E-Malt.com News article: USA, VA: Rusty Beaver Brewery to open in Ladysmith, Virginia

The founder of the Virginia Barbeque restaurant chain is opening a small brewery in the Ladysmith area of Caroline County, Fredericksburg.com reported on February, 18.

Rusty Beaver Brewery will be in a 1,000-square-foot space that used to be a location for Virginia Barbeque, which Spotsylvania County resident Rick Ivey owns with his wife.

Last year Ivey converted the Ladysmith location into a business called Hops Brew Shop, which sells home-brewing supplies. Ivey and his son, Austin, for the past couple of years have been brewing beer at their 20-acre farm in the Beaverdam area (hence the name Rusty Beaver Brewery). They opened the business to service the growing hobby.

The Iveys will continue to sell home-brewing supplies at the Ladysmith store, but most of the space will be transformed into a small brewing operation. They plan to brew five different beers.

The Iveys plan to brew beer there a couple of days a week and be open to the public for growler fills and beers by the glass four or five days a week.

Ivey thinks Rusty Beaver Brewery will open within 60 days. Austin Ivey will run the operation.

Ivey hopes to be distributing Rusty Beaver Brewery products to bars within six months.


20 February, 2013