Freefolk opens second taproom at Hico

May 18, 2023

It was the biggest event of the year in Hico, WV, as The Freefolk Brewery opened up its new taproom at the production facility.

On Tuesday evening, over 100 invited friends-and-family guests packed the Hico (pronounced “high-coe”) tasting room and were rewarded with tasty brews and inside views of the new taproom and game room, which will now be drawing hoards of locals and tourists alike to experience some great West Virginia hospitality.

*The Freefolk Brewery employees celebrate opening their new taproom in Hico, WV.* *“We couldn’t do it without our great staff,” Sarah Edwards says. “They’re the ones that make us who we are. We lean on them a lot.”*

Brewery owners Sarah and Jeff Edwards have transformed the former Harley Davidson dealership location into a comfortable and inviting place to relax with a Trucker Speed IPA, Berry the Hatchet Fruited Wheat Ale, Moondog Blonde, or any of their other fine brews.

Hico is happening

“We’re excited to spread our wings here in Hico, WV, only 12 minutes from our other location in Fayetteville,” says Sarah Edwards. “I’m so happy to see so many people come out tonight.”

The crowd of folks didn’t let a rainy evening deter their fun, although we’ll all have to return later to get the full Freefolk feel, when we can also enjoy their spacious outdoor beer garden area.

The large building contains 20,000 sq. ft., only a small portion of which is taken up by the taproom. A large chuck of space contains the production brewery, offices and related facilities. Then, a large area in the front half of the building will be soon filled with other compatible businesses, and the entire project will become sort of a welcome center at the northern entrance to the New River Gorge National Park.

*Brewery equipment is visible through a door inside the taproom.*

Family-friendly facility

Sarah describes the taproom as a “very family-friendly kind of place, and dog friendly too. So bring your pets, bring your kids. We’ve got corn hole, and indoors, games like pingpong. I think it’s going to be the place to go after folks get off the river and trails [in the national park].”

*Welcoming guests to the front door are Jeff Edwards with Summer Lee (on right) and WV Beer Roads’ Erin McCoy*

Expanded distribution coming

Summer Lee, Freefolk’s marketing manager, says they are expanding distribution as they gear up production at the brewery. Late last year, Freefolk purchased and set up a complete 20-barrel brewhouse (moving up from a 3-bbl. system) and much larger tanks, which have greatly upped their maximum brewing capacity.

*Cold beer is flowing at the new Freefolk taproom in Hico, WV*

Freefolk plans to continue distributing beer in its current self-distribution areas of the state and also to expand its distribution footprint with beer distributors. Currently, beyond their home base in Fayette County, their stronger markets include Charleston, Huntington, Lewisburg, and Morgantown.

Lee says they recently added Carenbauer Distributing in Wheeling that will handle distribution for them in the state’s Northern Panhandle. Freefolk will also be moving into the Eastern Panhandle and other areas of the state.