Stephanie Spear 
The owners of Herndon’s newest brewery, Hawkley Brewing, are betting on a bit of local luck. The space at 257 Sunset Park Drive is where Aslin Brewery got its start before expanding to two Northern Virginia locations. Monte Hawkins, one of the three co-owners of Hawkley Brewing and Mike Kulha, the head brewer, chatted with The Fairfax Girl about what to expect from the new business. Read on for more about Hawkley Brewing in Herndon.
Backstory
Like many in Northern Virginia, Monte Hawkins found himself at a career crossroads after changes in the federal workforce. A lifelong federal employee, his position was eliminated in 2025. “Owning a bar or a brewery was always in my plans, just a few years out,” he said.
Around the same time, he and his two friends and co-owners were casually looking for a space. They found the location on Sunset Park Drive and it was a match. “Juicy Brewery was here, and they were shutting down, so the timing was great,” he said.
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The space came with some beer brewing equipment and a charmed past: it was the starting point for local favorite Aslin Brewery, which was followed by the popular-but-now-closed Juicy Brewing. The low-key space in a light industrial park makes sense for a brewery operation, as there’s enough room for the day-to-day brewing operations plus flexible options for hosting guests and special events. “We’re really excited,” Monte said. “We want this to be the new local, go-to place.”
What to Expect
Head Brewer Mike Kulha has been a professional brewer for 12 years. “The philosophy is to present beer that is respectful of the product, with an emphasis on service and presentation,” he said. “The experience won’t be exclusive, because we want people to feel welcome, but it will be more like a wine tasting. It will be a chance for people to learn about beers while enjoying them.”
Mike said that he brought his own recipes to Hawkley, and is excited to make a variety of beers. “I don’t want to be known as a place with just one type of beer,” he said. Initially, the beer will only be available for on-site consumption, but the team has future plans for larger-scale distribution.
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Monte’s approach to creating the laid-back vibes of his vision is reflected in the brewery’s food offerings. “We have a small kitchenette and will have snacks and light bites, but guests can bring in food from wherever they want,” he said. There are several eateries in the office park plus many choices in nearby Herndon and Reston. “We plan to have food trucks here on the weekends,” he said. This should be good news to the parents of children who attend the nearby gymnastics, dance, and martial arts studios in the office park. In addition to the food trucks, Monte says he wants to eventually add trivia nights and live music.
The brewery will host its grand opening on Friday, March 20th, debuting 10 beers plus flights.
Hawkley Brewing is located at 257 Sunset Park Drive in Herndon. It is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4PM – 9PM; Friday and Saturday from 12PM – 10PM; and Sunday from 12PM – 7PM. It is closed on Mondays.
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