Brewery Spotlight: Alewerks Brewing Co.

New breweries are popping up all over the place but there was a time when opening a craft brewery was a novel concept, especially in Coastal Virginia. One of the first in the area and the very first in Williamsburg, Alewerks Brewing Co. was born in 2006.

The retired founder, Chuck Haines, and brewmaster-now-managing director, Geoff Logan, immediately started seeing awards and accolades for the brews concocted at Alewerks. They introduced many of the classic beers such as their BBP, Cafe Royal, Bitter Valentine, and Pumpkin Ale. Some of these have become staples that are always on tap at Alewerks while others, such as this summer’s new and refreshing Summer Seasonal Tangerine, are on a rotating seasonal basis.

What started as the lone brewery in Williamsburg has since exploded in popularity in the past 15 years. They also operate the Little Auxiliary Brewery Taproom satellite location at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets which is perfect for a break while shopping. Their beers can also be found in many retail chains across Virginia and Washington, DC. There’s no doubt about it, Alewerks set the stage for many of the breweries you can find on the Toast the Coast trail.