You set out on a Virginia beer trail one Saturday, looking to conquer a few of the craft breweries in your region with a handful of friends. All of the sudden, the image of a delicious cheesy pizza or a thick, juicy burger fills your mind, and you wish you could conjure up a meal without having to change your travel plans. Luckily, many breweries understand this plight, and to counteract these cravings, they provide some tasting meal and snack options to pair with your beverages.
If you need more than crackers or peanuts while visiting a few of the breweries, these places serve up some mouthwatering meals to get your mind back to what really matters: Savoring excellent Virginia craft beers.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company—Roseland
Image courtesy of Devil's Backbone Brewing Company
Devils Backbone Brewing Company is located at the bottom of the mountain ridge that holds Wintergreen Resort, making it a popular spot for skiers and snowboarders that are looking to fill up and get warm with a big meal and a tasty craft beer after a trip to the slopes. The breweries has about 15 beers on draft at all times and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, as well as brunch on Sundays. Breakfast includes standard fare like omelets and biscuits or specialty items like the malted waffles. The lunch and dinner menus feature rich dishes like ribs, burgers, steak, and barbecue. During warmer months, head outside to the outdoor patio for a game of cornhole after your meal.
A Taste of the Menu: Smoked Salmon and Avocado Tartine, topped with capers and red onion and served on a thick slice of Goodwin Creek Bakery bread (off the breakfast menu).
Stable Craft Brewing—Waynesboro
Photo Credit: Traveling Newlyweds, @traveling_newlyweds
Found on a working farm, Stable Craft Brewing knows the importance of farm-raised products. They source many of the menu items locally, using fresh ingredients to create unique appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and even tacos. But the brewery offers more than just beer and food (although they have perfected both of these). Before dining on a juicy burger and sipping cold craft beer, take a tour of the hop fields and visit with the farm’s friendly horses.
A Taste of the Menu: Pulled Pork Burger, piled high with their smoked pulled pork, served with honey sriracha cole slaw.
Blue Mountain Brewery—Afton
Blue Mountain Brewery is another location off the Blue Ridge Trail featuring a fantastic restaurant, where you can get lunch and dinner every day, as well as Sunday brunches. On their daily menu, you’ll discover a handful of common appetizers like pretzels and nachos, sandwiches, salads, and burgers. But the real star on the food menu at Blue Mountain Brewery is definitely the pizzas. Many of the desserts are made using their beers, ten of which are on always draft at the brewery. The outdoor patio area is huge, dotted with picnic tables and large teal umbrellas, and guests frequent the area because of the gorgeous mountain backdrop and the cornhole sets provided by the brewery.
A Taste of the Menu: Bratwurst Pizza, topped with Double H Farm (Nelson County) bratwurst, caramelized onion, apples, mozzarella, fresh marinara, and a balsamic reduction.
Trapezium Brewing Company—Petersburg
Petersburg’s first craft brewery, Trapezium Brewing Company, pairs pizza and beer, with eight craft brews on tap and ten specialty pies on the menu. The brick building and hanging old-fashioned lights create a classic, enchanting ambiance inside the tasting room. Outside, sturdy wood picnic tables shaded by large red umbrellas provide alternative seating for guests visiting on clear sunny days. The outside bar is not your average dwelling, but a weathered old houseboat, where staff serve cold beverages and select food combinations.
A Taste of the Menu: Kealea Pizza, made with mozzarella, san marzanos tomatoes, pineapple, and prosciutto.
Beale's Brewery—Bedford
Photo Credit: Shannon Terry
Beale's Brewery in Bedford offers a selection of sandwiches and burgers, but if you're a bbq fan, don't miss out on ordering their pulled pork or chicken, sliced brisket, or baby back ribs! Visiting with the kids in tow? The brewery also has a kid's menu with child-friendly favorites like chicken tenders and grilled cheese. Pair with a brew and satisfy your sweet tooth with their seasonal cobbler for dessert.
Woodstock Brewhouse—Woodstock
Photo Credit: Jonathan Kozowyk
Stop in to Woodstock Brewhouse and savor one of their ten draft beers along with something from the menu. From Sunday to Thursday, the brewery offers a select variety of rustic flatbread pizzas and small bites, but if you visit the restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll get to choose from the full menu, with options like beef brisket and other smoked meats piled onto sandwiches or served with your choice of savory sides.
A Taste of the Menu: The Gobbler, topped with sliced turkey, Virginia bacon, melted Swiss cheese, topped with slaw, tomato, and pickles.
Legend Brewing Company—Richmond
Eat with the James River and the Richmond city skyline in the background when you sit on the scenic patio at Legend Brewing Company. They serve a full lunch and dinner daily and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The daily menu consists of standard pub fare, plus ribs, steaks, and seafood options. You’ll find a dozen beers on draft to go with your meal and a front row seat to take in the capital city skyline.
A Taste of the Menu: The Brew Burger, covered in their famous Brown Ale drunken cheese and Applewood smoked bacon.
Lost Rhino—Ashburn
Lost Rhino Brewing Company has a multitude of food fare available to go with their craft beers. For just a small bite, order the nachos or the chips and dip, served with a queso cheese made with the breweries Face Plant IPA. Bigger menu items include a small selection of wraps and sandwiches. Not full yet? Try one of the incredible desserts, like Root Beer Float made with Lost Rhino’s non-alcoholic Root Beer.
A Taste of the Menu: Besto Pesto Panini, served on grilled ciabatta bread with sliced ham, homemade pesto, arugula, tomato, and provolone.
“Hopping” Breweries with Food Trucks
Hardywood Craft Brewery, Photo Credit: Joey Wharton, @joey_wharton
Not every brewery can boast a full size kitchen and restaurant. These breweries frequently host food trucks from local vendors to supply various delicious dishes right in their parking lots. For dates and details on food truck schedules, contact the breweries.
- Hardywood Park Craft Brewery—Richmond
- Adventure Brewing Company—Fredericksburg
- Reaver Beach Brewing Company—Virginia Beach
- Port City Brewing Company—Alexandria
- Big Lick Brewing Company—Roanoke
- Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers—Roanoke
- The Virginia Beer Company—Williamsburg
- Commonwealth Brewing Company—Virginia Beach
These are just a small sample of the craft breweries around Virginia that offer impressive fare inside their business. Which breweries do you frequent for the delicious duo of craft brews and tasty bites?