A wonderful surprise we found in Scottsville!!! A small tasing area with a cozy feel. The staff was awesome and JSU so helpful. No food onsite but you can order from the local restaurants and they deliver. My suggestion is the country store next door that made us an excellent panini. Now the beers.... all of them we tried from the black IPA, porter, and red just all awesome. Personally, I say the black IPA. Definitely stop by if traveling through, or in Charlottesville but I saw it is worth a planned visit in its own right. read more

We visited here last month and had a nice time! The beers were all around really good and I liked the varying sizes you could choose from to try as many as you liked. They also had very affordable prices. The location is fairly small, but has a lot of charm. When we arrived, it was almost empty, and as it got later, it became so lively! It seems like more of a local place where everyone who knows everyone gathers. Hope to be back again. read more

I have been coming to the James River Brewery for some time. We came in on a Thursday night and there was a group of musicians playing guitar, ukulele, banjo, bass, and dulcimer. The music was pleasant while I had a stout. I prefer their porter, but they had it only in cans. They also have a very good Hefeweizen. They also have other good beers. The bar was busy (but not overly) and the conversations pleasant. I have never had an unpleasant experience. read more

Fantastic place to enjoy craft beer! Despite being a little ways out from Charlottesville proper, I really enjoyed my time at James River Brewery. A few days ago, I visited James River Brewery to attend a Yelp event. When I first learned that it was a thirty minute drive from where I lived in Charlottesville, I was honestly a little worried. But after my great experience there I can honestly say that I am glad I made the trip out. James River Brewery is located about 30 minutes from Charlottesville proper in a small town called Scottsville. The Brewery is located on the left side of the road coming from Charlottesville and is hard to miss. Inside the brewery, there is a long bar for people to order drinks from and an area to leave beer glasses (if you are a regular). Beyond the bar, there is a larger sitting area past the entrance on the right side. For small groups, drinking inside is very comfortable (and I imagine a large group would also be able to fit inside quite well). As for the craft beer, there are a ton of choices. My personal favorite was the Green Lady (a strong ale), but all the types of craft beer I tried were delicious. I would definitely recommend a visit here! read more

Cute little brewery right in downtown Scottsville. Wide selection of beers and we were excited to see an ESB. Also liked the Tuber IPA. They don't have food but other patrons picked up pizza from down the road and brought it in so that seems like the move. Not a ton of space inside but enough for a few groups. Service was good, but there was only one bartender for a full house, granted, it's a small bar. Man behind the bar was knowledgeable and efficient read more

Our local watering hole, now that we've moved out of Charlottesville city and reside out in the county. I really enjoy James River Brewery. They've got lots of tasty beer, really something for everyone. I had their Liffey River on my most recent visit; it's an Irish Red ale, but it's darker than most red ales and creamy with a sweetness, but not like a porter, and it was really pleasant to drink. I also like their Hefeweizen, but if you're more into IPAs and stuff they've got you covered there, too. They have live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and their beer garden is really cool. I didn't even realize it was there the first couple of times we went, probably because it was also a colder season, but if it's a nice day you have to chill out back! There's a bar out there too, and it butts right up against the woods with a little creek, so it's calm and inviting and a good place to meet friends. Definitely a great place to visit if you haven't yet, only about 20 or so minutes from Cville. (Plus, Scottsville is a fun, quick wander if you've never done so, too!) There's street parking, and I've always been able to find a spot, but there's a lot next door at the general store, with a few spots I think JRB customers are free to use, too. read more

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Really good beer and great service. If you like IPAs, this is not your place. Red ales, browns, porters... all good. Parking is on the street so that may be an issue when it's busy time. Mark was fantastic and very helpful. If you're down their way, you gotta stop in read more

Great variety's of beer, quaint space, friendly service. All of this in a cute, unique town of Scottsville.

We have been talking about coming here for months and finally, after coming here for a yelp event, I can definitely say I will be coming back. The brewery is very quaint and definitely has that local hometown feel. The beers were really good and they had a wide selection from light and refreshing lagers to strong but flavorful IPAs. They have a small bar right where you walk in and a larger sitting area with live music on certain days. They also have a large back patio with an outside bar (it was closed when we went but I am sure opens up in the warmer months). They have daily specials and on Mondays is Mug Night. If you want to interact with the many friendly locals that frequent this spot, Monday night is the night. Everyone was super friendly and was very welcoming. Don't be surprised if you run into the Mayor of Scottsville tossing one back next to ya! read more

I was camping in the area and saw a brochure for the James River Brewery. Why not check it out? I'm glad I did! The brewery itself is located in the cool small town of Scottsville, VA. It looks to be in a historic building and it's got a great patio area for those nice days that make you want to sit outside and have a great beer with great friends. They've got a great selection of small batch beers on tap. The bartender was very knowledgeable on the different types of beer they had, what the brewmaster was going for, and the types and amounts of ingredients. I tasted several samples, but the Fluvanna Fluss Hefe and River Runner ESB were my favorites. If you're out exploring the VA countryside, James River Brewery is a great place to stop! read more

