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New River Brewing

4.1 (154 reviews)
ModerateBreweries, Barbeque
Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

New River Brewing Photos

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NEW RIVER BREWING ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - New River Brewing

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Fried pickles
Jake P.

We stopped in on a busy weekend during Christmas tree season, and even with the crowds, the team here was incredibly efficient and kind. It's only about half a block off the main street in West Jefferson, so it's an easy walk if you're out shopping downtown. The vibe inside is really cool -- it feels like it might've been an old automotive shop at some point, but now it's got a warm, modern, laid-back atmosphere that totally works. Service was fast and friendly. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, and it was honestly one of the best I've ever had: crispy edges, juicy inside, a great char, and real flame-grilled flavor. The onion rings were super crispy and delicious too. My daughter loved her mac and cheese. And the This Is Not The Muffler Shop IPA was a perfect, flavorful beer to round everything out. Highly recommend stopping here if you're in West Jefferson!

Old bay butter salmon, green beans, and Caesar salad. Sliced brisket with vinegar bbq, Mac and cheese, and Caesar salad.

Amazing place! Beers were fantastic. I ordered the salmon (old bay butter) and green beans. Both were phenomenal. Husband ordered brisket with Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese with the salmon tasted great - I recommend that this restaurant adds a salmon/Mac bowl to their menu. Brisket was decent, but lacked a bit of flavor. The different bbq sauces didn't really help much either. Service was good! Ambiance was cozy, it was a decent sized establishment and we felt like there was a lot of room. Parking was easy to access as well.

WARNING: DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THIS BUILDING  Looks like a brewery. Smells like a brewery. Functions like a food truck dispatch center.

If you ever wanted to experience what it's like to walk into a building that actively hates your existence, New River Brewing in West Jefferson is the place for you. I've had more welcoming experiences at airport TSA screenings than I had in this absolute dumpster fire of a restaurant. I came in hungry. That was my first mistake. My second mistake was assuming I'd be served like a normal person in a normal establishment. Nope. I sat there for 20 minutes, like a dehydrated raccoon staring into the void, while the staff wandered around like background characters in a video game glitch. No greeting. No sign. No instructions. No nothing. Just me, slowly dying of starvation while the employees perfected their talent for pretending customers don't exist. Eventually, I learn -- through psychic intuition, because nobody told me -- that I'm supposed to order from a kiosk, like I'm at a f***ing airport Sbarro. This is a "brewery," right? Not a sad little food court in a dying mall? So I play along, use the kiosk (which was slow and confusing, just like the service), and then -- get this -- I'm told my food will take 30 minutes to arrive because it's being delivered FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION. Excuse me? I'm physically inside a building with the words New River Brewing on it, but the actual food is on a truck somewhere? Are you people high? Is this an avant-garde art project designed to test the limits of human patience? And the prices. Oh my God. The audacity. The unmitigated gall. For what I paid, I could have flown to Asheville, eaten at a real brewery, and flown back and still had enough left over to buy a snack from an actual restaurant that doesn't require cross-town food shipping. What I finally got was an overpriced, soggy insult to my taste buds a meal so underwhelming it made me question if the chef lost a bet before making it. The fries were limp. The burger was flavorless. The presentation was "prison tray chic." And to top it off, it all showed up cold. Probably because it literally traveled in a f*ing vehicle before it got to my table. This place is a failure on every level: Staff? Checked out. Service? None. Food? Embarrassing. Concept? Brain-dead. Value? LOL. Atmosphere? Like eating inside a bad decision. I wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy. If I saw someone walking in, I'd tackle them to the ground to spare them the trauma. I'd rather eat drywall in a porta-potty during a heatwave than step foot in this soulless, overpriced, mismanaged clown parade again. Shut it down. Salt the earth. Start over.

Shannon D.

