Visiting Virginia & 2 Silos Brewing
Posted by Courtney Pritt on
2 Silos Brewing
Manassas VA
This month, we ventured down to Courtney’s home state of Virginia for a family wedding. We don’t get down there too often, so the majority of our time was spent with family and enjoying homemade biscuits and gravy (Courtney’s all time favorite). But we did manage to sneak away and visit a brewery. From the recommendation of her uncle, we headed to 2 Silos Brewing in Manassas, VA. This brewery was a whole experience. The first glimpse you get of 2 Silos is from the highway. The 2 silos that give this brewery its name can be seen as you drive toward this beer haven. When we approached the grounds, we were met with the sounds of live music and the enticing smell of bbq all around. If you want a taste of southern living, this local favorite will give it to you.
2 Silos is located on a massive plot of land and is in short, a whole compound. Tons of parking is available and yet it was still hard to find a spot because, well, this is THE place to be. The “compound” consisted of the main brew house, a barn converted into a whisky + wine + noshery called The Black Sheep,The Yard live music venue, the Pit BBQ and beer garden, and La Gringa food truck. Truly, this location provides something that can meet anyones palate. There’s also fire pits, a playground, and a corn hole area. This brewery was packed full with people of all ages! Seating is first come first serve, and they have everything from standing high tops, to bench seats, picnic tables, or bistro tables. There are families, kids, single patrons, and pets all over.
When you enter the main brewery, you are greeted by an industrial feel, with the main bar to the left infant of a wall of kegs, and a taco/pizza station next to that. At the bar, you have the option of full 16 oz pours or flights to enjoy while at the brewery. Flights come in 4 and 6 beer pours, served in muffin tins. You can also get 2 different types of growlers for off campus consumption and kegs. The first style growler is your good old fashion brown glass, 64 oz growler. The other option is a little more expensive, but considering we collect growlers, we went for it. It is an all white ceramic growler with a swing top cap. This allows the beer to stay fresher for longer and it gives it a very definitive look. This was a wicked cool offering that we haven’t seen anywhere else on our travels to date. As far as food goes, we ended up ordering from the bar offerings. We were informed that outside, there were a lot of other options, but everything was quick and convenient. We ordered brisket and pulled port tacos, and the southwest egg rolls. I have to say, they were amazing. 10/10 Highly recommend. Let's get to the beers though.
There were 11 beers listed on tap, and when we asked, they were out of the stout leaving 10 beers total to choose from. Considering we could get a flight of 6 and a flight of 4, this was a no brainer.
Courtney’s Line Up (The Flagship Flight)
- Manassas Station
- Cream Ale
- Citralicious
- Mosaic Goat
MANASSAS STATION | AMERICAN LAGER | 5% ABV | 18 IBU
PAIRINGS: BUFFALO WINGS, FRENCH FRIES, FRIED FOODS
“Named after the iconic landmark station in old town Manassas, this light-bodied, pre-prohibition pale yellow American Lager, featuring subtle grain aromas and corn flavors, is a throwback to simpler times.”
VIRGINIA CREAM ALE | 6% ABV | 18 IBU
PAIRINGS: SWEET, HOT OR SPICY FOODS: ASIAN FARE, CHILI, MANGO SALSA
“A tribute to our brewery’s dairy past, this velvety smooth, medium-bodied golden ale with a creamy palate feel, is crafted with clover honey, milk sugar, orange peel and natural vanilla. Best enjoyed fresh!”
CITRALICIOUS | AMERICAN IPA | 6.9%ABV | 56 IBU
PAIRINGS: HATCH CHILIES, SPICY ASIAN AND MEXICAN DISHES, GOAT CHEESE
“Generously dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops, this juicy American IPA is brewed with whole tangerine purée and bursts with tropical flavors and aromas. With a crisp, bright finish, it’s Best Enjoyed Fresh!”
** Side note, we genuinely wonder if Citralicious and the Cream Ale accidentally got mixed up, but we followed the list given.
