Patch Brewing Co - Where Every Neighborhood Feels Like Home!

Tucked into the heart of Gordonsville, Virginia—just a scenic 25-minute drive northeast of Charlottesville—you’ll find more than just a brewery. You’ll find a second home, a local gathering spot, and a transformed piece of small-town history. Welcome to Patch Brewing Co., where Jon, the visionary founder, has reimagined the old VFW hall into something warm, welcoming, and wonderfully full of craft beer. At Patch Brewing Co., the mantra is simple: “We’re your neighborhood brewery, regardless of your current neighborhood.” Whether you’re a local looking for a familiar pint or a traveler en route to explore the charm of Gordonsville, this place offers more than just a cold pour—it offers connection. Delivery Rank sat down with Jon to talk about how this once-forgotten building has become the community’s favorite hangout, complete with in-house burgers and bites from the County Line Food Truck, cozy indoor seating, and a mission that goes beyond beer. Patch Brewing Co. isn’t just a stop—it’s a destination. Let’s hear the story from the man behind the tap handles.

Patch Brewing Co. has reimagined the old VFW—what inspired you to transform that space into a neighborhood brewery, and how much of its past did you want to preserve?

I’m originally from Gordonsville, born and raised just down the road in neighboring Trevilians.  My dad was actually born in the old Gordonsville Hospital back in 1951.  As a kid and through my teenage years of rebellion, I always wanted to get away from this small town and see the world.  It’s funny how life happens, although I did get far away, to college and then to an internship in the San Francisco Bay area, I came back for what I thought would be a quick stay.  That was over 15 years ago, as I fell in love with what I couldn’t see in my youth.  While living in Charlottesville and coming back periodically to visit my parents, I passed by the old VFW often.  Each time I drove by I’d park in the parking lot and imagine the possibility of turning it into a craft brewery.  Its baseball field, bingo hall, pavilion, press box, concession stand, and dugouts were calling for another opportunity to see the community bask in its offerings.  Preserving its bones and giving it a new breath of life was always the intention, but the further I got into the project and the more I listened to my wife, the more we wanted to keep as much of the history as we could.  From the floors in the now taproom, to the home plate in the ball field, we tried to only replace what was absolutely crucial to the safety and needs of the vision.

Your motto says, "We're your neighborhood brewery, regardless of your current neighborhood” how do you cultivate that inclusive, local vibe for both regulars and travelers?

We can only claim so much.  The town and community of Gordonsville is vibrant and diverse, sitting on the edge of three counties, each very distinct.  It wants to support small businesses and there was a large void for a community gather space.  We listened to our neighbors and the community as a whole as we developed our events and programming that ranges from Easter Egg hunts and kite days for families to live local music and karaoke nights for adults.  The venue itself calls out to be used and we’ve just tried to remain pliable so that we don’t set expectations of what we are, but rather what we can be.      Tourists, travelers, and visitors feel that calling and our enthusiasm for what we’re going to “patch together” next. Tourism is strong in the area and we welcome tour buses like Cville Hop On Tours to make us their go to stops and act as concierge agents to visiting travelers as we share our favorite activities in the area.

From the County Line Food Truck to the brewery taps—how do you approach curating a food and drink experience that reflects both Gordonsville and your own vision?

Quality is first and foremost the primary aspect of any successful venture and we were fortunate to have our brewer, Erik Filep, brew more award-winning beer in the first 3 years than most breweries experience in their entirety.  Ten years ago, quality beer would be enough for a successful venture, but in 2025, you need to have options for all visitors, not just craft beer nerds.  Affordability is also on our mind, being in a small town we have folks that can’t always afford to have a night out.  We accomplish this with daily specials and our member’s mug, which allow for locals to make a one time purchase and receive discounts on beer and cider for life.  Our offerings range from our own craft beers,  local wines and ciders to canned cocktails, complimented with non-alcoholic beers and ciders,  juice, soda, tea and lemonade options for nondrinkers.  Our smash burgers and hot dogs go with all the above and while we do operate out of a relatively small food truck, we’ve expanded our food menu as much as we can to provide options for all.  We have reached a ceiling with what we’re able to do from our own truck, so we invite local food trucks with varied menus to join us on site Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  Not only does this allow for tacos, BBQ, soul food, seafood, and more, it also helps to support other small businesses in our community.

Many breweries pop up in urban settings—what advantages (and challenges) have you experienced setting up shop in a more rural, small-town community?

Urban area breweries usually target a very small portion of the population in a city.  They often find and fill a niche that is dependent on one specific tying force.  Most of the time it’s on a particular style of beer, activity, profession, or interest.  They are always in competition to make their brand stand out among the long list of similar offerings and they focus on the business as a business, not a community center.  Patch has enough space and resources to be whatever you want us to be.  Our programming isn’t just targeted at a specific demographic; it has organically evolved into what people in our community want to see at their neighborhood brewery.  We pay homage to the VFW’s purpose and actively support veteran affairs by hosting fundraisers, donating sales from beer collaborations, and memorializing those that gave their lives to protect this country.    As a business we walk in the parades, donate to local charities, collaborate with various nonprofits, host the town’s farmer’s market, and offer a venue that is as diverse as the population that surrounds it.  The greatest challenge we have in a rural setting is that folks can’t simply walk to Patch, but with ample parking and diverse offerings and amenities, most folks make their visit into an all day or night experience. 

If someone had never heard of Patch Brewing Co., what three words would you want them to associate with your brewery after their first visit—and why?

New Favorite Place. Each of our regulars had their first visit and not only chose to return, but to learn our names, try our brews, explore our grounds, meet new friends, and become part of the magic that is a small town neighborhood brewery. 

To read more about Patch Brewing Co, please visit https://www.patchbrewingco.com/