By Gina Horan
The Beerstro at Wolf Branch Pairs House Beer with a Growing Food Menu
The subtle rebrand of Wolf Branch Brewing Co. in downtown Leesburg came from Whitney Villafana, wife and partner of brewmaster José.
Her vision expands the focus to include a more developed, food-forward menu alongside the brewery’s celebrated house-brewed beer.
“We don’t serve food at our other locations,” Whitney says. “So, we wanted this space to really focus on food and elevate it with entrées that pair well with our beer, wine and champagne.”
She says the idea grew naturally as they got to know downtown Leesburg and its dining scene.
“When we opened this location, we knew we wanted to add that element,” Whitney says. “We love food and, even though that was the extent of it at first, we also know this community loves trying new things.”
Jose, who serves as brewmaster, is completing culinary training so he can bring those skills into the kitchen.
“I thought if I learned as much as possible I could help develop food that specifically went with our beer we make here,” he says.
The menu continues to evolve, with plans to add more entrées and expanded options. Whitney says those additions allow guests to explore different flavor combinations.
“We’re really hoping to add more charcuterie items,” she says. “It’s a great way to present multiple flavors that enhance our beer through pairings.”
Wolf Branch is also adding both food flights and drink flights to the menu.
“That part is really exciting for us,” Whitney says. “It’s not something you see a lot of around here, and it gives people a chance to try more without committing to just one thing.”
Recent menu additions include a Caprese flatbread on a buttery, puffy crust topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto cream and balsamic drizzle. Other popular items include the Reuben flatbread with pastrami, house-made Russian dressing, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, French dip sliders and the top-selling Cubano.
Open for lunch and dinner, the Leesburg location is also exploring monthly themed dinner pairings, with three- to four-course meals designed to be affordable while still showcasing a higher level of execution.
The Leesburg taproom keeps an easygoing downtown vibe, pairing casual dining with a rotating list of locally-inspired house beers such as Dora Blonde and Villafinnegan Irish Stout. The beer list also includes Athletic Brewing Company N/A IPA, now available on draught.
If you go: 707 W. Main St., Leesburg / wolfbranchbrewing.com
Photos by Gina Horan
Gina moved to Central Florida in August 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in linguistics and worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist lifestyle columnist and food writer for the Knight Ridder Newspaper Group. She also covered and photographed music festivals, fashion shows and sports throughout Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for four years. She later covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. A veteran bartender, Gina has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. She has been with Akers Media since 2022 and hosts the Healthy Living Central Florida podcast. Her passions include travel, road trips, baseball, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map or guidebook.
