Story by Jedd Ferris
The thriving beer scenes in Richmond, the Tidewater and NOVA tend to get the most attention when it comes to craft brewing in the Commonwealth. But down in Southwest Virginia, there are some excellent independent breweries worth visiting on your next mountain getaway. Here, we round up a handful of our favorites.
Parkway Brewing Co.
Salem
The name of this mainstay Roanoke Valley brewery is a nod to the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, and, accordingly, the owners have fostered a welcoming scene for outdoor enthusiasts. Runners and bikers gather in Parkway’s taproom or beer garden after exploring the adjacent Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail to hear live music and, of course, enjoy some stellar brews. Top picks include the longstanding hoppy Get Bent IPA, which has widespread distribution across Virginia, and Raven’s Roost, a malty Baltic porter with notes of chocolate and caramel. Parkwaybrewing.com
Buffalo Mountain Brewery and McDaniel’s Tavern
Floyd
Floyd is an artsy small town set in Southwest Virginia’s scenic stretch of the Blue Ridge, known for live music, farm-to-table food and general good vibes. And this cozy brewpub and tavern is an integral part of the scene, featuring a regular slate of live bands, pastoral views from the beer garden and an impressive tap list of craft brews only available in house. Try creative offerings like Apple O’ My Eye, an American apple wheat beer or more traditional takes, like Korteen, a crisp and clean German Kolsch. Buffalomountainbrewery.com
Creek Bottom Brewing and Distillery
Galax
Galax is best known for annually holding the Old Fiddler’s Convention, the world’s oldest and largest fiddler’s convention, which will celebrate its 90th anniversary this August. If you make it to the little mountain town to catch some of the best string pickers in Appalachia, be sure to stop at this popular local spot, which started in 2013 as a craft beer store and eventually expanded into a restaurant and brewery. Galax is now making an impressive roster of brews like the easy-drinking Ole Yeller Golden Ale and the citrusy Rail 2 Trail Pale—named after the nearby New River Trail.
In 2022, Creek Bottom added a distillery to its operation, so now patrons can sip house-made whiskey, rum, vodka and moonshine. In line with town tradition, the brewery also has plenty of live music, hosting regional country, bluegrass and rock bands. On the third Tuesday of every month, guests can bring their own instruments and join the open Old-Time Music Session. Cbbrews.com
Sweetbay Brewing Company
Abingdon
Sweetbay is one of Southwest Virginia’s newer breweries. Owner Patrick Atkins opened the brewery in 2023 after he decided to leave a job in commercial brewing to start his own operation with his wife, Leanne. At the couple’s outpost in downtown Abingdon, located near the terminus of the Virginia Creeper Trail, they’re pouring a nice range of creative, approachable beers, from light lagers to hazy IPAs. And the taproom has become a community favorite, hosting live jazz, outdoor food trucks and regular trivia nights. Sweetbaybrewco.com
