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Cheers! Get into the beer scene Dip your toe into the art of craft brewing. Pale ales and stouts are a pretty big deal in Southern West Virginia. Find out how this ancient beverage is made and where you can try it for yourself. A behind-the-scenes look Like anything that’s readily available, it’s easy to take beer for granted. But by the time that weizenbock pours into your glass, you’re only getting part of the story. It all starts with grain. Malted barley is the most common, although rye and wheat are popular, too. Regardless, these complex carbohydrates are the essence of every beer. Each one imparts body, flavor, and aroma to the drink. Brewers then take the dried grain (barley, in this example) and mash it in hot water. Natural sugar develops as enzymes disintegrate, creating a sweet amber liquid called wort. Hops come next. These resiny green flowers give beer that bitter tang, while acting as a preservative. You can also add spices at this stage. After wort gets filtered, it’s time for fermentation. Before brewers pour everything into the distinctive silvery tanks, though, they add yeast. These microorganisms consume sugar and produce CO2 and alcohol. Without them, beer wouldn’t have lift or pep. At this point, the brew needs to age. Different yeast strains determine the waiting period. Ale, for example, needs to sit for several weeks at lukewarm temperatures. Lagers require longer and colder fermentation time. Carbonation is the last step. Yeast does much of this naturally, but beer needs more of a kick before it hits the shelves. To that end, brewers add fizz artificially. You can also try “bottle-conditioned” brews, which don’t have any forced carbonation. It’s an ancient method known for its silky textures and deep flavors. That’s brewing in a nutshell! If you’d like to learn even more, take a look at these Southern West Virginia activities and breweries: West Virginia Craft Brew Festival Get ready to enjoy this brand-new beer extravaganza! On April 29, the state’s foremost brewers will showcase their creations at the West Virginia Brew Festival. What’s more, you can get pro tips during workshops. Learn all about home brewing, food pairings, and more, then listen to bluegrass music from the likes of Larry Keel and Tyler Childers. Talk to the pros Southern West Virginia’s breweries put a whole new spin on beer. Check ‘em out and get inspired! Who knows, maybe you’ll be the region’s next brewer. Dobra Zupas This Beckley restaurant may be casual, but its entrees are classy and vibrant. Sriracha-rubbed rib eye steak, chicken cacciatore, homemade hummus, and artisan sandwiches are just some of the specialties. Of course, there’s also craft beer. The Dobra Zupas brewery is new, but it has surprising scope and depth. Try its potent “Java Jive” oatmeal stout, hoppy pale ales, and malty wheat beers, among others. The restaurant also serves local and imported cider, porter, and pilsners. Bridge Brew Works This 3-person operation is a cherished Fayetteville institution. The owners do everything from brewing and capping to welcoming customers and making restaurant shipments. Hang out in their new tasting room, which  is open from Tuesday to Thursday, 1-5 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 1-6 p.m. It’s your opportunity to get growler fills and tastings! Speaking of which, Bridge Brew Works has IPAs, lagers, and porters. Most are inspired by the New River Gorge’s dynamic rapids and climbing spots. Expect bold flavors! Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co. This former factory makes beer named after West Virginia characters. Using European grains, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co. produces quality pale ales, stouts, porters, and more. Another highlight is the taproom; it’s the only place you can try Greenbrier Valley’s small-batch brews. The doors open on Fridays from 4-9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2-9 p.m. The first Saturday of the month is a treat, too. Music starts at 6 p.m. and there are snacks and games for the whole family. You can also take craft brew tours for $8 a pop. Get an insider’s look into the industry and get samples, too! Before heading out, though, call and make an appointment. Sophisticated Hound Brewing Company There’s plenty to like about Princeton’s newest brewery. First, it’s got a great logo: a posh greyhound, clad in a bowler hat and wearing a monocle. Second, owner Matthew Barnett knows his craft. Sophisticated Hound may be young, but it  was the first to empty its kegs at Pipestem Spa and Event Center’s 2016 Oktoberfest. What made folks racing back for more? There’s 1863 Pale Ale, citrusy and crisp, and Racer 8— a tribute to Barnett’s retired greyhound, Denouncer. The latter is an American barley stout with a rich, caramelly finish. Sophisticated Hound is a  small “nano brewery” operation, so it doesn’t have a taproom. Instead, contact the brewery on Facebook to arrange growler fills. What’s your favorite Southern West Virginia brew?

