Five Ways to Enjoy Virginia Craft Beer Month this August

The craft beer scene in Virginia is expansive and diverse, with over 200 craft breweries serving locals and visitors alike. 

Several award-winning breweries have set up shop in Virginia, joining a family of acclaimed and decorated brewing veterans. While delicious lagers, stouts, IPAs, and ales attract tourists far and wide, many also come for the overall experience. With good times, delicious food, and family fun accompanying what’s on tap, it’s easy to see why Virginia is for Craft Beer Lovers.

To celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month this August, here are five ways to enjoy Virginia’s finest craft brews.

1. Hop On A Craft Beer Trail

Want to make a day of it? Find a craft beer trail to visit several breweries, all within a few miles of each other. Check out these trails for a drink along with beautiful scenery and delicious eats.

• The Charlottesville Ale Trail consists of craft breweries, cideries, distilleries, and meaderies in and around Charlottesville. Get the online passport before heading out on the trail and check in along the way to get special discounts and merch as you collect stamps. 
• The Nelson 151 craft beverage trail provides a convenient way to sample Nelson County's many wineries and breweries, all along scenic Route 151. The trail features breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries along a beautiful stretch of scenic byway and easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
• Venture along the Richmond Beer Trail to discover more than 30 craft breweries around the state's capital. 
• Explore the vibrant micro and craft brewing scene found throughout Southwest Virginia on the Southwest Virginia Brew Trail.
• Along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail, you can taste some of the best craft beer while relaxing and enjoying the beautiful farms and mountains in the Shenandoah Valley.
• Make your way along the LoCo Ale Trail to experience more than 30 breweries in Northern Virginia's Loudoun County.

2. Dine While You Imbibe

Plenty of Virginia's craft breweries also feature standout food options. From visiting food trucks and trendy pop-up concepts to award-winning restaurants, pick a brewery with great eats, guaranteed. 

3. Have A Beer With Your Dog

Celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month with the pups for your next brewery visit. Many breweries allow vaccinated, friendly, and leashed dogs on their patio or other designated areas. Dogs must kept on a leash or within a pet carrier and under the control of their owner at all times. Check out these pet-friendly breweries.

4. Enjoy Live Music With Your Brew

Craft beer and live music go hand in hand, and many of Virginia’s popular craft breweries are also known for being excellent live music destinations. Enjoy a nice craft beer while listening to some great tunes, whether you're in the mood for funk, folk, jazz, R&B, rock, or rap. Discover your next favorite beer and music hangout.

5. Try Something New

The craft beer scene is always changing. Meet some of the new additions by trying a drink at these recently opened establishments. 

• Chilly Hollow Brewing Co. opened in late 2024 in Berryville. Located on an operating cattle farm, the brewery has plenty of brews and a full menu (including farm-to-table burgers on the weekend). 
• Ashburn became home to a new microbrewery, Route 7 Brewing, in fall 2024. The brewery also has a tapas-style menu to snack while you visit. 
• The Virginia Beer Company is opening a new brewpub in Yorktown, aiming to welcome customers in summer 2025. 
• The national company Voodoo Brewing Co. may open its new location in Herndon at the Makers Rise at Dulles Station development by the end of 2025. 

Thirsty for more? Keep exploring Virginia's craft beer scene.