This historic city of Williamsburg may be known as one of the original settlements for the Colony of Virginia in the early 1600s, however, there’s much more to this town than its charming colonial atmosphere. Did you know there are several Williamsburg breweries too? Williamsburg also has a budding brewery scene with a handful of different local breweries and even more distilleries and wine shops.
One of the best ways to experience the best of Williamsburg is to travel down the Williamsburg Tasting Trail. You’ll visit 12 different locations, from local crafter breweries to hand-brewed meaderies and everything in between! Whether you’re craving a hoppy IPA, a shot of American-style bourbon, or even a chilled glass of rose, Williamsburg has something for every type of taste palette.
We’ve personally been to and drank at all the Williamsburg Breweries on this list, a tough job we know! After all that tough research we’ve put together this article of all the breweries in Williamsburg VA worth the pint.
1. Alewerks
Founded in 2006, Alewerks has quickly grown to become one of Williamsburg’s most popular breweries. They’re known for their Superb IPA, Weekend Lager, and Tavern Brown Ale, as well as their unique seasonal Coffee Stout, Strawberry Blonde Ale, and Tangerine Wheat Ale.
You can try one of their delicious beers at two different locations – the Brewery Taproom and the L.A.B. Taproom, both of which are right here in Williamsburg. Not only will you find their 16 classic brews on tap at all times, but you’ll also get the opportunity to try a rotating array of exclusive releases that haven’t even hit the shelves.
To help soak up the alcohol, try one of Alewerk’s freshly-baked pretzels, which are made in-house each day. If you’re craving something more filling, then you can also order from different food trucks that stop by. Please check their website or Facebook page to see the rotating food truck lineup scheduled for the week.
- Address:
- Brewery Taproom: 189B Ewell Rd, Williamsburg, VA
- L.A.B. TAP Taproom: 5711-36 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Brewery Taproom:
- Monday – Thursday 3pm – 9pm
- Friday – Sunday 12pm -9 pm
- L.A.B. Taproom:
- Monday – Thursday 12pm – 7pm
- Friday & Saturday 12pm 8pm
- Sunday 12pm – 6pm
- Brewery Taproom:
Related Articles: Best Restaurants in Williamsburg
2. Brass Cannon
Unlike other well-known breweries, Brass Cannon does not distribute its beers to restaurants or grocery stores, which means the only place you can try their mouthwatering brews is right here in the taproom. Although you’ll find their standard brews on tap at all times, pouring in-house gives Brass Cannon more flexibility to test our new flavors and styles making this one of the most unique breweries in Williamsburg!
Their most popular brews include their Angry Scot Scottish style heavy ale and the SKULL New England style IPA. They also have several small-batch flavors that rotate each season. Past beer flavors have included their Cinnamon Coffee Brown Ale, Amber Ale with Apple and Caramel, and a Swirled Sweet Maple Stout.
Their taproom is reminiscent of an intimate living room lounge, with plush couches, community dining tables, and classic snacks like kettle chips and beef jerky.
- Address: 5476 Mooretown Rd, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Sunday 12pm – 7pm
- Monday – Thursday 1:30 – 8pm
- Friday & Saturday : 12pm – 9pm
3. Virginia Beer Company
With a strong focus on customer service and community outreach, the Virginia Beer Company is one of the most friendly Williamsburg breweries. Not only will they make you feel like family the second you walk into their taproom, but they also have multiple relationships with non-profits and philanthropic programs that give back to the community.
On top of that, the Virginia Beer Company also has some amazing brews on tap. From IPAs and Stouts to Sours and Wheat Ales, they have produced over 300 different types of beers – which is fairly impressive for a brewery that just started in 2012!
During your visit, grab a seat inside their taproom warehouse or enjoy a bit of east coast sunshine in their outdoor beer garden. They have weekly specials, including industry night and taco Tuesday, as well as live music almost every night of the week. For food, check out their rotating schedule of food trucks from a number of local eateries from around the Williamsburg area.