Great time, bar tender was wonderful and outdoor fire pit was awesome. Great selection of beers and pet friendly read more

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I stopped here on a whim on the way to a winery. Service was great, Covid precautions were good, and while there weren't very many people there, I loved my tastings and also met some other locals that engaged and great conversation. Also pet friendly. I would highly recommend! read more

It has been a long time since we had visited James River. We have had numerous opportunities to have their beers at local festivals, local restaurants, and a very good beer dinner in a local establishment. The recipes have gotten a lot better since our first visit. My personal favorite is The Green Eyed Lady. It is a very good Belgian. The Tuber is an IPA for those that don't like IPAs. Their APA was very citrusy. Reminded me of a NE IPA without the haze. Overall great time, worth the drive from Charlottesville. read more

James River Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Scottsville, Virginia

In a small town near the James River is a tiny little brewery that from the front doesn't seem to offer much, that is until you walk inside and spy a ray of sunshine filtering in from the back and a bit of a breeze tempting you out. On a beautiful day, it was easy to bypass the tasting bar and head straight for the back patio where a smaller tasting bar awaits but is open to the sun and birds and the faint sound of a bubbling creek all back up to a huge sloping mountain. It's like a mini-hideout, places to sit all around, a fire pit, a couple of swings, and they are in the midst of building a bridge to cross over the tiny creek to a wooden swing on the other side that back up to the slope of the hill. I can only imagine how popular this place must be in the spring and summer and even fall for hanging out on lazy Sunday afternoon or party hardy on a Friday night. They offer a nice selection of beers at an intimate L-shape natural wood bar with plenty of variety to please almost anyone. (they even have a lemon ginger soda made in-house for your designated drivers) The staff is friendly and accomodating, though they could stand to be a bit more knowledgable on what exactly goes into the beers and the processes that are used. They do not serve food but they have a whole binder full of local restaurants that will deliver and fill your belly. The most unique beer I tried was the green eyed lady which they use pistachios for flavoring... blew my mind, cause I didn't expect it to amount to much but it was a well-rounded Belgian strong ale with hints of those pistachios that just made it darn interesting. And that's not the only unique beer they offer, but I'm going to leave some things a mystery. It's always fun to be pleasantly surprised and this is one of those breweries where I think you will be. read more

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Not sure how I found it. Or where it is. Or why it is where it is, but boy you gotta stop here for one or two. They had a band out back and everything. Tried their double IPA, delicious. Also snagged a growler of Stout. Looking forward to making that disappear. I say to stop in when you're in the area, but I'm not sure where that area is. What a great find.... read more

It's great that a even a town as small as Scottsville has a local brewery. We went here for a Yelp event and had a nice time. They have about a dozen beers on tap and we got to try half of them - the Green Eyed Lady was the best we had. Service was good and atmopshere homey - the space definitely has a "local tavern" feel. Hard to comment on the atmosphere as we were there for a lively event, but they did have live music which I believe is a regular occurrence. Their patio is probably the biggest draw - I could see really enjoying a summer evening sipping beer out there. read more

I love them because good beer, good people and uneducated people like Paul don't want to go here anymore.

This is a cute little brewery. We came here after our rafting excursion and it was pretty quiet on a Saturday afternoon. That was ok with us as our husbands just wanted to try the beer. The bartender was nice and got people started off with their tastings. I do not drink beer but our husbands liked the beers they had available. This is a cute little place and I definitely recommend stopping by if you like beer and are in the area. Be warned the brewery is really just a brewery and has no food (a few snacks available) but it looks like you can bring your own food in. read more

Tried the IPA (hubs did) but I didn't find anything (I'm not much on beer so don't hold that against them!). We had a nice time chatting on the back patio. There was also a group of guys randomly playing musical instruments, which added to the vibe. We stopped on a rainy day and had an enjoyable time! read more

Excellent venue. We stopped here on the way to an event. Grabbed lunch at the store next door and sat out back of the JRB. Great friendly staff. They let you taste the beer before you buy. Nice clean restrooms. Highly recommend. Fun spot for an afternoon. Oh, and the beer is superb! Visited again. Another 5 stars! Great service, venue, and beer! read more

What else can I say? JRB is the vibe. Beer always excellent. Service always spectacular. Never leave without making a new friend. I lurvvvv it hereeee read more

Great little brewery with some really fantastic small batch beers. I liked most, but my favs were probably the 1865 (porter) and the green eyed lady (Belgian). The IPAs were crisp and hoppy and nicely made as well. The atmosphere is quaint, the bar is beautifully made and the staff and locals are laid back and a blast to be around. The brewmaster and a local customer surprised us with impromptu bluegrass when we commented on a banjo laying in a corner. The patio is amazing, and we greatly enjoyed the company of the bartender's dog. This is what a craft brewing experience should be - pure mountain magic! read more

This is a cute place to visit. Very friendly. staff, Very clean and has gained a lot of popularity in the recent years.

