Meet the Artisans Behind the Brew
These Folks Turn Our Passion Into Your Pour
Discover the dedicated team that crafts every pint with precision and love at Weathered Ground Brewery.
Our Founders
Meet the family who turned a passion for craft beer into an award winning WV craft brewery.
Sam Fonda
Founder & Brewmaster
Sam Fonda
Founder & Brewmaster
Hometown
Greenwood, MS
Favorite WGB Products
In no order- Cool Ridge Lager, Kinda Haggard Session IPA, Mild & Wonderful, To the Place I Belong Saison, Enniskillen Dry Irish Stout, AJ’s Festbier, Blissful Weiss Hefeweizen, Ada Imperial Stout, Margaret English Barleywine, RK Double IPA….oh and I love our brick oven PIZZAS.
Favorite WGB Event
WVPubFest
Favorite WGB Memory
- Tasting our first (finished) beer out of the fermenter for the first time…Haggard IPA. I had confidence but will never forget tasting it and thinking wow…it tastes really really good. And then again with Enniskillen Dry Irish Stout and RK Double IPA. We hit the ground running with some great beer.
- Our grand opening in 2017. All the people that came out. I never imagined that many people. We should have built a much bigger parking lot. I remember being impressed with our staff hustling and pouring beer after beer.
- Ordering our first beers outside of our taproom. The first time I ordered a WGB beer was at The Station in Fayetteville, WV.
Aryn Fonda
Founder
Dr Tony Kelly
Founder
Meet The Brewer
At Weathered Ground Brewery, our products are set of skills and a passion for brewing that ensures every batch is exceptional.
- Our head brewer, Anthony Meader, has been a member of our production team since 2017.
- While Anthony has hand-crafted dozens of varieties, he holds a special place in his heart for Belgian varieties – specifically Barley Wine.
- Anthony dabbles in fashion during his spare time, and created his own line of custom WGB merchandise that tends to sell out within a week or two of release.
Anthony Meader
Anthony Meader
Hometown
Favorite WGB Products
I have always had a soft spot for Belgian beers of all varieties and some good old fashioned barley wine. Food wise you can't go wrong with some wings and Coffey sauce
Favorite WGB Event
WVPubFest
Favorite WGB Memory
After hours at the brewery is where most of my best memories would have been but I can't remember them all that well for some reason.
My joys of working at the brewery would be
first and foremost getting to come in with my puppers Doppel and getting to spend the day with our ravishingly good looking cohorts Terry and Chris.
Dealing with equipment issues on the fly is both stressful and fun and usually can lead to some good comedy relief.
Making everyone outside of me and my cohorts uncomfortable when they come in to us cranking death/black/doom metal.
Management Team
Meet the team who makes sure the taproom, kitchen, and production line is always running smooth.
Travis Richards
Taproom Manager
Travis Richards
Travis Richards
Taproom Manager
Hometown
Shady Springs, WV
Favorite WGB Products
It depends on the season.
Favorite WGB Event
Leeroy Greene & The Meanies
Favorite WGB Memory
There’s a lot of memories from WGB, I really appreciate the family like atmosphere, just the way we rally around each other.
Jeff Bragg
Operations Manager
Jeff Bragg
Jeff Bragg
Operations Manager
Hometown
Favorite WGB Products
Anything from the Bearer of Fruit series.
Favorite WGB Event
WVPubFest
Favorite WGB Memory
The most memorable times are the group outings we do and having everyone together to either hang out or work during big events at the brewery.
Terry Smith
Production Manager
Terry Smith
Terry Smith
Production Manager
Hometown
Shady Spring, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Wee TNT
Favorite WGB Event
Oktoberfest
Favorite WGB Memory
When I released the incorrect tri-clamp on the #camplife the day we were going to can it.
Well. That didn’t happen!
Cory Sampson
Kitchen Manager
Cory Sampson
Cory Sampson
Kitchen Manager
Hometown
Beckley, WV
Favorite WGB Products
My Favorite beers are almost any of our barrel aged stuff. They are all delicious!
Favorite WGB Event
My favorite acts I have seen preform so far is a tie between the talented duo "MA'AM" and "Emmalea Deal". They both bring amazing talent and performances to the taproom.
Favorite WGB Memory
Any of my favorite memories are from any of the events we host. They are always so full of energy, and I get to hear amazing local bands play! There's nothing like finishing up in the kitchen and getting to catch the last part of a final act we have.
Sales & Delivery
Weathered Ground Brewery serves our hand-crafted ales and lagers in our Cool Ridge WV taproom, as well as stores, restaurants, pubs, and bars across the Mountain State.
