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RVA On Tap: Pine Brews & Apple Brandy Hot Toddy Collabs

Caley Sturgill | January 22, 2020

Topics: bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, final gravity brewing, Fine Creek Brewing Company, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood, Intermission Beer Company, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, Triple Crossing Beer

What’s happening, craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s RVA On Tap, RVA Magazine’s weekly column for all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals, and all the booze news your hearts desire.

If you missed the last column, you can check that out here. Our kegs are overflowing this week with beer releases and festivals, events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs.

This week, The Veil Brewing Co. drops a seven-beer multi-release with several collabs from brewers around the country. Pine is in the air with new recipes at Hardywood and Fine Creek Brewing Company, and another multi-release starts the year off right at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery. Don’t miss Double IPAs and Milk Stouts at Final Gravity Brewing Co., Intermission Beer Company, and Triple Crossing Beer, plus an Apple Brandy Hot Toddy brew at Three Notch’d RVA Collab House.

The Veil Brewing Co. multiple release

The Veil Brewing Co. is back with another big release this week, and it brought us seven new varieties both on tap and returning in bottles. Cognac Circle of Wolves (pictured above) kicks it off for us, and the English-style Barleywine came out in bottles after aging in French Cognac barrels for two years. It has a high 14% ABV, so this one’s not for the lighthearted — but with raisins soaked in cognac, fine amaro, hard caramel candy, and chocolate-covered fig flavors, it’ll be very worth it to all those who can take its higher alcohol percentage.

Buggie Nuggie came out for the first time, as a brand-new West Coast DIPA. This one came together with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Enigma hops in its brewing process, with Monkish Brewing as a collab beer. You’ll find tropical juicy hops, subtle bitterness, and a pine-flavored finish in this 8% ABV brew.

Never Never Goaway Goaway also made its debut. This Gose pours thick with its double açaí, double blackberry, and double passionfruit additions, and the 5% ABV recipe “tastes like you’re on a tropical oasis” eating a frozen smoothie bowl, according to its brewers.

Petalz Raspberry came out as a collab with Jester King Brewery, and it’s another Mixed Fermie™ variation from The Veil. It was first brewed two years ago this month, and the 5% ABV recipe brings Texas raw wheat, Virginia corn grits, spelt, and aged whole leaf hops into the mix. The Petalz series has a few different variations now, and the brewers report that this one is full of the same drinkability and balance of its other versions, but with a bit more tartness.

Open Up and Love Again: Peach + Plum came out in bottles after its original release in August of 2018, so if you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to have this one again, it’s here! Peach and plum are delicious flavors together, and this Mixed Fermie™ is no exception. It was a collab between The Veil and American Solera, Cloudwater Brewing, Monkish Brewing, and TRVE Brewing. It’s another lighter, easy-drinking recipe at 5% ABV.

Strange Strange & Eternal Eternal released in cans, and it’s extra-sweet with flavors like fruit snacks, gushers, and pineapple in the “unique, cool, soft crusher.” The double dry-hopped IPA was brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Motueka, and Simcoe hops for a perfectly-balanced sweet IPA taste.

Melancholia closes out our new releases at The Veil this week. This one is a bit different from the others, as the farmhouse Saison keeps things crisp. Described as “stainless” by its brewers (with a metal-forward can to match), it came back in cans last night with farmhouse phenolics, rye, and spelt grist at 6% ABV.

Sippin on Pine, Not Juice can release at Hardywood

Coming up for this #FreshCanFriday at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, the tastes of winter are in full swing.

As the colors of the season continue to fade and we’re seeing more pale skies, this time of year makes the deep green of pine trees stand out more than ever — and with forest green as my favorite color, I’m all about it. The crisp, earthy scent makes you want to wrap up by a fire, and its flavors are coming out strong in Hardywood’s latest release.

Sippin’ on Pine, Not Juice is fresh in cans this week, and the 6% ABV IPA is full-bodied. It comes with a dry, bitter finish to complement its light copper color, and as it was inspired by classic West Coast IPAs, this one is “all about the hops.” If you’re planning to swing by for a taste, you can come hungry and ready for its perfect pairing with River City Wood Fire Pizza.

Winter Pine IPA at Fine Creek Brewing Company

Another pine-forward brew came out this week with Fine Creek Brewing Company’s Winter Pine IPA. Of this recipe, Fine Creek said there’s something about the smell of fresh pine needles that “evokes a sense of crisp winter days and long, cold nights” — and I couldn’t agree more. It brings out the best feelings from the flavor, and this brew came together with Riverbend Malt House Appalachian wheat, along with Virginia & Loblolly pine tips.

At 7% ABV, Winter Pine IPA has a citrus character that pairs with fruity hops for an earthy taste. It finishes with herbal and resiny notes, and it’s available now at Fine Creek to grab a glass of your own.

*PHOTO: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery*

First Release of 2020 at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is ringing in the new year with three new beers on tap, and they’re kicking it off with the latest from their Juicy IPA series. Each brew from the series has been beloved by its drinkers so far, and the new Juicy #18 Something Chill will go great with the rest of the group.

They’ve also got Fresh Nuclear Nugget and Maidens Blonde Ale ready to start 2020 off right, so if you’re looking for a reason to get out of the city, head out to their beautiful Goochland farm and find your new favorite.

Star Castle Hazy Double IPA at Final Gravity Brewing Co.

Fresh at Final Gravity Brewing Co. this week is the Star Castle Hazy Double IPA. This one was crafted with Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised at the amount of Nelson Sauvin hop brews we’ve seen so far in the new year. Star Castle infuses grape and tropical flavors to sweeten up these cold winter days, and “pushes the boundaries of fruitiness,” according to its brewers.

Conjured Darkness at Intermission Beer Company

A brand-new milk stout is headed to Intermission Beer Company this Saturday with Conjured Darkness, a Shakespeare-inspired beer with some history to go along with it. Intermission reminds us that while Shakespeare’s plays were debuted in outdoor theaters during the day, they were set to take place at night: so the playwright got creative by using speech and action to give the audience feelings of darkness as the plays went on. Conjured Darkness gets its name from that method, conjuring up a darkness of its own in a rich milk stout that still hits in at a lighter 6.4% ABV. With roasted malts and chocolate, milk sugar, and light hops, this recipe is “dark, decadent, and creamy.”

