Hoping someone from the area can help. We will be hitting a brewery in our 50th state next month. It has been a long time coming and we want the first one in #50 to be a really good one. We will be flying into Columbus OH, staying one night, hitting state #49, then driving to WV. We want to head East to get into some higher elevations and have some great scenery. Any recommendations coming in from Columbus for what brewery should be that first one in state #50?
I would for sure head to Athens, OH and make Jackie Os the 49th. Beautiful scenery, great food (all local), and tons of to go options.
There are no noteworthy breweries in WV that I'm aware of, and we've looked when we drove through. Mountain State is where we ended up going.
I believe the wife has mentioned Jackie Os. I'll have to tell her to make sure to add it to the itinerary.
I am NOT someone who very much enjoys visiting bars, taprooms or brewpubs just because they have good beer. Everything about the Athens locations are inviting and enjoyable. The ‘Public House Restaurant’ is where to for food and a lot of beer options. The tap room has even more and the best to go selection. They aren’t far apart, but they aren’t walking distance - at all.
I am not currently in WV but used to live there and pay attention to information posted here on BA about it. Perhaps these relatively recent links might have some suggestions useful for your needs: Morgantown, WV help https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/morgantown-wv-help.673114/#post-7789564 Four Hours Across West Virginia https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/four-hours-across-west-virginia.677215/#post-7985606 Cheers!
I just read through those two links I had shared, and this link was posted there in one of them, but I'll share it here as well in case you didn't see it: West Virginia beer recommendations https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/west-virginia-beer-recommendations.646975/ It's from 2020 and so is not the most up-to-date, but WV-based BA member @EersandBeers commented that Stumptown Ales in Davis and Short Story Brewing in Rivesville (near Morgantown/Fairmont) were what he considered the two best breweries in the state, with High Ground Brewing in Terra Alta ranking a close second behind them. Stumptown and High Ground wouldn't be too far from Big Timber which you mentioned, and there are some other breweries which might be worth stopping at through that area too. That area of the state near the MD border is all windy two-lane roads through the mountains, near scenic Seneca Rocks, Blackwater Falls, and Dolly Sods (as well as some places which serve as ski resorts in the winter like Canaan Valley and Timberline Mountain), so that part of the state might be up your alley since you mentioned wanting to get into some more higher-elevation areas. Depending on your timing, next month should also be peak time for the fall colors with the changing of the leaves. Short Story and/or some of the other breweries in the Morgantown area could be your first stop before the others depending on how you'd be coming in from Columbus. Again, I am not currently in WV and don't know what's currently recommended in WV for beer, but I'm just passing on some geographical insight plus relatively recent beer insight I had seen posted here in case it might be useful. Enjoy your time!
That is GREAT info...THANK YOU! This is a big trip for us knocking of the 50th state for breweries. Want to hit some good ones so this will help!
We only get through WV every couple years, but really like Fife Street Brewing in Charleston: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63480/?view=ratings#lists . Their “Charleston” beer is as good an American Blonde Ale as I’ve ever had, and I also really liked their Festbier last year, “German Uncle Charlie.” Cheers!
And if you’re looking for a good place in Columbus, you’d have a real hard time finding better beer and food together than the Tap Room at Wolf’s Ridge Brewing: https://www.wolfsridgebrewing.com/ .
I’m very glad to hear it’s useful for your needs @brewerybuilder ! I’d be interested to hear where you end up going and what your impressions are of the breweries you choose if you could follow up here after your trip. Congratulations on your 50th state—that’s quite a feat to be proud of! Cheers!
Short Story Brewing location in Morgantown, WV and Chestnut Brew Works in Morgantown, WV. Chestnut Brew Works has an excellent pale ale called Hallecks. A great little pub in Morgantown, WV is Apothecary Ale House.