- Contact Bobby Bowling if you’d like to add Weathered Ground Brewery draft/bottles/cans to your menu.
- bobby@weatheredgroundbrewery.com
Bobby Bowling
Head of Sales
Tim Ward
Delivery Driver
Tim Ward
Tim Ward
Delivery Driver
Hometown
Mt Hope, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Sixteen shots and carbonara pizza
Favorite WGB Event
New Year’s party
Favorite WGB Memory
Bottling TIMBUKSUE beer and 2023 Healing Appalachia festival.
Taproom & Kitchen Staff
Get to know the talented individuals who bring our unique flavors to life.
Ashley Linzy
Bartender
Joy Meyers
Bartender
Joy Meyers
Joy Meyers
Bartender
Hometown
Roderfield, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Darn Near Kilt’er
Favorite WGB Event
WVPubFest is ALWAYS a blast!!!
Favorite WGB Memory
Opening day! No way will I ever forget how insanely busy we were! Couldn’t move for 2 days after but I also couldn’t stop smiling. I knew Weathered Ground Brewery was going to be something Special!
Amber Gunter
Bartender
Amber Gunter
Amber Gunter
Hometown
Favorite WGB Products
Favorite WGB Event
Favorite WGB Memory
Riley Painter
Bartender
Caitlyn Painter
Bartender
Caitlyn Painter
Caitlyn Painter
Bartender
Hometown
Shady Spring, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Beer Cheese and Pretzels
Favorite WGB Event
Trivia Night
Favorite WGB Memory
Stacie Vance
Bartender
Stacie Vance
Stacie Vance
Bartender
Hometown
Daniels, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Favorite WGB Event
Favorite WGB Memory
One of my forever favorites will be working my first anniversary party. It was so busy, the weather was so nice, and it seemed to go by so well. I love the fact everyone jumps in and helps with every job, not just “theirs”. We are a true brewery family 
Amanda "Mandy" Carrico
Bartender
Amanda "Mandy" Carrico
Mandy Carrico
Bartender
Hometown
Beckley, WV
Favorite WGB Products
More haggard than haggard, The BOF series and of course the Mandy Bo Bandy (which needs to make a comeback)
Favorite WGB Event
I always love having live music while I’m working in the taproom on Sundays but, I look forward to the anniversary party every year. Being a staff member since the doors have opened makes it so special!
Favorite WGB Memory
My favorite story might be how Sam came up with the beer name #camplife. Before the brewery opened its doors we would hang out in an old camper on property playing Uno. During a very intense (maybe drunken?) game the name ”pound sign camplife” yes pound sign, not a hashtag, made us belly laugh and snuck its way into our hearts, and ever since our pale ale, #camplife, has been a brewery staple!
Brett Wood
Kitchen Staff
Brett Wood
Brett Wood
Kitchen Staff
Hometown
Daniels, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Our shirts & hats
Favorite WGB Event
WVPubFest
Favorite WGB Memory
My favorite memory by far was working my first Pubfest because of all the live music and how alive the atmosphere was with all the people there.
Michael Wise
Kitchen Staff
Hunter Wood
Kitchen Staff
Hunter Wood
Hunter Wood
Kitchen Staff
Hometown
Shady Spring, WV
Favorite WGB Products
Our merchandise is constantly changing with cool new designs and items from hats to stickers.
Favorite WGB Event
Favorite WGB Memory
Chris Taylor
Production
Events Team
At Weathered Ground Brewery, our passion is crafting one-of-a-kind ales and lagers – but we also host musical performers from around the tri-state area weekly. Our taproom hosts a bi-weekly/monthly Trivia Night, Brewery Yoga Classes, and special events such as:
- Oktoberfest
- WVPubFest
- Anniversary Party
- NYE Party
- and MORE!
Bill Fraley
Booking Agent
Bill Fraley
Bill Fraley
Booking Agent
Hometown
Athens, WV
Favorite WGB Products
BBA Struggle Street and Meat Pizza
Favorite WGB Event
Anniversary Party & WVPubFest
Favorite WGB Memory
I have too many great memories from the brewery to name. The friends I’ve made that have become family are the most important. Well that, and I proposed to my future wife in the taproom and we got married in the back yard.
Join Us at Weathered Ground Brewery
Experience the charm of Cool Ridge, West Virginia, by visiting Weathered Ground Brewery. Follow us on social media to stay updated on our latest brews, events, and more. Don’t miss out on the fun—join our community today!
