Project Showcase: Purcellville Farmhouse Brewery Taproom

When a local craft brewer purchased a century-old dairy barn in Purcellville, they saw potential for a destination taproom that would celebrate the building's agricultural heritage while meeting the demands of a modern brewing operation.

The Challenge

The existing structure had good bones—heavy timber framing and fieldstone foundation—but decades of deferred maintenance and outdated utilities made it unsuitable for commercial use. Our task was to bring the building up to code for food service while preserving the character that made it special.

Schedule Controls & Milestone Management

Critical Path: ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) license approval required completed CO (Certificate of Occupancy). Any construction delay meant lost revenue.

Schedule Controls Applied:

• Weekly owner-contractor-architect coordination calls
• 3-week look-ahead scheduling updated every Monday
• Critical material orders placed during design phase (tap system: 12-week lead)
• Weather contingency built into outdoor work phases
• Fire marshal engaged at design phase to avoid surprises

Result: Opened 2 weeks ahead of original schedule, allowing ABC license activation before peak summer season.

Preservation First

We worked with a structural engineer to assess the existing timber frame and develop a repair strategy that kept as much original material as possible.

Structural Work:

• Sistered compromised beams with matching reclaimed timber
• Reinforced foundation with new footings where needed
• Added concealed steel connections at critical joints

Historic Character:

• Cleaned and preserved original stone walls
• Refinished exposed timber beams
• Sourced reclaimed barn wood for new interior elements

Modern Brewery Requirements

Behind the rustic aesthetics, this is a fully modern commercial facility.

Infrastructure:

• Three-phase electrical service for brewing equipment
• Commercial grease trap and floor drains
• HVAC system designed for large occupancy loads
• Fire suppression throughout

Brewery-Specific:

• Dedicated brewing area with epoxy floors and washdown capability
• Walk-in cooler for keg storage
• CO2 monitoring and ventilation systems

Taproom Design

The taproom balances the building's agricultural history with contemporary hospitality design.

• Original stone walls exposed and cleaned
• Reclaimed wood bar top from local tobacco barn
• Custom steel tap tower fabricated locally
• Garage doors opening to outdoor beer garden

Health Department Compliance

Food service in a historic building required careful coordination with Loudoun County Health Department. We installed:

• Commercial three-compartment sink
• Handwashing stations
• Food prep areas with proper surfaces
• Accessible restrooms

The Result

Today, this brewery is a destination for locals and visitors alike—proof that adaptive reuse can honor the past while creating something new. The building that once housed dairy cows now hosts thousands of guests annually, contributing to Purcellville's growing reputation as a craft beverage destination.