See you at a WV brewery taproom this year

West Virginia may be a small state in the number of breweries making their homes here, but unlike many other places, we are growing.

To begin 2025, West Virginia’s count of licensed Resident Brewers is up to 35. That’s the highest number ever for small breweries operating in the state.

For most WV small brewers, their taprooms are the best place to find their beer.

Brewery taprooms also offer the maximum opportunity to try the brewers specialties and one-off selections — beers that commonly are not available anywhere else. We encourage you to visit as many of these taproom as you can during 2025.

Thirty-two WV brewers operate full-time taprooms in their home towns, where you can try a pint or two.

Three of the state’s brewers (WHIM, Bannings, AHD), as far as we know, do not yet operate taprooms, and another has closed theirs just for the winter but will reopen in the spring (Rippon).

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The Top Echelon

Big Timber Brewing
2 Davis Avenue, Elkins

The state’s largest and most successful craft brewery is charging full speed ahead with its beautiful Elkins taproom leading the way. Big sellers in distribution (16 oz. cans) and in the on-promise markets (kegs of draft). Also are killing it with their co-branded beers (WVU sports/Country Roads Trust, The Pine Room, and Wheeling Nailers Hockey). For the adventurous, check out their Old man Winter imperial Stout (12% ABV). Expect their second taproom to open in Davis this winter/spring.

Short Story Brewing
5904 Fairmont Road, Rivesville

Maybe the hottest brewer in the state, mastering a formula of multiple taprooms, lots of hazy IPAs, and a solid rest of the line-up. Love their lager too. Additional taprooms in Charleston, Morgantown, and Deep Creek (Maryland)

Weathered Ground Brewery
2017 Flat Top Road, Cool Ridge 

These guys master hazies, lagers, and so much more. Also the state’s best maker of Saisons, farmhouse ales, and traditional sours. Probably the broadest style brewers of any in WV — and they do them all well. Southern West Virginia’s top brewery. 

Fife Street Brewing
180 Summers Street, Charleston

Super line-up of traditional ales that bring in the biggest crowds in Charleston. Each winter check out their superb line of high ABV dark beers — exceptional. Always a friendly, fun crowd present at Fife.

Chestnut Brew Works
132 Pleasant Street, Morgantown

A brewer who put hoppy pale ales on the map in West Virginia. Proved they weren’t a one-trick-pony by brewing a superb line up of popular styles — from IPAs to sours. Their 132 Pleasant Street taproom in Morgantown is a must stop.

Stumptown Ales
390 Williams Avenue, Davis

These are the guys who originated and popularized big hoppy, but not overly bitter, IPAs in WV. Still compete for the best in popular hazy IPA styles. Very solid other beers too. Now also operate a second taproom in Fairmont.

Amani Brewing
654 Rope Drive, Martinsburg

Trained to make Hazy IPAs by some of the best, Amani brews a bunch of well-balanced hazies that will satisfy your hankering for hops. Doing a good job with the rest of the menu too.

Abolitionist Ale Works
129 W Washington St., Charles Town

No holds barred at this creative brewery. Lots of more unusual beers, augmented with plenty of popular styles that you’ll instantly love. A brewer that proves his talent in beer festival competitions. Don’t be afraid to try a beer you’re not familiar with. It could be life changing.

Bad Shepherd Beer Co.
702 Quarrier Street, Charleston

A leader in the Charleston area brewing scene with its ever popular Loud IPA. A great place to try something different whether it be a hazy, a stout, or a high ABV specialty. Owner also has taprooms at Bahnhof and The Loud in Huntington.

Cacapon Mountain Brewing
42 Williams Street, Berkeley Springs

A great brewer leads this place and he brews only styles he can master with aplomb. Beers styles targeted right down the middle of the style guidelines. Very well made and tasty. Many beauties.

High Ground Brewing
102 Railroad Street, Terra Alta

Don’t let their tiny-town location fool you: This brewery makes some big time beers. Super IPAs, stouts, specialties. 

Brew Keepers
2245 Market Street, Wheeling

You can’t beat their Flip Flop IPA, Irish Pirate Stout, and Tmavy Czech Lager for drinkability and flavor. Downtown Wheeling location in Centre Market is supreme. Their Pre-Pro Cream Ale makes a lot of friends too.

Mountain State Brewing
3 Nelson Boulevard, Thomas

A standard popular brewer around the state for many years. Also have taprooms in Morgantown and Bridgeport. Cold Trail Ale is a classic.

