Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail 31-29 & Forbes Trail Brewing

January 7, 2024hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Laurel Highlands, PA

We had a snowy first day hike on the Laurel Highlands Hiking trail! Despite how many times I’ve been hiking in the LH region, this is actually my first time on the 70 miles LHHT. While this short section didn’t have any major views or points of interest, it was incredibly peaceful walking through woods blanketed in fresh snow. After our group hike, we moseyed out to Forbes Trail Brewing in Stoystown for some delicious brews in a cozy taproom.

THE HIKE: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (31-29)

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours (due to snow)
Trail use: Foot traffic only
Parking: Space for about 30 cars at the Route 31 parking area. No facilities

Find the Parking lot: 40.06082620624829, -79.27375174542976. Turn right off Route 31 onto Fire Tower route, there will be a sign for Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park. The parking lot will be on the left just under a mile down the road. Be aware that this road is unpaved and likely won’t be maintained in the winter.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) is a 70.3 mile backpacking trail in western pa that stretches from Ohiopyle to Seward. This trail is known for its incredible beauty but also its challenging and rugged terrain. If you’re considering a thru hike, be sure to check out Tory’s awesome guide at Mytrailsaremany.com. However, this is also a fantastic trail for section day hikes too! There are many trailheads and access points along the 70 miles to pop on for a few miles.

The LHHT is maintained by the PA DCNR and the majority of the trail runs through Laurel Ridge State Park. If you’re looking for a full map of the trail, check out the PA DCNR website.

The Hike

For this group first day, we met at the Route 31 parking lot for the LHHT. Interestingly, this was also near mile 31 of the trail! There were at least 50 people on this delightful hike led by Kim, an educator at Laurel Ridge SP.

Especially in the winter, it can be easy to lose your way on trails. Be sure to look for the yellow blazes on the trees. This trail also has a stone mile marker every mile so you’ll always know how far you’ve gone! Many sections of the LHHT, including this one, cross over roads from large ones to wooded access roads. Always look for a band of yellow on the trees that indicates a road crossing!

Remember, the LHHT is point to point trail so make sure you have a game plan of when to turn around and head back to your car!

THE BEER: Forbes Trail Brewing

Address: 6108 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, PA 15563
Distance from Trail Head: 36 mins, 25 miles
Website: http://www.forbestrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food truck & BYOF
Details: Outdoor seating, pets outside

Forbes Trail Brewing opened on Lincoln Highway less than a mile from the Flight 93 memorial in 2022. One of the owners had been homebrewing for nearly a decade then working professionally as a brewer, before his dream of opening a taproom became a reality! Along with his wife and former homebrew supporters turned business partners, Forbes Trail Brewing has quickly become a staple in the Laurel Highlands region. Although it was cold and snowy when we visited, I was impressed with the huge outdoor space complete with firepits that complemented the cozy indoor taproom. We popped at a seat at the bar and instantly felt like part of a family as the owners and other drinkers looped us right into their conversation. Although it’s a bit of a drive from the Burgh I cannot recommend this brewery enough and I know we will definitely be back!

A fun history fact: the brewery’s name refers to the early road that linked forts Duquesne, Ligonier, and Bedford during the French and Indian War. This road was pioneered by British General John Forbes and eventually became the Lincoln Highway (Route 30).

Our Beer:

Taste the Rainbow – Sour – 5%
Haze Lawdy Mama – NEIPA – 6.5%
Edmunds Swamp: Peppermint – Oatmeal Stout – 5%
Trail Rider Pale Ale – Pale Ale – 6%

Loving the Laurel Highlands craft beverages? Be sure to get a Pour Tour Passport from the GO Laurel Highlands!

Looking for more hikes & hops in the Laurel Highlands? Check out Wolf Rocks & Helltown, Ohiopyle & Yough River , Duff Park & Devout, Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons, and Linn Run & Unity Brewing .

