Beer lovers find hops-heaven in Charlottesville with city and country breweries perfect for tasting and time spent with friends. The Charlottesville Ale Trail offers a passport that'll get you discounts to the city's beer brewing hotspots. And in the countryside west of Charlottesville, you'll find a slew of gorgeous views and tasty brews. Bottom's up!
This locally owned brewery on Preston Ave. places a premium on making beers that anyone can enjoy (Anyone over 21, that is!). There are plenty of TVs for watching sports in the tap room, and Random Row is frequently the site of charity events. They've donated nearly $50,000 since opening in 2016!
You'll definitely come out a winner if you spend some time at the Champion Brewing Taproom in downtown Charlottesville. There's a huge outdoor area patio area and you can accompany your Missile IPA with nachos, burgers, hot dogs and other casual but delish delicacies.
Warm ambience including a fireplace at the center of the space make South Street Brewery one of the pillars of the downtown Charlottesville Ale Trail. They've been at the brewing game for more than 20 years, so you know they're doing something right!
The largest space of the downtown Charlottesville Ale Trail breweries, Three Notch'd is centrally located above the Ix Art Park on Monticello Avenue. A huge outdoor patio is a big draw for those with kids and dogs, and the industrial aesthetic inside features lots of glass.
Lots of live outdoor music and a scenic location in Crozet at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes Pro Re Nata a favorite hangout for folks of all ages. It's an easy drive from there to the breweries along 151 in Nelson County, too, if you're making a day of it.
Calling itself a "10-acre adult playground," Wild Wolf is one of several breweries along Route 151 in Nelson County. Wild Wolf offers six year-round beers and five to six seasonal beers made on site. There are on-site brew tours, a gift shop, and delightful farm-to-fork fare to fill you up.
Brewing Tree is a newcomer to the brewery scene, but its co-founder Mark Thompson is well known to brewers throughout the state. He founded Starr Hill Brewery in 1999 after spending years at breweries in Portland in Denver. Co-founder Gina Thompson has a culinary arts degree and prepares the menu items from scratch.
Maybe it's the jaw-dropping views or Blue Mountain's expansive outdoor patios that allow you to soak in the scenery as you sip and dine from the impressively sophisticated menu. This brewery is a must-visit location for out-of-town guests and locals alike.
The big daddy of breweries on the 151 in Nelson, Devil's Backbone is a popular destination with fire pits, corn hole boards and near 360 degree mountain views. It was founded in 2015 by a local brewer but it's now owned by Anheuser Busch Inbev.