Hopewell's First Brewery Opens with Good Ship Brewing & Eatery

Donnie Barber was born and raised in Hopewell and “always felt like every city in America deserved a brewery,” he says.

So for the past 10 years, Barber worked to open the city’s first brewery. On New Year’s Eve 2025, that dream came to life with Good Ship Brewing & Eatery—a centerpiece of social life, good food, and entertainment.

“We were having June-level busy days in January,” Barber remarks. Come summer, the outdoor beer garden with turf, firepits, and cornhole promises to build on that momentum. GoodShipBrewingCo.com

The Jake’s Collins (named after Donnie’s dad), First Beacon Lite, and the Sea Breeze Mojito—three drinks Good Ship guests come back for again and again. Photos courtesy of Good Ship Brewing

This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2026 issue.

This story was published on

Jul 20, 2026

Hope Cartwright

Hope Cartwright is associate editor of Virginia Living. A native of Traverse City, Michigan, she is a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

#Best of Virginia 2026 #Breweries #Central Virginia #Drink #Food & Drink #Hopewell

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