Exploring Williamsburg Breweries

Whether you’re a brewing connoisseur or a casual beer drinker, these four Williamsburg breweries in Virginia will delight your taste buds with every new pour, with everything from classic brews to rare specialty beers. And although beer is undoubtedly the main attraction, all these brewery taprooms have a lively ambiance, with outdoor patios, live music, game nights, and a delicious selection of food to accompany your frosty brew.

Start by walking just around the block from us (to Precarious Beer Project), then plan during your stay to visit the other breweries, which are all less than 4 miles from our Historic Williamsburg Bed & Breakfast Inn. There are over 100 beers on tap to try between them all, so whatever your beer preference or palate, you’ll likely discover your new favorite beer(s) at these Williamsburg breweries.

Precarious Beer Project – Although one of the newer breweries in Williamsburg, VA, the team at Precarious has quickly garnered a reputation over the last six years with their extensive selection of beers on tap, excellent food, and vibrant atmosphere. Their beer hall and taproom anchor one block of Merchants Square, downtown Williamsburg's historical dining and shopping district. And conveniently, it’s just around the block from our location, making it a quick walk from your B&B in Historic Downtown Williamsburg and easy to incorporate into your visit.

Hop lovers will find plenty to enjoy in one of their four flagship IPAs, including experimental hops in the Electric Garden and other innovative twists. You’ll also find lagers, various heavier-alcohol pours, and even a non-alcoholic beer with a Belgian flavor (a step above most standard and run-of-the-mill non-alcoholic beers). Inside the beer hall,  two restaurants serve food in their beer garden most days: Electric Circus features a Mexican menu, from nachos and authentic chicharrones to four types of tacos (try the tuna or chorizo for some extra flavor), and Ol’ Dominion Burger offers wings, hot dogs, cheese curds, and six different burgers.

In addition to their award-winning beers – they recently won best brewery group at the Great American Beer Festival in late 2022 – don’t miss their weekly special events, like trivia on Wednesday nights and new beer releases on Fridays. And bring the kids, as they’ll love the food options and the wall of vintage arcade games.

Perhaps our favorite is Billsburg Brewery.  The unparalleled ambiance of sitting at the Jamestown Marina overlooking historic Powhatan Creek cannot be beaten.  This is a great way to top off a day visiting Jamestown and is just a five-mile drive down Jamestown Road from our inn. America’s brewing story began over 400 years ago in the heart of Jamestown, and today at Billsburg Brewery they’re bringing it back. Billsburg Brewery is nestled on a 10-acre marina with breathtaking views of the water, just off the Colonial Parkway, mere miles from America’s original brewery. They’ve worked hard to craft our favorite beers and are excited to offer their patrons ales, lagers, and pilsners reminiscent of America’s rich brewing history. Billsburg Brewery was born from their love of traditional lagers, pilsners, and ales and their desire to create a space where family, friends, and the community as a whole could gather together and make great memories.

A five-minute drive down Richmond Road from the Fife & Drum Inn is the newly opened Strangeways Brewing.  From its origins in Richmond, Virginia, Strangeways Brewing opened its Williamsburg location in the summer of 2022. Their 48 beers on tap are as unique as the eclectic art and bright-colored walls inside their taproom. Their tagline is “Think strange, drink strange,” and those with an adventurous palate will love their milk porter, triple New England IPA, Belgian white ale, and Berliner Weisses with wild flavors like Lucky Charms and Sour Cherry Cobbler. Their space is massive, at over 4,000 square feet, so grab a seat indoors during the winter or snag an outdoor table – they have both a sprawling front patio AND a cozy courtyard in the back – during the spring or summer. Check their events calendar for live music, often booking the best local acts and fun happenings like Brews and Bingo, which takes place on Sunday afternoons.

Another relative newcomer to the local brewing scene, Virginia Beer Company on the east side of town, opened its doors in 2016. This brewery has local roots as its two founders are William and Mary grads. After working other jobs and diving into homebrewing, they returned to Williamsburg, repurposing an older building into a cutting-edge brewery, with one large brewing setup for flagship beers and another boutique brewing system for specialty brews. Their lengthy beer menu includes standbys always on tap, like hazy and imperial IPAs, two different lagers, and various stouts. And the rotating and more unique beers include offerings like the 11% ABV peach cobbler barleywine and a spiced lemongrass beer. One of their mottos is to “brew with purpose,” embodied in their partnerships with nonprofits and beers made to benefit noble causes – the all-women-brewed peach super wheat currently on tap celebrates International Women’s Day. Their outdoor patio is where everyone gathers, with food trucks nightly, live music on most weekends, and fire pits – perfect for imbibing a cold beer after the sun sets.

Alewerks Brewing Company – The tight-knit team at Alewerks has been producing quality and innovative beer since 2006, setting a high standard in the local brewing culture. Their tap lineup includes year-round favorites like the approachable Anywhere IPA, traditional Tavern Brown, and easy-drinking Weekend Lager. And their brewers adapt with the seasons, adding a tangerine wheat in the spring, an amber pumpkin ale in the fall, and a coffee stout in the winter. Snack on one of their signature house-made pretzels or get a bite from one of the rotating food trucks that set up alongside their shaded outdoor beer garden. Nearly every weekend at the brewery features special events, like the Beers and Gears classic car show and Ale and Artisans, when local artists show and sell their wares.

Stay at our Historic Williamsburg B&B and discover a thriving brewery scene!