Very cute spot nestled in the mountains. We visited on a Sunday during what I consider peak lunch hours. Our wait was minimal, maybe 10 minutes. Things I loved: staff were friendly, seated fairly quickly, beer was good, being able to have a salad as a side Improvement: seating is cramped. Not sure space allows improvement, but we were very tightly packed in Wagyu burgers: I'm just not sure about this. We've had wagyu before and these burgers just did not seem to be the same standard OR were heavily over cooked. They weren't "Wow" or "OMG." They were just like any other burger. I was disappointed.

Craft beer
Raven L.

After a short wait, we were seated at a table featuring a bench seat shared with others. This is okay with us but the tables around us had large groups of people waiting to be sat congregating around them. Meaning, we were sitting and eating while people were standing above us not a foot away carrying on conversations. Our food was good- cheese curds were hot and yummy! Orange NeHi wings were super flavorful and reminiscent of a Carolina Gold sauce. House dry rub wings were a little lackluster and really didn't provide much flavor at all. Usually we have A+ experiences here but today was a bit subpar. Waitress was nice enough but definitely didn't go out of her way to make us feel welcome. We'll probably dine here again but it may be a while.

Loaded Mac n cheese, burger with slaw.
Melissa H.

Food combines unique ingredients to form a delicious meal! Loved that the menu included well loved favorites with new spins. Waitress' beer recommendation was in point. Lively and friendly atmosphere, without being too loud.

Bacon BBQ burger
Bill S.

Stopped in to this dining establishment for a burger and wings as I was tired of cooking on vacation and did t want a fast food meal. The staff was very welcoming and patient with our ordering as we had never been here before. This lil gem is tucked away from the main drag of town but worth it for the food and service.

Sam W.

Really nice dining experience here. Great addition to Ashe county. Plenty of great beer selections and food. Would definitely recommend.

Carolina burger and fries
Is S.

My wife and I stopped into NRB (New River Brewing) for lunch. The entrance is on an unassuming side street, but inside it is very inviting. We were sat and served drinks immediately by Nikki (spelling ?) who was super available and friendly the whole time we were there. We ordered a bottle of Molley Chomper Bent Apple cider, which was really great. Just the right amount of sweetness. I love a beer bratwurst, and so I had to try theirs. I got it with peppers, onions, and sauerkraut. Usually, beer brats are good but not amazing, but this one was literally the best I've ever had, which is saying a lot. It was so juicy and flavorful... really, really good. (really, really). I ordered as my side item a caesar salad. That salad was okay. No croutons, the dressing wasn't amazing. It had some sliced cucumber in it, which is a little odd for a caesar, but tasty. My wife had a carolina burger and fries. The burger was "pretty good" and she ate most of it which is not normal. The fries had the good crispy outside and were seasoned nicely. Overall, this was a good lunch and a good first impression.

We visit here each time we are in town. Our first visit was the best. They have since changed to processed chicken for the boneless wings (these used to be our favorite). The burgers, appetizers, and beer are good.

the interior of the new river brewing

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7 days ago

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15 days ago

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Aimee H.

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9 months ago

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5 months ago

Sam - the best waitress Ever!! I'm sending my friends.. the food is always good-their Cheerwine wings are so Good!!

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Good wings and beer in a pleasant atmosphere with friendly staff. No reservations and required.

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

The food and drinks are so good. Family friendly. My favorites are wings, and Philly cheese steak.

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2 years ago

Oktoberfest beer delicious plus shredded smoked pork sandwich, slaw and best mac and cheese in NC. Super fast service

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Food prices are high while portions are small. Dogs aren't welcome inside unless they are extremely well behaved.

