While West Virginia may not be known as a craft beer powerhouse, that is changing. At 30% annual growth in 2019, beverages rank as the fastest-growing manufacturing sector in the state. And, like so much of the country, craft brewers are helping to pioneer sustainable manufacturing practices.
That is what husband and wife brewers – Matt and Ashley – are doing. From an old sawmill, the family built Big Timber Brewing Company out of gorgeous local wood and added solar panels on the roof to save big bucks on energy after receiving grants from USDA Rural Energy for America program. Big Timber has been celebrated by folks across West Virginia – proving beer indeed does bring people together. Especially in West Virginia where the great outdoors draws adventurers and craft beer lovers alike to experience the magic of Appalachia.
Matt and Ashley Kwasniewski of Big Timber Brewing see untapped potential for Matt’s hometown of Elkins, so they’re leading by example, moving their already sizable brewery down to the Tygart Valley River to show the town and entire country what a wonderful place West Virginia can be.