Blue Mountain Brewery

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25 | $$

The wife and I passed through the area to visit a friend on our way back home from TN. I had sampled some Blue Mountain beers before, but since it was one of the only brewpubs in the area, we figured we stop in for a visit. It was definitely worth it, and not only that, but we also stopped in again for lunch the next day before heading home.

Good vibe to the place, a smaller bar seats maybe 10 people, and there was plenty of table space, including a huge outdoor area. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to sit outside, with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background, and a lush verdant hop garden in the foreground. They are pet-friendly as well, fyi.

There was a very good selection of beer available, with a good variety of styles. The beer wasn't out of this world tremendous, but they did have some solid options, in addition to some tamer mass-pleasing light beers. They also had some selections from their sister brewery, the Barrel House in Arrington. We ended up taking home a couple bottles of the Chocolate Coffee Dark Hollow, and a Sour Devil stout. They have a lot of other beers available for take-out, and a huge merch stand with tons of glassware (!).

Service was fine. Most of the waitresses were young, and not exactly experienced in beer knowledge, but enough to get by and give good recommendations. Food was tasty indeed. The wife got an artisan meat & cheese & fruit plate that was extraordinary, I had a pulled pork one day and a turkey wrap the next, both of which were very good, and our friend got a chili dog that was no joke. Prices were decent all around.

This was a great stop. Definitely worth checking out when in the area, and I hope to return someday.

06-18-2013 00:12:54 | More by Rifugium

sdsimkins

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Overall atmosphere was fantastic; indoor seating gave a traditional spin on a tavern, outdoor seating was gorgeous thanks to the blue ridge mountains. Also a very family friendly restaurant.

Quality of the establishment was excellent, you could tell everything they did was their best. Especially the beer, for we learned from the tour that all their beer is made using fresh well water from 2-3 different wells on the property.

Service was great. Our server did a good job on keeping us waited even though it was a busy saturday.

Selection of beers and food was great. I believe the tap had a selection of about 10-15 beers, of course all were Blue Mountain Brewery selections. Food was quite diverse from brats to pizzas.

Food was amazing. I personally had the beer soaked brat covered in sauerkraut and spicy mustard, and it was phenomenal. I didn't want it to end!! From the quality of my one meal, I could tell the rest of the food was probably on an equal plain.

Value was reasonable for the quality food you received, my meal was about 9.99 and the beer was about 5. Most of the meals were around 9.99 unless you went to a steak or something on that field.

Overall I was quite pleased with the brewery, with great atmosphere and scenery, amazing food, great beers, and suburb quality. If you're ever on the Brew Ridge Highway, you can't pass this one up!!

04-08-2013 14:02:02 | More by sdsimkins

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

I think the venue of the brewery and the restaurant/pub are really quite nice - located in the rolling hills of VA there are amazing views and a wonderful outdoor seating area including space to place games. The atmosphere was definitely laid back and the people working in the brew pub were quite friendly. The interoir has a bunch of light colored wood paneling but also has great natural light.

Beers were very fresh and served at the proper temperature and in proper glassware. Good pours with the correct amount of head left in the glasses.

Our server as well as the front of house staff were friendly, pleasant, and helpful. I found the staff to be attentive and willing to engage in conversations about the beer - they wanted to know where I was from, how I heard about the place, and if I had tried any of their beers before (NJ/NYC, BA forums, and Yes).

There were 10 beers on tap as well as several others available in bottles - growlers, 6 packs, and bombers were also available as well as some pre-packaged selections for the holiday season.

Far better food than I normal encounter at a brew pub/brewery's restaurant and I loved the fact that it highlighted local ingredients. I had one of the flatbread pizzas they offered and really enjoyed it - I would definitely recommend the food.

I found the prices to be quite reasonable and might stop by again on another one of my drives between NJ and NC.

12-19-2012 02:18:02 | More by dbrauneis

DonovanHein

3.7/5  rDev -10.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 5 | $$

The atmosphere is the reason we go there, the views are amazing and they have a great patio to relax on. The food was amazing and I love that they emphasize the use of local ingredients. I ordered the sampler of what they had on draft that day so I could get a feel for all of their beers. I wasn't impressed with their regular line up, (they were decent beers but just didn't stand out,) but I did enjoy Dark Hollow. They also had local Kombucha which I was excited to try because I had discovered Kombucha a little over a year ago and never had any other than bottles I would find at high end grocery stores.
The host was great and even took the time to make sure our chairs were wiped down and dry since it had rained earlier. Our server attended to us but she wasn't particularly friendly and didn't seem to eager to help us. My bar on service is set pretty high so she might not necessarily be a bad server but she definitely wasn't great.
Overall I loved this place and definitely would say it is a must visit when you are passing through Virginia!

09-14-2012 22:18:38 | More by DonovanHein

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

En route to Asheville. First stop: Brew Ridge Trail's Blue Mountain.

Atmosphere: A stunning facility - absolutely beautiful. An outside patio overlooks the Blue Ridge, at least 20 tables at a rough count. Hop trellises run along the patio, separating the brewery from a nearby home (maybe the owners?). Inside, rich wood adorns the bar and multiple seating areas. We (ksak and I) sat outside and took in the views.

Quality: An emphasis on local and sustainable pervades the beer and the menu. Staff is friendly and the views are to die for.

Service: Friendly and generally attentive. The hostess inside and the waitress outside were both above par.

Selection: 8 beers on tap. The regular line-up was serviceable - no frills. One specialty, however, caught my eye - Isabel, a bourbon barrel aged porter with cocoa nibs and orange zest. That one was excellent, plenty of bourbon and cocoa (not so much orange though until later in the glass). They also has bottles (and cans of Full Nelson) to go. I took out a six pack of Full Nelson cans and a bottle of Dark Hollow.

