Owners of Harpers Ferry Brewery, Tammi and Darren Gryniuk and Ronda and Mark Powell stand behind the bar at Sunday's soft opening at the new facility. Photo by Toni Milbourne.

HARPERS FERRY — Harpers Ferry Brewing, a new destination brewery, has joined the Harpers Ferry Adventure Center just across the Virginia line from Harpers Ferry.

The brewery, a joint effort between owners of Hillsboro’s Old 690 Brewing Darren and Tammi Gryniuk and Mark and Ronda Powell, and Adventure Center owners J.R. and Holly Heffner, offers magnificent views of the mountains and rivers at Harpers Ferry.

Located in the exact spot of the former Blue Ridge Rod and Gun Club, the brewery pays homage to that club of old in a way, according to Ronda. Officially opened on Sept. 27, Ronda said the brewery also held a soft opening for the owners’ friends and family on Sept. 23.

Completion of the project came after approximately a year of construction; however, the idea for the brewery was developed through discussions that spanned several years.

The Gryniuks and Powells opened their Old 690 Brewing four years ago, and shortly after that opening, the Heffners inquired about the possibility of a location at the HFAC. The addition of the brewery offers another piece of the tourism puzzle drawing visitors to the area for a day, a weekend or longer.

A 15-barrel brewing system allows Harpers Ferry Brewery to offer many varieties of beer to visitors. Photo by Toni Milbourne.

“We have a passion for brewing beer and for bringing people together. We have a brew master and a brew team,” Ronda said.

The lodge-style facility offers indoor and outdoor seating for visitors to enjoy. The facility offers up to 20 taps of beer, as well as cold brew coffee on tap. Hill Top Grill’s food truck will also be on site to provide a variety of food items. Soft serve ice cream will round out the offerings.

“It’s beautiful just sitting, relaxing and watching the river go by,” Ronda said about the location. However, Ronda said she doesn’t get much time to relax, as the new facility added to Old 690 will take a lot of juggling.

Harpers Ferry Brewing also has a 15-barrel system that is a more modern improvement than the Old 690 facility. According to Ronda, at the new location, beer can be brewed in as little as six hours; however, it takes additional time before serving.

“It’s about a three-week process. It’s basically like cooking although there is a lot more science to it,” Ronda laughed. “Brewers just want to create the next unique or fun beer.”

In addition to the new beer options, Harpers Ferry Brewery will offer traditional styles of beer as well.

“Our flagships will always be on tap, but we will offer new varieties as well,” Ronda said, mentioning the Old 690 Brewing has been a strong community supporter, especially for the town of Hillsboro, where it is located.

“We do lots of fundraising there for the community,” she said.

The motto of Old 690 is “Hard to find, harder to leave,” which can also be applied to Harpers Ferry Brewing. Located at 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Purcellville, the facility is close to Harpers Ferry and the Appalachian Trail. Hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from noon to 7 p.m.