The best off-road trails in America are open, right here in Southern West Virginia! Most of Southern West Virginia is forest — a postcard opportunity if we’ve ever heard one, especially during winter. Take to the horizon on an ATV, and fill your day with stunning scenery, history and quirky destinations! Playtime is now in season. Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park With 10,000 acres at its disposal, you can bet this off-road attraction has a winter wonderland waiting for you. For starters, Burning Rock’s trails — more than 100 miles of them — cater to riders of all levels. You can try “Tam’s Loop” if you’re inexperienced or take things up a notch with steeper climbs. Regardless, you’ll get treated to valley vistas, scenic overlooks, and thick forests. In case you need another excuse to visit, check this out: Burning Rock has a Valentine’s Special from Feb. 1- 14. Cabin rentals are just $99 per night and you won’t have to pay any passenger fees, either. Hatfield-McCoy Trails Meet the East Coast’s largest, most extensive off-road system. Spanning multiple counties and covering more than 600 miles of paths, Hatfield-McCoy Trails has more wonderland than you could visit in a day. That’s not a bad thing, either. In fact, it means snowy Southern West Virginia is yours for the weekend! Since there’s so much ground to cover, pick a trailhead that appeals to you. Most have nearby convenience stores, gas stations, lodges, and hotels. Others have historical interest, like the Pocahontas Trail System in Bramwell. It’s minutes from decadent coal baron estates. Under a coat of snow, this Victorian town is enchanting. For something a little more challenging, take the Bearwallow Trail System. One of the routes takes you close to the Battle of Blair Mountain, where miners revolted in 1921. As snow falls and the woods get silent, it’s tempting to believe you’ve left modern times. Trailside trips Nothing spurs your appetite like brisk mountain air. Fortunately, Southern West Virginia has all the fuel you need. Buffalo Trail Cabins, Cottages and Campground is less than 4 miles from the Pocahontas Trail System. It’s also where buffalo really roam— just check out the pastures! Arrive for a casual dinner from 4-9 p.m., Thurs-Sat; the menu boasts upscale appetizers, pizza … and bison burgers! As Buffalo Trail’s name suggests, you can spend the night, too. The modern cabins have kitchenettes, full baths, wifi and TV. And if you’ve never been to Bramwell, stop by after a morning ATV ride. It’s a Victorian gem with charming streets, shops and — best of all — 19th-century mansions. In fact, more millionaires lived here during the coal boom than anywhere else in America. Another Bramwell highlight is The Corner Shop, an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor. Waiters in pillbox hats make ice cream on the premises, so it’s worth getting a scoop or 2. Flavors include coffee, strawberry, cookies n’ cream, and butter pecan. You can also order sundaes, banana splits, malts and milkshakes, plus burgers and sandwiches. What’s your favorite ATV destination in Southern West Virginia?

Here’s something to be thankful for: no cooking and cleaning! Thanksgiving is wonderful, but let’s be honest— there are fork loads of preparation and planning, too. But in Southern West Virginia, you can have your turkey and eat it, too. Here’s who can help you whip up a full feast: Your guide to eating out: Pipestem Resort State Park Poised above the Bluestone Gorge, Pipestem Resort State Park combines untamed scenery with a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast. Chefs will be serve Mr. Turkey with gravy and stuffing; salmon with orange butter sauce; honey-pitted ham with baked apples; and roast beef au jus. As for side dishes, sample good ol’ mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, coleslaw… the list goes on. And that doesn’t even cover dessert! Twin Falls Restaurant At Twin Falls Restaurant, treetop views of the state park with your turkey. And Twin Falls’ buffet will win your thanks with all the heartiest home-cookin’ classics, from turkey to mashed potatoes to hot rolls, plus all the staple side dishes. The Resort at Glade Springs The Resort at Glade Springs dresses things up with its Thanksgiving Package.You’ll get daily breakfast and a fancy ballroom buffet. Make the holiday even more romantic with a suite; each one comes with a fireplace, wet bar and DVD player. Or just make reservations for one of the seating times for yourself, friends and family. Smokey’s on the Gorge Adventures on the Gorge will spoil your entire family with its gourmet buffet. Reserve a spot at Smokey’s on the Gorge, where chefs bring out the works: roast turkey, prime rib, warm bread, classic side dishes and more! Just make sure your have enough stomach real estate for bread pudding and pumpkin pie. Take Thanksgiving to go: Tamarack Tamarack, the “Best of West Virginia,” serves entire Thanksgiving meals to go, crafted by chefs trained at the prestigious The Greenbrier. Order up