Duff Park & Devout Brewing

September 17, 2023September 16, 2023hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

Murrysville, PA

Despite having driven down Route 22 many times, I never knew a beautiful park was tucked in the woods just off this major road. Duff Park is a peaceful natural area with bike trails along a stream and single track trails meandering through the woods. It’s a designated plant sanctuary and the fall wildflowers are beautiful right now! After a walk through the woods, check out Devout Brewing just up the road. They have a delicious Marzen on right now and a sweet potato beer coming soon!

THE HIKE: Duff Park Outer Loop

Length: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 525 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Running, some sections open to bikes
Parking: Large lot off School Rd

Duff Park is a 220 acre wooded park east of Pittsburgh and is located just off Route 22. It is owned and managed by the Municipality of Murrysville with help from the volunteers at Murrysville Trail Alliance and the Friends of Murrysville Parks.

The park includes 1.5 miles of flat bike trail along Turtle Creek. There is also a bridge connecting this trail to the large Westmoreland Heritage Trail, so this is a great place for biking, running, and for those with limited mobility. The rest of the park features hilly single track trails that meander up the hillside. There are about 7.5 miles of trails in the woods, so there’s plenty of space to get a nice long hike in! Duff park is also connected by a trail to Pleasant Valley Park. I haven’t been to Pleasant Valley Park but from what I’ve read, it’s very peaceful but a bit more remote feeling than Duff Park. I’ll have to check it out for myself though!

We visited Duff Park on a Friday after work as part of the Oboz Trail Experience to do this 3.4 loop. I was blown away by how beautiful the place was despite being so close to a major road. Of course, this does mean that the road noises can be quite loud. But frankly, they faded to the background for me as we hiked along Turtle Creek, admiring the clear water and reading the signs identifying the trees along the way. This part of the trail was flat and very easy to follow. Eventually the outer loop leaves the Funk Bikeway trail to switchback up the hillside on the Forbes trail. This was definitely a section that got our hearts pounding! The trail continues to be moderate difficulty as you turn onto the Sumac trail. We hardly saw anyone else on these sections and being further away from the traffic noises really made for a peaceful hike. The trails were all very clearly labeled and we had no problem eventually completing the loop and finding ourselves back at the parking lot.

I would definitely visit this park again! It does seem to be pretty popular so parking could be an issue on the weekends. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot and also picnic tables under the pavilion. I also really appreciated the large interpretive signs discussing the local flora and fauna. We will definitely have to visit in the spring as this park is a designated wild plant sanctuary! Perhaps it will be a new favorite place for spring wildflowers.

THE BEER: Devout Brewery

Address: 1301 Pontiac Ct #101, Export, PA 15632
Distance from Trail Head: 4.4 miles, 9 mins
Website: http://www.devoutbrewingco.com/
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor Seating, Pet Friendly

Devout Brewing has been pouring beers at their Export location since 2018. Nestled in the back of an industrial park, Devout feels like a hidden gem. With outdoor seating covered by a sunshade and a large indoor taproom, there’s plenty of space to relax here! When we visited, there was a surprisingly large selection, up to 16 taps! They also offer locally made cider, wine, and mead if that’s more your speed. While they don’t have a kitchen of their own, Devout frequently has a rotating food truck schedule or you can bring your own food! Your four legged friends are also welcome on the outdoor patio. We had such a good time at this brewery because it felt like having a beer with new friends! Everyone, customers and staff alike, were so friendly and eager to make conversation. It was an all around great place to spend a Saturday night.

I was pretty excited to check out Devout Brewing because I finally remembered to bring my Laurel Highlands Pour Tour booklet! Although I’ve been to several of the breweries listed, it was the first time I got an official stamp. Will this start a new obsession? Just wait and see!

Our Beer:

Son of Scurvy – Hazy IPA – 6.5%
Hans Grubier – Oktoberfest – 5.6%
Buzzin Blonde – Belgian Blonde with honey – 7%
Pachyderm Porter – Porter – 4%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops East of Pittsburgh? Check out Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons Brewing, Wolf Rocks & Helltown Brewing, or Ohiopyle & Bloom Brew

New River Gorge: Grandview Rim to Turkey Spur & Weathered Ground Brewery

July 16, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 2 Comments

Grandview, WV

There’s so much more to see at New River Gorge outside of the Canyon Rim area! Make sure to drive to the Grandview Visitor Center to explore the highest elevation of the park and stunning view of the river. There’s a reason it’s called “Grand View”. Combine the Grandview Rim, Castle, Tunnel, and Turkey Spur Trails to see all the best that this area has to offer! Afterward, take a drive over to Weathered Ground Brewery where you can sit outside and enjoy a brew while listening to live music!