Double release at Triple Crossing

A double release just went down at Triple Crossing Beer in Fulton over the weekend. For a fresh recipe from one of our local favorites, head out to Triple Crossing and get a taste of Dawn Chorus: an 8% ABV Double IPA packed with bright fruits for a citrus, melon, pineapple, and dank undercurrent taste. With its Citra, Vic Secret, and Galaxy hops, Triple Crossing says this recipe keeps with their signature super-soft Double IPA body and feel.

Next up from Triple Crossing was The Grid. Another 8% ABV brew, Triple Crossing brought two of their favorite hops together once again with Mosaic and Falconer’s Flight. The Grid results in bold flavors with sticky mango, passionfruit, apricot, and candied orange slices that come together for a hop-forward fermentation profile.

Apple Brandy Hot Toddy Ale release at Three Notch’d RVA Collab House

This Thursday, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House is dropping the perfect warmer for a cold winter night with their new Apple Brandy Hot Toddy. The special release was a collaboration between Three Notch’d and the URSPCS Beer Brewer program with the University of Richmond, a professional brewing certificate course that works with local breweries. The students behind this brew will be in attendance for its release, and many more drinkers outside the program will want a taste of this Amber Ale brewed with honey and lemon, along with its aging process in apple brandy barrels.

That’s it for this week’s RVA On Tap! As your weekly columnist, I’m here to take all your beer releases, event info, ideas and questions. If you’re a brewer, send me your release info at [email protected], and if you’re a beer enthusiast, drop me a line anytime to talk booze. Catch y’all next week!

RVA ON TAP: Earl Grey Ales & Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stouts

Caley Sturgill | January 15, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, Canon And Draw, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, final gravity brewing co, Fine Creek Brewing Company, garden grove, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Triple Crossing Beer, Väsen

This week, a major multi-release comes out at The Veil Brewing Co. with fresh recipes and collaborations from all around. Hardywood drops a summer recipe in cans on Friday before a Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout on Saturday, just in time for snow to hit the city. Ardent Craft Ales is bringing back their Earl Grey Brown Ale, and Final Gravity Brewing Co. releases an arcade game-inspired brew. Don’t miss a special double release at Triple Crossing Beer, a sunburst at Väsen Brewing Company, fresh Saisons at Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery and Fine Creek Brewing Company, and the Three Kings of hops at Canon & Draw.

Distorted Perception can release & Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout at Hardywood

A recipe from the summertime is back in cans to remind us of warmer days, as we venture further into January with hopes of snow on the horizon for this weekend. Distorted Perception is back at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery this Friday, just in time to grab a few before the real winter weather hits on Saturday.

This 7% ABV hazy IPA was flavored with papayas, mangos, and cantaloupes after its dry-hop process with Cashmere and Mosaic hops. You’ll catch strong aromas of fruit, along with some brighter notes of honeydew and lime, in this sweet and smooth brew.

For the colder weather, Hardywood’s bringing out their Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout on Saturday. A “dessert beer to the core,” this stout is packed with chocolate malt, cacao nibs, and late-season red raspberries from the local Agriberry CSA and Farm. Its brewers describe it as a raspberry truffle in liquid form, and I can’t picture something more up my alley than this one.

The Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout was made with Madagascar vanilla beans and smooth, rich dark chocolate that add together perfectly with its ripe red raspberries. To grab a glass of your own, head out to Hardywood this weekend — and maybe even catch a few snowflakes while you’re there.

Earl Grey Brown Ale at Ardent Craft Ales

A fan favorite is returning to Ardent Craft Ales this Saturday with their Earl Grey Brown Ale. Originally brewed in collaboration with Potter’s Craft Cider out of Charlottesville, this ale is a special one that brings out flavors from the classic tea in its brewing process.

The tea itself gets its unique taste from its additions of oil of bergamot, which pairs perfectly when a bit of milk is added into the mix (in the most British of traditions). Ardent made a modern spin on the ages-old recipe by combining it with an English Brown Ale, and brought a little local into the process — with Earl Grey that comes straight from Richmond’s own Rostov’s Coffee & Tea. At 6.5% ABV, this one’s an easy drinker with a citrus-forward fragrance to balance out its black tea and bergamot flavors.

Multi-Release at The Veil Brewing Co.

Kicking off The Veil Brewing Co.’s big release this week, Nerve Endings (pictured above) came out as a brand-new IPA from the Scott’s Addition favorite. It dropped in cans last night, and the 6% ABV brew drinks smooth with all its red wheat, El Dorado, and Nelson hop additions.

Next up in their releases, We We Ded Ded — beloved by The Veil, according to its brewers — also released in cans. This double dry-hopped Triple IPA was brewed with the classic Citra hops that give so many IPAs their signature flavor. It hits in at 11% ABV, so at a higher alcohol level, it packs a bigger punch than Nerve Endings and lives up to its name.

A new bottle release also came with Open Up and Love Again, which was brewed as a collaboration with American Solera, Cloudwater Brew Co., Monkish Brewing, and TRVE Brewing Co. Open Up and Love Again was dry-hopped with fresh Nelson Sauvin hops after its barrel aging process, and has a mixed culture of Saison yeasts along with raw and malted wheat. You’ll catch notes of rounded soft stonefruit, fruity sour candy, orange juice, and white wine in this 7.1% ABV brew.

Apri-Guav Tastee released last night, and this smoothie-style Sour Ale features apricot and guava purée in its flavor profile. At 5.5% ABV, it’s lighter on the alcohol and heavy on the flavor with its milk sugar recipe.

Petalz Orange came as a collaboration with Jester King Brewery. It was originally brewed two years ago this month, with Texas raw wheat, Virginia corn grits, spelt, and aged whole leaf hops in the perfect “Mixed Fermie” combination. With 600g/L of Texas-sourced oranges, it’s bright with the fruits of the Lone Star State and tastes a lot like a pineapple-orange juice mimosa with a farmhouse yeast profile, according to The Veil.

