WILLIAMSBURG— The Virginia Beer Company is celebrating a significant milestone in 2026 as it comes together to honor the 10th anniversary of the brewery.
The Virginia Beer Company opened in March 2016 in Williamsburg’s Edge District, founded by College of William & Mary alumni Chris Smith and Robby Willey, along with brewmaster Jonathan Newman. The craft brewery grew out of a shared interest in home brewing and community engagement, developing a model centered on its motto, “Beer • People • Purpose.” Known for producing a range of styles from IPAs to specialty releases, the company quickly established itself in the region’s expanding craft beer scene while emphasizing philanthropy and local partnerships.
Smith said, “The vision for the Virginia Beer Co. began at William & Mary, kicked off when we quit our jobs in 2012, and officially launched in March 2016. Seeing this small business turn into a community staple these 10 years later means the world to us. We are so grateful for our team and everyone in the community who has been a part of this story from pints at the Green Leafe to fundraisers on Second Street.”
Since opening in 2016, the company has expanded its distribution across Virginia and added a Yorktown brewpub, continuing its focus on innovation and community involvement.
“Community is what brought us together on campus. Community is what brought us back to Williamsburg. Community is what inspired us to jump into craft beer. Community is why we expanded to Yorktown. This community is special, and we’re so grateful for every pint poured, every dollar raised for non-profit partners, and every connection made over the past 10+ years. We celebrate beers & cheers daily, and we can’t wait to keep doing so in Williamsburg, Yorktown, Virginia, & beyond,” Wiley said.
On April 11, the team will come together with the community to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of its flagship brewery in Williamsburg.
Planned activities include live music from The Jason Cale Band from 3-10 p.m. and Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos from 7-10 p.m. with DJ Kudlz. There will also be food trucks from The Hatchery, Jessica’s Lutong Bahay, The Wandering Sausage, and Burgers On The EDGE onsite.
To add even more to the celebration, the brewery team will debut new beers that are part of collaborations with other Williamsburg breweries including Alewerks, Precarious, Billsburg, & Frothy Moon.
“Hard to believe I took a chance leaving one of the nation’s biggest breweries [SweetWater] in my hometown of Atlanta to become the Brewmaster at a new brewery in Williamsburg, VA way back in 2014. Following a passion like homebrewing and turning it into a career…helping other brewers puruse their passions, and sharing local beers along the way…feels like a dream come true. Here’s to many more dreams & Free Verse’s enjoyed,” Jonathan Newman, Brewmaster, said.
Tickets to celebrate the anniversary are $5 and can be found through the Virginia Beer Company’s ticketing website.
To learn more about the Virginia Beer Company, visit virginiabeerco.com.