Looking For a Brewery Near Shenandoah National Park? Try These 6 Local Watering Holes in Harrisonburg

As any beer guy or gal knows, not all breweries are created equal. With taprooms and brewing companies popping up on every corner (or so it seems), it can be tough to sort through them to find ones that are really worth a visit… particularly if you’ve spent the day hiking and find yourself all tuckered out.

Don’t worry, my friends. We’re here to help in your quest to find the best brewery near Shenandoah National Park to wrap up a day of adventure. So sit back, take off your hiking boots, and rest those tired muscles because we’ve done all the legwork.

This article contains everything you need to find the right post-hike spot to grab a drink – locations, reviews, cleverly crafted descriptions. All you have to do is decide which one you want to try first. 

We’ve even identified the breweries on this list that are currently accepting convenient GiftYa gift cards.

Okay wait, what’s a GiftYa?

GiftYa is a digital gift card that can be sent within seconds right from your phone. These gift cards can be used at a variety of locations but are particularly popular for restaurants and breweries. They’re a great option for travelers who might not be carrying a lot of cash on them, or for anyone who can never keep track of their gift card balance.

Trying to get a friend to join you at a brewery near Shenandoah National Park? Consider texting them a gift card to one of the participating locations below to persuade them!

1 - Pale Fire Brewing Co.

Live Music, Large Taproom, and Award-Winning Craft Beers

217 S Liberty St | Harrisonburg | palefirebrewing.com

It’s hard to find a brewery near Shenandoah National Park without hearing about Harrisonburg’s Pale Fire Brewing Company. Winner of the 2022 Craft Beer Cup for their cream ale Taking Water, it can be easy to forget that the brewing company has been making waves in the area for under a decade.

Created by a group of people who believe that great beer is in reach for some of life’s best moments – whether that’s telling stories around a campfire or scribbling the idea for your new brewery on a bar napkin – Pale Fire Brewing creates beers that are perfect for everything from noodling around with guitars with some friends to taking that special someone out for a night on the town. 

Sample a rotating selection of up to 10 of the company’s craft beers at their taproom, indoors or on the patio. Chow down on Detroit-style pizza, jam out to live music, or (if you show up on Wednesday after 8pm) participate in Geeks Who Drink Trivia for a guaranteed good time.

“The beers and pizza here are FIRE!  Lol But seriously, such a great spot to relax and unwind after a long day of hiking. The inside is dog-friendly, which was super nice. The flight is reasonably priced and allowed me to try five of their brews which I loved because the tap list sounded so good! ” - Yelp Review 

2 - Brothers Craft Brewing

Fun Games and Good Beer – What More Could You Ask For?

800 N Main St | Harrisonburg | brotherscraftbrewing.com

After a long day of hiking in Shenandoah National Park, Brother Craft Brewing is a go-to spot for tired adventures looking to relax with a cold brew and some good food. While Brothers just focuses on the beer part of the equation, they typically have a local food truck parked right outside the tap room for easy access to munchies.

Stop in 7 days a week to sip on crowd pleasers like J Maddy Hard Seltzer (officially licensed by nearby James Madison University) or The Great Outdoors pale ale. You can also sample tasty seasonal releases like the Chocolate Cheese Quake milk porter, holiday spiced Eggnog Stout, or the video game-inspired German pilsner Pilsnerd.

Locals love checking out what’s on tap and starting up some friendly competition while they wait for their next drink – guests can play cornhole, jenga, Uno, and more.

“Awesome beers and atmosphere! So glad I stopped by while I was in town. The Lil' Hellion was an absolutely phenomenal Helles Lager and I'll definitely hit the brewery up next time I'm in Harrisonburg.” - Yelp Review 

3 - Restless Moons Brewing

Pretentious? No Thanks. Sip Craft Brews with Harrisonburg’s Most Laid Back Brewing Company

120 W Wolfe St | Harrisonburg | harrisonburgbeer.com

There’s a difference between appreciating a good beer and being a beer snob – and the folks over at Restless Moons Brewing aren’t here to judge you on your order. Restless Moons is  a locally owned and operated company that prides itself in serving up beer of all types and styles so that there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

The tap room features a rotating selection of 12 beers, but that’s far from all Restless Moon is serving up. Stop in for live entertainment and game nights, or sample their food menu alongside your craft brews. Locals love that the restaurant has plenty of vegetarian options to accommodate their patron’s preferences.

