Robert K.
Yelp
Tiny brewery, ambitious beers. Much like neighboring Copper Fox Distillery, Pen Druid isn't trying to be the biggest, but they certainly are zeroing in on a specific niche in the craft beer market with wild fermentation beers, including sours, that are best consumed out of a tulip glass.
While I was only one of three patrons at 12:45pm on a hot August Saturday, when I left an hour later the numerous community tables inside were almost all filled. No food, but high ceilings and seating right next to barrels provided a great no-frills atmosphere where you come to enjoy the beer and company.
Their six taps included adventurous names: Golden Swan, Odysseau, Neptude, Jupiter, Rural Panic and Saturnalia. With 4oz, 10oz and 16oz options for pours on most of their beers, expect for the more limited edition options like the wood-fired barrel-fermented wild double IPA (10.1%) or the wild blonde sour with wild cultures and aged for 6 months on Hungarian Red Wine puncheon, you can easily try their whole lineup before narrowing in on your second. Watch out though, as they didn't offer anything below 6% ABV!
These three brothers really know what they are doing and Pen Druid provides a real representation of terroir. If you are going to Rappahannock County to visit vineyards or have a stay at the Inn at Little Washington, you owe it to yourself to yourself to take a little detour and have a glass in this hidden gem. If you are coming out from DC, I highly recommend stopping at Red Truck Bakery in Marshall where you cut off from I-66. If you like Adroit Theory in Loudoun County or Lickinghole Creek in Goochland County, you'll love Pen Druid!