Looking For Nothing In Particular, You’re Likely To Encounter The Extraordinary.

Neil Burton, the founder of Strangeways Brewing, has always had a penchant for exploring the unknown, especially when it comes to beer. As a result, he has found himself in some of the more peculiar corners of the world tasting as many unique beers as possible. What he discovered on his journeys is not of great importance. But what he returned with is—a profound passion for, and acute knowledge of, implausibly good beer.

Combining this fixation on great beer with his penchant for the unfamiliar, Neil imbedded himself in Virginia’s burgeoning craft brew culture. Realizing he didn’t want to merely be a spectator of the craft beer business, he began tirelessly working towards the goal of what would eventually become Strangeways Brewing.

We fought the law and our law won.

At first, Neil intended to create a new brand of beer by utilizing another’s existing brewing facility (often referred to as alternating proprietorship). However, he quickly found that the law would not allow for such an arrangement. So, working with Virginia legislators, he set to change the law. And it worked. But by the time the bill had passed (House Bill 359), Virginia’s mushrooming craft beer industry had experienced historic growth and breweries no longer had the capacity to make their space available to others. Still, Neil was pleased to have helped broaden the possibilities for future brewery projects to enter the craft beer market.

New game plan

Now with more than three years of research and business planning behind him, Neil had devoted so much time and effort to the venture that he knew he could take on opening his own brewery. So that’s exactly what he did, officially opening Strangeways Brewing’s first location in 2013 at 2277A Dabney Road, Richmond, Virginia.

Natural growth with multiple locations

Using four years of experience brewing and running the first location, Strangeways took a big leap and opened their second brewery and tasting room in 2017 in Neil’s hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Chosen was a large warehouse building on 3 acres of property, just off the downtown area at 350 Lansdowne Road. However this was not just any building, as it had operated as the former office/warehouse for the family retail clothing business at which Neil had worked prior to entering the brewing industry.

At this point, things had really come full circle. Yet one neighborhood in particular called out as a natural place for Strangeways third location-the bustling local beverage producing area of Scott’s Addition in Richmond, Virginia, arguably known as the best neighborhood for craft beer on the East Coast. With that, Strangeways newest, and once again unique venture opened smack dab in the middle of Scott’s Addition at 3110 West Leigh Street.

Yes, three is a lucky number, but Neil was always enamored with the town he spent many a childhood vacation in…Williamsburg, Virginia. By happenstance, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, Williamsburg also became a refuge for Neil and his family. A house disaster caused the family and all of their pets to temporarily locate to Williamsburg as repairs were being made on their residence. From that chance encounter, it brought Neil back to childhood memories of the town he loved to visit, and he began dreaming of what could possibly be in regard to another Strangeways outpost. Hence in the summer of 2022, Strangeways Brewing opened its fourth location in the Shops at High Street on the corner of Route 60 and High Street, amongst a sea of restaurants and entertainment retailers. Housed under a big dome, Strangeways tasting room is a culmination of the other three locations from a design and decor standpoint, but on steroids. We are pleased with how it turned out, and we hope you too will agree when you join us for a visit to sample our wares.