everything from a slow-roasted turkey and cornbread stuffing to fresh cranberry relish and your choice of pie: pumpkin, pecan or apple. You can even reserve individual entrees and side dishes for mix n’ match convenience. Cathedral Cafe Dessert time. Cathedral Cafe’s homemade treats are sure-fire guest pleasers. Call and reserve cobbler, pies and award-winning carrot cake. All you have to do is fetch some vanilla ice cream. Smokey’s on the Gorge You’re going to need a bigger car! Smokey’s packages everything for Thanksgiving take-away, from Joyce-Farms Heritage Black Turkey meals to Black Angus Prime Rib feasts. Add a Jack Daniels pecan pie for just $15! Tip: Make your reservation a few weeks ahead of time. These fill up really quickly! How are you celebrating Thanksgiving in Southern WV? Posted Tuesday at 12:04pm

Best of the Blue Ridge When Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine asked its readers for the best of the best in its 10-state region— from Georgia to West Virginia— they gushed about our treasured watering holes, outspoken adventures and spunky local events. Southern West Virginia definitely racked ’em up. If we told you about all of our awards, you’d be reading all day— so here’s an overview of some of our shiny accolades. 1. Food SWV swept the overall restaurant category, taking 1st, runner up and honorable mention. The secret must be out, because Secret Sandwich Society took the top spot for its creative and quirky president-themed sandwiches. Coming in 2nd was Lewisburg’s quaint farm-to-table Stardust Cafe, while Pies and Pints’ lively atmosphere, bubbly brews and specialty pies earned it an honorable mention. If you’re looking for best breakfast in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll find it at Vandal's Kitchen in Fayetteville. Best burrito? Burrito Bar in Lansing. How about the second best burrito?  Del Sol Cantina. Best burger? Yep, we’ve got that, too. Head to Jim’s Drive-In in Lewisburg for old-fashioned curbside service. 2. Nightlife and drinks The days in SWV are filled with adventure, and the nights are filled with shenanigans. Readers toasted Fayetteville residents for making their own fun after the sun goes down. The stars over the bridge are bright, but everyone knows they look a lot better with a bellyful of Mothman Black IPA (which just so happened to snag runner up in the brew category). Vivacious Irish tunes, hearty meals and an abundance of spirits got Lewisburg’s Irish Pub the best brewhouse/pub spot, while Lost Paddle Lounge grabbed an honorable mention for its raucous post-adventure shenanigans. 3. Events If you’re looking for the rowdiest time in all of Southeast/Mid-Atlantic, look no further than Summersville’s own Gauley Fest. All proceeds go to American Whitewater, so you can knock a few (or 10) back in good conscience. The weekend-long party also snagged runner up for the Best Paddling Event. While we’re talking about getting rowdy, Mountain Music Festival was named runner up for best Blue Ridge Festival. What’s better than live music on a 1,500-acre playground? (ACE Adventure Resort’s got whizzing ziplines and an entire lake filled with inflatables!) On a much different scale (you might want to hold the keg stands the night before this one), Captain Thurmond’s Challenge came out on top as the best triathlon. While we’ve got your attention, athletes, check out the Craggin’ Classic, which was named the 2nd Best Climbing Event. 4. Outfitters It’s become glaringly obvious that readers love (like, really obsessively love) ACE Adventure Resort. Like we said, it’s basically a 1,500-acre playground… pretty hard to compete with that.  ACE raked in a slew of titles, including overall Best Raft Guide company, Best Outdoor Company to work for and Best Kid-Friendly Outdoor Destination. Adventures on the Gorge got some love, too— they were voted runner up for the Best Zipline and Best Raft Guide Company. 5. Businesses Fayetteville’s Water Stone Outdoors scours the industry for those obscure products that you just can’t find anywhere else, and that’s exactly why they received a nod in the Best Outdoor Shop category. The adorably— and aptly— named Hill and Holler Bike Shop in Lewisburg was mentioned as one of the Best Bike Shops, and Kula Yoga came in as 2nd Best Yoga Studio. 6. Adventures Well, we saved the best for last. We all know outdoor adventures are SWV’s specialty. On land, water, or in the sky, you’ll find some of the best right here. You could climb all year and barely make a dent in the New River Gorge’s sandstone cliffs, making it the Best Rock Crag. The Best Paddling Rivers are right here in Wild and Wonderful, with the rumbling Gauley River swelling to the top spot. Of course, if flatwater is more your thing, we’ve got the best of that too at Summersville Lake, voted one of the best spots to hop on a stand-up paddleboard. The Greenbrier River Trail was named both the Best Hiking Trail and Best Running Trail. If you can’t find something to love on this more than 70-mile stretch, you might be doing it wrong.

