If you are looking for the best brewery to visit from New Kent County, here is the short answer: it is Billsburg Brewery in Williamsburg, the only waterfront brewery on this side of the river. About 35 minutes east on Interstate 64, it spreads across a 10-acre marina on the James River, with a covered patio, a pet-friendly beer garden, food trucks, live music, and a tap list built around honest lagers and ales that taste even better with boats bobbing in the background.
Billsburg opened in 2017 as James City County's first brewery, the dream of a homebrewer who left a corporate job to build the kind of neighborhood hangout he wanted for his own community. Today it is where Williamsburg locals bring out-of-town guests, where kayakers tie off after a paddle up Powhatan Creek, and where New Kent families end up on a Saturday afternoon without quite planning it. It is that rare brewery that feels like it belongs to everyone who walks, bikes, or paddles in.
How One Homebrewer Built Williamsburg's Waterfront Brewery
Billsburg's story starts with a guy named Dave Baum, who started homebrewing in 2008 the way a lot of good stories do: in his kitchen, with too many friends and a stubborn streak. What began as a hobby turned into an obsession, and eventually into a plan. In 2017, Baum left his corporate job to open Billsburg Brewery on the water at the James City County Marina, the first brewery in James City County, and the only one with boats for neighbors.
The name is a tip of the cap to place and history at once. America's 400-year brewing tradition began right next door, in Jamestown, where English colonists brewed beer in the early 1600s. Pouring a beer within sight of where that story started felt like a full-circle moment, and the Billsburg team leans into it: this is a brewery built on the corner of American beer history and a very modern idea of what a neighborhood taproom should be.
Dave Baum passed away unexpectedly a few years after opening, and the Billsburg team has carried his vision forward ever since, keeping the taps local, the welcome warm, and the whole place as much a community gathering spot as a brewery. That is why the patio today feels the way it does: part beer garden, part neighborhood back yard, with a story underneath it that the regulars know and tell.
The tap list at Billsburg runs from clean lagers to rotating small-batch pours, best enjoyed with a marina view.
What's on Tap at Billsburg Brewery?
Billsburg brews on a 10-barrel system, which means the tap list stays honest and the rotation stays interesting. The core lineup is built around traditional lagers, pilsners, and ales: styles that reward a clean, careful brew, while a steady stream of small-batch pours keeps regulars coming back to see what is new. Here are the beers most often found in local glasses.
Classic Lager
American Lager · 5.3% ABV
The flagship pour and the beer most often found in locals' hands on a Saturday afternoon. Crisp, clean, and endlessly drinkable, Classic Lager is proof that Billsburg built its reputation on doing the fundamentals right. It is the kind of beer that pairs with a marina sunset, a food truck burger, and a long conversation that runs past the hour you meant to leave by.
Radler
Beer & Citrus · 4.5% ABV
Half beer, half sparkling citrus, the Radler is the deck beer with the lowest barrier to entry. Bright and thirst-quenching, it is a favorite on warm afternoons when the boats are out and the sun is high. It is the pour you hand to the friend who says they 'don't really like beer', and the one they finish fastest.
Strong Hand
Big Ale · 8.4% ABV
The biggest beer in the core lineup and a slow-sipping pour that rewards patience. At 8.4% ABV, Strong Hand is the bottle you settle into as the evening cools over the water, with a weight and warmth that make it feel like the marina's answer to a nightcap. Save it for after the paddling is done.
Driftin Pale Ale
Hazy Pale Ale · Rotating
A soft, juicy pale ale that slides down easy, with gentle citrus and a smooth finish. It rotates through the tap list but always seems to earn a devoted following while it is on. If you are building a sampler flight, make sure this one is in it.
Special K Kolsch
Kolsch · Rotating
A delicate, easy-drinking kolsch with a crisp, champagne-like finish. Light enough for the afternoon and refined enough to keep beer lovers interested, Special K is the kind of rotating tap that reminds you why Billsburg brews so many styles instead of just one.
Ghost Wind Stout
Stout on Nitro · Rotating
A roasty, velvety stout poured on nitrogen for that signature smooth, creamy mouthfeel. When the weather turns, Ghost Wind is the pour that draws the crowd back to the taproom, equal parts dark chocolate and comfort. It is the beer that proves a waterfront brewery can nail the big dark stuff too.
Beyond the core lineup, the rotating taps cover more ground, tart Berliner-style sours, nitro stouts, Belgian-style quads, and whatever the brewers are in the mood to experiment with. A sampler flight is the best way to get the lay of the land, and the staff is happy to walk you through what is pouring that day. Whatever you choose, the setting does half the work: cold beer and open water have a way of making even a simple lager feel like a special occasion.
What's the Atmosphere Like at Billsburg Brewery?
Walk onto the Billsburg patio on a late summer afternoon and the first thing you notice is the water. The brewery spreads across the marina with boats moored a few feet from the deck, string lights already coming on overhead, and a steady breeze off the James River carrying the sound of the taproom out to the beer garden. It is Williamsburg's only waterfront brewery, and it uses every bit of that setting.
The vibe is laid-back in the best sense. Picnic tables fill with families, groups of friends, and dogs sprawled under the shade. The in-house grill turns out burgers (the Billsburg Burger is a reviewer favorite), and a rotating lineup of food trucks keeps the menu changing, the current weekly schedule is posted on the brewery's events page. On most weekends, live music starts up and the crowd settles in for the long, easy hours between lunch and sunset.
