New State Brewing moves toward opening

You may have been seeing this recently on social media (Facebook, Instagram). A new brewery is expected to open this summer in West Virginia, and, it appears that New State Brewing Company (NSB) will take a unique approach to the brewing business in West Virginia.

As NSB moves toward opening, it has teased us with posts on its website and Facebook page that provide clues to its operational strategy. Unlike today’s standard model for startup breweries, in which the brewery opens by offering a group of beers covering a range of popular craft beer styles, New State will try a contrarian approach.

Its website states, “New State Brewing Company started with a simple idea: make one good beer and make it right.“ Yes, as we understand it, the brewery plans to open with only one beer: 1863 Heritage Lager. The beer promises to be a clean, crisp, easy drinking beer that shows a German heritage.

While it is true that overall craft beer sales have peaked nationally, the craft pale lager segment has been a growing sector. Specialty craft lager breweries have done very well in recent years. There are other West Virginia brewers whose lagers do very well, so there would appear to be room for a lager specialist to thrive here.

Statewide distribution planned

Initially, NSB will put the beer into distribution across West Virginia. And we assume, if it proves to be the popular entry that the owners hope, they will expand distribution into Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as possibly other states.

The lead organizer of NSB is Joseph Marshall. Marshall decided to start up the brewery following a successful career in an unrelated industry. The decision brings him back to West Virginia where he formerly resided before making earlier career moves.

In developing the flagship 1863 Heritage Lager, Marshall researched and recreated “the kind of lager that would have been brewed in the region around the time West Virginia became a state.” We’re not sure that we’ve heard of anyone doing that before, certainly not in West Virginia.

It is true, however, that large lager breweries operated in West Virginia’s Ohio River valley back in the late 1800s — breweries that were many times larger than any of today’s breweries in WV. Could recreating the popular lager taste of yore create a hot selling beer in 2026. It’s worth a try.

Corporate fillings for New State Brewing Company, LLC., show that it has a connection to Parkersburg Brewing Company through a couple of co-owners. Both James Hopkins and John Cox and are listed on corporate filings as members of both NSB and Parkersburg Brewing.

LINKS

Follow the brewery on social media.
New State Brewing Facebook Page
New State Brewing Website
New State Brewing Instagram