The Virginia Beer Company
Chris & Robby, our brewery’s co-founders, first met at the College of William & Mary. Their time together at university in Williamsburg – along with a shared passions for philanthropy, adventure, and (of course) craft beer – led to a decade-long journey to start a business together in a community they cherished and a field they loved.
While their careers carried them to other cities, the pair stayed in touch after graduation. Return trips to volunteer for their alma mater were plentiful, and Robby was the best man in Chris’s wedding to his wife (and fellow Tribe alum), Erin. After many long discussions over many homebrews, the idea to open a brewery together progressed one step closer to reality in 2012 when Chris & Erin made the move back to Williamsburg. Robby joined shortly after and the race to open The Virginia Beer Company was on.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
