Next Sunday I will be driving from Connecticut to Pigeon Forge Tennessee. I will be driving through VA, via I-81. Was wondering if there are any bottle shops that are worth stopping at that are not that far off of the highway. We have a cabin rental and would love to pick up some good stuff to stock the fridge with. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Three Brothers Brewing usually has some bottles (and now maybe cans of Drift) around: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31460/ Shenandoah Hops in Staunton, very nice little store: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25171/ also in Staunton, Redbeard Brewing: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32383/ bottle shop in Lexington, don't know anything about this personally: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18293/?view=ratings also along the way, Wolf Hills Brewing, never been: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21257/ breweries in VA will generally fill any growler carrying the required gov't warning
2nd the above. Outside of northern VA, your best bet is to get off I-81 at Christiansburg onto 460W and head to Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg. The drive will take you 7 minutes. The shopping will take an hour.
If you stop at the Vintage Cellar you may as well go a few more mins into town and hit up The Cellar and Six Pack store (similar name, different store).
I will 'third' Vintage Cellar (there is also a grocery store with a fairly decent selection of beers [usual BMC and some of the more mainstream craft] and a Liquor store in the same shopping center) and, depending how you define 'not far off of the highway', you might consider Beer Run in Charlottesville (or detour over to drive via 29).
Not too far off will probably limit me to 10/15 minutes off the highway. The wife is not thrilled that I'm making this pit stop to begin with...