THE HIKE: Grandview Rim & Turkey Spur Loop

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 530 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Very large parking lot with bathrooms at visitor center
H&H: 5/5

When exploring outside of the Canyon Rim, the first thing is to keep in mind that the rest of New River Gorge is VERY spread out. We were quite surprised at the driving times between the different areas of the park. For context:

Canyon Rim → Grandview Visitor Center = 40 miles, 50 minutes
Grandview → Sandstone Falls = 35 miles, 50 minutes
Sandstone Falls → Canyon Rim = 55 miles, 1 hour 15 mins

Keep this in mind as you plan your trip around New River Gorge! We definitely made the mistake of visiting Grandview and Sandstone Falls all in the same day so it ended up being a LOT of driving.

The Grandview Area was originally maintained by the WV Parks Service for decades until it was transferred to the NPS in 1990. While the park is open year-round, the visitor center is only open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This is a popular area for picnicking and hiking, so you’re likely to encounter other day trippers while you’re exploring. There is also a large bathroom with running water that is open year-round.

To follow the same path we did, start at the visitor’s center and head toward the Grandview Overlook. From this stunning view, you can see 7 miles of the New River Gorge at its deepest point. From here, bear to the right to explore the Tunnel Trail. This 0.7 loop will take you along sandstone ridges, for a first taste of the unique geology of the area. From here, cross by the Main Overlook again and get on the Castle Rock Trail. This trail travels for 0.6 miles along soaring cliff sides until it meets up with the Grandview Rim Trail. Aside from the overlooks, this was by far my favorite part of the hike. I loved to scramble over rocks and staring up at the towering sandstone cliffs. It was definitely a section that makes one feel small! After getting on the Grandview Rim Trail, it’s a fairly straightforward meander through the woods beside the Turkey Spur Road. There are plenty of opportunities for view of the river valley, although some of these are probably better seen in the late fall and winter. After following this trail for about a mile, the trail reaches the Turkey Spur Parking Lot. There’s only room for about 5 cars here, so it’s better to hike out. From here, you’ll take the Turkey Spur Trail which is really a series of wooden stairs that ascend to the top of the rock for nearly 360 degree views of the River Valley. I have to give a huge shout out to the volunteers from the Friends of New River Gorge National River for building such an incredible system of stairs and benches so these views can be enjoyed!

Unfortunately, when we visited, it was extremely hot and sunny, so we weren’t able to linger long at these overlooks. To finish out this trail, head back down the stairs and retrace your steps to the parking lot. Get back on the Grandview Rim and follow it all the way back to the visitor center and parking lot. Go to the overlook one last time before heading out!

THE BEER: Weathered Ground Brewery

Address: 2027 Flat Top Rd, Cool Ridge, WV 25843
Distance from Trail Head: 15 miles, 24 mins
Website: www.weatheredgroundbrewery.com
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside, Live music

South of Grandview is Weathered Ground Brewery, located in the small town of Cool Ridge. But there’s nothing small about this brewery! Weathered Ground sits on over 30 acres, complete with a large barn that houses the brewing facilities, kitchen, bar and taproom. There’s also ample space to sit outdoors, both on a covered patio and at picnic tables in the yard. On any given weekend, you can find live music at the brewery at either the indoor or outdoor stage. Weathered Ground is a family affair, managed by a husband and wife team, which is evident in how family-friendly the brewery feels. There’s a lot of open space outside for play and yard games for the little and big kids to enjoy. Furry friends are welcome outdoors too, although they must stay out of the taproom since a full kitchen menu is offered. Weathered Ground has been become a staple in Southern West Virginia and you’re bound to see their drafts and cans offered elsewhere too! This is a must-visit spot, especially if doing the Grandview or Sandstone Falls area(s) of New River Gorge!

