Devils Backbone Brewing Company (The Outpost)

Big place. Spacious! Big windows and hanging lights for lighting! Big parking lot. Two nice bartenders. Good cold beer. Couple of patios. Big bar, twenty long tables Sell souvenirs. Just a nice place.

I was surprised at how high-end everything looked, not knowing that AB was behind it. Now it all makes sense. The tasting room vibe is copied out of the playbook of other smaller and less-funded breweries. Fortunately the beer is really tasty and worth a visit. Prices were decent and there was a solid selection of beer and gear, but no food beyond some potato chips.

Stopped into the outpost on my way up the Blue Ridge. There is clearly money here; AB-InBev money to be exact. Brewery is up on a hill; parking lot behind. Kind of seems fairly rural but there are a number of folks here on a Friday afternoon. Tasting room is not really that large; a few tables and a long bar. There is a patio out back though that I did not check out cause it was hot. They had about 8 taps running when I was there; flights of four available. I picked four new ones and went to town. Beer quality is really pretty solid, I guess the money is helping. Service was friendly and did not seem corporate. Solid visit.

Large production brewery with taproom of about 8 beers. Mostly lagers. High quality beers though. My GPS couldn’t pick up the street as I think the brewery is the only place on it, but it’s visible from the main road.

This is the main expanded brewey for DB, so it’s a modern affair with a very large tasting room and swag shop up front. It doesn’t have quite the atmosphere of the original place, but you can look through the glass behind the bar to watch the brewers work, and the place was bathed in a nice boiling malt aroma when I stopped by. Eight beers on tap, but I had had all but one. They sell bottles and cans to go, but sadly not singles; growlers too. Worth a quick stop if you’re passing by.

Visited here last April outside of normal operating hours. This is the main production facility for DB. The tap room’s a pretty standard affair. There’s a little nook with merch available and a long bar that serves 6-8 of DB’s offerings. DB makes some of the best beer in the state, and it’s a treat to try their product right at the source. With that said, the brewpub has a larger tap list, so I’d really only recommend a visit here if you’re interested in a tour of the facility or passing through the area on 85. Overall, worth a look, but with this place being nearly an hour from C’ville, I won’t be stopping by too often.

This is a state of the art brewery making fantastic award winning beer. I was lucky enough to talk my way in when they were still building the system and got to talk to the engineer overseeing the install by the German company he worked for...very impressive system. I have been back several times since they opened to the public. Their beers are really great (love the 8 Point IPA and the Vienna Lager that won a medal at the GABF). When my Chinese craftbeer friend came to the US recenlty to tour great craftbeer places...this one was high on his list based on what he’d read about it in advance of his trip. Definitely worth a sidetrip if not on your way. Allow time to try the many styles.

I could have sworn I rated this place. Anyway, I went during opening day. Gravel parking lot in an industrial park featuring a large modern building. This is home to a top of the line brewing system making all of the bottled products for the brewery. It’s a large operation. They have a tasting room which they built anticipating a law change that went into effect today, actually, allowing them to serve full pints. The beer is generally very good. Some swag is available as well as beer to go. It’s a bit out of the way, but its a good stop.