Parkersburg Brewing
707 Market Street, Parkersburg

No doubt you’ll love their gold medal winning Cellblock 304 Honey Brown Ale. Don’t overlook their Kölsch or their IPAs either. Newest hit is popular tasting Connection 304 Appalachian Ale.

The Peddler
835 Third Avenue, Huntington

A brewery that masters both standard, traditional styles and the newer book of hot brews. Try their mega-popular Mountain Dew clone beers right beside their blondes, pales, stouts, and IPAs. A most surprising diversity in flavors—yet all well made.

Screech Owl Brewing
2323 Ralph Livengood Road, Bruceton Mills

These guys stay pretty close to the basics in their style selections, but what they brew, they do very well. Fun drinking beers that are easy to love.

Berkeley Springs Brewing
110 Michigan Avenue, Berkeley Springs

Known primarily as a standard style brewery in beer, but it doesn’t stop there. These guys put out an array of gluten-free, hard tea and seltzer-like beverages that satisfy. We’re also a big, big fan of their NA hop water. 

Bridge Brew Works
335 Nick Rahall Greenway, Fayetteville

These guys kill it with traditional beer styles. They definitely put flavor into their brews — the right flavor. Easy to love. They enclose their open-air taproom for the winter months. 

The Freefolk Brewery
25385 Midland Trail, Hico

Taking West Virginia by storm with their popular IPAs, blondes, pales, and fruited sours. Great newer taproom in Hico. Much fun.

Greenbrier Valley Brewing
862 Industrial Park Road, Suite A, Maxwelton

One of the state’s heavyweight brewers. Devil Anse IPA is the mainstay, but don’t overlook their other flagships. Always some fun small-batch at the taproom too. Well made and exciting.

Charleston Nano Brewery
320 Washington Street west, Charleston

Definitely one of the state’s most innovative and experimental brewers. Don’t overlook their candy-flavored sours. Solid IPAs.

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Three Newer Brewers We’re High On

Bōc Hord Brewery & Bakehouse
833 Mercer Street, Princeton

Brings a whole new approach to brewing and baking at this southern WV operation. Expect excellent traditional beer styles that are easy drinking and well made. Pair with something flaky, crusty, or sweet.

Fox Hops Brewing
25 Bowstring Lane, Elkins

Strong out of the gate, beers from its taps are very nice drinking. Solid in all the more popular, traditional craft beer styles. Only WV brewery we know of with a female owner/head brewer.

Köerber Beer Company
650 Brady Street, Barboursville

Started off strong in its first year. A real asset for downtown Barboursville. Moving up fast.

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A new one for kombucha lovers

WHIM: The Neighborhood Kombuchery
119 Pleasant Street, Morgantown

The kombuchery primarily produces non-alcoholic beverages. However, last summer, it introduced its own alcoholic kombucha line. Named WHIM, the line features fruited and spiced, hard kombuchas that are available in cans to-go at their Pleasant Street headquarters.

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And All The Others

AHD: Almost Heaven Desserts Brewery
137 Wonderbar Road, Clarksburg

Don’t have any information on the beer from this one. But they are brewing.

Bannings, Inc.
620 water Street, Summersville

A bit of a mystery, but check nearby Fran’s Restaurant to see if they have a Bannings beer on draft.

Bavarian Brothers Brewing
164 Shepherd Grade Road, Shepherdstown

Solid brewers of traditional beer styles that you’d expect from the owners of venerable Bavarian Inn.

Clendenin Brewing
2 Main Street, Clendenin

The brewery got new owners this year who are really working hard to boost it up. We like what they’re doing.

Country Roads Beer Co.
697 Main Street East, White Sulphur Springs

We’re so pleased to see this place picked up by new owners with a passion for brewing fun beer styles. It’s a beautiful location too.

Gad Dam Brewing
922 Broad Street, Summersville

Having their own beers are a very nice addition to the original Gad Dam restaurant and bar. You’ll normally find at least two or three house-made brews to go along with an extensive list of other craft beverage specialties.

North Branch Brewing
101 Armstrong Street, Keyser

They always keep a house-brewed beer or two on tap to augment their extensive craft beer list. 

Northend Brewing
101 Armstrong Street, Parkersburg

The longest continuously operating brewery under the same ownership in West Virginia. Classic beer styles. Plenty of nostalgia.

Old Spruce Brewing
85 Rescue Road, Snowshoe

Winter is their booming season. Popular place to hang out at Snowshoe Ski Resort.

Rippon Brewing
2153 Berryville Pike, Rippon

Sell mostly close to home. Closed their taproom for the winter. They’ll reopen in spring.

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See ya at a West Virginia brewery taproom