Want your IPA with a mountain vista chaser? Some of the area’s breweries happen to be situated in some of the most picturesque places, with the Blue Ridge Mountains or Shenandoah Valley as the backdrop. Prefer cityscapes? You can find that, too. Camp out at a table at one of these spots, where the view might just compete with what’s in your glass.
Launched by the Zurschmeide family who also owns and operates nearby Great Country Farms and (equally bucolic) Bluemont Vineyard, Dirt Farm Brewing may just have the prettiest setting for a cold one in all of NoVA. With an expansive patio dotted with umbrella-topped tables all overlooking the rolling hills of Bluemont, there truly isn’t a bad seat, including on a barstool inside the stone building. Set your pint on the stone wall for the requisite Instagram photo of the patchwork backdrop. On a clear day, you can even see the buildings in Tysons and beyond. 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont
Set on 35 secluded acres with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bear Chase Brewing Company was initially launched in 2017 by friends who wanted to repurpose the historic homestead into a bed-and-breakfast. If you really fall in love with the scenery, you can stay at a 14-person manor, a six-bedroom farmhouse, or a cozy cottage. But if you’re only there for the afternoon, you can still soak in the natural beauty from an Adirondack chair on the spacious lawn or the wraparound covered patio, or from a seat below the rafters in the handsome wood-paneled taproom. 33665 Bear Chase Ln., Bluemont
You can taste both craft beers and wine at the family-run Hillsborough Winery, Brewery, and Vineyard from your perch on the picturesque patio, equipped with Solo stoves to ward off the chill, or from a table in the sunny tasting room. The combined winery-brewery got its start in 2001 by the Baki family, whose son (and current winemaker) Kerem was enrolled in a graduate enology program at Virginia Tech. Today, Kerem’s brother, Tolga, serves as master brewer. “Momma Baki” (Zeynep) is responsible for the design of the gardens you’ll see while you’re taking in the views. 36716 Charles Town Pk., Hillsboro
Sample some of Starr Hill Brewery’s best crafty options at the German-inspired outpost, Tysons Biergarten, which boasts an outdoor patio overlooking some of the skyscrapers in this growing NoVA community. (There is limited covered or enclosed seating, as it’s mainly an outdoor venue.) Grab a metal picnic table or a few of the bright red stools on the long table running the length of the outdoor space. There’s obviously German fare, too, like sauerkraut- and mustard-topped bratwursts and giant Bavarian pretzel sticks served with beer cheese. 1805 Capital One Dr. S., Ste. 1100, Tysons
Perched high atop a bluff along the banks of the Potomac River, Harpers Ferry Brewing boasts stellar views and tasty brews. Grab some Mountain Juice, a New England–style IPA, from inside of the large modern lodge-style taproom, then head out back to take a seat at one of the several outdoor gathering areas. The riverscape includes views of Maryland and West Virginia, with the historic town of Harpers Ferry clear in the distance. You’ll need to make several trips if you aim to sip through the extensive tap list, but once you’ve witnessed a sunset from the brewery’s west-facing observation deck, you’ll be eager to hit repeat. 37412 Adventure Center Ln., Purcellville
— James McFadden contributed to this report.
Feature image courtesy Dirt Farm Brewing
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This story originally ran in our December 2023 issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
