OUR HISTORY
The Freefolk Brewery is owned by husband and wife, Jeff and Sarah Edwards. Freefolk is nestled in the heart of the New River Gorge and celebrates the Appalachian vibe and culture. Jeff began experimenting with fermentation in his Morgantown, WV backyard in 2014. He started with a 15-Gallon system that he cobbled together from a few garage sales. What started as a hobby soon progressed as he fell in love with the process of creating beer.
After spending a lot of years in Morgantown raising their son Seth, Jeff and Sarah decided it was time for a change and moved to Fayetteville and opened the brewery in downtown Fayetteville. With the help of Freefolk’s co-founder, WV artist Jamie Lester, they filled the space with handcrafted steel features, wood, and concrete and covered the walls with painted murals. The original brewhouse was 3.5 bbl and some of the first brews were Moondog’s Blonde Ale, Trucker Speed IPA, and Orange Oswald SMaSH IPA.
The Freefolk brand and team quickly grew and in the fall of 2022 they upgraded to a 20 bbl brewhouse. The production brewery found a second home in Hico, WV - 9 miles north of the original location. The Freefolk is dedicated to the balance of success while serving the community. We are proud to show people from all over the nation and world what a beautiful, friendly place we call home and to celebrate our Appalachian culture and people.
THE FREE FOLK
JEFF EDWARDS
Co Owner | Brewmaster
Jeff’s personal passion for brewing has evolved into a community centered craft in the heart of the New River Gorge. Jeff’s get it done attitude inspired him to share his craft with the people. When he is not at the brewery, you can find him on his mountain bike in the woods or on his tractor. His favorite Freefolk beer "right now" is The Dub Vienna Lager.
SARAH EDWARDS
Co Owner | General Manager
Sarah is our behind the scenes guru! She keeps the wheels turning (literally) and the spirits high with her endless positivity and hands-on approach. Sarah enjoys teaching High Fitness classes in Fayetteville, hiking and running the many trails in the area, reading a good book and spending time with Jeff- when he's not on his bike or tractor. Sarah's favorite beer is the VA Big Eared Bat Brown Ale.
JEFF BEYER
Head Brewer
Jeff Beyer got his start in the brewing world back in 2014 at Shipyard in Maine, where he fell in love with the craft and the culture of good beer. Since then, he’s worked with some big names in the industry, including breweries in North Carolina, Geary’s, Oskar Blues, and Boojum, honing his skills and picking up inspiration along the way.
After years of travel, Jeff made his way back home to West Virginia, where he’s happiest brewing great beer and enjoying life with his wife, KJ ,and their cat, Bird. When he’s not in the brewhouse, you can find him out on the water or on one of his bikes. His current favorite beer is Trucker Speed.
RACHEL KOSTOFF
Sales and Marketing Manager
when she is not at the "brewery"
Rachel came on board at Freefolk's Fayetteville Taproom in 2021. She has always enjoyed craft beer and knew Jim- the brewer. Rachel's love for all people and all animals are an inspiration for all who meet her. Customers come from all over to see Rachel. When she is not at the taproom, she enjoys reading, plants/gardening and learning about nature. Her favorite Freefolk beer is The Fiddlegirl Milkshake IPA.
ELI HALLER
Team Member
Eli has had an interest in craft beer for about 5 years now and has been trying to find a place in the brewing industry. "Freefolk was kind enough to give me a chance and have treated me like family ever since the first day". Eli's willingness to learn, grow and fill in where needed make him a great asset to the brewery.
His favorite freefolk beer is the Flying Squirrel. He enjoys hiking with his dogs, foraging and cooking.