Top Taphouses in
West Virginia
What’s the best brewery in West Virginia?
Impossible to say, right? Everyone has an opinion. But in the age of social media, it is possible to identify which breweries people seem to enjoy the most. To produce this list, we averaged the brewery scores from the three most popular beer-rating sites (Untappd, BeerAdvocate, and BeerRater), then weighted them to reflect the taphouse experience as much as the quality of the beer.
West Virginia has 32 taphouses currently in operation. Here are the 10 highest rated breweries in the state.
#10 Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co. — Maxwelton
Greenbrier Valley is located just minutes from downtown Lewisburg and features a taproom with over a dozen beers on draft; a creative, locally sourced food menu; and plenty of live music and events. The brewery is best known for its flagship beer, Devil Anse IPA, but offers a wide variety of brews from traditional German pilsners to porters and sours.
#9 High Ground Brewing — Terra Alta
High Ground is a veteran-owned brewery located in Preston County that opened in March 2019. Its beers are distributed on tap at many locations throughout West Virginia by Mountain State Beverage and in Garrett County, Maryland, through Lohr Distributors.
#8 Big Timber Brewing Co. — Elkins
Big Timber’s brewery and taproom is located in the heart of Appalachia, Elkins, West Virginia. Its name pays homage to the surrounding forests and the industry that built the community. They make beer that they love and enjoy doing it, creating a product that Elkins and West Virginia can take pride in.
#7 The Peddler Brewing Co. — Huntington
The Peddler is a brewery, restaurant, and arcade, centrally located in downtown Huntington, featuring 20 beers on tap and serving a variety of creative burgers and sandwiches on freshly baked buns with tallow fries, as well as Sunday brunch.
#6 Cacapon Mountain Brewing – Berkeley Springs
Located in America’s first spa town, Cacapon Mountain Brewing serves a wide variety of easy-drinking styles, crafted with flair and finesse by one of West Virginia’s most accomplished brewers. Housed within a former textile mill, the bright airy taphouse is one of the prettiest in the state. Skeins of lush vines descend the walls. Banks of large window grids and a matrix of skylights carved from the wood-paneled ceiling flood the taphouse with natural light. Combined with the high ceiling, this inviting brewpub feels spacious yet cozy, and always inviting.
Go to full review
#5 Amani Brewing — Martinsburg
Curt Kimbrell is brewing the best IPAs in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle on 32 acres of pasturage just north of downtown Martinsburg. You’ll also find first-class examples of other popular styles, as well as the occasional bottle of barrel-aged brew and five house varieties of cold brew coffee in cans. The cozy, stylish taphouse is warm and welcoming. Two and a half acres behind the taphouse have been immaculately landscaped and fenced in for kids, canines, and adults appreciative of the bucolic setting. And a year-round schedule of imaginative foot races and other outdoor activities lend a unique flavor of health and fitness to the taphouse experience.
Go to full review
#4 Fife Street Brewing — Charleston
Fife Street’s opening in 2022, just as the nation was recovering from Covid, sparked a craft-brewing revival in Charleston and the emergence of a Brewers Row in the downtown historic district with four breweries within a four-block radius. A fifth brewery just on the other side of the Elk River now makes Charleston the most breweried city in the state. Award-winning beers in a variety of styles, an imaginative food menu featuring “elevated grilled cheese sandwiches,” and a knowledgeable, personable staff make this hip, lively taproom one the most welcoming in the Mountain State.
Go to full review
#3 Short Story Brewing — Rivesville
Short Story Brewing was founded in 2017 with brewery operations and a taproom in the owners’ hometown of Rivesville. They have since expanded to operate taprooms in Morgantown, Charleston, and Deep Creek Lake, MD. Their award-winning beers, like Chasing Daylight IPA, and community-forward taprooms earned them “Best Family Owned Business” of 2024 from Times West Virginian.
#2 Stumptown Ales — Davis
On April 3, 2016, Stumptown began pouring pints of Six Legged Frog, the first hazy IPA brewed in West Virginia—and one of the first two or three in the mid-Atlantic region. The brewery has maintained its “Hop Centric” focus and remains the state’s top destination for beer-lovers seeking uncompromising, hop-saturated beers. Robust flavors—and high ABVs—also characterize its other beers. The rustic, laid-back atmosphere in its small downtown taphouse helps ensure every visit to this pioneering brewery is a memorable and eye-opening experience.
Go to full review
#1 Weathered Ground Brewery – Cool Ridge
Weathered Ground’s name belies the stunning beauty of the 30 acres it sits upon. West Virginia’s only farmhouse brewery makes the most of its picturesque environs and a convenient location off I-77. Weary travelers will be refreshed by a welcoming, spacious taphouse; an expansive selection of some of the best beer brewed in the state; and a uniquely hospitable vibe that has made it one the most beloved breweries in the state. Few breweries anywhere have a more passionate following than Weathered Ground.
Go to full review