*PHOTO: Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery*

Barn Burner Saison at Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery

A new Saison is out at Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery, available now and ready for you to come out for a glass. At 6.5% ABV, Barn Burner Saison is a nice middle point on the alcohol scale, and it hits in at 15 IBU for a low bitterness and smooth drinking. This brew is fresh with farmhouse flavor, which comes from a great combination of fresh fruit and barnyard spices for an earthy taste — and Garden Grove says this light-and-fluffy French Saison is “a total Toss in the Hay if you ask us!”

Wet Hopped Saison at Fine Creek Brewing Company

Saison season is almost upon us as we roll slowly (but surely) into the spring, and it’s becoming more clear as craft brewers around Richmond gear up their taps for new recipes. Fine Creek Brewing Company is on board with their Wet Hopped Saison release this Friday, a 6% ABV beer crafted from Fine Creek’s own hops, grown steps away from their brewhouse on the farm.

The process is about as farm-to-table (or farm-to-glass, in our case) as it gets — the hops are picked fresh off the vines in their wet hop stage, according to Fine Creek, which allows them to express more of “the unique terroir from their surroundings.” This Saison is filled with lemongrass and mandarin orange flavors, along with spiciness and rye notes that blended into its Brasetto Rye Malt from Murphy & Rude Malting Co. in its late fermentation stage.

Space Falcon at Triple Crossing Beer

Coming up this Friday at Triple Crossing Beer, Space Falcon is making its way to the Fulton brewery. The Falcon series continues; they brewed this variation of their DDH Falcon Smash IPA with Galaxy, boosting the fruit in its original recipe with the tropical notes of these Australian hops. The result is a 7% ABV IPA double dry-hopped to bring out pineapple, citrus, dark marmalade, orange, and pine flavors.

The releases continue on Friday with DDH Falcon Smash, another variation in the Falcon series with hand-selected hops from the brewers’ recent trip to Yakima. Lotus and Amarillo hops came together to bring this beer to your glass, and the brand-new recipe is full of passionfruit and tangelo-like-mango from its Lotus hops, and orange character from its Amarillo additions. This Friday, head out to Triple Crossing and get a taste of your own of either new recipe (or both… we vote both).

The Sunburst Otter release at Väsen Brewing Company

Fresh at Väsen Brewing Company tomorrow night is The Sunburst Otter. In the dreary days of winter, this beer is a burst of sun indeed. A few unique tastes come out in this one with coriander seed and kosher salt, which complement the brighter citrus flavors of the fruity sour beer. According to its brewers, hundreds of pounds of tangerine and calamansi (a tart-forward fruit out of Southeast Asia) make this beer extra-bold for those looking for big flavor.

If you’re looking for a fresh taste along with some entertainment on your Thursday night this week, Väsen’s also hosting their weekly Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at 7pm. Grab your favorite buds for an excuse to get them out of the house in mid-January, and test your knowledge as a team.

Three Kings at Canon & Draw Brewing Company

There are few better combinations for an IPA than Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops, and Canon & Draw Brewing Company’s flagship recipe gets it just right.

With three of the very best in its brewing, Three Kings is the perfect blend to bring together craft drinkers’ favorite style of beer. Most good breweries have a love for IPAs, and this recipe from Canon & Draw has a solid citrus-hop flavor along with a subtle sweetness. It returns to the brewery this Friday, and Jonathan Meadows is headed out as well for live music all night in The Fan.

Star Castle DIPA returns to Final Gravity Brewing Co.

Final Gravity Brewing Co. has something fresh on tap, and their arcade game-inspired beer, Star Castle, is coming to us this Friday for all to try. It brings together the spicy and the sweet, with tropical mango and citrus notes that complement its spicy side for a unique taste, unlike many Double IPAs on the market. It was brewed with Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops, so the brighter fruit flavors of a classic DIPA are present, but with an unexpected twist.

In the spirit of the arcade classic, Final Gravity says that “the defenses have been obliterated, so there is nothing standing in the way of you and this next-level Double IPA” — and on a Friday afternoon, there are few things we’d like to hear more.

RVA On Tap: Booze Clues, Local Hard Seltzers, & Lebowski Fest

Caley Sturgill | January 8, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, Black Heath Meadery, Center Of The Universe Brewing, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, final gravity brewing co, garden grove, happy hour richmond va, Intermission Beer Company, other half brewing company, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Triple Crossing Beer, Vasen Brewing Company

This week, our local beer family brews up a new recipe in honor of Garden Grove’s late owner, Mike Brandt, and more new releases hit the taps in town. Final Gravity and Väsen Brewing Company team up for a collab can release, and The Veil Brewing Co. hosts Other Half Brewing Company straight out of NYC. A brand-new hard seltzer comes to Intermission Beer Company, while Altbiers and Stouts are fresh at Ardent Craft Ales and Triple Crossing Beer. Don’t miss Booze Clues live at The Dark Room, plus a lavender-honey mead at Black Heath Meadery and Lebowski Fest at Center of the Universe Brewing.

Before we jump into what’s new this week, we wanted to note that something great is brewing among Richmond’s finest craft beer family: a new beer in honor of Garden Grove Brewery and Urban Winery’s late owner, Mike Brandt. This one is coming together over at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, and it’s made with love from many of our favorite folks around town. It’s not ready to hit the taps just yet, but keep an eye out for it, and we’ll make sure to provide you with all the details when it’s available. All our love to Garden Grove!

*PHOTO: Final Gravity Brewing Co. & Väsen Brewing Company*

Hyperborean Galaxy can release collaboration with Final Gravity & Väsen

In more local collaboration news, this fan favorite is making its way back to Final Gravity Brewing Co. and Väsen Brewing Company tomorrow night. Hyperborean Galaxy, a New England Double IPA, is returning in cans in all its imperial glory. It was brewed with Galaxy, Citra, and Mosaic hops and used the signature kveik New England DIPA recipe from Väsen.

Hyperborean Galaxy came out along with The Velvet Walrus, which also released in cans as another collab between the two local favorites. The Walrus is a velvety-smooth milk stout, according to its brewers, and came together with the delicious combination of cinnamon, vanilla, and local coffee beans from Rostov’s right here in Richmond. Look out for these two this week, and swing by the brewery for a can of your own.

