Chris and Jessica Whaley on Building Back Whaley Farm Brewery

Chris and Jessica Whaley are the owners of Old Fort, North Carolina-based Whaley Farm Brewery, where Appalachian-inspired beers, local ingredients, and a resilient community helped shape the brewery’s long road to recovery after Hurricane Helene.After many years of farming and brewing in Western North Carolina, the Whaleys opened their brewery in 2022 and specialize in Appalachian farm beers, English cask ales, and thoughtfully crafted lagers. Jess is a farmer who grows produce, herbs, and flowers, many of which find their way into the beers. The Whaleys also source additional ingredients, including fruit and all of their malt from local suppliers.Chris is a studious brewer who loves classic styles, while Jess often nudges him toward experimentation. Together, they’ve built a tap list where traditional English bitters, cream ales, and pilsners coexist alongside beers featuring locally grown herbs, flowers, peaches, and even foraged mushrooms. The common thread is balance, drinkability, a disregard for flashy trends, and a strong sense of place.By late summer of 2024, the brewery had become a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Then Hurricane Helene arrived.The brewery, which sits alongside Mill Creek, took on roughly three feet of water during Helene. When the floodwaters receded, they left behind about a foot of mud. While the taproom’s foundation remained intact, the concrete slab beneath the brewery had to be torn out and replaced. Recovery stretched on for months. When Whaley Farm Brewery reopened in June of 2025, the brewhouse was still under construction, and Chris was essentially brewing on a homebrew-scale system inside the taproom just to keep beer flowing. It wasn’t until February of this year that brewing operations finally returned to normal.In this episode, Chris and Jess share their memories of Helene and the long road to reopening; the acts of kindness that sustained them during the recovery; how farming and brewing intersect at Whaley Farm Brewery; and what gives them hope for the future of Old Fort and Western North Carolina.Whaley Farm Brewerywhaleyfarmbrewery.comFollow the brewery on InstagramFollow Jess on InstagramFollow the brewery on FacebookLearn more about On the Blue Ridge and sign up for updates at ontheblueridgepod.com.