What’s happening craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s “Tapped,” RVA Magazine’s go-to weekly craft beer column where you can find all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals and all the booze news your little heart’s desire.
It’s been a damn hot week, and nothing goes better with the summer heat than a cold, refreshing craft-beer, so let’s get to it. There’s plenty going on this week that will satisfy your thirst for a good beer.
The Annual Capital Ale House National Beer Expo is gearing up for its yearly event, starting this Wednesday, with many activities to attend before the big draw on Saturday.
The four-day event, running from July 13th-16th, will be overflowing with exhibits, seminars, food, brewery parties, and over 175 brews from local and national breweries for craft beer enthusiasts to try. Local and national brewery owners, brewmasters and representatives will be on site pouring beer and giving you the low down on their brews and breweries as you sample. There’s so much going on that you should check out their schedule here.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery releases Virginia Blackberry, a Belgian wheat beer with a touch of rye and a huge amount of ripe blackberries, on Saturday. Tasting rooms open at 2pm.
Accompanying the release are local bands Dumb Waiter, Night Idea, Wandcarver and Grass Panther (who we covered in April), the tunes startat 5pm.
MoBoDillaz and Shamasuki will be there to serve tasty meals via food truck.
Today (Thursday), Strangeways Brewing will host Buck-A-Shuck $1 Oyster Night, with the Rappahanock Oyster Co. While you’re there, order one of Strangeways new releases, Wake Me Up Before Your Gose, or one of its spicy variants.
On Friday, Strangeways Brewing takes part in the Anthem LemonAid Challenge, a fundraiser for children with cancer. For the whole weekend, $1 of every 13 or 20 oz. Lemon Radler (or variant) will be donated to the Hematology/Oncologly Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, a worthy cause that deserves a drink. There will also be a Wheel of Winning for every guest to spin that offers its own rewards.
On Saturday, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery will release Coconut Delight in bottle form. The field beer Silver Medal winner at the 2016 World Beer Cup release comes in the form of a pirate party, and there will be a contest to determine the best dressed swashbuckler.
In addition, food trucks and live music will accompany the family-friendly party, and dogs are welcome. The event runs from noon to 9 pm.
Triple Crossing Brewing’s Blood Gulch DIPA is ready for release, and will be unleashed this Saturday. The second in the brewery’s Lockout series of DIPA, the Blood Gulch DIPA features citra and simcoe hops that give it a loud, hoppy flavor. The release party will last from noon to 10 pm.
Isley Brewing Company & Jet Trails Media are hosting the Bluegrass, Country & Western Jamboree on Saturday at the brewery. Opening at 12 pm rain or shine, the music kicks off at 3 pm, going through the night in the back alley. Local vendors will be on site to provide their goods, with a sandwich food truck out back to satiate any hungry patrons. It’s an all ages show, but you’ve got to be 21+ to drink.
