USA, VA: Dragon Hops Brewing Company ready to open after months of renovations on May 5

After months of renovations, the long-awaited Dragon Hops Brewing Company, located at 130 E. Main Street in Purcellville, is ready to open May 5, the Loudoun Times-Mirror reported.

Owned by Marilla Coryell, her partner Ryan Wilton and son Jamie Horris, Dragon Hops is a family-and-veteran-owned organic farm that has been growing and selling hops in Purcellville for the past few years.

“We are all veterans and big proponents of the military. My son was shot in Afghanistan while I was in Iraq. My partner Ryan also served in Kuwait,” Coryell said.

They started the farm several years ago and initially marketed their hops as “fresh, green hops,” but they found a demand for processing the hops to dehydrated pellets. So, they decided to take their business a step further. They purchased equipment and developed a fully functioning processing facility at the farm.

Once they created the processing facility, they decided the “logical next step” was to open a brewery.

The brewery is located in the former Purcellville Marketplace, which previously served as the town hall. They have made many renovations to the space, including removing offices and bringing in their 10-barrel system, which will soon be a 20-barrel system this summer.

Coryell said they have hired Mitch Pilchuk as brewmaster. Pilchuk is the former brewer at Smoketown Brewing Station in Brunswick, Maryland.

“I immediately adored him as he was one of our first customers for fresh hops, and he has learned classic brewing,” she said.

They plan to make classically made, traditional beer with “excellent results.”

“We will have seasonal specialties such as green hop beer and will use products from the farm,” Coryell said.

One-third of the 7,000-square foot-space is used for brewing beer. The rest includes a large public area for a 30x20-foot bar, space for activities and tables, she said.

They hired Merv Lapp of Unique Amish Furniture in Purcellville to design the bar stools and tables.

“Ryan saw their products and had to have them. The stools are very heavy and well made,” she said.

Coryell invites families of all ages to come in and enjoy the environment. There will be live music and food trucks on site. They hope to create a “lively, nightlife atmosphere in town,” she said.

Coryell said they are excited to finally open their doors and look forward to meeting the community.

“We really would like more breweries to come to Purcellville and encourage other brewers to open. It’s a really great industry and each one has its own personality. We are really excited to be here,” Coryell said.

22 April, 2018