Keeping it simple

September 6, 2022

Simple. Craft. Beer.

When a brewery’s advertising slogan truly reflects a brewery’s beer, that can be a rare find in today’s over-hyped world of beer marketing. Brew Keepers craft brewery in Wheeling, West Virginia is one of those breweries that puts honesty above promotion. What they say is what you get: Simple. Craft. Beer.

*Kevin Ayres, owner/head-brewer at Brew Keepers*, getting taps ready at a Mountaineer BrewFest.

Over the past six years, brewery founder and head brewer, Kevin Ayres, has built a nice business focused on simple craft beer. His success shows that a brewery does not have to be a slave to the latest hot trends, doesn’t have to dump fruit purée or flavorings into every beer, doesn’t have to concoct crazy beer recipes with crazy names. Just brew honest, well-made traditional beer styles, sell them at reasonable prices, and beer drinkers will make a path to your door.

*With the garage door open, the street-side seating area gives patrons a nice porch-like feel.*

Beer-flavored beer

A growing number of craft beer consumers today are getting tired of over-flavored, over-alcoholed, over-hyped beers that have been so common in recent years. Palate fatigue is rampant. For these folks, and for a large group of others who have always preferred a simple craft beer, a brewery like Brew Keepers is a godsend. Their beer actually tastes like beer.

Drinking beer that tastes like beer may be a shock to the palates of younger beer consumers, who have come of age in this era of ultra-tropical, un-bittered hazy IPAs; fruited-up kettle sours; hard seltzers; and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink adjunct-laden imperial stouts. It may take them some time to learn the joy of drinking traditional, simple beer styles. But when they are ready, it’s good that there are brewers like Brew Keepers around who can help deprogram the palates.

Beer Style Variety

Brew Keepers always offers a tap list of 12 to 16 house-brewed beers divided into five categories: Light, Hoppy, Malty, Dark, and Seasonals. Offering simple craft beer doesn’t mean there is any lack of style or flavor diversity.

*Becca has served up beers here ever since the taproom opened. She brings beer knowledge and a friendly attitude to the pub.*

This year a late summer tap list included Mexican lager, Light German-American Ale, Cream Ale, British Golden Ale, Irish Honey lager, Appalachian IPA, Vienna Pale Ale, West Coast IPA, New England Pale Ale, Double IPA, Irish Red Ale, Scottish Export Ale, Honey Brown Ale, Czech Dark Lager, Irish Extra Stout, and Coffee Stout. Many of these beers are offered year round, though generally at least three selections are seasonal, which change with the calendar.

*A flight of six 4-oz. servings costs just $10*

Fair pricing

You can count on Brew Keepers to offer well made beer at a fair and reasonable price. Pints are $6 and Half Pints are a true half-price at $3. That is a most welcomed feature. Flights of six beers go for $10 — a price point that makes it easy to sample through their menu. While they do not do six packs or four-packs, Crowler and growler fills are available to take home. The taproom does not have a restaurant but does offers a variety of snacks to munch on. You are always welcome to bring in food from local restaurants.

Brew Keepers has three seating areas: an upstairs barroom, upstairs front room, and a street-level porch-like room. Whatever your mood, they’ve got room for you to enjoy a brew.

Open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 noon through evening.

In the heart of Centre Market

*Looking out from Brew Keepers the popular Colman’s Fish Market is visible across the street.*

Brew Keepers is located in Wheeling’s Centre Market directly across Market Street from Coleman’s Fish Market. The Centre Market calls itself “an eclectic mix of shops and quality dining. Built in 1853, it is older than the state itself.”