Food: Sustainable. Our nachos featured local salsa that was quite good (even the pickled jalapenos worked). That's all we had but there was a full menu.

The best views of the BRT, hands down. I can't wait to return for a pint on that porch.

05-29-2012 00:07:23 | More by akorsak

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Stopped by on Feb 17, later in the evening. This place seems to have doubled since I was here same time last year. It was modestly busy when I arrived and I was served right away.

Great location with views of the mountains, lots of glossy wood finish and big windows. A modern mountain inn feel. When I asked about beers, I was offered samples. I tried several types and they were all good solid representations of the styles. there were about 8 selections including lagers, Belgian and British style ales.

The food all looked quite good. I had a seafood jambalaya that was fresh, nicely presented and well seasoned. All in all, this is a great place for a meal or to relax after a day exploring a beautiful part of the state.

02-21-2012 18:15:14 | More by CliffBrake

WMEugene

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I've been to Blue Mountain a ton over the past few years, so I figured it's time for a review (I was there this past weekend).

A - The location is unbeatable in terms of atmosphere. Blue Mountain is located in the Blue Ridge, about 20 mins west of Charlottesville and 50 mins north of Lynchburg. The outdoor patio has a gorgeous view of the mountains and the interior has a great brewpub feel for it. The expansion has definitely added to the feel of the restaurant and there are now two nice bars to go along with the seating. If it's a nice day, I'd definitely go for a seat outside.

Q - All of the beers and food are very well made with local ingredients. Obviously, beer is a subjective thing but I find that there are always at least 3-4 tasty brews on tap. Their flagship beer, Full Nelson, is probably the best "regular" beer in Virginia. Everything is usually very well done.

Service - Here's the one (somewhat) negative thing I've noticed: the service isn't what it used to be. Part of it is volume (they are a lot busier than they were even a year ago), but part of it is the wait staff. I've had some great servers and I've had some where I've had to basically flag them down to order drinks after having been seated for 15-20+ minutes (which is unacceptable). Also, I've found that some of the servers can have attitudes as well. I understand that they are a lot busier than they used to be, and are likely stressed and understaffed, but there's still little excuse for that. Much like any restaurant, it's a crap shoot with the waitstaff. A few years ago, the ratio of quality servers to not was much higher. That being said, I have had great servers (even recently) and the staff does tend to be very knowledgeable about the beers, which is a plus. If you go on the weekend, plan to deal with large groups of oblivious tourists or day-trippers and waits of at least 30-60 mins if its a nice day.

Selection - In terms of beers, it ranges from 7-9 on tap at any one time since the expansion. They also offer Kombucha and Cider now, which to be honest, I could care less about. Growler fills are available and they have bottles, cans, and swag available for good prices.

Food - For the most part, the food is excellent. I have had some just ok appetizers, but others have really dug them in my group. The standout for me are the pretzels (very big and tasty) and the Bratwurst/Apples/Onions pizza which goes great with beer!

Overall, I love Blue Mountain. Part of me longs for the days when it was smaller, more personable, and the service was better. The expansion is well done but unfortunately the increased business has come at the price of service. I still love it and always swing by when I'm on the way to my parents' house in Lynchburg. Hopefully, the issues with service are just growing pains.

11-29-2011 03:56:50 | More by WMEugene

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This was our first stop on a mini beer-cation throughout VA and NC. Turns out that this was also my favorite stop!

The setting of this place is pretty much ideal. An inlaid patio for outside seating is situated right next to the hop-yard. Across the street, the Blue Ridge Mountains (I think that is the right range) carve out a serene setting. The inside of the pub is rustic in decor, but still crisp and new. Very high ceilings with lots of natural, exposed wood mix with new steel to give this a "modern lodge" like setting.

We ordered a cheese plate and a flight which included all of their offerings (9). I also ordered a tulip of their BA pumpkin beer, called Spooky I think. Everything was superb!

Our waiter paid just enough attention to us, without being pushy. He knew lots about their beer, and about the cheese plate, which is what most of our questions were centered around!

They sell beer to go at the front counter. They also have a number of brewery products (glasses, shirts, etc.) available.

I would highly recommend this place to anyone! They seem to really do things the right way, using all local products where they can. I really wish it wasn't 5 hours and many winding roads away...

10-26-2011 20:53:53 | More by mgbickel

drewsil111

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Blue Mountain Brewery is a restaurant nestled just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the heart of the "Brew Ridge Trail." The brewery has wonderful scenery and a fantastic seating arrangement. The menu is quite eclectic with the pizza being the highlight. Overall, the food is impressive and oozing with quality. The one element that probably needs a bit of work, is the imagination on the beer. On several occasions when doing the sampler, I could not taste the difference between two different brews. Don't get me wrong, most of their beers are very drinkable, but they are certainly not memorable (with the exception of Rockfish Wheat and Evil 8). Overall, This place is certainly worth a stop on the "Brew Ridge Trail."

10-06-2011 20:42:23 | More by drewsil111

nandemo1

Virginia

4.14/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

God, I want them to finish their expansion soon. Visited Saturday to grab lunch, however the place was PACKED. After an estimate of well over an hour for being served meals, we passed on being seated and bellied up to the bar to ordered a couple of brews and a quick pretzel appetizer. The staff was exceptionally quick with the beer and helpful in giving us directions to Devils Backbone. Menu looked outstanding, but a bit pricey. Plenty of options on tap, including seasonals. Packaged beer is available for purchase, at prices less than retail. Patio was beautiful, but inside seating area was small.

08-16-2011 23:09:22 | More by nandemo1