Brewery Profile

Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage

For visitors exploring Roanoke’s craft beer options, this outpost functions less like a conventional production brewery and more like a public-facing test kitchen for Starr Hill. When you walk in, the central draw is the tap list: 23 lines that can include established core beers from the main brewery, seasonal releases, and pilot batches brewed on-site. The smaller-scale production setup gives the Roanoke location a defined role within the city’s beer scene, offering a place where new recipes can be poured directly for customers before any decision is made about wider distribution. That makes the taproom useful for both casual drinkers and visitors who like to compare familiar beers with limited-run experiments.

Travelers in this part of Virginia often look for stops that combine tasting with a local social setting, and this brewery fits that pattern through its rotating beers and event schedule. The appeal is not tied to one specific style, since the known focus is on variety: core selections, seasonal offerings, and exclusive pilot batches. A visitor might come across something recognizable from Starr Hill’s broader lineup alongside a small-batch beer that is only being tested in Roanoke. The “Side Stage” part of the venue’s identity is reflected in regular community events, including live music performances and weekly trivia nights, so a stop here can be as much about timing as the beer list.

Because the selection changes, the taproom is the place to confirm the day’s pours and see which pilot beers are currently available. Visitors interested in experimental releases should expect rotation rather than a fixed menu, while those looking for a more familiar choice may find core or seasonal beers on tap as well. Event nights can change the feel of the visit, especially when live music or trivia is scheduled, so checking the current calendar before going is practical. Details not provided here, such as food service, outdoor seating, reservations, parking, or age policies, should be verified directly with the brewery before planning around them.

The Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage operates as a smaller-scale production facility focusing on experimental and limited-run beers in Roanoke, Virginia. This location features 23 tap lines dedicated to showcasing a rotating selection of the main brewery's established core beers, seasonal releases, and exclusive pilot batches brewed on-site. The facility serves as a testing ground for new recipes before potential wider distribution. Beyond beer production, the venue hosts regular community events, including live music performances and weekly trivia nights. This Roanoke outpost allows Starr Hill to maintain a direct feedback loop with consumers regarding new product development.

Website available

6 Old Whitmore Ave SE, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016-1212

Phone: 540-685-2012

Website: https://starrhill.com/roanoke

Hours: TAP ROOM HOURS (Not explicitly listed, but implied by the structure)