Lorton’s Fair Winds ranked among top 50 fastest growing craft breweries
While the Route 1 corridor has yet to see its own brewpub come to fruition, one nearby brewery is quickly rising to the top in both regional contests and national rankings.
Last week, the Brewers Association — a not-for-profit trade association representing over 4,000 small and independent U.S. breweries —published its inaugural list of the 50 fastest growing craft breweries of 2017, and Lorton-based Fair Winds Brewing Company came in at #47.
Fair Winds founder and CEO Casey Jones, a Coast Guard veteran, is understandably thrilled about the recognition.
“In a word, when there are more than 6,300 breweries in the U.S., the fact that you’re in the top 50 is exciting,” he said.
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The Brewers Association’s list includes only small and independent breweries with all production at their own facilities, which opened prior to 2016. To be ranked, the breweries had to respond to the association’s annual Beer Industry Production Survey, which looks at year-over-year production changes. According to Jones, Fair Winds’ production increased by over 200 percent from 2016 to 2017.
The top 50 ranking isn’t the first accolade for the three-year-old business, located in an industrial park near the Embassy Suites Springfield. Last year alone, Fair Winds’ brews won awards in the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild’s 2017 Craft Beer Cup, and the brewery itself was named the Best Local Brewery for the second consecutive year in the Washington City Paper’s “Best of D.C. 2017.”
Next on tap for the nautically themed operation is an expansion of its new can-based beer sales, which kicked off April 14 with the launch of the Hells Navigator six-pack, an award-winning Maibock lager. Jones said the brewery is moving toward cans for several reasons, including because they are better for preserving beer quality, and the aluminum is easier to crush and recycle. In late summer, the brewery will release six-packs of its East Coast IPA known as Masthead Mosaic, and in September its Nautifest brew in conjunction with Oktoberfest.
Fair Winds — whose beers are available at many area stores, bars and restaurants — also hopes to expand its partnerships with local sports teams. Last year, the brewery’s beers were featured in a “guest tap series” at Nationals Park, and this baseball season, they will be available at the District Draft Carts in Section 129.
While the Lorton brewery continues to grow its internal operations, one thing it won’t be doing is expanding its physical presence along the Route 1 corridor or other locations. Jones said that while he’s sure other brewers have their eyes on Richmond Highway, he’s content to drive volume through Fair Winds’ 13,000 square foot production facility and distribute it throughout the region.
“We’re focused on making the best beer possible and outsourcing the rest,” he said.
Is your establishment family friendly? Would love to come try your beer and have lunch but we would have 2 children under the age of 5 with us.
Liz, you can find some of these questions answered on their FAQ at http://www.fairwindsbrewing.com/faqs.html. Do note that they’re only open at the noon hour on weekends. I am not sure if the food trucks are there that early or just around dinnertime.
Liz, we are very family friendly!