Other Half Brewing Company comes to The Veil

The Veil Brewing Co. is bringing the big city to Richmond. Other Half Brewing Company, based in New York City, is heading to Scott’s Addition next Tuesday for a Tasting Room Remix you won’t want to miss.

You’ll get to try plenty of brews fresh from The Big Apple itself, with Other Half’s latest on tap at the brewery and to-go cans to bring them home with you. Other Half’s Co-Founder and Head Brewer, Sam, will be in town as well to hang out with Richmond’s craft beer lovers and get to know the River City.

The pop-up is continuing on January 15 at The Veil’s Norfolk location, too, so our Virginia Beach folks can share the love.

Raspberry Hard Seltzer at Intermission Beer Company

If you’re among the crowd that’s looking to start the year off a bit healthier, Intermission Beer Company has you covered. We’ve seen the rise of White Claw over the last year — in many cases, actually selling out at gas stations and grocery stores across the country — and craft breweries are starting to create their own seltzers to throw a dash of local recipes into the mix.

Intermission’s Raspberry Hard Seltzer is just the thing: the clear, low-calorie, low-carb, gluten-free drink that many folks are looking for in their after-work alcohol these days at the top of the year. Along with other favorites like Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s Suncrush series that released last year, these lighter brews are a great way to drink happy without all the full feelings of the heavier beers we know and love. So if you’re keeping things light but still want to enjoy a drink at your favorite local spots, you no longer have to choose between the two. Intermission’s Raspberry hits in at only 5% ABV, with the perfect fruited flavors to await warmer days and a brighter feeling to seem like they’re already here.

Booze Clues Live Podcast returns to The Dark Room

Our favorite local podcast is back! Booze Clues is hosting another live recording of the podcast at The Dark Room at The Hof this Sunday, so put this one on your calendar — it’s worth the trip to warm up a cold Sunday night with plenty of jokes and comedy.

If you don’t remember from the last few episodes, Booze Clues hosts comedians, podcasters, and performers to “investigate” the world’s most spirited booze-related news headlines together. They dive in to tell us of all the drunken crimes and debaucherous activity from around the world each episode, with stories like “Elbow Drops of Jesus,” the “Naked Clown Frogger,” “Aerodynamics Of A Nissan Versa,” and more… and if you’re feeling as curious as we are about what happens when a Nissan sedan goes airborne, you can check out past episodes of the podcast here to gear up for the next show on Sunday.

Lebowski Fest at Center of the Universe

This Saturday, Center of the Universe Brewing is hosting their Lebowski Fest — a day full of awesome food trucks, music, and all their Lebowski-themed beers for a day “of dudelike proportions.”

Along with the Freekin’ Rican food truck and live music from The Royal We, COTU is celebrating all things Dude with all of their best brews from the series inspired by the cult favorite. If you somehow haven’t managed to get a taste of them yet, you’ll get the opportunity again to try El Duderino (the White Russian Stout), The Donny (the Southern English-Style Brown Ale), The Jesus (the Imperial Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout, and my favorite among the series), and The Brandt (the Imperial Stout). They’ll have taproom favorites and plenty of eats and entertainment, so if you’re looking to brighten up your Saturday with the spirit of The Dude, make your way up to Ashland and pay the fine folks at COTU a visit.

Altbier release at Ardent Craft Ales

Altbier is fresh at Ardent Craft Ales this week, and you can catch its release tomorrow night at the Scott’s Addition brewery. With a malty base and clean finish, this brew comes as a traditional German recipe that pours at an easy-drinking 5% ABV.

In more news from Ardent, the local spot is heading out of the cold and into the sunny city of Miami, FL on January 11 for the Juicy IPA & Sour Beer Festival hosted with Brewed Events. This festival brings together breweries from all around the nation, with 30 different spots joining up to celebrate the best craft brews. While we’re too far away to celebrate with them, we’re wishing all the best to Ardent as they embark on their journey down the coast to show Florida what Virginia brewing is all about.

Slow Descent at Triple Crossing Beer

Fresh at Triple Crossing Beer this week, Slow Descent is the heavy stout of your dreams — and it pours jet black like the coffee it was brewed with. Coffee isn’t the only flavor you’ll find in this one, either, as it’s packed with 62% private select dark chocolate to complement its black malt-roasted tastes.

At 7.2% ABV, Slow Descent is on the lighter side of stouts, which means you can drink happy knowing you’ll get to enjoy it and probably still drive home after (and if you lean toward one of their higher-alcohol brews, Uber is your friend, folks. We’re staying safe and smart in 2020). This one is a “full-on expression of carefully-chosen British roasted malts,” according to Triple Crossing, and it was created for those who want to keep this dark, delicious goodness all to themselves.

Lavender Reflection at Black Heath Meadery

Our friends at Black Heath Meadery have something fresh on tap this week, with their Lavender Reflection at the meadery. This recipe combines the fruity with the floral, bringing tangerine and lavender together along with local honey to soothe the winter blues. If you’re craving a glass, be sure to head to Black Heath to try it while it lasts, because this one is available on tap only.

Black Heath’s honey was also used for the latest Three Notch’d Collab House collab with River City Wood Fire Pizza. Raspberry Honey Belgian Wit is releasing this Friday, so sweeten things up and head to Pizza Wit Beer at Three Notch’d this weekend for even more honey-brewed recipes.

RVA On Tap: A New Year Of Brewing In Richmond

Caley Sturgill | January 1, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, Canon And Draw, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, fine creek, happy hour richmond va, Intermission Beer Company, Lickinghole Creek, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, Steam Bell Beer Works, Stone Brewing-Richmond, The Veil Brewing, things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, vasen brewing

Welcome to a new year, folks — this week, kick off 2020 right with New Year’s Day brunch at Ardent Craft Ales and 2019 Trivia at Intermission Beer Company. We’ll go through the year’s best at Stone Brewing Richmond, a delicious multi-release with smoothie ales at The Veil Brewing Co., plus some summer-themed brews at Väsen Brewing Company, Canon & Draw Brewing Company, and Steam Bell Beer Works for those of you who can’t wait for spring to come — plus events at Lickinghole Creek and Fine Creek Brewing Company’s latest West Coast IPA. Drink up, Richmond!

