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 hearts’ desire.
If you missed last week’s beer news, you can check those out here. Our cup is overflowing with news this week from releases to events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs because we’re getting ready to tap this thing!
So the biggest news of this week is a pretty sweet accolade our little town just received from VinePair, a publication dedicated to beer, wine, and cocktails. Recently, they put out a list of The World’s Top 10 Best Beer Destinations For 2018, and Richmond came in at number one!! Hardywood, The Veil, The Answer Brewpub, Ardent Craft Ales, and Triple Crossing also received mentions. Congrats RVA breweries and keep churning out awesome beer for us!
Some other exciting news that’s coming up this Sunday is Mekong’s 2018 PHO KING Contest. The annual showdown has hungry contenders competing against by scarfing down a giant bowl of Pho and a beer to be crowned the “Pho King”. RVA Mag’s own John Reinhold has been a champ in the past, but has since moved on to host. It looks like there’s still a spot left you’d like to add competitive food eating to your resume. Or just come out and eat and drink and watch the madness take place from 4 to 9 pm.
Fine Creek Brewing Company out in Powhatan will release its ‘Gürly Man’ Coffee Cream Ale made with Shenandoah Joe’s medium roast Brazilian Primavera and Ethiopian Sidamo espresso this weekend. They will also release Imperial Thai Tea Milk Stout and Fine Creek House Saison will be back on at some point this weekend too. The brewery will be doing a ‘Crowl-A-Thon’ this Saturday and Sunday, crowler deals on both days.
On Saturday, Hardywood will debut Table Leaf, a Belgian Style Pale Ale straight from their brewery in Charlottesville. The brew has notes of grapefruit, lemon zest, and pine.
On Friday, Center of the Universe in Ashland will release 7 Days Final Notice, an IPA brewed at Origin by guest brewer James Morton brewed with Chinook, Cascade, Mosaic, and Citra Hops.
The brewery will also release Donker Zuur, a Belgian Dark Sour on Saturday. Expect fig, raisin, dark cherry, and chocolate flavors combined with an intense sourness brought on by 5 days of kettle souring.
This Thursday, Strangeways Brewing will release its Icky Shuffle Session IPA. Crowler price – $10 (No limit) also available on Draft.
Proximity Project: Tart Cherry Sliced, will be released at both Triple Crossing locations this Friday. $14.50 a bottle (4 bottle limit). There will also be draft pours available. Tart Cherry Sliced is the third vintage of the brewery’s wild ale series, but this time re-fermented on tart cherry.
On Thursday, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House returns with its weekly collaboration. This time, its Sticker Slap, a new England IPA brewed in partnership with Crud City, a street-inspired artist in Richmond that designs stickers, posters, and apparel. Pint specials run until 7 PM.
On Friday, Final Gravity will release its Sonic Flower Groove DIPA, a hop blend of Loral, Azacca, and Comet.
Kindred Spirit Brewing in Goochland now has cans of Spacehead and bottles of Bourbon Barrel Goodness for you to purchase and take home.
Heir Apparent returns to Lickinghole Creek this Saturday. Filled with fresh Mexican peppers, this Imperial Stout gives a complex edge to your traditional Russian style.
On Saturday, Midnight Brewery will release its Cairns Wee Heavy, a 7% rich, caramelly Scotch Ale.
On Thursday, Legend Brewing Company will release its Spring Pale Ale. Here’s hoping for some warm weather to enjoy it outdoors on their patio.
On Saturday, Buskey Cider will team up with Boulevard, Burgers & Brew for a Cider and Sliders event.
Submissions or ideas for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at amy@rvamag.com. Cheers!
Top Photo By: Center of the Universe
