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structure had good bones—heavy timber framing and fieldstone foundation—but decades of deferred maintenance and outdated utilities made it unsuitable for commercial use.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

**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

Historic Character

Modern Brewery Requirements

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

Infrastructure

Brewery-Specific

Taproom Design

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

Health Department Compliance

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

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.