplies. You’ll also find dairy items and all your favorite deli meats and cheeses.
If you want to dive further into local products, check out Valley Pike Farm Market in Weyers Cave. Grab a sandwich at the deli, or a burger or BBQ from their on-site Food Trucks, Valley Pike BBQ and Old School Burgers. Finish off your meal with a glass of beer or wine from the bar, or a handmade specialty coffee drink from Rumor Mill Coffee (which even has homemade sweet treats!)
Stable Craft Brewing
Stable Craft Brewing is located on a working horse farm where there’s plenty to do and see, as well as lots of excellent beer and cider to drink. Take a seat in the rustic taproom or spread out on the spacious patio that offers spectacular views. The agri-pub-style menu is full of burgers, sandwiches, and entrees like pan-seared salmon and Cajun chicken alfredo. Stable Craft has fire pits for chilly days, igloos during winter, and lawn games like volleyball and cornhole. Pet the horses or take a guided tour of the facilities to learn about the brewing process as well as the brewery’s commitment to sustainable farming practices. Stable Craft hosts lots of events like live music, holiday-themed parties, family fun, and special occasion meals. You can even book a suite on the farm and use Stable Craft as a home base for your next trip to the area.
Stable Craft’s top-rated beers on Untappd include:
- Britchin Brown – Brown Ale – American – This NEW revamped recipe has produced a true-to-style, crushable, year-round ale. We’ve reduced the roastiness to allow the caramel sweetness to shine.
- Blueberry Blonde Ale – Blonde Ale – Clean and crisp blonde ale with a copious amount of blueberry for a light, fruit-forward easy drinking beer.
- Robot Cowboy – IPA – New England / Hazy – New England style IPA copiously hopped with Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic creating a fruity tropical burst of pineapple and guava!
Nearby Attractions
Visitors to Augusta County should explore Natural Chimneys Park, a campground and natural area featuring seven tall limestone towers that resemble a castle. Home to the Red Wing Roots Music Festival, this park has hiking trails, a swimming pool, and river access.
Grand Caverns is the country’s oldest show cave and has been wowing tourists with natural formations since 1804. Book a standard walking tour or take a 120-minute tour that focuses on history or geology. Intrepid explorers might enjoy one of the more intense caving experiences, guaranteed to wear you out and get you filthy!
Are you looking for a serious dose of cute? Reserve a time to snuggle a baby goat at My Peeps Farm or have an adventure with an alpaca at Point of View Alpaca Farm. The Walk-a-Paca experience pairs you with an alpaca partner for a stroll around a beautiful farm. You’ll get lots of chances for selfies and to learn about alpacas and hypoallergenic alpaca fiber.
Queen City Brewing
Queen City Brewing gives customers a chance to taste more than 30 handcrafted beers on tap. You can even try your hand at brewing your own batch under the guidance of a master brewer. This brewery invites you to have fun. Stop in for live music on Friday nights. You can also scope out the weekly open mic talent, play a game, or watch the big screen. You can hang out with friends in the taproom or on the spacious patio.
Queen City’s top-rated beers on Untappd include:
- Falstaff’s Revenge – IPA – American – An unrestrained indulgence of hops, the biggest ale you’ll ever love.
- Daddy Rabbit – Stout – Imperial / Double Oatmeal
- Brass Knuckle IPA – IPA – American – Prepare for a full frontal mouth hit with some serious Cascade Dry hop.
Nearby Attractions
Queen City Brewing is located just steps away from Gypsy Hill Park. This large city park is beautifully landscaped with plenty of room to relax. In the summer, the bandstand hosts daily live music, and kids can ride the Gypsy Hill Express. The park also boasts a golf course, a skate park, and a dog park.
See how our African, English, Irish, German, and Native American ancestors worked and lived when you visit the living history Frontier Culture Museum. Visitors can explore working historical farms and chat with costumed interpreters.
Looking for some new-to-you decor? Check out the Staunton Antiques Center for two floors of curated antique furniture, jewelry, art, collectibles, and more. Newly opened Juniper Lane helps you up both your style and your sustainability game. It specializes in vintage wedding dresses and other clothing that “can be repurposed and styled in fun and trendy ways.”
Redbeard Brewing Company
Redbeard Brewing Company is a nano-brewery located in downtown Staunton. Each batch of beer is lovingly handcrafted using “ancient techniques but modern equipment.” Enjoy a range of styles on 10-14 taps. Redbeard’s taproom recently underwent a renovation, and there’s a big beer garden out back. Redbeard regularly hosts events like trivia, karaoke, Dungeons and Dragons, book club, and more. There are also several old-school video games to keep kids busy. During the summer, Redbeard hosts a popular music series with favorite local and regional bands.
Redbeard’s top-rated beers on Untappd include:
- Blue Ridge Breakfast Stout – Stout – Coffee – Milk stout aged on whole coffee beans.
- 221B Baker Brown – Brown Ale – English – Award-winning homage to the classic English pub ale.
- Pennyroyal Pale – IPA – American – Gold-medal winning pale ale that’s brewed and dry-hopped with only Citra hops, pale malt, and a touch of sheat.
Nearby Attractions
Downtown Staunton has a wide selection of dining options, boutique shops, galleries, history, and culture. Redbeard Brewing Company is located in the historic Wharf District, the site of the Staunton Farmers’ Market, a popular destination for fresh produce, meat, baked goods, and more. Families looking for a fun afternoon with the kids will enjoy exploring the big selection of games, stuffed animals, LEGO kits, and art supplies at Pufferbellies Toys & Books.
The American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse is the world’s only recreation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater. The performances are “exciting, imaginative, and inclusive theatre with an emphasis on clarity, language, Shakespeare’s staging conditions, and continued experimentation.” A visit to Staunton isn’t complete without a tour of the house and gardens at the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace. You’ll learn about the president and the dynamic times in which he lived.
Staunton’s historic train station is only a short walk from the brewery. There’s a cool iron footbridge that climbs over the tracks and gives a phenomenal view of the city from above. Next, catch a ride on the Virginia Scenic Railway. The tour explores beautiful Augusta County in a restored 1940s passenger car.
