Editor's note: This story was produced by journalism students in the WVU Reed School of Media and Communications. Read more at journalism.wvu.edu .

ELKINS, W.Va. — A decade ago, West Virginia’s craft beer scene was still in its infancy. With just a few brewers experimenting on small scales, the industry was more of a passion project than an economic force. Today, it’s a different story.

According to the National Brewers Association, craft beer sales declined by 4 percent in 2024. For the first time since the early 2000s, there are more breweries closing annually than opening. The trend, however, isn’t extending into West Virginia.

Big Timber Brewing Co. in Elkins is representative of the continued growth of the industry in the state. When owner Matt Kwasniewski sold his first keg of b

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