2019 Trivia at Intermission Beer Company

While I don’t usually kick off the column with events that happen on the regular, this one feels appropriate: Intermission Beer Company’s 2019 Year In Review Trivia Night. How well you remember the events of this year may depend on how much craft beer you ingested during it (hangovers and lost memory is not for me, folks, so here’s that reminder to take it easy this year), but my bets are on that most of you will do pretty darn well with these questions.

If you have a particularly good memory, there might even be some prizes waiting for you — so grab your favorite group of friends, and start the year off right with the biggest memories from 2019. You’ll want to register in advance, as it could sell out, and be aware that teams can only hold up to four members. Make sure to grab a ticket for each team member, and don’t worry about the fee: as long as you get $6 in beer, snacks, or merch, your ticket balance applies to the goods.

2019’s Favorite Brews at Stone

As we coast gladly into the new year, Stone Brewing Richmond wants to remind us of a few 2019 favorites to ring in 2020 with the best. Tropic of Thunder Lager (pictured above) is one of the special brews that made it to the top of their annual list, and this one combines both the reliable and the experimental flavors. Tropic of Thunder was created with Mosaic and Citra hops, along with the brewery’s new additions of Cashmere hops to bring some fresh flavors into the mix. It’s packed with fruit, both citrus-ey and tropical, and has a bit of a bitter taste to balance out its sweeter flavors.

They also featured the “OG favorite” — and the one that many of us were first introduced to the brewery with — Arrogant Bastard Ale. This classic Stone Brewing recipe has been around for the subtle beginnings up through the major rise for the now-international brewery, and it has continuously passed the test of time by remaining well-loved in many of our households (including mine — with fond Christmas memories from years ago, when my aunt brought a case to the family get-together, and I successfully resisted the strongest temptations to pass one to the resident Arrogant Bastard in attendance). This delicious ale has reveled in its “unprecedented and uncompromising celebration of intensity,” according to the brewers, and they couldn’t be more right. For those who enjoy it with us, we’re glad to have you in the Arrogant Bastard club, and we’ll expect to keep you in it for years to come. Stone has been bringing out more of their best brews each day leading up to the New Year, so check out more info here to see if your favorite made the list.

Weekly Multi-Release at The Veil

Another tasty multi-release came to The Veil Brewing Co. last night, and this one starts with the tastiest of all: the Crazee Berry Mega Tastee Tastee Imperial smoothie-style Sour Ale (pictured above). The Veil has become pretty famous for their Tastee series of smoothie beers over the last year, and this is the perfect recipe to start 2020 with. Crazee Berry Mega Tastee Tastee is truly the mega of Tastees, brewed with milk sugar for a thick, sweet smoothie consistency. At 8% ABV, you’ll get your buck’s worth with a glass of this one, and enjoy the blend of blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and boysenberry purée in its body.

The Veil also released Petalz Blonde in a bottle release last night from their collab brew with Jester King Brewery last January, so if you kicked off 2019 with a glass of it, here’s your chance for a throwback in 2020. Petalz Blonde is a Mixed Fermie, as The Veil calls it, made with Texas raw wheat, Virginia corn grits, spelt, and aged whole-leaf hops. While it’s filled with fruity flavors, you won’t find the bright tropical notes of some of the other brews — this one is on the earthier side, with apricot and peach to bring this Farmhouse Ale together.

Adding to their releases, PRBLMS came out in cans last night, and at 11% ABV, this brew could either solve yours or cause some new ones (depending how many you enjoy in one night). This Triple IPA was brewed with Citra, Enigma, Mosaic, Kohatu, and Vic Secret hops in a complex combination that comes together perfectly. Last but not least from their releases last night is IdontwantoBU³, a lower 6.9% ABV recipe that leans fully away from the bitter side of things at zero IBU. Citra and Mosaic made this triple dry-hopped IPA, and its simplicity is just right.

New Year’s Day Brunch at Ardent

If you’re looking for something to do today now that New Year’s Eve has passed and the hunger of the morning sets in, Ardent Craft Ales has just the answer: their New Year’s Day brunch today from 12-6pm. Seoul 2 Soul is at the brewery today with Korean and soul food fusion, and they’ll be there all day in case you want “breakfast” if you sleep in until 3pm. With a full menu of chicken & waffles, kimchi pancakes, hash browns, bibimbap, collard greens, eggs, and more, they’re fully prepared to start your year off right — whether that be a healthy beginning or just nursing a hangover. Cheers!

Double Berry Sour at Väsen Brewing Company

Our pals at Väsen Brewing Company dropped their Double Berry Sour over the weekend, and this is one you won’t want to miss. Brewed to bring out the best summer flavors to “carry you through the Richmond winter,” Double Berry Sour is packed with raspberry, redcurrant, cranberry notes, and hibiscus petals for an earthiness along with more floral aromas. This deep-colored brew pours in a full red with a white head, and it came out just before Wanderlust 11. On the other side of the flavor spectrum, Wanderlust 11 is a Belgian Pale Ale that came out in collaboration from the James River Homebrew Club Dominion Cup, and it was brewed with Vojvodina and Glacier hops. Citra Saison also made its way to the taps last weekend, and alongside Wanderlust 11 and the Double Berry Sour, it pours bright with a crisp, citrus-forward taste.

Corrosive Haze at Canon & Draw

The further we get into this week’s column, the more apparent it is that a lot of our local brewers are seriously missing summer — and as much as I love the cold, I really can’t blame them. When it’s summertime in the River City, there’s no shortage of things to do, and there’s nothing like sunny days on the patio of your favorite spot with your best friends, or days at the James with a few tropical brews. Those days aren’t too far off now, so stay patient, folks, and let me enjoy the rest of my chilly season while it lasts.

The folks at Canon & Draw Brewing Company can hold you over with their latest Corrosive Haze, a fruited Sour IPA. This one’s packed full with pineapple and mango flavors, and Canon & Draw says this “tropical fruit bomb” will help you forget it’s winter.