Great local unique brews under new ownership/ management since March 2015--- also remodeled. Great place to meet after a long day at the river or to gather for a small town brewery experience. Where the locals gather to catch up on town gossip! Live music on Saturdays, and "Hops and Hymns" every 3rd Sunday at 6pm. Great outdoor beer garden out back. Dog friendly for well behaved dogs. Hours only Friday-Sunday for March. read more

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If you're touring the breweries that the Charlottesville area has to offer, I highly recommend taking a trip to Scottsville to visit JRB. It's only a short and very scenic ride away from Charlottesville (on route 20 all the way) and JRB greets you first as you enter the main strip that is downtown Scottsville. JRB has a very inviting ambience and really reminds me of the classic local pubs from back home in the UK; friendly bar staff, great pints and even a dartboard to complete the feel. My personal favourite tipple is their Sherman Stout. Their James Bean Porter is also a good shout but if you dont like the dark beers you can go lighter with the Liffey River red or a River Runner Bitter. They do a great Gingerbread seasonal ale as well as many other beers I havent yet tasted. In the warmer months I recommend taking advantage of their beer garden, where you can receive bar service and enjoy the weather! read more

You don't even have to be a beer lover to love James River Brewing Company! I find the small, intimate tasting room to be always full of friendly customers. The staff treats you like royalty and the beer offerings can satisfy even the most discerning. Drop-in and scheduled musicians grace all with wonderful tunes at a sound level that does not drive you away. A favorite beer of mine is the Green Eye Lady Belgian-style ale made with pistachios (or is it the Dunkleweisen? Hard to decide!). Many times Brew Master Dustin has a new creation for all to try. Can't wait for the latest - Kind Women - a raspberry/chocolate stout due out shortly! JRB is not just for locals! They love visitors and the patrons make you fee like a part of a big, happy family that is enjoying some of the best brew around. Make a trip to Scottsville, VA and experience James River Brewing - you won't regret it. read more

stopped in on our way home from camping. Tried the flight with all 8 options and my husband and I each found a couple that we liked. River Runner and Sherman Stout were both favorites, though we would have been happy with a glass of pretty much any of the others. The room itself was nice and if we lived nearby we would probably be hanging out there regularly. read more

I have tried their beer on several different occasions. There is a reason for this, the first time I assumed I just got Bad beer so I thought I would try it a second time. I was still very disappointed. I think the beer is cloudy and unfinished. I would say if James River Brewing wants to be a staying force in the market they need to stop rushing the process and make a real beer. read more

JRB has fantastic craft brews! The subtle flavor of pistachio nut in their signature, goblet-sized (i.e. higher alcohol content), "Green-Eyed Lady" is pure genius!! Wonderful atmosphere...with a cozy tasting room (featuring a custom-crafted, curved wood bar), friendly staff AND clientele (newcomers are instantly welcomed and soon swapping stories with a creative, diverse, and fun mix of regulars and local "celebs"), random acts of live jam music (instruments always welcome)...all housed in an historic warehouse building in the heart of downtown Scottsville, Virginia. The custom/organic outdoor patio/beer garden is amazing, with the fire pit usually stoked when the weather gets chilly. Love this place and Scottsville...lots of great options around here for beverages, food, shopping, music, and more! A fine destination... read more

Relaxing evening in the beer garden with good beer. We didn't go inside because they have everything we needed in the beer garden out back. We had our 2 kids and dog with us. The bar staff was friendly and helpful. They have many beers, something for everyone. We got a flight (8) to figure out what we like. Lincoln Lager for me and Sherman Stout for hubby....both very nice. They have menus for all of the local restaurants, you can call in an order and most places will deliver. They started up the firepit when the sun went down and the live music started. read more

James River Brewing Company offers a variety of beers! The tasting room staff was accommodating and friendly even though they were clearly slammed with business when we came in. The beers offer a little something for everyone. They have light beers reminiscent of Shock Top and darker beers that offer something for heavy beer lovers. The pour for tastings is quite generous for beers (as compared to a tasting at a winery). We did the 6 instead of the full menu and found that to be a good way to sample ones that appealed to us without getting too much alcohol. read more

Great beer. Was surprised by the quality of taste for this small brewery. A unknown gem for sure. You gotta give it a try.

What a fantastic place to get a beer on your way to/ from Yogaville or the charms of Buckingham county. Get the tasting (6 for $6!) and then a pint. Local restaurants will deliver right to the bar but they also serve an amazing local salsa and selection of hummus. read more

Very enjoyable. It's a Brewery, not a restaurant. The selection is small, but for what they have there is a beer for everyone. Big fan of the Fluvanna Fluss, Stout was nice and strong. IPA have that bite. The bartender knows his beers! Live music, great weather, it was just awesome. read more

An excellent brewery in a cute town. I had the Sherman Stout, and it was quite good. Highly recommended for craft beer enthusiasts--I'd say it's worth a trip on its own! read more

What a treasure! Spending the night near by and found this gem - great beer, absolutely wonderful server with exceptional instruction on the many beer options. Just a wonderful evening - highly recommend! read more