Our Beer:

Bus Beer – NEIPA – 6%
Tallahatchie – IPA – 6.5%
Bearer of Fruit (Lemon & Blueberry) – Sour – 5%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in New River Gorge? Check out Long Point & Bridge Brew Works and Endless Wall & FreeFolk Brewing.

New River Gorge: Long Point/Kaymoor Miners & Bridge Brew Works

July 8, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 3 Comments

Fayetteville, WV

Another must-do hike in New River River Gorge is the Long Point Trail. This trail gives you incredible views of the gorge and huge bridge spanning it. For an extra challenge, add on the Kaymoor Miners Trail for some serious elevation gain and a history lesson of the industry in Fayetteville. Afterwards, you’ve definitely earned a pint at Bridge Brew Works where you can enjoy a Belgian-style brew in their rustic, yet rustic outdoor biergarten.

THE HIKE: Long Point to Kaymoor Miners Trail

Length: 5.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1470ft
Difficulty: Difficult
Time: 3-3.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking Only (Long Point open to bikes)
Parking: Large Lot, pit toilets
H&H: 4/5

Long Point Trail is another of the most popular hikes in New River Gorge. It is located on the Fayetteville side of the park, about 5 miles away from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Although it has a larger parking lot than Endless Wall, I can still foresee it filling up on super busy days. There are several different trails that can be accessed from this parking lot, including Timber Ridge Trail.

Since we did a combination of trails to make a larger loop, I’ll talk about the two main trails individually and then recommendations on how to combine them. Truthfully, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing these two trails together as the Kaymoor Miners Trail is fairly difficult on its own. But if you’re up for a challenge and have plenty of water, go for it!

The Long Point Trail is a 3.0 mile out and back trail with little elevation changes and some more technical rocky parts. It is open for hiking, leashed pets and mountain biking but bikers should be aware that the last 0.2 miles of the trail is closed to bikes. Conveniently, there is a bike rack placed so that bikers can still walk out to see the viewpoint. Which you are definitely going to want to see, this is arguably the most incredible view in the entire park. It’s an amazing feeling to walk out of the trees and suddenly be on an outcropping surrounded by so much blue sky and so many trees!

This trail is fairly easy and we encountered many families enjoying the hike. The trail starts out very wide and there are some wildlife viewing platforms that look out over grassy fields. Soon though, the trail dips into the forest. There are plenty of interesting interpretive signs along the route to teach about ecology. Along this trail, you will encounter some offshoots for other trails, but if you are heading to the lookout, you can stay straight. One of the great things about this trail is that you don’t have to hike up a mountainside for the view! In fact, the trail actually slopes downward as it heads towards the view. The most difficult hiking is nearest to the overlook, with some rocky steps that people with ability restrictions might find difficult. However, I still give this trail a moderate difficulty rating.

Make sure to really take your time at the overlook and see it from all angles! Also please be patient as you may have to wait your turn for a quintessential picture with the bridge in the background. After you’re ready to continue, start back along the Long Point Trail. After about 0.7 miles, you’ll come to a branch in the trail. Staying on the Long Point Trail takes you back to the parking for an out and back of 3.2 miles. However, if you want to continue to the Kaymoor Miners Trail, bear to the left to get on the Butcher Branch Trail which heads down into a valley. You’ll find much more solitude on the section of the trail. Eventually, this trail will end at the Kaymoor parking lot where there are pit toilets but no running water. Continue through the parking lot and the Kaymoor Miners Trailhead will be on the left.