- Address: 401 2nd St, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Sunday: 12pm – 9pm
- Monday – Thursday: 3pm – 9pm
- Friday & Saturday: 12 pm – 9:30pm
4. Precarious Beer Hall
If you’re looking for a fun place to kick back with a few beers and delicious grub, then look no further than Williamsburg’s Precarious Beer Hall. This colorful and eclectic warehouse has an extensive menu of freshly poured brews, including a Kung Fu IPA, a Rabbit Fan Base Sour, and even a gluten-free Submersive Semi-Sweet Cider.
If that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, then you’ll want to take a peek at their food menu, supplied by the in-house Electric Circus Taco restaurant. If you ask us they have some of the best tacos in Williamsburg. Choose from almost a dozen different types of tacos or taco bowls, burritos, quesadillas, and pub snacks like wings, nachos, and churros.
You can come on certain days of the week to enjoy daily specials, like $11 tacos and beer Tuesdays, $13 wings and beer Wednesdays, and live music every Sunday! Don’t forget that Precarious Beer Hall also has an entire vintage arcade section, so you can always play a game of Pac Man or Space Invaders while you’re sipping your favorite brew.
- Address: 110 S Henry St, Williamsburg, VA 23185
- Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 am – 12 am
- Friday – Saturday: 11:30 am – 1 am
5. Billsburg Brewery
Overlooking the sparkling Jamestown Yacht Basin sits this quaint brewery known for its family and pet-friendly atmosphere and great beers. During your visit, grab a table inside their taproom or outside on the deck where you can enjoy a view of the water and sailboats. They also have weekly specials like Half-Price Growler Wednesdays and live music, so check their online calendar to see what’s happening during your visit.
You may not find a massive beer menu as you would at other breweries, but what Billsburg Brewery does make, they make very well. Their Classic Lager is a huge hit with the locals, although you can’t go wrong with the Red Ale, Indiana Pale Ale, or Lemonade Radler.
For food, pop outside and order from the Hungry Pug Food Truck, which specializes in all things cheesy. Start your meal with fried cheese curds or beer cheese dip, then order one of their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. The Buffalo Chicken, Pizza Griller, and Cuban are just a few of the mouthwatering flavors they have on the menu.
- Address: 2054 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 12pm – 9pm
- Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 10pm
6. Joker Brewery
If you haven’t tried hard kombucha, then you’re missing out on a deliciously refreshing fermented alcoholic drink. Joker Brewery is Williamburg’s first hard kombucha brewery. All their blends are vegan, organic, and made with high-quality tea and sweeteners that pack a big flavor punch from the very first sip.
Popular flavors include Cinnamon Peach, Lemon Ginger, Strawberry Lime, and Passion Fruit Mango. They also serve a Chocolate kombucha, which is something you probably won’t find anywhere else in the state!
This is one of Williamsburg’s newest brewery endeavors, having only opened its doors in 2020. If you’re looking for a tasty alternative to beer, wine, and even cider, then make sure to stop by Joker Brewery to try one of their amazing hard kombuchas.
- Address: 113 Palace Ln STE D, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Saturday & Sunday: 12pm – 6pm
- Monday: CLOSED
- Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
7. 8 Shires Colonial
Located in the historic triangle of Williamsburg, 8 Shires Colonial is an homage to the city’s long-standing distilling heritage. Everything 8 Shires Colonial makes is crafted using recipes that have been around for over 300 years, during the colonial era when distilled spirits were first being made.
Their spirit list is quite impressive and includes bourbon whiskey, spiced rum, genever gin, and even a reproduction of a single malt whiskey from 1608 (which will set you back $1,200 for one bottle). These award-winning spirits have placed Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals over the past few years which makes this distillery one of the most iconic places in Williamsburg.
You can enjoy a sample tasting in their tasting room or join the daily tour of their facilities every day at 2 pm. If you’re lucky you’ll meet the owner, he’s an interesting guy and always a great conversation.
- Address: 7218 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Thursday – Saturday: 1pm – 7pm
- Sunday – Wednesday: CLOSED
8. Copper Fox
The Copper Fox Distillery is known for its tried and true American-style bourbon. Each batch is made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients and hand-made malted barley. Even all their grains are grown by one local farmer with whom they have a trusted and long-standing relationship with.
