About Swan Tavern Beer Works
The Swan Tavern was a notable establishment in Yorktown, Virginia, during the
colonial era. Taverns like the Swan were essential parts of the social and
commercial life in colonial America, serving as gathering places for travelers,
locals, and sometimes prominent figures. They provided food, drink, and
lodging, and were often venues for news, debates, and community events.
The Swan Tavern was in operation during the 18th century and was part of
Yorktown’s vibrant waterfront area, which was bustling with trade and activity,
especially during the height of the tobacco trade. Yorktown was a significant
port town during the colonial period, and taverns played a key role in
accommodating the merchants, sailors, and visitors who came through the town.
Taverns like the Swan were often decorated with symbols like swans, anchors,
or other motifs that were easily recognizable, as many people at the time
were illiterate. These establishments were usually lively, with meals
typically served at communal tables, offering a mix of local and imported
drinks such as rum, cider, and ale.
The Swan Tavern, like others, would have hosted a mix of people, from ordinary
townsfolk to notable figures of the time, including soldiers and politicians,
especially during the Revolutionary War period when Yorktown played a crucial
role. The tavern’s exact details—such as its specific owners, years of
operation, and notable patrons—might not be as well documented as some other
historic taverns, but it certainly contributed to the social fabric of
colonial Yorktown.
The Story About the Original Swan Tavern
From the historical marker database (link):
The most prominent tavern in Yorktown during the 18th century was the Swan
Tavern, which opened for business around 1722 under the ownership of Thomas
Nelson and Joseph Walker.
Strategically located one block from the town’s thriving waterfront and across
the street from the county courthouse, the Swan Tavern provided its customers
with drink, food and a place to socialize. The tavern was also the site of
public auctions, including one advertised in the Virginia Gazette in 1757,
where two cargo ships and their contents of “sugar, rum, indigo, pimento,
coffee, ginger, cotton, etc.” were sold “to the highest bidders, for ready
Money.”
The tavern closed prior to Civil War, and by 1862, occupying Union forces
were storing munitions in the building. On the night of December 16, 1863, a
fire destroyed the tavern in one huge explosion.
In 1935, the National Park Service reconstructed the tavern and outbuildings to
help recreate an important element of Yorktown’s colonial history.
My Unique Connection to the Swan Tavern
In 2016, I moved with my family to an area just a couple of miles away from
the historic Yorktown battlefields and soon after we took the opportunity to
get family portraits done at various historical buildings in the area. Granted,
we really didn't know much about the buildings but as a lover of history, it felt
special to us.
The family picture below was taken in December 2017.
After my wife and I were introduced to craft beer in 2019, our passion became
visiting local, state, and regional breweries to sample great beer, visit
beautiful places, and meet new friends. This eventually led to my interest
in brewing my own beer which I began in July 2024.
When my brother-in-law and my brother from another mother started brewing
together, we jokingly said we needed to come up with a name for our
"brewery". I used ChatGPT to learn about colonial places in Yorktown
that served beer and The Swan Tavern was the most famous. I thought using
this name would honor the area's rich history and would also be a
unique and interesting name.
Since I live so close, I wanted to visit the site of the original tavern
so I began looking to see its exact location. Once I pulled it up on
Google Maps, I realized I had already been there.
Use the slider below to compare our family portrait to the screenshot
from Google Maps showing the front of the restored tavern.