“Great little brewery that can pack a punch. It looks like it was a Jiffy Lube converted into a brewery and it's just pretty awesome. The ambience was something they clearly deemed important and the music is on point. Out back is corn hole and a food truck lot- as well as 2x4 Jenga. Inside there is a shuffleboard, dart board and other games including rockem' sockem' robots!” - Yelp Review 

4 - Sage Bird Ciderworks

Try Something Different with Harrisonburg’s Favorite Hard Ciders

325 N Liberty St | Downtown | sagebirdciderworks.com

Looking for something a little different? Try trading in your craft brews for small-batch ciders for a night. Located in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg, Sage Bird Ciderworks serves up some serious local flavor. Using locally sourced ingredients and flavors for their selection of hand-crafted hard ciders, Sage Bird Ciderworks truly brings the best of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley to the table.

“Drink Apple-Achain Cider,” the brand encourages its patrons. Enjoy sweet or dry ciders, sours, and even hard slushies during your visit. And if you can, try to time your visit to overlap with one of the Ciderworks events. From book club to trivia night to art receptions to karaoke, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

“Friendly staff and willing to explain all their ciders.  Mostly dry which we absolutely love. We did flights of 5 and loved them all. Cool location and cool vibe.  Definitely a must see. Here for a week vacation and we will be back.” - Yelp Review 

5 - BrewHaha Brewing Company

Sip Back and Relax at Elkton’s First Comedy Brewhouse

11704 Spotswood Trl | Elkton | brewhahabrewery.com

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from downtown Harrisonburg – or a quick 22 minute drive out Route 33 – you’ll find a unique brewery that serves up laughs as well as crafts. Elkton’s first comedy brewhouse is founded on the belief that bad beer (not to mention bad comedy) is no laughing matter. That’s why they’re bringing the best of both to the Shenandoah Valley.

During the first Saturday of the month, guests can enjoy live comedy shows and improv while they sip on BrewHaha’s beer offerings. With a range of beverages available – from the Nada Beer Hard Seltzer to Boobilicious bubblegum IPA to the Float-On By Orange Honey Pale(Ish) Ale, the creative concoctions at BrewHaha make for a unique night out anytime. 

BrewHaha even keeps something on tap for their littlest patrons, with soda available for youngsters and anyone else looking for an alternative to boozy brews. 

“This place is Fabulous.  A smaller establishment just perfectly decorated with kickin' ski vibes.  Great beer and something for the driver or children with their soda on tap.” - Yelp Review 

6 - BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

Go with a Tried and True National Favorite 

Grab a BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse gift card by following the link!

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3924 Lenox Ave | Charlottesville | bjsrestaurants.com

If none of the local offerings on this list have sparked your interest, you can always opt for an old favorite like BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. This location is a little further out – about an hour from downtown Harrisonburg – but it’s open from 11am to 11pm every day of the week and serves up all of your favorites. 

BJ’s handcrafted signature beers have been awarded more Great American Beer Festival gold medals over the last 8 years than any other restaurant brewer. What does that mean for you? Stop into a BJ’s, and you can enjoy one of their 11 award-winning brews, or a rotating selection of 10 seasonal brews along with great food and, of course, the crowd-pleasing Pizookie for dessert.

“Bj's is my go to restaurant when I am dining out with a large group. They offer lots of options from burgers, delicious sandwiches, soups, pizza's, pasta, tacos and my favorite dessert The Pizookie!!

Lots of drink options and excellent beers on tap!” - Yelp Review 

Text a BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse gift card

There you have it – the best places to sample local brews near Shenandoah National Park in Harrisonburg, VA!

Harrisonburg is home to some excellent restaurants and brewing companies, which can make finding a brewery near Shenandoah National Park harder than it seems.

We’ve carefully curated this list to make sure there’s something for everyone – whether you're a craft brew lover or more of a cider person, whether you’re looking for a trendy spot in downtown Harrisonburg or something more laid back. We’ve even covered a national restaurant chain alternative in the area in case none of these local options are the right fit. We hope that you’ve found the perfect option!

Whether the brewery you’re headed out to accepts GiftYa cards right now or not, be sure to check back! We’re always adding new restaurants and breweries in Harrisonburg and all over the country to our catalog. And don’t forget to visit us here at the GiftYa blog – we’re always writing new guides to new places all around the country – so stay tuned for more!