Before heading out on this part of the trail, please don’t let the short distance fool you. This is a strenuous hike with nearly 1000ft of elevation gain and trekking up and down 821 steps. I highly encourage you to check it out because the history is fascinating but please only undertake this if your fitness level is up for it, you have proper footwear, and are carrying enough water. From the trailhead, the path immediately starts downhill. The wooded path is narrow and you will encounter a lot of others on the trail. Remember that hikers coming uphill have the right of way! As you climb down the mountainside, there are some beautiful spots of flowing water. About halfway down, you’ll encounter a larger trail called the Kaymoor Trail which is a long point to point trail that intersects with the Kaymoor Miners trail. This is a great spot to catch your breathe and read up on the history of the spot. From here, you’ll descend down the 821 steps, following along the old mining route to abandoned ruins of the mining site. Please be aware that this area is not maintained by the park service and you should exercise caution while exploring. The official trail ends at the end of the stairs but there are clear community foraged paths around the structures. Personally, I found the building to be rather spooky so I didn’t get too adventurous poking about. A warning, this trail does NOT go all the way to the New River and there is an active railroad at the bottom. Please do not ever walk on active rail lines!

So now the fun part: getting back up the stairs. Let me tell you, I don’t care how fit you are, this is going to be a challenge. Take as many breaks as you need, there’s no shame! Thankfully, we had this section of the trail to ourselves so no one had to listen to our ragged breathing. Once you get to the top of the stairs, take a nice break because the elevation just keeps climbing until you get back to Kaymoor parking lot. If you only hiked the Kaymoor Miners trail then congrats, you’re done! If you parked at Long Point, I hate to say it but you’ve still got more to go. Head to opposite end of the parking lot and get on the Fayetteville Trail. Take this for 0.6 miles until it meets back up with the Long Point Trail. From there, it’s only 0.4 miles back to the parking lot. Thankfully the section of trail from Kaymoor to Long Point parking lots is fairly flat and easy!

All in all, this loop combines the best viewpoint in the park with the fascinating history of coal mining in Fayetteville. These are must-do hikes while in New River Gorge, but definitely require sturdy footwear and plenty of water and snacks. This is also a hike that I strongly recommend having a change of socks and shoes in the car!

THE BEER: Bridge Brew Works

Address: 335 Nick Rahall Greenway, Fayetteville, WV 25840
Distance from Trail Head: 4.7 miles, 8 mins
Website: www.bridgebrewworks.com
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly

If you find yourself a little parched after that hike, I’ve got the perfect place for you! Just under 5 miles away, is the small brewery Bridge Brew Works. While they’ve been producing beer since 2010, they were able to open their space to the public in 2018. This is a unique brewery space because it’s entirely outside with a huge covered patio and a large uncovered patio with lawn games and firepits. While we were visiting, they were also working on another covered patio space! Because of the backyard vibe of the brewery, they are only open March thru December. Bridge Brew Works makes a lot of different types of beer, but they specialize in Belgian-style brews while also making seasonal favorites. Their two headliner beers that can be found on tap all season, as well as in local distributors are the Mountain Momma Pale Ale and the Long Point Lager. I love being able to have a beer named after the hike I just did, so the Long Point was a no-brainer choice! We also enjoyed the Mountain Momma and the New River IPA which paired perfected with kicking back in an Adirondack chair next to a firepit.

I really wish we had more time at this brewery because its laid back charm was right up my alley. This will 100% be on my list for our next trip to Fayetteville!

Our Beer:

Mountain Momma – Pale Ale – 5.5%
New River – IPA – 6.6%
Long Point Lager – Lager – 4.6%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in New River Gorge? Check out Grandview Rim & Weathered Ground Brewing and Endless Wall & FreeFolk Brewing

New River Gorge: Endless Wall Trail & FreeFolk Brewery

June 27, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

Fayetteville, WV

So excited to finally share the first of many Hikes & Hops guides to New River Gorge! First up is the stunning Endless Wall which is an easy loop not far from the park’s main visitor center. This trail is so full of stunning overlooks that you won’t want to put down your camera. The trail is one of the best places to get a photo of the Gorge. Keep in mind that this is a very popular hike and you’ll want to get there early to get a parking spot. After a day exploring the park, head over to Freefolk Brewery which has a delicious lineup of beer, a full menu, large indoor and outdoor space, and frequently has live music. What more could you want?

