New brewery opening in Northern Neck

A former hardware store in Warsaw will soon house a craft brewery.

Old Rappahannock Brewing Co. LLC is investing more than $1.2 million to open the first craft brewery in Richmond County. The company expects to hire 11 people. 

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to bring craft beer to Warsaw and Richmond County, and even more excited to be a part of the revitalization efforts ongoing on Main Street in Warsaw,” Old Rappahannock Brewing Owner Andy Beale said in a statement.

The brewery will be the first tenant in the 37,000-square-foot Jenkins Building, a former hardware store that’s almost vacant. The brewery will take up about 7,000-square feet of space in the building, which also will house new retail and restaurants.

Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $50,000 grant from the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which Warsaw is matching with local funds. As part of the deal, the company will source more than 90 percent of the ingredients for its beer from Virginia. Warsaw’s downtown revitalization efforts have also benefited from a planning grant and a Community Development Block Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Photo courtesy Old Rappahannock Brewing Co.