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Ask the Community - New River Brewing

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Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant

Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant

3.5
(301 reviews)
0.0 mi
$$

Boondocks Brewing is where I had lunch after going to Ashe County Cheese Store and seeing some of…read morethe murals downtown. It is West Jefferson's first commercial brewery. The restaurant opened back in 2012. It is veteran-owned and employee-run. The restaurant doesn't have its own parking lot, but there is free parking on the street and in nearby lots. There is both inside seating, with a bar, but I didn't get much of a chance to see that as I opted to sit outside. I was enjoying the much cooler temperatures in Ashe County and decided to enjoy the fresh air. The outdoor patio isn't overly fancy--it features standard picnic tables--but it is fully covered and provides a very nice, relaxing open-air environment. My waitress was as friendly as could be and gave me plenty of time to look at the menu as I was having trouble deciding between a burger, the pot roast or the apple salad. I went with the pot roast as it was something not on the menu at most places. It was roasted for 8 hours and had mashed potatoes, veggies and gravy. It was delicious, and I was happy with my choice. Although I am sure I would have enjoyed the other options, I narrowed my choice down to them as well. Boondocks is a gem of West Jefferson, and I've already been planning a return trip.

We stopped in for a late lunch around 2 p.m. The restaurant is in a great location right on the…read moremain strip in downtown West Jefferson, and it looked inviting from the outside. After looking over the menu online beforehand, we were excited to give it a try. We were seated right away, but then waited over five minutes before anyone acknowledged our table. Our server, AJ (Adrianne, I believe), was friendly enough, but she seemed a bit overwhelmed or possibly stretched too thin. Since we'd already been waiting, we were ready to order both drinks and our meals at the same time, and that seemed to throw off the usual routine. Throughout the meal, it felt like we were inconveniencing her whenever we needed something, including asking if the music could be turned down. The food was the highlight. I had the biscuits with pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes, and the pimento cheese was exactly how I like it. My husband's tuna sandwich was good, although he wasn't a fan of the house fries--they were extremely thick, almost like eating a baked potato cut into wedges. We also ordered half sweet/half unsweet tea, but it was still much sweeter than we expected. The dining room itself felt a little plain for such a large space, and the 60s and 70s music was louder than we would have liked during lunch. Overall, the food was definitely the best part of our visit, and I'd order my meal again. With a little more attentive service and a more comfortable dining atmosphere, this could have been a much better experience.

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Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant
Pot roast with mashed potatoes and cornbread
Pot roast with mashed potatoes and cornbread
Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant

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Lost Province Brewing

Lost Province Brewing

4.1
(731 reviews)
16.5 mi
$$

Dinner for our weekend away first night was recommended by a friend to check out Lost Province…read moreBrewing. He told me they had great beer, and great food...that was no lie! My wife and I was were welcomed in by the hostess and seated quickly. It's not a huge space, but they've got a good bit of seating, and a little more upstairs, which allows you to look down into the brewery. Our server, Alex was very friendly and offered some beer recommendations based on our preference. They had a good variety to pick from and even some canned to go. Their food menu also offered a good selection. My wife and I decided to share an order of loaded fries to start, and then the "white buffalo" pizza. I enjoy white pizza, and enjoy buffalo chicken pizza...but this was the first time I've ever seen them together. The food was great, everything, tasted really good, and had good flavors. The Game Day IPA and Lost Province IPA's were both also very tasty Being a Friday night, they had a live musician, playing great music, which we really enjoyed while we ate and took in the atmosphere. I'd pass this recommendation on as well, and would return to try some of their other varried menu next time I visit Boone

Good local people and food. A welcoming atmosphere. Our server recommended the Hot Fried Chicken…read moreSandwich. It was incredible. A little sloppy to eat- but I can't wait to return for another one!

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Wood fired pizza
Wood fired pizza
Amazing wings!!!
Amazing wings!!!
Lost Province Brewing

