Freefolk Brewery: Fayetteville to get second brewery

[This article was updated on 7/10/18 to change the name of the brewery project from its working title of Banjo Brewing to Freefolk Brewery.]

One of West Virginia’s favorite outdoor recreation towns should see its second brewery open later this year. The founders of Freefolk Brewery say they hope to open their new brewery and taproom in Fayetteville as early as mid-summer. 

Freefolk Brewery’s co-founders, Jeff Edwards and Jamie Lester, say they were attracted to Fayetteville’s laid back lifestyle, natural beauty, and great people and want their brewery to “celebrate the culture of West Virginia.” They hope to bring “a distinct style to the craft beer culture in West Virginia.”

The two long-time friends, who have been business partners for the past six years at Vandalia Bronze, say their success in that business has prepared them for a new challenge of starting a brewery.

Meet the Banjo Brewing band

Wyoming County native Jamie Lester is an artist and sculptor by trade. He gained national recognition for his design of West Virgina’s state quarter — the one with the New River Gorge Bridge on it. Some of his other works of note include the Don Knotts and Jerry West statues in Morgantown. Expect to find his art and murals decorating the brewery.

Originally from Raleigh County, Jeff Edwards moved to North Carolina in high school but eventually landed in Morgantown. Edwards provides both the brewing and the banjo skills needed to start Freefolk Brewery. He has been homebrewing for about six years and banjo-ing since his college days.

Others involved in the business venture are Sarah Edwards, Jeff’s wife, who heads design and management aspects of the business, and Jim Way, who will work in the overall operations of the brewpub. All four of these folks are currently pitching in to get the 1,400 sq. ft. brewery space ready to open. Their building is located about a mile and a half south of the center of town along WV 16.

Beer styles and brewing equipment

Edwards says he is enthusiastic about his brewing, and especially about a crisp, refreshing Saison and a lightly-hopped Brown Ale he has been working on. At opening, he plans to have six Freefolk brews on tap and to offer at least six beers from other West Virginia breweries.

The brewing equipment will be based around a 3.5-barrel brewhouse with two 3.5-barrel fermenters, one 7-barrel fermenter, one 3.5-barrel bright tank, and one 7-barrel bright. The owners hope to expand the brewery over the next several years to add additional fermentation space. All Freefolk beers will be sold as draft in the brewpub, with no plans to package beer or distribute it to other accounts for the first year.

Freefolk Brewery plans to offer light fare including a variety of fresh tacos with locally sourced vegetables and meat.

The owners project the brewery will initially have two full-time and four part-time workers. They estimate the total project cost at $200,000.

Freefolk Brewery will join Bridge Brew Works to give Fayetteville’s local beer scene a boost. Bridge Brew Works, which opened there in 2010, is currently adding a covered outdoor taproom to its facility. That taproom should be open this spring. These two projects underscore the growing popularity of small brewery taprooms, which are becoming the preferred way to experience the wonderful variety of beer that local breweries are producing today.

Freefolk Brewery (formerly Banjo Brewing)
1690 Court St.
Fayetteville, WV 25840

Email: freefolkbrew@gmail.com
Website
Brewery Facebook page