Origin of Birds Release at Fine Creek

The last weekend of 2019 brought a new release at Fine Creek Brewing Company, the Origin of Birds West Coast IPA. At an easy-drinking 6.7% ABV, this brew sits right in the middle for many preferences and combines Falconer’s Flight hops with Simcoe, Mosaic, and Citra. It’s lower on the IBU than many other West Coast IPAs, according to Fine Creek, and it brings out a great dry body to complement its tropical, floral, and lemon grapefruit flavors. Be on the lookout for some great events at Fine Creek that we’ll feature in the coming weeks, and in the meantime, keep up with them to plan out your first afternoons at the farm of the New Year.

Glaring DIPA at Steam Bell Beer Works

The weekend brought a fresh release to Steam Bell Beer Works, with their brand-new Glaring DIPA. This Double IPA is the freshest available, according to its brewers, and it came together with the classic Citra and Mosaic hops that make for a perfect IPA taste. They also put in some additions of Meridian hops to make its tropical tastes burst, and with passion fruit, sweet berry, and stone fruit, it’s both bright and full in flavor.

One Culture Solo Live at Lickinghole Creek

Beach music in January? You bet. If you’re looking for a break from the wintertime blues, head out to Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery this Saturday for Virginia Beach’s One Culture playing at the farm. The music brings out a beachy mix of reggae, progressive roots, dub, and rock — so for those of you who are feeling cooped up in the city, here’s your ticket to an afternoon in the country that combines the best of Lickinghole Creek’s beer with sounds from Virginia’s oceanside. Winter is about halfway over, and we’re getting closer to warmer days with the start of the year (a bummer for me, but good news for many of you), so get a taste of it while you can. You’ll also get tastes of the farm’s best craft beer along with eats from the Firesides Food Truck, and don’t forget to bring the kids and the pups along for the all-ages event.

RVA On Tap: Winter Ales & Holiday Brews

Caley Sturgill | December 24, 2019

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, Center of the Universe, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood, Isley Brewing Company, Kindred Spirit Brewing, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, The Answer, things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, triple crossing, vasen brewing

This is our last beer column before the holiday season comes to a close, and if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to the delicious beers of this time of year, we’ve got you covered. Local brewers around Richmond have plenty of releases coming this week.

Triple Crossing Beer drops their toasted coconut Imperial Stout, “Lost In The Night,” and Hardywood has a raspberry stout ready for all those still wanting more after their GBS series came out. Catch a double release from The Answer Brewpub with two new beers out, plus Center of the Universe’s “The Jeffrey” is finally open to the public after their Big Lebowski holiday packs.

Don’t miss tacky sweater parties with Isley Brewing Company the day after Christmas, winter ales with Kindred Spirit Brewing, DIPAs with Ardent Craft Ales, and a double release with Väsen Brewing Company on Friday.

Drink up, Virginia!

⟁ Christmas Eve means more than opening early presents this year. At Triple Crossing Beer, it means an early brewery opening and a brand-new beer to celebrate it with. ⟁

Lost In The Night is coming out tonight at Triple Crossing with all the toasted coconut you could need in an Imperial Stout. The brew lives up to its name as it pours with a pitch-black body packed full with espresso, toasted coconut, and dark chocolate-covered cherries along with a burnt turbinado sugar finish to round it all out. At 10% ABV, its brewers note that it’s “incredibly decadent, but cohesive like everyone’s holiday should be,” regardless of how that holiday evening might actually turn out. Triple Crossing has been on a mission lately to refine their recipes and curate them for their final barrel destinations, and this one is definitely a winning batch. Make sure to head out to Fulton for a glass with this beautiful dark khaki head, and taste the product of their careful adjustments of fermentation, finishing gravity, and overall roast characters, all perfectly balanced.

All the Gingerbread Stouts are ready to go for the season, but Hardywood has one more up their sleeves before we say goodbye to 2019. Their Raspberry Stout hits the taps this Saturday at the brewery, just ahead of their New Year’s Eve celebrations.

This award-winning stout comes to us with chocolate malt, cacao nibs, and late-season red raspberries from Hanover’s Agriberry CSA and Farm, according to Hardywood. If you’re looking for something on the heavier side to go along with the big meals of the week, this one’s just right. It’s packed with notes of dark chocolate and raspberry jam, so grab a few bottles from the brewery and give yourself a gift this year to close out your holiday evening with the best from our pals at Hardywood.

The Answer Brewpub has brewed up a few new recipes this week. Kicking off their latest releases is Crispy AF, a traditional American Lager with a twist from The Answer. At 5% ABV, this one’s a great easy drinker for those daytime holiday brews on your days off at home.

They’ve also got Cloudy AF on the taps this week, and this one’s right up my alley. This Citra and Mosaic-brewed Double IPA pours with a nice light orange color and a full head, and it was created to bring out the juiciest flavors of its hops. The Answer says they got their inspiration for this recipe while visiting “the cloudy city of Aberdeen,” and they certainly brought the clouds with them back home to make this one come to life.

Up in Ashland, Center of the Universe is finally releasing this year’s brew of The Jeffrey to the public this Saturday. This one first came out as part of their Big Lebowski-inspired beer packs, if you remember from last week, and it’s available to all starting this weekend.

This extra-special beer has been eagerly-awaited by its brewers for 12 full months now while it aged in Apple Brandy Barrels. It came together as a variation from their El Duderino brew, a White Russian Stout inspired by The Dude himself in all his slacker bathrobe glory. The Jeffrey brings a completely new taste to the original, leaving out the lactose and vanilla beans of El Duderino to swap them for Apple Brandy and cherry notes. At 10.4% ABV, you’ll probably only need one — but it’ll leave you wanting more after you get a taste of its velvety, warm dark-fruit finish along with notes of dry fig, roasted blackberry, black currant, and smaller hints of coffee. Take one home for the holidays in four-packs, or swing by Center of the Universe for a glass of your own, and enjoy this one while it lasts.

If you’re feeling bummed that the holidays are over too soon, don’t fret: Isley Brewing Company is hosting a karaoke and tacky sweater contest the day after Christmas this week to keep the holiday spirit rolling even after it’s technically over.

Put on your tackiest sweater and grab your family and friends, Isley says, to crank up the holiday tunes and drink some delicious beers with the ones you love. There are prizes in it, too, so make sure to pick the tackiest of the tacky from your grandmother’s closet before heading to the brewery for a chance to win a merch bundle from Isley. Don’t forget to register when you get there, and bring your friend with the greatest ability to drink lots of beer — each beer purchased lets attendees cast one vote, so the more you drink, the better chances you’ll have to win.

