Prince William Reporter

After graduating from college, Josh Hunter developed a taste for really good beer.

“Beers like Heady Topper by the Alchemist, Sip of Sunshine by Lawson's, Parabola by Firestone,” he told the Prince William Reporter. “We used to make trips up to Vermont just for the beer."

The love of good beer progressed to home brewing, and his goal now is a craft brewery.

“We've been very fortunate in that we've been able to have some of the best beer in the world, and have been striving and working with that quality goal,” Hunter said. “We hope we've reached that point or close to it, but at least for ourselves and those who have tried our beer, we think we have. We only care that it's worth to our customers what they pay for it, and think we're finally at that place now.”

Hunter said he wants to have a beer that is both high quality and affordable to customers, with transparent pricing.

“Some breweries have started including up charges in bills saying things like 'it helps pay living wages,' but then also force a minimum tip on the bill,” Hunter said. “Almost all breweries charge more per ounce for buying smaller portions of beer. We will be going against those trends by charging a simple flat rate per ounce.”

Hunter said it is important to him to be honest and transparent in volume in addition to price.

“Our pints will truly be at least 16 ounces of liquid beer plus a couple [of] inches of foam,” Hunter said. “Some bars and breweries use 'heater pint glasses’ in which you order a pint but it arrives in a 14-ounce glass with a thick bottom, or alternatively, there is two inches of foam in a 16 ounces glass so the customer is really receiving less than 16 ounces.”

One of the biggest challenges in establishing a brewery is all the government regulations, Hunter said.

“Although we are just finalizing our zoning, we've been told that construction permits are taking months to fulfill," Hunter said. “Brewery licensing usually takes one to six months (even pre-COVID)."