Chilly Hollow Brewing Company Comes to Berryville
Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos by Michael Butcher
A herd of Angus cattle graze in the uplands north of Route 7 in Clarke County, just outside Berryville. The Blue Ridge Mountains rise to their east. The snaking Shenandoah River hides behind the rolling countryside.
A herd of 50-plus Angus belongs to Kinder Bauernhof Farm on Chilly Hollow Road, owned by the Warfield family for decades. While building their Warfield Homes construction company, the family — which includes their kin, the Dulaneys — found they enjoyed going to nearby breweries and wineries. For years, they talked about opening their own brewery. It would offer expanded use of their land while retaining its rural heritage. This autumn, what began as kitchen table chatter will come to fruition with the opening of Chilly Hollow Brewing Company.
As they geared up for the project, Madeline Dulaney was a natural choice to take on the role of marketing and events director. She is from Suffolk and married into the Dulaney family. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in marketing from William & Mary. For several years, she worked in a marketing agency.
Dulaney is an animated champion of the soon-to-be brewery. It’s “a way to keep the land productive, keep the cattle farm, grow hops [and other new crops], and preserve the legacy of the farm.”
The goal, she explains, is to create “very high-quality, chemically perfect beer.” The team is “excited to capitalize on plentiful nearby farms and businesses to infuse flavors from farm-grown herbs, berries, and such into brews. Cider, wine, and seltzers will all be offered along with food.”
Chris Jacques (pronounced “Jakes”) has been brought in as the chief brewer. Jacques, a native of Massachusetts, came to Virginia 11 years ago after brewing for the Samuel Adams and Harpoon breweries in Boston. Most recently, he brewed for Quattro Goombas Brewery in Loudoun County. “He’s excited about the ruralness — Chilly Hollow will be only the second brewery in Clarke County,” Dulaney shares.
Dulaney notes that the family wants to promote the brewery as a “third space.” Meaning, if home is a person’s first space and work is their second, then third spaces are those informal places where they get together with others to relax. The late urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term and wrote about their importance in promoting community. Third spaces are open and accessible. Folks can come and go as they please and conversation is a major activity. Pubs, coffee shops, hair salons, churches, and even post offices can all serve as third spaces.
Today, as people can do more activities online and virtually — from renewing a driver’s license to attending church — they may find themselves missing the informal elbow-rubbing and jawboning inherent to communal hangouts. The pandemic, by limiting access to third spaces, underlined their value in promoting connectedness. Not to mention, rural areas like Clarke County typically have fewer third spaces than more urbanized spots.
Dulaney emphasizes the value of a place like Chilly Hollow Brewing Company as simultaneously preserving the land while offering a place to hang out. They hope to offer live music and host events such as trivia and bingo nights. Underscoring the commitment to build community are plans to support local causes, both with donation opportunities and by supporting visibility. An extensive merchandise store will offer products from local small businesses, and a walking trail, a giant Connect 4, and a playground for children will encourage fresh-air fun.
Looking ahead to the future, the Chilly Hollow Brewing team has planted nearly 100 apple trees. Once mature, their fruit is intended for cider. For now, the saplings are thickening and growing. Hops have been planted and are twining up ropes. The Angus are calving. Fans are following the construction progress on Facebook and Instagram, and looking forward to updates on the brewing process. Soon the taps will open, amber beer will flow, and a roaring fire will burn at the hearth. ML
Chilly Hollow Brewing Company
669 Chilly Hollow Road
Berryville, Virginia 22611
(540) 401-6172
chillyhollowbrewingco.com
Published in the October 2024 issue of Middleburg Life.