It’s a great time to head out to Goochland County. For me, that usually means for beautiful drives through the country filled with the pale, open-skies of winter — not only a yearly tradition, but often an every-weekend event as the environment cools down and the colors of the season, like burnt orange, forest green, and deep reds, come out through the woods. The surrounding areas of Richmond are absolutely stunning, and if you need a reason to make the drive out of the city, Kindred Spirit Brewing has one ready for you right here.

Kindred Spirit’s Winter Ale is fresh at the brewery, and this Dark Belgian Ale is nothing short of perfect to pair with the vibe outdoors during this time of year. Brewed with RVA 805, harvested from the Swift Creek Berry Farm, this Winter Ale is packed with warming flavors with toffee, spices, and nuts to pour in a dark chocolate color with a light, dry finish.

A brand-new Double IPA is heading to Ardent Craft Ales this Thursday, named after a well-known street right in their home neighborhood of Scott’s Addition.

Altamont DIPA was brewed with Cashmere and Mosaic hops, two classic hop additions that bring these delicious beers together perfectly every time. At 8% ABV, it’s slightly on the lighter side for this style of brew while bringing out the usually-higher alcohol content of them, so it’s one that DIPA lovers will find just right. As a “soft, hazy treat,” this recipe is full and juicy, with tropical fruit flavors alongside melon and stone fruit.

Two releases are on their way to Väsen Brewing Company this Friday, starting with Wanderlust: a Belgian Pale Ale that took home the winning award from this year’s James River Homebrew Club Dominion Cup as a collaboration beer. Unlike its counterpart Citron Saison, coming out on Friday, Wanderlust brings out toasty malt flavors that come out with more earthy notes from its Vojvodina and Glacier hops. You’ll catch smaller spicy notes in this one before trying their Citra Saison, which releases as a lighter, refreshing Belgian Farmhouse Ale. Citra Saison brings out the honey, and complements Wanderlust with more subtle spice along with Rostov’s Citron Green Tea that features fruits like lemon and lime.

RVA On Tap: Holiday Jams, Brewery Markets, & Music Collab Beers

Caley Sturgill | December 18, 2019

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, canon and draw brewing company, Center Of The Universe Brewing, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, fine creek brewing, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Intermission Beer Company, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, Steam Bell Beer Works, the answer brewpub, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, Triple Crossing Beer, Vasen Brewing Company

This week, we’re getting ready for the holidays with tons of great events and releases.

Don’t miss Three Notch’d RVA Collab House’s statewide can release in their collab with Richmond band New Lions, Intermission Beer Company’s Fun Reimagined holiday market, and a great holiday party with Justin Golden at Canon & Draw Brewing Company.

We’ve also got juicy citrus brews at The Answer Brewpub, big awards for Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Crowl-A-Thons with Fine Creek Brewing, Center of the Universe Brewing’s Big Lebowski craft beer gift packs, Triple Crossing’s Classic Christmas, and new releases from Väsen, Ardent, Steam Bell Beer Works, and The Veil Brewing. Drink up, Virginia!

Pouring fresh at The Answer Brewpub this week is the juicy citrus punch we need to bring some bright flavors into the holiday season. With lighter hop notes and a strong fruit taste, I Need An Adult has already become a fan favorite at the brewery — and one drinker noted it might be their new favorite beer from The Answer entirely.

From the brewers themselves: “If you are in our brewpub and feeling unsure, just loudly and clearly say, ‘I need an Adult’,” and they’ll promptly bring you their latest juicy Double IPA from the taps. This DIPA was double dry-hopped with Mosaic, El Dorado, Cryo Simcoe, and Samba hops for a bold, rich brew that’s quickly becoming popular among its drinkers.

Center of the Universe is back with these limited edition Big Lebowski Gift Packs. With four of their best brews, COTU celebrates The Dude in all his glory with El Duderino, The Donny, The Jesus, and The Jeffrey.

Kicking off the brews, El Duderino is a White Russian Stout that brings the classic tastes of the milky, coffee-like mixed drink into a beer. The Donny is a Southern English-style Brown Ale for a bit of a lighter — but equally full-flavored — recipe, and it’s complemented by the Mecxican Hot Chocolate Stout-centered The Jesus. A special one in the bunch is The Jeffrey, which is only available before the holidays in these limited-edition holiday packs. Aged in Apple Brandy barrels, this Imperial Milk Stout even came with prizes on its details in last week’s Trivia Tuesday.

For more Big Lebowski-themed drinking, be sure to join COTU after the holidays for their Big Burleski event on the 27th (but stay tuned for more details on that next week).

Over at Hardywood, be on the lookout next week for a special Raspberry Stout release. In the meantime, we’ve got some awesome news in awards for the brewery. Hardywood’s Distorted Perception was recently named one of the Top 50 Beers for 2019 by Vinepair, and this juicy IPA got its name for a reason: Vinepair says “With our eyes closed, we could swear this was actual juice.”

The New England IPA is a hazy dream, and it was created to reflect some of the best fruit flavors in its honeydew, papaya, and lime notes. In its brewing process, Distorted Perception was dry-hopped with both Cashmere and Mosaic hops (one of my favorite combinations!) for a smooth 7% ABV brew. It originally came out back in late September as part of their #FreshCanFriday series, and if you’re looking to try it, keep your eyes peeled next year for its return to the brewery, along with many more fruit-forward IPAs.

In more Saturday releases, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House is dropping their New Lions Blonde Stout in cans this weekend in collaboration with Richmond’s New Lions band. This is one of their most popular collab beers, according to Three Notch’d, and we can see why: along with the awesome name of New Lions’ music attached to it, this blonde stout is a very unique brew.

Made with vanilla, cacao nibs, and local coffee from Rostov’s, this beer is about as local as it gets. Blonde stouts can be hard to come by, so it’s definitely one you’ll want to grab a can of — plus this release is its very first in cans to be distributed statewide, and this is your chance to get the first batch in Richmond. It’ll also be on draft at the brewery in a $5 special, making it the perfect time to try it yourself (especially if you’re operating on a holiday budget like most of us these days).

