Two more Jefferson County brewery projects in development

Rippon Brewing and Bavarian Brothers Brewing are two more brewery projects in development in Jefferson County, WV. If they come about, they would join Abolitionist Ale Works in Charles Town to give the county three craft breweries.

Jefferson County is that state’s easternmost territory. Centered in a three state region, it borders Washington County, Maryland; and Loudoun and Clarke counties, Virginia.

Rippon Brewing Company

Rippon Brewing Company has been in the incubator for a long time. Jesse Morgan filed the incorporation paperwork back in November 2010. While it has experienced periods of activity and dormancy, Morgan says the project is still active. He sees a June 2019 opening date as a distinct possibility.

The really cool thing about Rippon Brewing is what else Jesse Morgan is up to. You see, he is the state’s only true commercial maltster. On the farm where the brewery is being built, Morgan raises malting barley. He currently malts that barley and sells it to distilleries and breweries in the region. When he gets the brewery open, he would supply most, if not all, his own malt. That would be a first in West Virginia and a most welcomed addition to the state’s brewery scene.

Morgan’s plans include a small brewpub serving pints, flights, food, and filling growlers. He would begin with a 2.5 barrel brewhouse and 7.5 barrels of fermentation space. Initially, all his beer would be kegged. At first, he would not plan to distribute his products outside the brewpub.

Morgan says the brewery building is currently under construction on the property. He has applied for his federal basic permit and state resident brewer permits. The brewery addition to the farm is estimated to have a cost of around $200,000.

Rippon Brewing Company
2153 Berryville Pike (Hwy. U.S. 340)
Rippon, WV 25441

Bavarian Brothers Brewing

Brothers David and Christian Asam of the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, WV, are leading the development of an in-house brewery at the property. Christian serves as the Inn’s general manager, while David is the company’s vice president. Word is, they hoped to be selling their own beer by early this fall, but this could not be confirmed.

The Bavarian Inn has long hosted what is probably the largest and coolest Oktoberfest celebration in the state, which is coming up again on Sept. 16, 2018. Beer always has a special place on the Inn’s menus, especially at their themed beer dinners. While they may work hardest to keep good German beers and better wines in stock, the Inn also supports local beverage manufactures including Bloomery Plantation Distillery in Charles Town.

They have stated that their intent is to grow from a “Country Inn” to a “European Inspired Boutique Resort” and offer more amenities for their guests to enjoy. One of those new amenities will be a brewery.

Public notice first occurred in a Nov. 22, 2017 Facebook post: “Bavarian Brothers Brewing. Yes, we will make our own beer.”

They go on to say, “Bavarian Brothers Brewing is a nod to ancestors of the Asam Family,” including brothers Cosmos Damian Asam and Egid Quirin Asam, who were both noted artists and architects in the Late Baroque Period. Those brothers built the Asamkirche in Munich.

The logo art for Bavarian Brothers Brewing shown here was designed by Nikki Butler Design of Williamstown, WV.

Bavarian Brothers Brewing (at the Bavarian Inn)
164 Shepherd Grade Rd.
Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443

Watch for additional information on the progress of these projects to be reported in Brilliant Stream.