So, you wanted to get out of town and enjoy the Spring, but where do you go? Well, of course, in Virginia, you go to a brewery! The last time we had left our intrepid adventurer (me!) we had left one drinking establishment on a pretty good note and set sail for the next port of call. So let us return to our tale of yesteryear and explore the Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company.
OK, wait, Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company? Wasn't there also a Shenandoah Brewing Company in Old Town Alexandria some years ago? Wasn't their trick that they would brew the beer for you and they took a pinch of the funding for it? Well, yes, there was, but these folks are not them. (I asked.) No, they took the name, added a "valley" and are in business for themselves. Its a good thing too because they brew a way better beer and a much larger collection of them. Yep, that's right, their are at least two brewers worth their weight in Staunton!
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| Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company |
One of the things that makes the Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company worth it is that they are directly across from the train station. This is one of the reasons that the regional trains are really important to the suburban population. The Amtrak comes right on through and stops there at least twice a day, so people getting off the train have beer on the brain. So, get off the train, stop in for a beer, and then head for home. This type of repeat business, even though it is small, helps keep Shenandoah Valley stay busy.
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| Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company |
So, after finishing up at Redbeard Brewing Company, I walked over to Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company, pulled up the off beat stools that they had, and placed an order for a Berliner Weisse. This beer had an interesting taste. It has a weiss flavor in its background which is a hard clear taste, but in this case, it doesn't want it to come out. Its almost hiding, slowly coming out after a nice amount of time. By the third drink, it is full mode and it is marvelous. This is a beer that seeks to take its time and you must let it. You are on the beer maker's time, not on yours.
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| Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company: Berliner Weisse |
After the Berliner Weisse we moved on to the next round, which was the Aus Dem Tal Alt Bier. Completely different that the Berliner Weisse, it took its flavor from rich ingredients within the glass. It had a dark smokey color, but when you tasted it, the flavor lifted to a light, almost grainy taste. It was like two flavors in one glass and they were both good. As a matter of fact, nothing short of excellent, but it is not clear who won the battle. The Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company had a selection of about 15 different beers, all of them ranging from pale ale to dark stouts. This was easily one of the most accomplished brewery's in recent memory.
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| Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company: Aus Dem Tal Alt Bier |
The Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company had a selection of 14
different beers, all of them ranging from pale ale to dark stouts. This
was easily one of the most accomplished brewery's in recent memory.
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| Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company - Beers on Tap |
By the time I had finished the second beer, it was time to leave. I had not even had time to attend a sitting at the Queen City Brewing Company, but I had the feeling I needed to go. So, I packed up my things and bid adieu to the Shenandoah Valley Brewing Company and to the city of Staunton, VA and made my way home by the declining light of a long evening.
Staunton was a real surprise, nestled their with the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, turning a once new look at the brewing industry. It will take some time, but we may be looking at one of the sister cities in a brewing revolution.
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