USA, VA: Route 7 Brewing about to open in Ashburn

Ashburn is about to welcome its newest microbrewery when Route 7 Brewing opens. The freshly renovated 4,800-square-foot space promises to be a community staple after recent brewery closures in the area, Northern Virginia Magazine reported on September 6.

Named after the state highway from Winchester to Alexandria, Route 7 Brewing is the passion project of co-founders Basabi Virmani and Ambar Sharma.

Virmani, a former systems analyst, first met Sharma, an information technology consultant, 10 years ago while fundraising for nonprofits like the American Cancer Society and Stop Soldier Suicide. The pair became fast friends, bonding over their love for volunteerism and craft beer.

“I always wanted to open a restaurant, and Ambar is a homebrewer and always wanted to open a brewery,” says Virmani.

“It was a real meeting of minds,” says Sharma.

Although initially scheduled to open earlier this year, inclement weather created some unexpected snags. Last December, while in transport from British Colombia, the truck carrying the brewery’s specialized brew tanks accidentally slipped off the road, damaging the equipment beyond repair. The driver survived unscathed, but Virmani and Sharma were forced to wait until new tanks could be delivered.

The new microbrewery is a welcome addition to Ashburn after last year’s shuttering of Beltway Brewing Company and House 6 Brewing Co., two Loudoun County titans that bolstered the area’s craft beer scene.

In fact, head brewer Eric Peterson worked with both businesses — including a stint as head brewer with House 6 — before joining the team at Route 7. The beer menu will draw upon Peterson’s diverse experience in the industry, including IPAs, Helles lagers, and the Kolkata Kolsch, an homage to Virmani’s birthplace in India.

As for food, executive chef Clinton Canyon, who previously worked for the Department of State, cooking for U.S. ambassadors, is rolling out a tapas-style fusion menu that blends elements of American, Indian, and Latin American cuisine.

“We’re excited to incorporate Canyon’s rich knowledge of local flavors and seasonings into our menu,” says Sharma.

The space will also have a full-service bar with mixologist and bar manager Gerri Mathews crafting a menu of refreshing, seasonal cocktails.

Virmani and Sharma’s guiding vision for Route 7 is collaboration and community engagement. A portion of the brewery will display the work of local artists, and the pair hopes to collaborate with Virginia farmers, wineries, and distilleries to showcase the region’s culinary traditions.

The pair’s synergy is evident, and after years of anticipation and delays, they are finally hitting their stride. Speaking of Virmani, Sharma says, “As a woman entrepreneur, Basabi is very determined, and that reflects in our entire process.”

“We’ve had several ups and downs over the years,” says Virmani, “but our team has passion, and it’s what’s been driving us.”

Route 7 Brewing is expected to open its doors on September 13, what Sharma calls “the luckiest day of the year.”

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