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Lonesome Pine Brewing

Lonesome Pine Brewing

4.3
(3 reviews)
47.5 mi
$

I'm giving this place four stars because I absolutely LOVE the idea of a brewery in Lebanon, and…read moremore than anything I want to promote this place and want to encourage people to patronize them - CHECK THEM OUT! Please! This place is genuinely worth your business. My husband and I live in Charlotte (land of many - and GOOD - breweries; at last count we have 30+), but he grew up nearby and we visit the area frequently, so this is a WELCOME establishment. I applaud the entrepreneurs that were willing to take a risk and make this dream a reality! The space is great - I love the custom murals (no idea who did them, but good job!), the excellent beer tap collection on display, the live music (David Burton was playing while we were there and was awesome)...it's a great vibe. Selfishly, I wish they had some outdoor space so I could bring my dog, but really the location is all-around stellar. And I love the collaboration with Shug's food truck - that's what it's all about, people! Local business supporting each other :) The only negative thing I can say about this brewery - and I say it hesitatingly because again, I love that they're doing what they're doing, and I don't want to discourage anyone from checking them out - is that their beer (generally) leaves something to be desired. Which is ok! They're a new brewery, and they're still getting on their feet and figuring this whole beer brewing thing out, so I'm very much willing to cut them some slack. As a consumer, however, I feel it's only fair to give the Yelp community an idea of my impressions of their beer, so take this with a grain of salt. I went with my husband, his brother, and a buddy of his, so between the four of us we tried pretty much all they had to offer. The good: I think we collectively agreed that their best offerings were the Nathan's Bitter Brown and the Pashun Froot IPA (also - I really got a kick out of the phonetic spelling of their beer names :P). There were mixed reviews on the wheat - some of us thought it was pretty good, some of us didn't. Generally I feel pretty good about recommending it. I also thought their IPA (not the Old Skool...the other one, I can't remember what it was called, but that one) wasn't terrible. But I like IPAs, so am perhaps more tolerant than most. The bad: My brother-in-law had the Kolsch, and said it was pretty meh (this from a Bud light drinker), so I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that. The dark beer (I think it was a stout) and whatever the cherry beer was (I think it was a sour?) were also not anything that I feel we would write home about. The ugly: My husband and his buddy both tried the pale ale and agreed it was pretty much undrinkable - they drank as much of it as they could, but appeared to be in agony with each sip. I can't, with a good conscience, recommend that one. Overall, I think that they're on their way and will only continue to improve the quality and taste of their beer...I'm honestly excited to try them out again when we visit over Thanksgiving to see how much they've improved. I gather that beer brewing, while certainly a science, is also an art - after all, the Sistine Chapel wasn't Michelangelo's first attempt at painting, am I right? I have high, high hopes that Lonesome Pine's beer will not only continue to get better over time, but that the brewery will downright THRIVE, and as it does it will inspire others to open small businesses of their own and make the downtown Lebanon area a little southwest VA mecca of local culture. What fun!!

Update: take 3 and a better experience. The bar man remembered us from the previous visit and gave…read moreus our drinks on the house. Said the batch he gave us last time was bad. Nice work. Look forward to our next visit. Yeah! Lebanon has a brewery! I never would have imagined. Went in on a Saturday night. Live music was pretty good. Easy going vibe. Family's just enjoying the night. Real friendly staff, happy to tell you about the place and beers. We had three beers. Two were solid, but the IPA wasn't good. But we'll definitely be back if we're in the area again. No food, but you can take out from nearby and bring it in. Update: we've returned for a second go round. I was so excited to be back. I want to love you, and I know you're a new brewery in an area that hasn't had a brewery... like ever. But if someone orders three different beers and finishes none, you need to ask why. We had the Cherry IPA, Bitter Brown and Country Kolsch. All were yeasty, vinegary, and sour ... and not in a good way. This makes me question sanitation and if maybe there's contamination in the fermentation process. Or maybe the lines aren't being cleaned. Please get this fixed because we want you to succeed! There is such an opportunity for a good brewery in this town. Please keep improving!

Photos
We offer a variety of can sizes for To Go options!! 32,16, and 12 oz cans!
We offer a variety of can sizes for To Go options!! 32,16, and 12 oz cans!
Blood Orange Pale Ale & Double Decker DIPA
Blood Orange Pale Ale & Double Decker DIPA
Great mural behind the bar

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Great mural behind the bar

New River Brewing - breweries - Updated July 2026

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