How does one ‘beer crawl’ in Farmville?

Craft beer and breweries have taken over weekends for many and Virginia has become no exception to the trend. According to the official tourism website of the Commonwealth of Virginia, “the Virginia craft beer scene has exploded”. The trend has become such a staple of Virginian’s lives that the hashtag #VAcraftbeer has taken off. The increased craft beer scene in Virginia even caught the attention of former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2017 who said Virginia now has “206 licensed breweries, a 468% growth since 2012”.

Pictures are all Virginia Craft Breweries. (Courtesy of the Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia)

Keeping up with the trend, Farmville has tried to keep up within the last couple years. In part, opening up Farmville’s first and only craft brewery, Third Street Brewing Company is the staple holding this crawl together but newcomer Catbird Rooftop bar is essential to making the perfect crawl.

The route will start at Catbird Rooftop Bar, heading .30 miles to Third Street Brewing Company and making way .25 miles to end the crawl at Charley’s Waterfront Cafe. (Courtesy of Mapquest)

1. Catbird Rooftop Bar

Located on top of Hotel Weyanoke, Catbird Rooftop Bar provides a warm atmosphere that is almost as good as their beers on tap. (Courtesy of Trip Advisor)

Located in the newly-renovated Hotel Weyanoke, the Catbird Rooftop Bar sources locally craft beer in addition to their full cocktail menu. This new hot spot can often be seen from far away on Longwood’s campus by the strings of lights to distinguish it on the rooftop. Although the hours may be a tad restricting with only opening at 5 p.m. for orders every night, the views of the small town of Farmville is worth it. The atmosphere is unlike anything else in Farmville, encouraging its visitors to “leave the suit and tie at home”, taking away the pressure of living up to the Hotel Weyanoke ambience.

If you realize that you are starting the crawl more hungry than you thought and can’t wait, Hotel Weyanoke also has Effinghams and Campagna. Effingham’s will fill your brick oven pizza so much so that you can literally see the brick oven they use, knowing authenticity is something they are striving for. Campagna will allow you to step away from the craft beer scene for a hot minute to enjoy their wine bar. Wait for it…they do have draft beers at the wine bar for $7.

2. Third Street Brewing Company

Located at 312 W. Third Street in Farmville, Third Street Brewing Company is Farmville’s first and only craft brewery that offers both inside and outside seating for patrons. (Courtesy of Third Street Brewing)

Taking pride in being Farmville’s only craft brewery, Third Street Brewing Company opened its doors September of 2017 and has been a prime spot in Farmville every Friday and Saturday night ever since. With 7 craft beers on tap and 1 ginger ale, Third Street always is mixing it up with new concoctions. Making this the second stop will surely get you off and ready to continue on.

Trying to mimic other craft breweries, Third Street Brewing also invites its visitors to play games from their large collection, both inside and outside. Inside, offering board games and trivia while outside you can find cornhole. Free popcorn alone will keep you here for a good while with good company. While they don’t serve food, Third Street Brewing does sell pre-packaged sandwiches if you start enjoying the pours too much.

In addition, Third Street allows for you to bring your dog to their outdoor seating for the ultimate night just know brining Fido on the crawl may not be the best idea since not all places will allow him to accompany you so you should bring humans instead.

3. Charley’s Waterfront Cafe

The bar itself isn’t huge but the bar area is the place to be with the best atmosphere. (Courtesy of Trip Advisor)

Finally! Dinner! Do yourself a favor and sit by the bar for the best ambience and I mean do I have to sell you if you are on a beer crawl and you should sit near the bar? Come on. If it is a nice night, they do offer outdoor seating. A staple for college students to take their parents when they visit, everyone knows Charley’s is the fanciest spot in Farmville. Charley’s features local and regional brews on tap to finish off your crawl. If you are looking for specials, they have Date Night on Tuesday and an Italian Buffet every Wednesday where you will run into everyone from all of our classes it’s so well known. Otherwise their menu will help compensate for all the brews in your belly and leave you sleeping like a baby when you get home.

4. American Gastro Pub The Brew House- Coming Soon!

Not only will your beer crawl through these three places in Farmville really fill your craft beer void but coming soon to Farmville is the American Gastro Pub The Brew House. According to their website, The Brew House will also serve food in addition to their already 18 craft beers on draft. I hope they stay true in Farmville with “Life’s better with a great brew”, by adding to the growing craft brewing scene.

Peeking through their couple signs on their doors, The Brew House claims to offer more than 100 craft and domestic beers, definitely a main contender for the beer crawl. Located at 201 N. Main Street and the intersection of Third and Main Streets. With another location in Blackstone, Virginia, American Gastro Pub The Brew House has not revealed an opening date other than it is “coming soon” on their website.

Located at the intersection of West Third Street and Main Street, the location will receive a lot of traffic from both colleges and Farmville residents.