And then there is the water access. Billsburg sits right next to the James City County Marina, which offers a canoe and kayak launch plus year-round rentals. On any given afternoon you will see paddlers tie off their kayaks and walk up for a pour, then head back out with a full bottle and a sunburn. For military families stationed around the Hampton Roads area, it is also the kind of relaxed, welcoming spot that makes a weekend drive feel like a mini getaway.
Who Is Billsburg Brewery Best For?
Billsburg is a brewery for just about everyone, but a few types of visitor will feel especially at home. Families love it for the open lawn, the easy patio seating, and the relaxed rule that kids can be kids while parents keep an eye on the water. Dog owners love it because the beer garden is genuinely pet-friendly, not just pet-tolerant. Boaters, kayakers, and paddleboarders love it because it is one of the only breweries around you can arrive at by water, and the marina next door makes it effortless.
Cyclists love it too: the brewery hosts supported rides like Bikes & Beers Williamsburg, a fall favorite that finishes back at the marina with craft beer, live music, and food trucks waiting at the line. Out-of-town visitors get why it is special almost immediately, which is why Williamsburg locals bring their guests here. And if you live in New Kent, Quinton, Providence Forge, or Lanexa, it is close enough for a spontaneous Saturday drive and special enough to be worth the trip every time.
When Should You Visit Billsburg Brewery?
Billsburg is open every day of the week from 11 AM, with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights (11 PM) and a 10 PM close the rest of the week. Weekends are the liveliest, with live music, food trucks, and the full patio, while weekday afternoons are quieter, with more room on the deck and a slower pace that is hard to beat in the middle of fall.
Hours & Location
Getting There from New Kent
Billsburg Brewery is at 2054 Jamestown Road in Williamsburg, on the water at the James City County Marina just off the Colonial Parkway near Jamestown. From central New Kent, head east on Interstate 64 toward Williamsburg for about 35 minutes. The drive takes you through the countryside that separates the county from the coast: long farm views give way to forest, and then suddenly you are on the water with sails in the distance. It is an easy, scenic drive with no downtown traffic to fight.
Plan the trip around an afternoon: arrive early, grab a table on the deck, and let the day stretch out. If you want live music or a specific food truck, check the events page at billsburg.com/events before you go. And if you are bringing a kayak, the marina launch is right there. Paddle first, pour after, and thank yourself later.
Why New Kent and Williamsburg Locals Choose Billsburg Brewery
Billsburg publishes its live music and food truck lineup on its events page, with shows most weekends and special rides like Bikes & Beers Williamsburg finishing right at the brewery in October.
For people who live in the Williamsburg area, Billsburg has become the default answer to the question "where should we go?" It is consistent without being boring, popular without being packed, and beautiful without being fussy. The beer is dependable, the setting is pure Virginia, and the place has a story: a homebrewer's dream carried on by the community it created. That makes every visit feel like part of something bigger.
For New Kent families, it is the best kind of short road trip: far enough to feel like an outing, close enough that you are home before the kids fall asleep. Swing by after a day in Colonial Williamsburg, make it the finish line for a morning paddle, or just point the car east on a nice afternoon and let the marina do the rest. Bring a chair, a dog, a kayak, or just an appetite, and Billsburg has a spot for all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Billsburg Brewery pet-friendly?
Yes, the outdoor patio and the pet-friendly beer garden are built for tail-wagging regulars. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome to settle under the covered deck while you sip, and it is completely normal to see a row of happy pups parked next to their owners on a sunny weekend afternoon. Just keep water bowls full and bring a leash.
Does Billsburg serve food?
Yes, there is an in-house grill on site (the Billsburg Burger is a reviewer favorite) and rotating food trucks visit throughout the week. The current truck lineup is posted at billsburg.com/events, so you can plan your visit around whatever is rolling in that day. Between the kitchen and the food trucks, you can easily make a proper afternoon of it without leaving the marina.
Can I kayak or paddleboard to the brewery?
Yes, and people do it all the time. Billsburg sits right next to the James City County Marina, which has a canoe and kayak launch plus year-round kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals. Locals routinely paddle up, tie off, and walk over for a pint before heading back out on the water. It is one of the most uniquely Virginia ways to arrive at a brewery.
Is Billsburg Brewery family-friendly?
Absolutely. The open-air layout, picnic tables, and easy, unhurried vibe make it a natural spot for families, and plenty of kids run around on the lawn while parents keep an eye on things from the deck. Weekend live music and community events draw a mix of ages, and the atmosphere stays relaxed no matter how full the patio gets.
How far is Billsburg Brewery from New Kent County?
Billsburg is in Williamsburg, about 35 minutes east of New Kent County on Interstate 64. It sits just off the Colonial Parkway near Jamestown, on the water at the county marina, an easy drive for a weekend outing, and an even easier one if you are already heading over for a day in Colonial Williamsburg or on the river.
What makes Billsburg different from other breweries?
Location, mostly. It is Williamsburg's only waterfront brewery, built on a 10-acre marina on the James River with a view over Powhatan Creek. You can drive, bike, or paddle in. Add to that a tap list built around clean, honest lagers and ales, a genuinely friendly staff, and a team that kept the place going after the loss of its founder, and you get a beer garden that feels less like a business and more like a neighborhood gathering spot.
