Charleston Is West Virginia’s Hottest Destination For Craft Beer Lovers

Streaked with huge stretches of the Appalachians, West Virginia has earned ample popularity of its ample pure magnificence, with no scarcity of spectacular preserves to discover throughout the state. Prime-tier mountain climbing locations vary from New River Gorge Nationwide Park to Harpers Ferry Nationwide Historic Park, whereas roaring waterfalls and speeding rivers could be discovered all throughout the area—and water isn’t the one factor that flows freely throughout West Virginia.

From the center of Morgantown to the Ohio-Huge Sandy confluence, West Virginia’s craft beer scene has been booming for years, with the state capital of Charleston serving as one of many high locations for craft brewery crawls. Residence to simply beneath 50,000 folks in 2020, this riverside metropolis is without doubt one of the smallest state capitals in all the U.S., however regardless of its small measurement, there’s a surprisingly massive array of breweries and bars to discover alongside the Kanawha River.

Whereas top-tier bars have been working throughout Charleston for the reason that flip of the twenty first century, the town skilled a brewing growth simply final yr, including three new spots to its roster by the tip of 2022. Simply off of Capitol Avenue, Fife Avenue Brewing has rapidly develop into an area favourite due to its numerous beer choice and flavorful consolation meals. Beers round right here vary from hearty Chucks P-51 porter to ardour fruit-loaded Kanawha kettle bitter, each pairing completely with a kimchi buffalo rooster dip grilled cheese—and as an added bonus, fellow newcomer Quick Story Brewing is situated simply subsequent door, providing a wealth of hop-heavy IPAs that first earned acclaim on the brewery’s unique Rivesville location.

Additional north over the Elk River, the family-owned Charleston Nano Brewery has mastered the artwork of small batch brewing, crafting a constantly-rotating array of ales and lagers for all to take pleasure in. Whereas rye IPAs, crimson ales, and a large assortment of fruit-forward Czech pilsners are all gracing the menu, the venue additionally specializes within the high quality artwork of root beer, making it a very appropriate vacation spot for households. And whereas 2022 has been a very productive yr for Charleston’s brewing scene, the town is not any stranger to unimaginable beer bars as properly, with East Finish Pub serving as a high spot for hearty pub fare paired with brews from all throughout the nation.

In fact, it’s finest to not drink on an empty abdomen, so you should definitely swing by considered one of downtown Charleston’s many eating places earlier than you kick off your crawl. If you happen to’re within the temper for masterfully-crafted barbecue, Dem 2 Brothers And A Grill is an absolute must-visit, with flavorful brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, and mac & cheese all gracing the menu. If you happen to’d favor to stay to the downtown district, pad kee mao and massaman curry are only a few dishes up for grabs at Chow Thai, a comfy venue that’s house to some significantly spicy Southeast Asian delicacies.

Whereas Charleston is way from the biggest state capital in the USA, this riverside metropolis is house to a king-sized beer scene, with no scarcity of unimaginable breweries and pubs to discover throughout a go to. As you intend your subsequent highway journey throughout the Appalachians, you should definitely avoid wasting room on the itinerary for a pint in West Virginia’s high vacation spot for craft beer.