STAFFORD — The owner of a one-of-a-kind brewery hopes Stafford County authorities will let him reopen soon.
Wild Run Brewing Company, a microbrewery at Aquia Pines Camp Resort off Route 1 in North Stafford has been closed for zoning infractions since March 23, 2017.
Owner Everett Lovell opened the brewery with the idea that it would be an amenity at his Aquia Pines Camp Resort, a place with campsites for RVs, or cabins for those who want four walls. Unlike other brew houses now dotting the landscape, Lovell’s was designed to a resort amenity, much like a swimming pool or put-put golf course.
It wasn’t long after opening that Lovell’s dealings with the Stafford County Board of Zoning Appeals began. His first appearance before the Board came after his first cited zoning infraction.
“They didn’t comply,” said Stafford County spokesman Andrew Spence.
Everett Lovell detailed the zoning violations.
“The first one was I didn’t have an occupancy certificate for my building. The building existed before the occupancy certificates list. We haven’t changed building use or owners, so I didn’t think I needed an occupancy certificate,” said Lovell
Subsequent charges by the Board of Zoning Appeals included a lack of sufficient vehicle parking and the lack of handicapped parking spaces outside his brewery. Lovell said he’s adding the new parking spaces as required.
During a recent hearing at the Board of Zoning Appeals, Wild Run Brewing Company’s permit “was approved with conditions.
“They’ve submitted an application but they don’t have an occupancy permit just yet,” Spence said.
Lovell anxiously awaits the permit and is hopeful that the brewery will be reopening soon.
Once Stafford County has issued permits to reopen, Lovell will begin brewing again.
“We had 12 beers on tap and two bottles. It will probably take us a good 6 months of brewing to get back to that point, if not a year. The first beer is our hefeweizen. We had four stouts on tap. We hope to get back to a couple stouts, a couple IPAs, and our 0311 Pale Ale,” Lovell said.
Wild Run’s pale ale was the first beer brewed at the campground, and the name is a nod to Marines.
“We came up with that name because if you’re in the Marine Corps your designation is a basic rifleman, that’s where you start. The Marines suggested the name,” Lovell said.
Lovell said they served a variety of customers when they were open.
“We served a wide variety — campers, people going and coming from work. Some people come here just for propane and have a pint. We also sell home brewing supplies for making beer or wine at home. Some people would come in and have a growler filled up and don’t have a pint on site,” Lovell said.
The latest zoning hearing cost Mr. Lovell $1,412, according to Spence.
