SouthEnd Brewing Co

Zac Goldstein

Though it would have benefited from the location regardless, SouthEnd definitely does not coast on that or fun beer names (such as the Wendover River blonde ale or the HaHop with Nelson hops) alone. For fans of the building’s previous tenant, the master brewer here is a Gibbs Hundred veteran. There is also plenty of space, some eye-catching murals, and food that is several notches above standard brewery fare. My wife and I tried SouthEnd for Sunday brunch and found it bustling but far from full. It’s counter service here, and you’ll want to watch where you line up so that you don’t block anyone’s path. A preponderance of tantalizing options (poke nachos, chicken and waffles, and various specialty fries among them) made decisions difficult, but we ultimately went with a brunch bowl, a maple porter brisket sandwich, and Bavarian pretzels to share. My wife also opted for a Three Raccoons in a Trench Coat vanilla porter and found it to her liking. Food took a bit to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. The brunch bowl offers a choice of egg styles, meats, and potatoes or grits, and my wife opted for potatoes (fried nice and crispy) and pork with a delectable gravy. The pretzels were very salty (as, perhaps, they should be), and we paired them with very good beer cheese. Both of these items came in rather filling quantities. However, “rather filling” does not even begin to describe the brisket sandwich. Unless you fast beforehand, this is a two-person job. Thick slices of brisket join bacon, onion straws, tomato, egg, and pepper jack along with maple porter honey mustard on a bun that can barely contain it all. It’s a glorious meat-tastic mess of a sandwich, one that will require several napkins and considerable resolve and stomach capacity to get through while leaving you thoroughly enjoying every bite even if you can barely move afterwards. Given the quantities, prices here definitely aren’t anything to complain about. Pretzels with beer cheese were $8, the brunch bowl was a mere $10, and the overstuffed brisket sandwich was $14. Add to that friendly staff and bartenders, and SouthEnd sets itself apart from the other downtown breweries and bars.

TG Fitch (VA Renaissance Man)

Super friendly and helpful staff. Adjacent to huge parking lot. Flights available. Good beer variety including some delicious and welcome off-season selections. The Three Racoons in a Trench Coat and Pineapple Cider topped the charts for me. Food is separate in the same space. Try the intersting nachos!

Jay C.

This place was exactly what you want in a brewery. Beer food with excellent crafted beer. They have outdoor as well as indoor seating. You order your food at one counter and then go to the bar to choose from a nice freshly brewed assortment. The staff was very polite and incredibly friendly. This is apparently standard in all southern states and is what I've come to expect. The people down south are just nicer. Anyway, I got delicious, crispy wings that were nice and juicy on the inside. I also had to get their soft pretzels with beer cheese. Everything was 5 star flavored and I was incredibly pleased with it all. I started buying apparel from the top breweries I've visited and this one absolutely made the cut. Try the beer and try the food. Tip generously because they deserve it!

Rob Phillips

#gettoknowgso New tradition of Saturday lunch out with my parents. This week we are at Southern Brewing Co. The Wendover River American Blonde Ale is solid. Food was terrific. We (I) totally over ordered. Smoked brisket sandwich, BBQ pulled pork sliders, special Cartibean Jerk sandwich, parm truffle fries, and scarred okra. Everything was perfect. Box please!