Intermission Beer Company is also diving into the holiday events this week, with their Fun Reimagined Holiday Market this Saturday — and they’ve got the right idea bringing local vendors in to encourage holiday shopping with small business. With their Winter Warmer brew on draft, Intermission is ready to bring out their own holiday-spiced creation with vanilla, clove, and ginger flavors inspired by their friend’s ginger molasses cookies.

In this special holiday market, you’ll get an experience along with plenty of options for finding gifts. Vendors will get to take over the brewery for 15 minutes each during the event, giving demonstrations and teaching attendees about the process behind the product.

Participating vendors include Dharma Boutique RVA, Fairytale Fiberworks, Mug It All, Stephanie Mayton Illustrations, and Fun Reimagined: Richmond’s source for fun and unique card games. In that order, each vendor will get their time to shine in demonstrations like macramé bracelet-making, wool processing from raw fleece to spun yarn, mug-making, art tutorials, and how to play several of Fun Reimagined’s games.

The event starts at 3pm and runs until 7, so make sure to head out by 4 to catch all the demonstrations and learn more about your local vendors.

If you’re looking for plans on the Sunday before Christmas, Fine Creek Brewing has you covered. They’re hosting their Christmas Sunday Celebration & Crowl-A-Thon on December 22, and they’re ready to get you in the holiday spirit.

With plenty of Christmas music from Koontz & Kellner and special Chocolate Peppermint desserts from Fine Creek Provisions, come cozy up at the farm and start your celebration week off right. For the beer, they’ve got discounts on crowlers (15% off with 3 or more!) in the Crowl-A-Thon to let attendees stock up on good brews to bring to all those holiday parties, where often there’s nothing outside of Bud Light, Miller, and that bottle of wine your grandmother has been keeping in the cabinet since last year. They also make for awesome gifts, so if you’re still in the last-minute shopping scramble, you can treat your loved ones to something we all appreciate: booze.

In more holiday celebrations, head out to Triple Crossing Beer this Sunday for their Classic Christmas event. They’re getting extra-festive for the occasion, with tons of different activities to keep the whole family (and friend group) entertained.

Selfie-booth lovers will be pleased, so make sure to dress up accordingly to take photos and remember the day. Triple Crossing will also have blasts from the past with old-school Christmas movies, plus live Christmas music and wood-fired beer marshmallow s’mores. Keep up with their event page for more info on specific movies and times running through the day, and bring the kids out for the free all-ages event.

Väsen Brewing Company’s got a double release coming up tomorrow night, with two fresh brews coming to the taps. First up is Moonbear Dubbel, a Belgian abbey-style ale created to warm its drinkers up in the midst of these chilly nights. With Madagascar vanilla beans, dark malts, and a light roasted taste, this beer is packed with all the perfect chocolate-vanilla combination. Väsen’s also releasing their Winter Harvest Double IPA on draft tomorrow, brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops. Along with playing in their Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night, you’ll get to try this unique DIPA that brings out more than just fruit. Its flavors are full of dried fruit along with mango and pine, plus brown sugar to bring some holiday sweetness into the mix.

Over the weekend, our pals at Ardent Craft Ales dropped their Amarillo Pale Ale. This 5% ABV recipe was brewed with Amarillo hops, dry-hopped and filled with lots of floral tastes to bring out its bold flavor. It came together with oats and wheat, along with English yeast, and according to its brewers, it drinks with a soft body and mild bitterness.

In events with Ardent, be on the lookout for A Christmas Vacation Kick-Off this Saturday at Lunch and Supper in Scott’s Addition. They’ll be selling tickets here before the event, so grab yours for all their food and wine pairings, along with festive cocktails from Lunch and Supper, throughout the evening until 11pm.

Here’s one I’m especially excited for. Canon & Draw Brewing Company is hosting a holiday party by one of my current favorite local musicians, Justin Golden, this Saturday at the brewery. Golden has played a lot of shows I’ve attended recently, most notably when he opened for the Tim Barry Novemberfest shows last month — and he’s got a great folk/country/indie sound. The lineup for this week’s event will showcase Sid Kingsley (another favorite Richmond musician of mine, who somehow I only manage to see when I’m in Roanoke), Tim Beavers II, Andrew Alli and Josh Small, and Tyler Meacham.

Along with great music, Canon & Draw has had a ton of great beer releases in the last couple months. Their taps are stocked with plenty of fresh recipes, so if you haven’t had an opportunity yet to get out and try some, this is a fantastic chance to see some great music and pair it with delicious beer.

The fine folks at Steam Bell Beer Works are bringing their Bourbon Barrel Tiramisu Stout back to the taps on Friday, and this one sounds especially awesome to me. After years growing up watching my mother eat tiramisu for breakfast, something about this sweet dessert just feels like home. I’ve also got a soft spot for it from working next to Virginia’s absolute best Balkan restaurant, Euro Bakery in Roanoke, for years — and eating its owner’s homemade tiramisu probably 5 days a week (plus more whenever a coworker at the bar didn’t finish their slice). It doesn’t get better than that, friends. At least until my body finally starts to reject the amount of sugar I’m capable of putting into it.

But still, there’s nothing quite comparable to a soft, fluffy tiramisu in all its ladyfinger-and-coffee glory. Steam Bell did an awesome job with this brew, and in addition to its classic dessert flavors, it was aged in A. Smith Bowman Distillery barrels to seal the deal. With vanilla beans, oak, and bourbon, this variation is full of “warmth and richness,” according to its brewers, that perfectly complement the roasted chocolate notes of the original Tiramisu Stout recipe.

Last night at The Veil Brewing Co., a December special made its way into the brewery. Holiday Treat Whangdoodle is made for coffee lovers, and the Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout is packed with flavors. You’ll catch maple syrup, cinnamon, and Colombian coffee (the best coffee out there, imho) from Blanchard’s Coffee, one of Richmond’s very best. According to its brewers, Holiday Treat Whangdoodle brings forward warming, viscous liquid fudge, baking spices, and holiday cheer. It’s out now in bottles, and to grab one of your own, head over to The Veil this week for a chance to bring the 10.5% ABV stout home with you before it’s gone.