William E. Wood Farmhouse: Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewery

The William Elliott Wood Farmhouse was built by William Wood in 1912 as a residence and later housed a real-estate office. The historic home recently underwent renovations making local history as Virginia Beach’s first farm brewery and largest cider producer in Coastal Virginia. They now specialize in crafting original high-quality local brews and ciders. The William E. Wood Farmhouse was awarded the annual Award of Distinction for Excellence in Historical Rehabilitation by the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission in 2019.

In 1910, William Elliott Wood bought 500 acres in Princess Anne County, today Virginia Beach. The land would become an active farm from 1912 until 1972. In 1912, Wood built the farmhouse as a wedding gift to his wife, Lillie Fay Smith Wood, whom he married in 1913. In 1915, Lillie gave birth to their son, Bill Wood, in the house. William’s death in 1942 prompted their son, Bill, to return and assume management of the farm. Lilyen lived in the farmhouse until 1972 when the land ceased being used for farming purposes. (Jackson) 

Bill Wood founded William E. Wood and Associates real-estate company in 1972, named in honor of his father. In the 1980s, Bill transformed the farmhouse into the real-estate company's accounting office. The original kitchen was removed in the process. In 2015, the real-estate company was sold to Howard Hanna leaving the property in need of a new calling. (Jackson)

Edward Hewitt and his wife Sarah (William Wood’s great grand-daughter) inherited the property. Edward Hewitt and Back Bay Brewing partnered to breathe new life into the farmhouse which opened its doors on September 29, 2018. Today, the 8.6-acre property has made history as the city’s first farm brewery and largest cider producer in Coastal Virginia, Back Bay Brewing's Farmhouse Brewery.  

The site features “tasting rooms, lounges, ADA-accessible facilities, a fruit orchard, an open-air market, a tented outdoor special-event space, and a metal building for the brewing of small-batch beer. The brewery also announced plans to produce hard cider on-site [with] the property’s new 50-by-50 foot metal building dedicated to cider making” (Silipigni). “There will also be human-sized checkers, ladder golf, bocce, and occasional live music“ (Korfhage). The farmhouse turned brewery has a family-friendly atmosphere with one of a kind Virginia Beach brews. The William E Wood Farmhouse was awarded the annual Award of Distinction for Excellence in Historical Rehabilitation by the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission in 2019.

“Back Bay Brewing's Farmhouse Brewery.” Visit Virginia Beach VA, www.visitvirginiabeach.com/listing/back-bay-brewings-farmhouse-brewery/2001/.

Jackson, Andrew. A Personal Interview. 12/10/19

Korfhage, Matthew. “Farmhouse Brewing Is Hampton Roads' First True Beer Destination – a Vacation inside a City.” Pilotonline.com, The Virginian-Pilot, 1 Aug. 2019, www.pilotonline.com/food-drink/article_7592d4fe-cbe6-11e8-bd05-73b02cb1a427.html.

Silipigni, Grace. “Back Bay Brewing Announces Farmhouse Brewing Co. and Cidery.” Bay Bites, Dec. 2017, www.coastalvirginiamag.com/Bay-Bites/December-2017/Back-Bay-Brewing-Announces-Farmhouse-Brewing-Co-and-Cidery/.

Mark Reed and Jolilda Saunders. Public Meeting for Historic Preservation April 10. City of Virginia Beach News Release, City of Virginia Beach Communications Office, March 25, 2019, 2401 Courthouse Drive Virginia Beach, VA. www.vbgov.com/government/departments/planning/boards-commissions-committees/Documents/VA%20Historical%20Preservation/20190325%20PLN-ADM_HPC_PUBLIC_MEETING_PRESS_RELEASE_FINAL.pdf