USA, VA: Starr Hill Pilot Brewery already open to the public in Roanoke

While hurricanes delayed the on-site beer production, Starr Hill Pilot Brewery and Side Stage is now open to the public, Roanoke Times reported.

The independent brewery’s new Roanoke location at The Bridges development had a small crowd for a private opening ceremony on Friday, September 15 where Starr Hill officials talked about the new taproom. The brewery opened to the public at noon Saturday, September 16.

The new, approximately 2,200-square-foot tasting room has multiple wooden benches with tables as well as bar seating. A custom-made bar was installed along with a small stage for live music.

There are 23 taps pouring Starr Hill brews and some of them have the Charlottesville-area brewery’s best known suds, such as Northern Lights IPA and The Love wheat beer. Soon 15 to 18 of the taps will have specialty beers made on site.

Starr Hill representatives said the five-barrel brewing system was delivered earlier this week, but it was late due to logistical problems from the hurricanes that hit the southern U.S., so it is not in operation yet.

Brewery spokesman Jack Goodall said beer should be brewing at the site in the next few weeks and for sale shortly after.

The Roanoke site is specifically creating experimental beers. Goodall said they will likely produce several sours and wild ales, since they are harder to make at the Starr Hill brewing headquarters in Crozet.

He also said there are plans to produce a lot of seasonal beers and the taps will change frequently. If one of the beers made in Roanoke proves to be really popular, it likely will return. Beer won’t be distributed from this site, but produced in kegs and sold on tap.

Starr Hill was born in the Charlottesville Music Hall in 1999 and is the largest independent regional craft brewer in Virginia. It announced it was opening a second, smaller location in Roanoke in January after a lengthy search for a spot.

The new brewery will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

This is one of several new and highly anticipated breweries to come to the Roanoke Valley this year.

Ballast Point Brewing Co. opened its nearly 20,000-square-foot tasting room in Botetourt County in June. Deschutes Brewery, which is also opening up a manufacturing facility in a few years, opened a smaller tasting room in downtown Roanoke a few weeks ago. Locally owned Big Lick Brewing Co. is in the process of opening its new and expanded brewery in downtown Roanoke next month.

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