USA, VA: Stable Craft Brewing set to open the first week of May just outside of Waynesboro
Hermitage Hill Farm and Stables, the long Tennessee walking horse barn, has been converted into a tasting room for owners Craig Nargi and his wife, Nikki's newest venture, Stable Craft Brewing — located off Long Meadow Road on Madrid Road just outside of Waynesboro, News Leader reported on April 17.
It's been years in the making, but the vision has now become a reality and is set to open the first week of May.
The farm has been serving as a wedding and events venue for nearly a decade and Nargi felt the addition of a brewery would enhance the space.
"There's a lot of places that are breweries that don't offer event space," he said.
The wedding and event location draws hundreds many weekends and Nargi said he's already started booking well into 2017 and 2018.
The new brewery will offer 16 beers ranging from stouts, IPAs, pale ales and more. Currently, he and his head brewer Christopher Fann, previously of Brothers Craft Brewing in Harrisonburg, are using a 10 barrel system. As the business grows, he can add more. In the future, he hopes to bottle his own, but for now guests can take home a growler of beer.
"We're getting more interest now with holiday parties and smaller events. I think it's a destination already with our weddings so this will only improve it," he said of the brewery.
The tasting room mimics the stable it once was. Showcasing great woodwork, equestrian touches are found throughout the space, including the horseshoe chandelier hanging in the middle of the room.
The space can hold more than 100 people.
Next to the tasting room is a small area that can be used for guests to gather prior to wedding receptions or small events. Beyond that is the remaining portion of the stables.
Nargi's nine horses on the farm have now been relocated to other barns throughout the property, but he said sometimes he brings the horses back into the stables and allows guests to take photos, pet and enjoy.
"It's a safe combination," he said. "The horse is very safe animal to be around when you look at their human interaction. It's much safer than cows or chickens.
"It works very well because we are able to preserve the equestrian portion of this farm," he added.
Nargi said one of his goals with the new brewery is to allow people to experience something they normally don't. Being immersed in the farm environment is just one aspect. Guests can take tours of the farm, where the brewery's hops are grown. They can take in the mountain views from the patio, which offers an outdoor fireplace.
Nargi makes sure that his farm operates as green as possible. Whatever he uses, he finds another way to repurpose it. For example, when making beer the heat from the giant fermenters will be pumped into the greenhouse next door to it during the cold months. Spent grain is also being given to nearby farms to feed to cows. He grows produce that is used for his catering business on-site and fruit and herbs grown on the farm will be incorporated in the beers brewed.
"You take the product on your farm and add value and give people a finished product," Nargi said.
He also wants to make the brewery as educational as possible by offering brewing classes and tours. He wants guests to experience the whole process — from the hop vine, to being brewed and to the glass — for an informative, educational and relaxing experience.
The brewery will also be offering food from Nargi's catering business, which is also located on the farm.
"You get to experience what very few people get to see," he said. "We're not decoration, we truly are a farm brewery. We tried to make it so if you made the trip out here, we'd like you to stay awhile."
This is the second brewery to open outside of Waynesboro. The other — Seven Arrows Brewing Co. — opened in 2014.
17 April, 2016
