Alewerks Brewing Company

Alewerks Brewing Company,

Williamsburg’s Oldest Brewery

Alewerks Brewing Company opened in 2006, and with a gift shop filled with glassware and other products, there will be plenty to remind you of the visit.

Quality People and Quality History

What happens when a man who’s traveled all over the East Coast playing gigs and delighting countless people with rock and pop perfection decides to take that same desire to entertain and please into a brewery? The answer’s simple. The answer is Alewerks Brewing Company. Geoff Logan is still making music but this time is music that hits the taste buds directly. As the brewmaster and managing director of the brewery, it’s Geoff’s vision that guides not only the remarkable offerings you can find in the Alewerks taproom but also the entire direction of the company. You’re certain to love what you’ll find here.

Chuck Haines secured the location in 2005. He’d long been a proponent of fine beer but before that, he had a long career in the U. S. Army and then a successful career in small business entrepreneurialism. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for starting Williamsburg Alewerks, which was later renamed as Alewerks Brewing Company. Chuck retired at the end of 2015 but his spirt still imbues everything that happens in the business. His energy and drive made Alewerks what is it today, and his commitment to the vision keeps him close so even though he’s retired he still maintains active mentoring and consulting to make sure the company he founded remains the brewery it ought to be.

Plenty of Fun at Alewerks

Of course, you’ll want to pick up a great variety of the beers when you visit Alewerks but don’t just stop in and leave. A great many things can capture your attention and make your visit worthwhile. Alewerks is often referred to as Williamsburg’s Hometown Brewery and it makes a lot of sense. For a beer lover, Alewerks can definitely feel like home, if home has the best beer, food, and entertainment available!

Sundays feature live music in the afternoons so you can relax with some of the best craft beer Williamsburg has to offer and hear wonderful local, regional, and national acts performing just for you. Music comes on Fridays as well so there’s always entertainment available while you enjoy the magical mixture of hops and grain.

Wednesday nights are trivia nights at the taproom. It starts at 7pm. Teams of up to six show their smarts through five rounds of trivia. Want to prove you have the best intellect? Well, the top three teams win prizes when the superior minds are finally decided but all through the night there are bonus prized and drink specials. Do you have the brains for it? Come find out! You’ll be glad you did.

On Saturdays, Alewerks plays host to various gourmet food trucks. You might find Foodatude there, the extraordinarily well-reviewed gourmet truck that boasts of food with an attitude. You might find youself able to sample the culinary delights of Offbeat Eats, a truck that offers a two-sided menu with one side focusing on easily accessible comfort food and the other more exciting, offbeat fare. One thing is certain. On Saturdays at Alewerks Brewing Company, you’ll never go hungry!

Of course, a visit to Alewerks is wonderful even if there aren’t any scheduled events. With brewery tours, picnic space, and private tastings, there is always something for the craft beer enthusiast to enjoy.

The Beer

Of course, you go to a craft brewery taproom for the beer, and Alewerks has incredible craft beers. At any given time, there are up to sixteen beers on tap, and with an incredible half-pound soft pretzel made to order, the perfect complement is just a request away. Of course, Alewerks offers great seasonal beers as well as historical recipes. Their small batch treats are certain to please and you’ll want to seriously consider one of the brewmasters’ reserve offerings. The choices available at the taproom will make it possible for you to enjoy your visit no matter your tastes. You will always find great variety to choose from but you’ll always find these year round offerings.

• Alewerks Pale Wheat Ale
  
  This American style wheat ale has an unfiltered hazy medium yellow color. The aroma is incredible, with traces of honey and definite wheat and grain. It is wonderfully quaffable despite the inherent heaviness of the wheat and caramel malt. Since it’s dry hopped with Amarillo hops, there is a delightful citrusy balance in this particular variety that is sure to please. This beer is a thirst quencher, a refreshing and entertaining pour.
• Alewerks Tavern Ale
  
  This American Brown Ale is rich and dark and in some ways surprising. It’s deep brown in color and brings with it a nutty, chocolate aroma. On the palate, it offers strong flavors of caramel, chocolate, and pecans. American Amarillo hops brings balance to the finish. The beer is medium bodies and the earthiness of the hops makes for an excellent finished with just a hint of bitterness at the tail end. You’ll expect an average brown ale and be surprised by the quality of this excellent pour.
• Alewerks Red Marker Ale
  
  This ruby-red ale is sure to please. With four different kinds of hops used in the brewing process, there is a depth of flavor you don’t expect to find in American red ale. It’s very drinkable and the aroma is thrilling with bitter hops, slight caramel overtones, and fruitiness. Though it has a heavier mouth feel, the beer is very smooth and brings with it hints of caramel, plums, and a touch of roast earthiness. The finish is semi-sweet and lightly hopped. If you’re a fan of red ales, you definitely want to enjoy this. If you’re not, you still want to try it because you’re likely to become a fan of at least one, Alewerks Red Marker Ale.
• Alewerks Chesapeake Pale Ale
  
  This American Pale Ale is very, very good. It pours apricot-amber in color, clear with a modest white head. It’s light bodied and very refreshing, a beer to quench your thirst. Dry-hopped, the pale ale brings a pleasant citrus hop aroma with fruity elements and some have noted mango in both the nose and the flavor. A sip brings flavors of light malt and, of course, the perfect balance of a pale ale where hops takes center stage but doesn’t overshadow the rest of the players. It finishes smooth, light hop flavor making it difficult to put the glass down.
• Alewerks Washington’s Porter Ale
  
  The powerful flavors and body of a porter make for a beer experience that can either leave you feeling satisfied in a pretty profound way or leave you disappointed by a failure to meet expectations. Thankfully, Washington’s Porter Ale is part of the profound satisfaction group. With a dark, dark brown color that speaks of the richness of this brew and a clear and aroma of chocolate and malt, you know even before you taste it that this porter is one you’ll keep on hand. When it hits your palate, the flavors of caramel and sweet chocolate fill you, gentled by a touch of roasted barley. This beer would be perfect with dessert or in a comfortable chair in wintertime as you watch the fireplace flames lick their way over the wood.
• Alewerks Drake Tail IPA
  
  This India pale ale undergoes an extensive dry hopping process, and that leaves it with a very intense grapefruit and tropical aroma you can almost see misting up from the lovely, hazy gold liquid. With a medium bodied mouthfeel and a good head, this is the IPA for those who want clear hops traditions balanced effectively. The big flavors of citrus and tropical fruit are tempered by the light malt backbone. It finishes clean and dry with a nice burst of hoppy intensity. All in all, the experience is surprisingly good with a good balance between moist and crisp and the remarkable dry finish. Don’t stop by Alewerks without trying Drake Tail.
• Alewerks Shorty Time IPA
  
  Alewerks Shorty Time IPA follows the recent trend of building flavorful versions of popular beers without the same kick. Alewerks calls this a social IPA. Essentially, the beer delivers all of the expected flavor of an IPA but at only 4.8% ABV. It has strong aromas of tropical fruit and grapefruit and the taste is a light bodied malt with very bright citrus character. You can’t go wrong with this session IPA that puts most session IPAs to shame. You’ll have a hard time finding any IPA with this must flavor and especially not at the reduced ABV. Make sure you try a pint of this. Heck, at 4.8%, make sure you try two pints.

With fabulous people and a well-established reputation, Alewerks Brewing company is a necessary stop for any craft beer enthusiast visiting Williamsburg. Come in, sit awhile, enjoy the pours, and have a great time.