DAVIS -- To quote Homer Simpson: “Mmmm … beer.”

It turns out that beer is something that Brian Arnett and Willie Lehmann know well. The two West Virginia stepbrothers — Arnett is from Elkins, while Lehmann is from Helvetia — learned the trade from their parents, who homebrewed beer back in the 1970s.

Both men didn’t go back to beer right away. Their careers took them different directions, but eventually West Virginia, and brewing, called them home.

“I hated my cubicle job, and we both wanted to get back to West Virginia,” Arnett said.

In 2005, the two men started the Mountain State Brewing Co. in Thomas, using brewing equipment they bought and stored in Arnett’s basement. Thanks to some help from Thomas businessman Hugh Kendall, the company was soon distributing throughout the area.

The microbrewery may not have made the men rich in the three years they have been in business, but it been successful enough to give the two men the ability to pursue their dream of making beer.

“It basically provided a lifestyle that allows us to do what we want,” Arnett said.

Mountain State Brewing is one of only a handful of microbreweries and brewpubs in West Virginia. Beer lovers won’t find the company’s products on store shelves — the microbrewery hasn’t taken the expensive step into bottling – but they will find its beer in several bars and restaurants throughout the state, such as Jabberwock in Elkins or at the Foxfire in Snowshoe, just to name two.

Better yet, beer lovers may want to visit Thomas itself. The neighboring community of Davis, only about two or three miles away, was named one of the 10 coolest mountain towns in the U.S. by Men’s Journal magazine, and Mountain State Brewing features a sizable copper bar featuring stonework masonry by Lehmann.

The brewpub receives visitors from across the state and across the nation, with microbrewed beers having a dedicated fans who that will travel far and wide to pursue their hobby. The company hasn’t put a lot into advertising and so far hasn’t really needed to.

“We just painted a sign on the fence” when the brewpub first open, Arnett said. “It was all kind of word of mouth for a while”

The company currently employs three people, including two Golden Horseshoe Award winners, Arnett proudly pointed out. The award is given to students who show a firm grasp of the state’s history.

The beers themselves are brewed on the premises from malted barley, wheat and fresh hops. The brewers use original recipes in seven-barrel batches, according to the company Web site. The brewery has four beers on tap: Almost Heaven Amber Ale; Seneca Indian Pale Ale; Cold Trail Ale; and Miner’s Daughter Oatmeal Stout. It also produces seasonal beers.

Visitors also can purchase company merchandise, from T-shirts to baseball caps to growlers — half-gallon glass jugs that are filled with freshly brewed beer and are reusable. Kegs of beer also are available, the price ranging depending on their size.

The brewpub opens at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. on Sundays.