John Nervo wrote:

> You are right Roanoke is a beer dead town but currently they dont have
> much choice. Mostly just small bars and reasurants that serve the same
> old stuff. Which is whu I think that a New brewpub with a veriety of
> quality brews would go over well.

But Lew pointed out an even better alternative, and one not so nearly
capital-intensive as opening a brewpub: open up a bar specializing in
selling a really good selection of regional beers from small breweries.
You got 'em in Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania... of course, it might
be a challenge to get 'em from the local distributors, but that in
itself would be part of a useful education regarding the beer trade
where you live. The very act of working in a bar or restaurant and
gettin and idea of what the work is like, and what people expect, is
also an education in itself.

> it is a city of about 90,000 people
> with Hollins College and Roanoke College near by. Also Blacksburg
> already has the "Balcksburg Brewing Company which is currently trying
> to re-create its self as a brewpub. Please understand that I am
> researching the topic and it is not that blacksburg isnt an option but
> I think that if I do it properly and create good beer the peoplr from
> blacksburg will drive the 30 minits it takes to get from Backsburg to
> Roanoke.

Do people drive the 30 _minutes_ to Blacksburg to drink good beer there?
Do you? FTM, have you considered going out to Blacksburg Brewing and
asking if you could learn how to brew on a professional basis there?
You might learn things that might either confirm your interest in going
professional, or change your mind about the trade entirely. If you
think it possible that people might drive half an hour to drink whatever
you brew, turn it around: would you drive half an hour - or more - to
go apprentice somewhere and learn the trade?

Have you considered going elsewhere to learn - really learn, in a
classroom setting - about beer and brewing, like at the Siebel
Institute in Chicago, or at UC Davis's brewing programs in California?
--
dgs