Brewmaster Jason Romano and his co-owner wife, Melissa, are proud to introduce a larger taproom experience at Lake Anne Brew House in Reston. After acquiring the adjacent space at Lake Anne Plaza — formerly Chesapeake Chocolates — the nine-year-old lakeside brewery will double its seating. And it’s extending pickup hours for Nordic-Knot’s signature pretzels.
Additional Seating, Menu Options
“We’ll have a larger, expanded bar with additional taplines,” says Melissa. She, Jason, and their three children have lived on Lake Anne since 2003. “We’re planning a collaboration with a local winery to have house wines, made available to us kegged so they can be on draft just like our beer.”
With the added space, the taproom will expand its lineup of offerings. They will include small-batch, hand-crafted beers, hard ciders, hard seltzers, and zero-proof beverages. As a long-time brewer, Jason has garnered acclaim for his signature recipes. And he’s won nine prestigious medals in Virginia Brewers Guild Beer Cup competitions.
“Our beers will continue to be brewed by us in-house,” says Melissa. “We’re proud of that. It’s first and foremost what we do.”
Catering to the Community
With the additional space in the taproom, Lake Anne Brew House can also cater to its zero-proof guests.
“We do appreciate the fact that there is a new lean toward embracing the nonalcoholic space recently,” Melissa says. The brew house has always offered family-friendly beverages in addition to beer.
Melissa also co-owns and co-founded Nordic-Knot, a bakery specializing in soft pretzels, which are sold at the brew house. The Romanos opened Lake Anne Brew House in 2016 as part of the broader effort to revitalize the historic plaza. Now, nearly a decade later, they’re ready to take the next steps, which include the new interior design and layout, as well as permits.
“We are excited for this expansion because it will allow us to continue to thrive,” Melissa says. “We’re dedicated to creating a community space. That’s why we built the brew house in the first place.”
Feature image courtesy Charlotte Geary Photography