West Virginia’s largest single-day festival is almost here! Bridge Day 2022, one of the most exciting BASE jumping festivals in the world, returns on October 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the New River Gorge Bridge in Lansing. This year’s event will be the first held in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, so you don’t want to miss it!  What Is Bridge Day? Bridge Day is celebrated every third Saturday in October and is the only day out of the year that pedestrians can walk on the New River Gorge Bridge! This time of year is also peak foliage, which makes the bridge the perfect overlook to view the colorful leaves.  Professional BASE jumpers get their chance to fly 876 feet into the Gorge below and rappellers ascend and descend from the catwalk directly below the bridge. It takes approximately 8 seconds from the bridge to the water of the New River. Most BASE jumpers free-fall from the bridge for 3-4 seconds before deploying their parachute. They spend the next 20 to 30 seconds floating down to the landing zone.  In addition to BASE jumping and rappelling, Bridge Day offers tandem BASE jumping, the High Line and Into the Gorge tours. Into the Gorge Tours are sold out.  Check High Line registration for Bridge Day availability.  Bridge Day History Bridge Day is held to commemorate the October 1977 completion of the renowned New River Gorge Bridge. The New River Gorge Bridge has some pretty impressive stats. It is the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the United States and the third highest bridge in the country. The overall length of the bridge is 3,030 feet and the massive structure weighs 88 million pounds. The bridge is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The first official Bridge Day was on November 8, 1980. Two parachutists jumped from a plane onto the bridge, then five parachutists jumped from the bridge into the Gorge. Bridge Day continued to expand, and now the event features hundreds of BASE jumpers and rappellers. On average, 80,000 people attend Bridge Day each year! Some years, attendance has been closer to 100,000 people.  Bridge Day Information The most convenient way to get to the bridge is to park and then use the Bridge Day shuttle. The shuttle is $3 (cash only) and will drop you off at the entrance of the event. Find a shuttle map on the Bridge Day website.  Many items are not prohibited at Bridge Day, including coolers, folding chairs, bicycles, skateboards, fireworks and alcoholic beverages. Find a full list of prohibited items on the Bridge Day website. Clear backpacks and clear handbags are allowed at Bridge Day (subject to search). Make It A Full Weekend  Although Bridge Day is the main event, there are a number of other things going on around the area to stretch your weekend festivities!  Taste of Bridge Day Kick off your weekend at the Taste of Bridge Day on Friday, October 14 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This annual event held at Adventures on the Gorge, showcases the area’s finest restaurants, caterers and food trucks. Enjoy an evening of local food, amazing art vendors and live music. Purchase tickets online to taste your way around the Gorge!  Bridge Day 5K Run Experience a stunning view of the New River Gorge during Active Southern West Virginia’s Bridge Day 5K Run. This unique 5k is the only race across the New River Gorge Bridge and begins at 8 a.m. Registration is still open! Whitewater Rafting  Rafting the New River is always exciting, but rafting during Bridge Day? Even better! Book a trip with one of our local outfitters to get a unique view of all the action. Or catch the epic waters of the Gauley River on the last two scheduled days of the 2022 season (October 15 and 16).  Bridge Day Chili Cook-Off Taste samples of some of the best chili recipes from local community members, then vote for your favorite at the annual Bridge Day Chili Cook-Off in Fayetteville. The cook-off will be set up in front of the Fayette County Courthouse from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be incredible live music, children’s activities and more. Discover more after parties on our events calendar! From hiking and mountain biking to live music and entertainment, find more activities in Southern West Virginia to add to your Bridge Day weekend. Fayette Station Road and Teays Landing Accessibility Statement:  Bridge Day works with the NPS and other law enforcement agencies in the area in regards to Fayette Station and Fayette Station Road closures.  That area will not be accessible beginning on Friday, October 14 after 5:30 pm through Saturday, October 15 at 5 pm (assuming the highway and road are cleared as expected).  Private boaters can use Fayette Station as a take out after 5 pm on Saturday, October 15th if arrangements are made for shuttling without leaving a car the night prior.  Setting shuttle and leaving cars overnight will not be permitted during Bridge Day. Teays is privately owned land with a lease to others.  They have decided to not allow access to Teays during Bridge Day, which includes not allowing shuttle cars to be dropped the night prior. About 2.5-3 miles downstream, Hawks Nest also has a river access location with parking and shuttle access on Friday and Saturday.