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!
This weekend, Fine Creek Brewing Co. in Powhatan will release ‘Fresh Pots!’ Breakfast Stout, a nice dark stout brewed with Blanchard’s ‘Dark as Dark’ coffee. They will also be releasing Sweet Potato Old Ale, made from sweet potatoes they grew there, Live Americana music Saturday 4:30-7:30.
Hardywood has a few popular brews that are coming back for you to enjoy this weekend. On Friday, the fresh and fruity IPA Tropication returns to the brewery. Gourmeltz + Divide Ride (Continental Divide Richmond) will provide the eats and Doll Baby video first look. w/ Haybaby and Blush Face! will bring the tunes.
On Saturday, Hardywood has a double release. First up, the return of Christmas Morning, the variant of GBS conditioned on locally roasted coffee beans. Limit: 1 case per guest per transaction. Price: $10.99+tax/bottle. Also, Hardywood will be pouring Rye Whiskey Barrel GBS. Price: $13.99+tax.
On Saturday, Center of the Universe will bring back its Orange is the New Stout brew. A collaboratrion with O’Connor Brewing, the beer is an Imperial Chocolate Stout crafted with oranges and sea salt.
This Thursday, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House returns with its weekly collab with Black and Goldings, a Black Ale made with Charlottesville brewery, Oskar Blues. Pint Specials on the new release from 4-7pm.
Friday, Triple Crossing has three ECC collabs assembled with friends Charles Towne Fermentory, Dancing Gnome Beer and Foam Brewers available at the Fulton location so make sure you stop in to get a taste of those.
This month, Strangeways Brewing has partnered with FeedtheStreets RVA. Head there this Thursday from 5-8, the brewery will be donating 10 percent of all proceeds to the charity.
On Thursday, Vasen Brewing will host a beer dinner with Kabana Chef Mike Ledesma serving up five courses paired with the brewery’s beers. The surprise menu will offer a sneak peek at the inspiration behind Perch, the chef’s upcoming restaurant set to open soon in Scott’s Addition. Expect a mashup of Southern comfort food and pan-Pacific cuisine paired with the rustic and funky flavors of Väsen’s Belgian farmhouse and sour ales. 7-10 pm, tickets are $55.
Vasen also has a new brew on tap called Wired Walrus, a bold stout that is cold-steeped with fair-trade, single-origin Guatemalan coffee beans from Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co.. It’s a smooth blend of mocha, chamomile, and dried plums.
On Saturday, Garden Grove Brewery and Urban Winery will release their collaboration with Wilton House. With their teams help we were able to dig up an old recipe from Mrs. Mary Randolph book The Virginia Housewife! Their team will be onsite featuring a few exhibit items and discussing the home. The brew is a SPruce Porter and there will also be a pop up food vendor there as well with some snacks.
On Friday, Final Gravity Brewing Co. will have a Double DIPA Release: Ill Technique & Infinite Loop. Infinite Loop is brewed with a sampling of Azacca, El Dorado, Mosaic, & Citra hops. And they’ve cued up the return of Ill Technique – a hazy, fresh 8% DIPA brewed with Jarrylo and Citra hops – a mash-up of hard-core citrus mixed with the subtle smoothness of spice and pear. Straight up Juicy Fruit.
Both will be available in Crowlers for a limited time.
Twisted Ales Brewing Co. will bring back Bang Up To the Elephant, a 8.5% DIPA with grapefruit notes this weekend.
Midnight Brewery will release its Christmas Cookie, a 6.5% holiday dark ale this Saturday.
Steam Bell Beer Works will bring back their Berkeley Hundred, a 7.1 percent scotch ale fermented with fresh cranberries this Saturday.
Submissions or ideas for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at amy@rvamag.com. Cheers!
Top Photo Credit: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