THE HIKE: New River Gorge NP: Endless Wall Trail

Length: 2.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 400ft
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Small lot that fills up quickly, pit toilets
H&H: 5/5

New River Gorge is the nation’s newest national park and it’s only about 3.5 hours away from downtown Pittsburgh. It’s a great weekend trip from Ohio, Western PA, and Virginia. Or make it a stop on a road trip to other Eastern national parks, like the Great Smoky Mountains (TN/NC), Shenandoah (VA), or even Congaree (SC)! New River Gorge is a sprawling park that encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along a 53-mile stretch of the New River in West Virginia. The main visitors center (along with the iconic bridge spanning the gorge) can be found in Fayetteville, WV which is a haven for outdoor lovers. Although only designated as a national park in 2021, this area has been protected by federal law since 1978. For many years, it has been a destination spot for outdoor lovers, especially those seeking the thrill of white water rafting or rock climbing. There’s even one day a year where the bridge is closed to traffic and daredevils are allowed to BASE jump into the gorge!

The most popular area of New River Gorge is the area surrounding the main visitor center, Canyon Rim. This is a great place to start your visit. You can see views of the bridge, get acquainted with the map, chat with the rangers, and, of course, stamp your national park passport! From there, the Endless Wall trailhead parking lot (called Fern Creek parking) is just a quick 5 minute drive (1.9). However, this is a very popular spot for hiking, so be prepared to share the trail and the parking lot! If you can, try to arrive early to avoid the crowds. There is parking for about 20-25 cars in the main lot and be aware that you cannot park along the road, even if you see people doing it! If the first lot is full, just head down the road about 0.5 mile and there’s another, larger parking lot. It appears on Google Maps as Nuttall Parking lot. You can start the trail at either lot, just know that you’ll need to do some road walking to complete the loop. Thankfully, the shoulder is very wide and the road isn’t busy. You could also just turn around and do the trail in the opposite direction if road walking doesn’t appeal to you!

This is an easy to moderate hike that is good for people of all ages. There’s moderate elevation change (~500ft) but it comes gradually. Expect to encounter some minor obstacles on the trail like roots and rocks but there’s no scrambling. Best to leave the stroller in the car though! All the trails in New River Gorge allow leashed pets.

The beginning of the trail leads through dense forests of hemlocks and rhododendrons and mountain laurels which are stunning in the spring. We just missed mountain laurel season, but managed to see a few late bloomers. After a bit, you’ll cross a small bridge to pass over Fern Creek. From here you’ll meet up with the rim of the gorge. The trail is peppered with rocky outcroppings that offer beautiful views of the surrounding area. Even though this trail is popular, it’s likely that you’ll still find a small place to yourself to enjoy the views. If starting at the Fern Creek parking lot, the main overlook is the last one you’ll encounter. There’s a large rocky outcropping where you can see both up and down the river (not quite to the bridge though). Make sure to really take your time here, it’s a spectacular spot! This is a good place to turn around if wanting to head back to the Fern Creek parking lot via the trail or you can continue on for a bit longer to the Nuttall lot and then walk along the road back to your car. The one advantage of completing this as a loop is not going against the crowd back to the parking lot.

Endless Wall is just the first of many awesome hikes that we did in this area so stay tuned!

THE BEER: Freefolk Brewery

Address: 1690 Court St, Fayetteville, WV 25840
Distance from Trail Head: 5 miles, 9 mins
Website: http://www.freefolkbrew.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside

Freefolk is an awesome brewery in Fayetteville, WV less than 10 minutes from the Canyon Rim Visitors Center. They’ve got a large space with indoor and outdoor seating, with stages for live music in both. In addition to a large taplist, they have a small kitchen menu with filling pub treats like gyros and pepperoni rolls. We particularly liked their outdoor space, which seemed like a great place to bring your family and/or pets. The vibe is very laid back and after a long day of hiking, it was honestly hard to get ourselves to leave! Also make sure to check out the wall art around the building, it’s pretty rad. If checking out this brewery, just be aware that the parking lot is across the street!

In addition to the Fayetteville location, Freefolk also opened a larger brewhouse about 12 miles north in Hico, which also has a taproom, although no kitchen here. Some fun stuff about Freefolk: they have a mug club where you get your own handcrafted ceramic Folk stein with a whimsy face on it! I was very tempted….