Seven Arrows Brewing Company

During our frequent travels on Interstate 64 through Waynesboro I've seen roadside signs for Seven Arrows Brewing, however never had the time or opportunity to stop in. A recent trip had us in the area around dinner time, so we pulled off the road to look up the brewery online. We were pleased to see they served food in addition to beer. So often this is not the case, to our disappointment, at many craft breweries.

Naturally, our first order of business was reviewing the beer selections. There were a dozen or so beers listed, but surprisingly Colleen and I both quite quickly honed in on our selections — we were as thirsty as we were hungry.

Colleen selected Sinistral Wheat. This unfiltered American Style Wheat is brewed with orange peel, coriander, lime peel, and tangerine peel. I could detect the promised spiciness as soon as I brought the glass to my nose. The influence of Belgian spices continued in the flavor to make an enjoyable drink.

I was intrigued by the Black Out The Sun Black Pilsner, described as adapted from the brewery's Aurora Pils brewed with the addition of debittered black malt. The aroma was roasted malt with a hint of coffee. The flavor matched, with smooth roasted malt, mild coffee and an earthy hoppiness. The beer had a pleasing bitterness that was not at all harsh, with a smooth mouthfeel. I very much enjoyed this interesting take on the classic Pilsner.

And now to the food. The availability of food was the deciding factor in making the stop. Food at Seven Arrows is provided by Nobos Kitchen, a separate business located at the brewery. Ordering is done at small counter located in a hallway off the main bar area. The small footprint belies the extensive food offering, which includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, wraps and burgers. A short time after we placed our orders the food was brought out to our table.

To accompany her wheat beer, Colleen enjoyed the Zesty Chicken Bacon Wrap. In what turned out to be an excellent pairing, my Black Pilsner was matched with a Roast Beef Sandwich. The cold sandwich consisted of a thick stack of house roasted prime rib, melted horseradish cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and crispy fried onion served between a course white bread. The meat, prepared rare, was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Both sandwiches included sides of homemade potato chips.

We thoroughly enjoyed our fortuitous stop at Seven Arrows Brewery. The beers were distinctive and flavorful. Our only regret was that we needed to get back on the road and couldn't enjoy a few more of them. However, we were glad to discover a new place for food and drink on our regular trips through the area. We'll definitely be back and look forward to trying a few more of the beers, and food. This find has also convinced me that I should alway be prepared with an empty growler on these trips.