Next on tap: New Kent Winery’s brewery expands reach with craft beer

By Amy McCluskey | Correspondent

PUBLISHED: December 2, 2025 at 2:27 PM EST

NEW KENT — Ever since Jo Anna and Joe Dombroski purchased the New Kent Winery in 2014, they’ve worked hard to grow the business, adding a wedding venue and wine club and expanding the winery’s event offerings.

They didn’t even let the pandemic get in the way. As many small businesses suffered in 2020, they decided to add a farm brewery.

Now, Talleysville Brewing Co., which shares a production facility and tasting room with the winery, is making a name for its own.

A customer enjoys a flight of beer at Talleysville Brewing Co., located at the New Kent Winery. (Amy McCluskey/For the Tidewater Review)

For the past five years, the Dombroskis’ son-in-law, Kevin Keller, the vice president of brewing operations, has refined and grown the beer-making process, increasing the brewery’s offerings from six to 12 beers and gaining recognition as a small-batch beer maker. In November, the Dombroskis, along with Keller, took Talleysville Brewing a step further by securing a wholesale distribution.

This new authorization complements the distribution license the winery has held for years, allowing restaurants, bars and event venues throughout the state to feature both the winery’s award-winning wines and Talleysville Brewing’s handcrafted beers on their menus and in their taps.

Though Joe Dombroski said they haven’t secured any distributors for their beers as of yet, he and Keller are putting out feelers and hope to break into the market soon.

Kevin Keller, the vice president of brewing operations, helped secure a wholesale distribution license for Talleysville Brewing Co. That allows restaurants and bars across the state to feature the beer on menus and on tap. (Rob Ostermair/Consociate Media)

“We have a lot of partnerships on the wine side,” Dombroski said. “We’re the official wine of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, University of Richmond sports facilities and Colonial Downs. We’re trying to get those partnerships to pick up one tap and get us out in the market, so Kevin can get us in other locations.”

The addition of the brewery in October 2020 — the first and only brewery in New Kent County — has been a hit among guests and has gone a long way in diversifying the clientele, Dombroski said.

“We thought it would be a great combination,” he said. “Before we opened Talleysville Brewing, about 70% of our customers were female, and now we’re seeing a pretty even split — 55% women and 45% men. It brings a whole other fun dynamic to the farm brewery.”

While there’s no official data on the number of wineries with breweries on-site, research shows that it is an emerging trend, especially in areas with a strong brewery and winery culture — such as Virginia. The co-location of spirits offers a way for wineries to offer a broader customer appeal, share ideas and sometimes share resources.

Talleysville Brewing has its own equipment and manufacturing space, but that hasn’t stopped Keller from trying some barrel-aged beers in wine barrels. He and the winemaker share ideas and best practices.

“We often put our heads together,” Keller said.

The addition of the brewery has inspired new events at the winery — such as trivia nights — and the incorporation of new food trucks to complement the beer. Pizza is a favorite.

“It’s just really been a lot of fun,” he said.

On a recent Sunday, a mix of visitors filtered in and out of the tasting room, some with glasses of wine and others with flights of beer. Couples enjoyed charcuterie and drinks on the patio, while friends munched on soft pretzels and sliders while sipping beer. In the guest book located inside the tasting room, someone had written “I LOVE BEER” preceded by five hearts. “Love the beer and atmosphere!” it included.

Beer tanks and barrels line the production hall at Talleysville Brewing Co. (Rob Ostermaier/Consociate Media)There are 12 beers to choose from. While the lagers and IPAs are the most popular, there are also sours, stouts, hefeweizens, a smoked beer and currently the seasonal Pop’s Pumpkin Ale. Guests can buy beer by the glass, flight, or purchase a growler to go.

There’s also a newly revamped Beer Preservation Society Mug Club where, for an annual fee, guests receive a custom stein and get 20-ounce pours for the same price as a 12- or 16-ounce pour. Members also get early access to new beer releases, invitations to members-only event and discounts.

“We see people come in with their mugs and they are really into the red ales, the stouts, the smoked beers — they are very esoteric about their approach,” Keller said.

Talleysville Brewing Co. shares a production facility and tasting room with the New Kent Winery. (Rob Ostermaier/Consociate Media)

Still, even as New Kent Winery continues to elevate its services and expand into the larger Virginia beer market, the family-owned business is for sale. The property was listed back in 2023 for $7 million and includes all the buildings, furniture, the brewery and all equipment on the property.

“Jo Anna and I were trying to retire, and it’s still up, but the timing for that is up to God’s plan,” Dombroski said. “We’re still operating the winery at full speed.”

For more information about New Kent Winery and Talleysville Brewing Co., visit newkentwinery.com.

Amy McCluskey, amccluskey79@gmail.com