August is for Craft Beer Lovers!

August is Virginia Craft Beer Month!

With over 300 craft breweries in the state, Virginia takes its craft beer seriously … and has a lot of fun doing it. From big breweries who flood the supermarket aisles in and out of state to hole-in-the wall / place-in-our hearts nano-breweries, there’s bound to be something for any craft beer lover’s taste.

This week, we begin our month-long celebration of Virginia Craft Beer Month by focusing on one of our state’s classic craft breweries … Alewerks Brewing Company from Williamsburg.

Army veteran Chuck Haines developed a taste for good beer in his tours in Europe. So, in 2006, he opened Williamsburg Alewerks with brewmaster Mike Pensinger on the site of the old Williamsburg Brewing Company. Pensinger would move on to become brewmaster of Parkway Brewing Company, and in 2008, Geoff Logan took over as brewmaster. It was under Logan that Williamsburg Alewerks started producing favorites like the Café Royale, the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter (now called “the BBP”), the Bitter Valentine, and their legendary Pumpkin Ale.

By the early 2010s, Haines retired the “Williamsburg” from his brewery’s name, making it just “Alewerks.” For his next trick, in 2015, Haines decided to retire himself. Logan, continuing as brewmaster, took over the helm of the company, and he still manages it today.

Alewerks is one of Virginia’s consistently strong craft breweries and a shop favorite. What a great way to start Virginia Craft Beer Month. Please join us this Thursday anytime between 5:00 and 6:30 PM for some Alewerks favorites.