Herb’s Bio

Herb is a native Virginian, born in Richmond and raised in Lynchburg. He studied engineering at Virginia Tech before shifting paths and earning his Master’s Electrician title at age 27. From there, he built a successful electrical contracting business in Northern Virginia, then dove into computers and software—building PCs, troubleshooting IT issues, and eventually working in controls technology, including lightning detection systems. His experience spans semiconductor safety controls, data centers and even real estate!

In 2012, Herb met his now-wife, Peggy, and together they embarked on the unpredictable path of craft beer. What began as homebrewing experiments quickly grew into a passion. In 2014, they moved to Axton, Virginia, started a small hop farm, and soon after opened Mountain Valley Brewing—a beloved farm brewery that became a local destination.

After eight successful years, with Karl Herzberg as innovative brewer and handyman extraordinaire, the couple made the difficult decision to close the brewery in 2025. But the spirit of Mountain Valley lives on.

Today, Herb carries that legacy forward with Mountain Valley Public House, where you can once again enjoy the same high-quality brews, now with Karl Herzberg and John Andorfer at the helm.