On Nov. 18, Caboose Brewing’s humble Vienna taproom expanded into a three-story warehouse in Fairfax that has since been reimagined as Caboose Commons. The spacious second location doubles as a brewery and full-service restaurant as well as an early morning coffeehouse.
Since its grand opening in May 2015, Caboose Brewing has attracted an enthusiastic group of supporters, many of whom make up the gaggles of runners, bikers and rollerbladers that blaze the nearby W&OD trail. As its following grew, so did the need for more space, especially for more parking.
The Caboose team then revitalized the Fairfax location, situated just 5 miles from the Vienna facility, into the ultimate beer escape. Flanking its walls is a mosaic mural of a beer production line. From the loft hang dazzling Edison bulbs and live greenery encased in rope cradles. Outside, dozens of picnic tables and red umbrellas dot the open air beer garden.
“In our new space, we can have live music and trivia nights like other breweries do. We just didn’t have the space in our first location,” says Leora Kahn, marketing coordinator at Caboose Brewing.
More impressive than the warehouse remodel is the diversity of offerings at Caboose Commons. Their flagship and seasonal brews make up only a portion of their cocktail selections, followed by wine, cider, mimosas, sangria and new mixed drinks released every Friday.
For its early risers, Caboose Commons offers locally sourced coffee, teas and made-from-scratch breakfast items like the classic egg and cheese, oatmeal and a flavorful Buddha Bowl packed with chickpeas, avocado, rice, tomatoes, tahini and tzatziki. Striving to accommodate every foodie in Northern Virginia, Caboose also offers a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free and dairy-free meal options.
Kahn explains that bakers work overnight to ensure the freshest quality of food for Caboose patrons. When lunch and dinner begin at 11 a.m., the same rules apply. Executive Chef David Rabin and his team are all hands on deck as they prepare their afternoon spread of soups, poke bowls, wings and other elevated bar dishes.
Now pouring in the warehouse are two new beers, a C Squared DIPA and Hop On Board pale ale. The Caboose team describes its double IPA as piney and pleasantly bitter with a rich, malty backbone. Hop On Board, on the other hand, packs a punch with galaxy and mosaic hops that make up the tropical and stone fruit pour.
Coming soon to the brewery are a handful of special events including a magic performance by magician, mentalist and illusionist Savino Recine, as well as a Holiday Bazaar complete with Christmas tree vendors, local artwork, essential oils, stocking stuffers and a record store pop-up spinning the best of seasonal tunes. “Our owners are very passionate about our values, so we do everything we can to incorporate the community. At our Vienna location, we have a running club every Monday and yoga every Wednesday. We’re starting to implement those things here in Fairfax as well,” says Kahn.
New Year’s celebrations are also in the works, so be sure to visit the brewery’s website and Facebook page for further details.
Caboose Commons is located at 2918 Eskridge Road, Fairfax and is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday, and 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Author: Grace Silipigni