Brewery Profile

Long Way Brewing

As Radford’s sole production craft brewery, this is the city’s main stop for beer made on site rather than a taproom built around outside drafts. Visitors walk into a converted historic structure that once served as a church, and the room still shows that earlier use through vaulted ceilings and original stained glass. The setting gives the taproom a different feel from a warehouse-style brewery or storefront bar: the architecture is part of the visit, not just a backdrop. The beer program is described as a revolving selection of house-brewed beers, so the lineup is not something to assume in advance. A first-time visitor should expect the taproom itself to be the clearest source for what is pouring that day.

Travelers moving through the New River Valley often look for stops that connect local drink, regional history, and a sense of place. This brewery fits that pattern without needing a long detour from Radford’s downtown and river-oriented setting. Its name refers to Mary Draper Ingles, who escaped captivity in 1755 and traveled roughly 600 miles along the New River. That reference gives visitors a piece of local history to connect with the space and the surrounding landscape. Because the beers rotate, the experience is less about seeking a fixed flagship and more about seeing what the brewhouse is producing at the time of the visit.

Practical planning should start with the taproom: confirm the day’s pours there, along with any current details such as hours, seating arrangements, food policies, or events, since those specifics are not established here. One notable on-site feature is a community round-up initiative at checkout. Patrons can round up their checks, and the proceeds go to Radford Fairlawn Daily Bread, the downstairs neighbor that provides free daily meals and runs a Meals on Wheels program. The fundraising is tracked on a tote board displayed in the taproom, making the local-service connection visible during a visit. For travelers comparing brewery stops in the area, Long Way Brewing offers a compact combination of on-site beer production, reused historic architecture, and a community tie directly within the building.

Long Way Brewing operates as Radford, Virginia's sole production craft brewery, producing a revolving selection of house-brewed beers on site. The brewery is located within a converted historic structure, utilizing the space of a former church, which retains architectural elements such as vaulted ceilings and original stained glass in the taproom area. The brewery's name references the journey of Mary Draper Ingles, who traveled approximately 600 miles along the New River after escaping captivity in 1755. Long Way Brewing maintains a community initiative allowing patrons to round up their checks, with all proceeds directed to the downstairs neighbor, the Radford Fairlawn Daily Bread, which provides free daily meals and operates a Meals on Wheels program. This fundraising effort is tracked via a tote board displayed within the taproom.

Website available

Radford, Virginia, 24141-1403

Phone: 540-838-2229

Website: https://www.longwaybrewing.com/

Hours: WEDNESDAY 4-9 PM THURSDAY 4-9 PM FRIDAY 3-9 PM SATURDAY12-9 PM SUNDAY 1-7 PM