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.
Our cup is overflowing with news this week, but first head over here to check out what awesome brews were released in Richmond last weekend.
So 2017 started off pretty crazy and it seems it’s just getting crazier by the day, but one thing you can count on is RVA Mag will always have the scoop on where you can go to get the finest craft beer in town! This week we have new beer releases, events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs because we’re getting ready to tap this thing!
So we are down to the Final Four in our RVA Beer Madness its been a tough competition and we’ve seen some amazing matchups! Who will be victorious in the fight for RVA’s best brewery?
It’s down to Triple Crossing vs Ardent Craft Ales and Garden Grove Brewing Company vs Final Gravity. You can click here to cast your vote for your favorite to keep them in the competition. You can also see the Beer Madness bracket! The winner will be announced April 3rd before the NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
Our next big event is the Spring Brew Thing at Chesterfield Towne Center on Saturday. Taste from 30+ Virginia & Regional craft beers, meet the staff from 10 breweries, Richmond area food trucks, live music, and arts & crafts vendors. FREE ADMISSION. Food and beverage are pay as you go. 12-6pm.
We have some exciting news to share about a collaboration we did in the winter! RVA Mag’s brew Old Iron Dog Ale with Garden Grove will be making its second appearance this Saturday at the brewery. If you remember back in December, we held an all day festival, releasing the 8.8% old ale with pomegranate molasses and aronia berries along with bands, a silent auction and more all to benefit local pitbull outreach and resciue group Gracie’s Guardians. We’ll a second batch of the brew has been aging since then and will be released at the brewery this Saturday. 15% of proceeds of the sale of Old Iron Dog Ale will go directly to Gracie’s Guardians, so please come out to support this incredibly worthy cause!
Hardywood has THREE awesome releases for us this weekend. First up, on Friday, the brewery will release its juicy IPA that is Tropication in 16oz cans and on draft. So get some before its gone!
And on Saturday, Hardywood will release Cassowary and its variant, Coconut Cassowary. Cassowary will be available on draft and in 750mL bottles to go (limit 4 bottles per guest). Coconut Cassowary will be available on draft-only. Both styles are limited, so we will not be filling growlers This 11% imperial milk stout packs a punch and is a favorite around the office with its notes of chocolate truffle and dark fruits and toffee, and almond.
Midnight Brewery owner Trae Carns is turning 50 and the brewery is celebrating in a BIG way this Saturday. Midnight will release a new brew, Bare Bones Ale, have live music from Pat O’Brien (4:30-7:30pm) and Haywood Grill will roll up with a truck full of savory eats. Go make him feel old! 1-8pm.
Strangeways is hosting an afterparty for The Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k. Runners, supporters or people that stayed home in their sweatpants come out for a fun time. The brewery will have three dozen craft beer options, a food truck court, Post-race yoga stretch with our lovely Namaste for a Beer instructor, Shannon, Arcade Games, Outdoor Games and Specials for racers all day long.
And next weekend, April 9, Strangeways will host their annual BOW WOW MEOW LUAU to benefit Richmond Animal Care & Control. Free. Dog Friendly. Adoptable dogs. 15+ Pet-related Vendors. Food Trucks. All Beers $6 All Day. Live Music. Silent Auction. Contests and Luau Inspired Entertainment. Check the link for detailed information we will give you a reminder and more information next week in Tapped at the event gets closer! Go support this great cause and have some brews!
This Saturday, Center of the Universe will release its Chic Saison, a French Saison brewed with 130 pounds of Mangosteen Purée. Mangosteens are grown in southeast Asia, southwest India, and other tropical areas. They have a tropcial flavor that is both tangy and sweet. The beer will be offered on draft for on-site comsumption and in 750ml bottles to go.
On Sunday, the Center of the Universe will host a Cornhole fundraiser to benefit two non-profits, Jacob’s Medial Home Plus and Jacob’s Chance. The Ashland brewery will host 40 teams starting at 12pm. This event will raise funds and awareness for families of children with special healthcare needs in the Richmond community. $50. Sign uphere.
Isley will re-release its Green with En-V, an American-style IPA starting today through Friday.
On Sunday, Isley will have a cupcake pairing and pop-up at the brewery. We will be offering single cupcakes for $3.00 as supplies last.
Our collaboration flavor will be a Choosy Mother Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake topped with Reese’s Peanut Butter and Godiva Liqueur Buttercream paired with Isley’s Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter.
Castleburg Brewery is re-releasing The Watchman’s Wit on April 1. A 5% Belgian Witbier brewed with orange, coriander and chamomile. A very light, easy drinking wheat beer.
The Answer Brewpub has a cool new brew out called Southern Bounty – a beautifully hazy DIPA with Motueka, Galaxy, Vic Secret, and Mosaic hops. Dry hopped with Galaxy hops and Mosaic lupulin powder. 8% abv. No limit on Crowler fills. Go taste it!
Three Notch’d Brewing Company RVA Collab House continues their Tap That Thursday this week with a collaboration with Goatoacado called “Grassroots”. The brew is a Gose w/ Lemongrass, Hibiscus and Ginger.
Send all craft beer-related submissions to Amy at amy@rvamag.com. Cheers!
Words by Amy David