MOSAIC GOAT | DOUBLE IPA | 8.5%ABV | 52 IBU
PAIRINGS: MAC AND CHEESE, BBQ/ BOLD MEATS, STRONGER CHEESES
“This Double IPA was crafted to showcase a sticky blend of Cashmere, El Dorado, and Mosaic hops. Double dry-hopped to enhance the already pungent aromas, taste a balance of over-ripened tropical fruit, citrus, and stone fruit with a slightly sweet finish.”
Josh’s Line Up (Rotating Drafts)
- Lowkey Trickster
- Sir Alucard
- Hefe
- Squared Pants Sour
- Plantet Druidia Galaxy
- Strawberry Seltzer
LOWKEY TRICKSTER | HAZY SESSION IPA | 5.3ABV | 42 IBU
PAIRINGS: MAC AND CHEESE, AHI TUNA SALAD, 3 LITTLE PIGS PIZZA
“This mischievously delicious Session IPA is dry hopped with Nelson, Vic Secret, Mosaic & Cashmere hops. Enjoy a delectable blend of citrus, melon, and resinous pine flavors and aromas in this crushable lower guilt option.”
SIR ALUCARD | BLACK GERMAN LAGER | 4.3%ABV | 22 IBU
PAIRINGS: GRILLED STEAK, BRATWURST
“What do you get when you balance the crispness of a lager with the smooth roasted characteristics of a stout? Our refreshing black Schwarzbier! This is an extremely light-bodied, malt forward, and delicious specialty lager perfect for any occasion. Best Enjoyed Fresh!”
** A shout out and another side note, Cassidy is a friend of ours who enjoys the show Castlevania and her favorite character is Alucard. We’ve taken her on brewery adventures in the past, but she is not a fan of beer. But we wonder if she could resist trying this one due to the name!
HEFE | GERMAN HEFEWEIZEN | 6%ABV | 12 IBU
PAIRINGS: GREAT WITH LIGHTER FOOD: SALADS, SEAFOOD, SUSHI; CLASSIC WITH WEISSWURST, GOAT CHEESE OR HERBED SPREAD, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, FRUIT TRIFLE OR OTHER VERY LIGHT DESSERT; KEY LIME PIE
“Our golden-straw colored wheat beer has spice and clove aromas with a subtle banana after taste. This full bodied Ale is a refreshing way to close-out your summer vacation. Best enjoyed fresh!”
SQUARED PANTS | PINEAPPLE AND GUAVA SOUR | 4.5%ABV | 8 IBU
PAIRINGS: CRAB CAKES, FRENCH TOAST, LEAN STEAK WITH BLEU CHEESE
“A refreshingly tart fruited sour blended with natural Pineapple & Guava purées. A tasty tropical oasis in every pour!”
PLANET DRUIDIA GALAXY IPA | DOUBLE IPA | 7.2% ABV | 56 IBU
PAIRINGS: FRIED CALAMARI, FATTY MEATS, PUNGENT CHEESES
“From a galaxy very, very, very, very, far away we bring you a double dry hopped Double IPA bursting with Galaxy, Vic Secret, and Southern Cross hops. These hop varieties are best known for their bold citrus flavors, high alpha acids, and subtle resin characteristics. Quantities are very limited! While supplies last!”
STRAWBERRY SELTZER | SELTZER
There was no description. I would imagine that this pairs well with desserts. Cheese cakes and super sweet items
To wrap it up, we really enjoyed our time at 2 Silos and are eager to go back! Courtney thoroughly enjoyed the live music and kept singing along, so don’t mind her brief descriptions. As for me, there was so much more to see and try, but we had spent all day in the sun touring Mount Vernon, and had to drive an hour back to our hotel before heading home early in the morning.
We completely understand why it is such a popular place! For reference, if you are a New Englander and know of Treehouse and how popular it is in Massachusetts, then you might have an idea of how popular 2 Silos is. Very similar vibes. Except multiply that love and passion, plus the size of the property itself, multiply it by at least 5, and then you’d have 2 Silos with its loyal patrons.
If you’re ever in the area, it is a place we would recommend, hands down!