WV Brewery News, Late Summer Edition

While attending last weekend’s Mountaineer Brewfest in Wheeling, we picked up a good bit of brewery news that I want to pass along. And at the bottom of this article, don’t miss the all photos from this wonderful Wheeling beer festival.

If you missed it earlier, here is a link to our insights on the Mountaineer Brewfest, 2024 edition.

Big Timber Brewing, Elkins

Big Timber’s Wayne Border reminds us that Big Timber’s dark and rich Forestfest Oktoberfest is available now at retail. He says Country Roads Trust Lager is gaining momentum leading into the WVU football season. It should be in wide distribution and ready for your gameday enjoyment. Coming up any day now at retail is their Festbier. This pale Bavarian-style lager (5.6% ABV) features a bright malt character with light hop bitterness — it’s their easy-drinking, lighter-colored lager for the autumn season. Newly released is a new batch of Paisan Pils, an Italian-style Pilsner. This style is noted for its dry and crisp taste with herbal notes from the hops.

The Freefolk Brewery, Hico/Fayetteville

Jeff Edwards tells us Folktoberfest, their Märzen-style fall beer, should be out very soon. There will also be Oktoberfest-style events and special food items at the Hico taproom. The big news on the food side is that they now have wood-fired pizzas, made with sourdough crusts fired at 900 degrees. 

Released this week is their Flying Squirrel Pale Ale flavored with spruce tips foraged from Pocahontas County. This beer celebrates an endangered species.  

Greenbrier Valley Brewing, Maxwelton

Brewery owner Josh Bennett tells us that Greenbrier Valley has a new Brown Ale coming out in October. And some great news for pilsner lovers: Ole Ran’l Pilsner is coming back this fall with a more traditional German pilsner hopping profile. Oktober Sky Oktoberfestbier is now out in the market around the state. Hawk Knob Ciders are now available at the GVBC taproom.

Hawk Knob Cider, Lewisburg

According to cidery owner Josh Bennett, Hawk Knob is focused on getting its new canned product out in the market, including Cellar Door, 36 Parks, Country Roads, and Bloody Session. He says he is also working to get more large tanks installed that will allow cidery production to increase by 1,500 barrels a year.

Fife Street Brewing, Charleston

According to Cody Fauber, Fife’s taproom manager, The Knife Man Cometh Dark Lager (Dunkel-style) is a brand new beer coming to the taps soon.  Also be on watch for their new Maple Brown Ale, made with maple syrup from Preston County, coming up in the last half of September.

The Peddler, Huntington

Head brewer Jay Fox tells us his Oktoberfest beer (Märzen-style) should be released the first week of September. This week, Fox’s brand-new California Common is scheduled for release. Be on the lookout for canned beers from The Peddler, which will hopefully come out this fall.

High Ground Brewing, Terra Alta

According to brewery proprietor D.J. Wolfe, High Ground is doing three different German-style beers for autumn. They include the Receding Fraulein Hefeweizen, Famous Monster Oktoberfest Märzen, and Ludicrous Speed Schwarzbier. They will be released this week and next. On September 14th, they will hold their Oktoberfest celebration at the brewery, with German food, music, and vendors.

Abolitionist Ale Works, Charles Town 

Head brewer Mike Vance says their ABO Fest Oktoberfest bier is coming the first weekend of September. It’s made in the lighter, modern Festbier style. A second version of ABO Fest will be released as a spiced version, with warming spices. During September’s MLB playoffs, to commemorate the Baltimore Orioles, Mike will have a batch of Dirty Black & Orange, which he calls a chocolate brown porter with orange zest.

Bridge Brew Works, Fayetteville

Brewer Adam Herrold says his Oktoberfest bier comes out in early September. It is a Märzen-style beer with caramel notes from the toasted grains along with good balancing bitterness from the German hops.   He told us that Beergarden wrestling is coming up on Sept. 24. You don’t want to miss that.

Parkersburg Brewing

Parkersburg Brewing’s John Cox tells us a big announcement coming very soon: Be looking for something new around the first WVU football game.  Also for September, they are again releasing their Fernweh Märzen, which is a traditional German Oktoberfestbier.

 Photo Gallery

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