2008.05.28
Brew pub at Towers
A local restaurant chain appears to be making a significant investment at its location at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke. Awful Arthur’s Seafood Co. wants to spend at least $50,000 to renovate a portion of its Colonial Avenue space for a brew pub. That’s according to a building permit filed with the city last week.
With a brew pub, Awful Arthur’s would be able to make its own beer.
I don’t have many details about this development yet, but check back here for updates.
Neat! Do we have any other breweries around here?
Comment by Michelle — May 28, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Interesting! That sounds good. Do you know if the microbrewery that was to open on Franklin Rd. near Towers still going to open? This wasn't going to be a brew pub, but a microbrewery that would sell beer to local restaurants.
Comment by Dennis — May 28, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
To Dennis: The Towers operation is NOT the same brewing operation as that to which you refer on Franklin Road. You are referring to Roanoke Railhouse Brewery, which is being started up in the old Dr. Pepper bottling plant (actually it is on McClanahan Street at the intersection of Franklin Road). That operation will be a "packaging brewery" not a brew pub; in other words, it will not have a restaurant attached but will brew its beer for distribution only.
To Michelle: There are no brewpubs in Roanoke, although plans have been attempted and, back in the early 90's one opened and failed (The Blue Muse). There are a couple being attempted now in the Christiansburg/Radford/Blacks-burg area. Apart from that, the closest brewpubs are in Greensboro, NC, Harrisonburg, VA and Afton, VA. There are also a couple in Charlottesville.
Comment by Patrick Kennerly — May 28, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Dennis,
The brew pub you mentioned is still in the works. The brewer is out of the country learning to become a brew master. Last I heard it will be later this year before they start brewing. Their beer will be available at some resaraunts and bars. No idea if you will be able to buy it in stores or not.
Comment by Eric — May 28, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Patrick,
Thanks for offering the updates on the Roanoke Railhouse Brewing Co. We reported on this company in October, and as of June, the brew master was supposed to return to Roanoke to work on some test batches, after taking a beer-making course in Germany. We'll need to check in with him soon for updates on his new microbrewery.
As for now, as mentioned, some brew pubs have been in the works in the New River Valley.
Comment by Jenny — May 29, 2008 @ 10:08 am
Jenny,
This past Saturday, my wife and I visited the new brewing operation and restaurant in Afton, VA: Blue Mountain Brewery. Definitely worth the 2-hour trip up I-81 and I-64 to US 250. Run by brewmaster Taylor Smack (formerly of South Street brewpub in Charlottesville) and wife, Mandi Smack (along with a third partner), the beer is excellent and the food is delicious. Taylor has six taps dispensing freshly brewed beer (currently Vienna Lager, American Pale Ale, "Krystalweizen" filtered wheat beer, Kolsch, Belgian Dubbel and an Imperial Porter served on nitrogen). Mandi's menu is simple but creative: mostly fresh sandwiches and various cheese plates. The design is all natural wood with lots of stone and glass. There is also a small hop farm on the site. It is situated on the side of Blue Mountain overlookking Afton Mountain. The website is http://www.bluemountainbrewery.com
Outstanding!
Comment by Patrick Kennerly — May 29, 2008 @ 12:29 pm