Launched in 2005, this distillery was the first of its kind in the United States to use a malt floor and kiln since the prohibition era. In addition, they’re the only distillery known to man that uses tasted applewood barrels to enhance their spirits. They make 14 different types of spirits, including American Single Malt, Bourbon Whiskey, Port Style Finnish Rye, and Peachwood Single Malt. They also make their own gin, using malted barley and Mediterranean juniper berries.
Their Williamsburg tasting room has tasting flights and cocktails, as well as distillery tours every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. After the tour, you’ll get to enjoy a signature whiskey flight in their speakeasy-style lounge or outside near their cozy fire pit patio.
- Address: 901 Capitol Landing Road Williamsburg, VA
- Hours: Open daily 11am – 7pm
9. Silver Hand Meadery
The fermented flavors of herbs and spices mixed with rich honey varietals are what Williamsburg’s Silver Hand Meadery is known for. You can learn more about the history and brewing process by booking their mead tasting experience, which includes an informational session and tasting.
For those who are unfamiliar with the process of mead-making, the beverage is concocted using honey and other liquids like water, coffee, or even tea. Different spices and fruits are added for unique flavors, as well as yeast to aid in fermentation.
They have traditional honey-based mead in different flavor notes like orange blossom, Virginia wildflower, and even local lavender. You can also try and purchase their small-batch, locally sourced jars of honey, which is one of the made ingredients in their artisanal mead. You can even participate in a honey tasting at home with their virtual honey tasting experience. Our personal favorite is the Meadowfoam, thankfully you can order online here so we now have it delivered to us in Wisconsin.
Every time we visit Williamsburg we purchase a few bottles of mead and check them in our luggage
- Address: 224 Monticello Ave, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Sunday: 12pm – 5pm
- Monday – Thursday 10am – 6pm
- Friday & Saturday 10am – 8pm
10. Williamsburg Winery
While Williamsburg may be known for craft breweries and local distilleries, they also have a thriving wine culture that rivals many of the biggest vineyard regions around the country. You may have seen Williamsburg Winery wines served in restaurants or sold at the local supermarket, although a visit to their tasting room headquarters is guaranteed to be a unique experience you won’t want to miss.
They make many different types of wines, from petite Verdot and chardonnay to brut rose and dessert muscat. You can sample these wines in their tasting room, in their wine shop, or during one of their estate tours.
Williamsburg Winery offers two different estate tours of their 300-acre farm. The Extensive Tour and Reserve Wine Tasting takes place in their private wine cellar and allows you to sample reserve wines with a pairing of local cheese and crackers for $45 per person. You can also opt for their Virginia Tasting Flight in the Susan Constant Hall Room for $19-24 per person. You’ll get to choose four or your favorite wines from their list of 12 bottles, which is a great experience for those just getting to know the Williamsburg Wine Region.
However, wine isn’t the only thing this estate specializes in. They also have an amazing on-site restaurant that serves farm-to-table meals sourced from some of the most recognizable farms in the area. They are open for lunch and dinner, although you can also make reservations for their legendary weekend brunch or their $1 oyster on the half-shell Wednesdays. You’ll dine amongst the rows of vines and rolling hills while you enjoy one of the most memorable meals you’ll ever have in Virginia.
There are plenty of things to do and see at Williamsburg Winery, which is why you should consider spending a night or two in their boutique hotel. Wedmore Place at Williamsburg Winery has 28 different rooms, each with a wood-burning fireplace where you can unwind with a glass of your favorite pour after a winery tour and tasting. They even have an on-site spa that offers massages and aromatherapy services.
The winery also has a sprawling vineyard that hosts numerous events and live musical performances throughout the year. Past artists have included Jason Mraz, LeAnn Rimes, Nick Fradiani, and Ingrid Michaelson. You can check their concert calendar online to see who will be performing during your visit.
- Address: 5800 Wessex Hundred, Williamsburg, VA
- Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 12pm – 4:30pm
- Friday: 12pm -6:30pm
- Saturday: 11am – 6:30pm
Where to Stay in Williamsburg
There are tons of great hotels in Williamsburg but there are two hotels that stand. If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in Williamsburg we highly recommend Wedmore Place located at the Williamsburg Winery or the Williamsburg Inn right in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg.