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RVA ON TAP: Oktoberfests & Seasonal Brews Hit The River City

Caley Sturgill | September 25, 2019

Topics: anniversary, ardent, beer, beer column, Canon And Draw, Center of the Universe, gbs, gingerbread stout, Hardywood, Intermission Beer Company, Oktoberfest, RVA On Tap, Steam Bell Beer Works, strangeways, The Veil, three notchd, Väsen, wahoo cup

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, we’ve got more coming for Oktoberfest celebrations, plus some delicious beer releases happening around town… like The Veil’s black-colored lemonade brew and the famous Hardywood Gingerbread Stout heading back to town.

The very beginnings of fall are still popping up, especially in regards to the Oktoberfests galore happening across the city. Over the weekend, a large festival came to the grounds around the VMFA, and this weekend another huge one is coming to Center of the Universe Brewing.

On Friday and Saturday, head out to our favorite Ashland spot for this free event packed with traditional live German music, German-inspired food, German-style brews, plus the 2019 Das Bier Run on Saturday and more surprises. Friday’s music will be provided by The LOW’n’BROWS — a German “Oompah” band from Fredericksburg who, after 21 years professionally playing the music style, specialize in polkas, waltzes, and other traditional “hofbrauhaus” music, according to COTU.

“Grab your lederhosen and your beer steins!” says the brewery, because Saturday keeps the party going. All day long from 12pm-10pm, the inside of COTU’s taproom will be turned into a traditional German festhalle as the Das Bier Run gets started. And the best part: the beer! Oktoberfest, their take on the classic Munich fest biers, will be on draft. It’s made from German Munich and Vienna malts to add a sweet, malty flavor to its toasted notes. Also brewed with Czech yeast to bring out the malt, German hops were added to give it just enough bitterness to round out the flavors.

See you there!

Canon & Draw Brewing has *really* been killing the new brew game lately. With stellar variations all over the board, this week they’re dropping a special one on Friday.

Coffee w/ Room, an American Milk Stout, is a juiced-up version of the classic stout DNA. This 8% ABV milk stout starts off with a roasted-chocolate base that brings in several caramel malts, which gives it a rich and complex foundation. Next you’ll taste its creamy sweetness, made with a large addition of lactose and packed with locally-roasted and coarsely-ground coffee from Rostov’s.

Full of dark chocolate flavors and its delicately-roasted Ecuadorian coffee, this beer has a “light and bright” acidity, according to the brewers, from coffee blending seamlessly with the malty chocolate base and sweet cream finish.

Happy Richmond birthday, Three Notch’d! Their RVA Collab House turns three on Saturday, and they’ll have everything — food trucks, beer releases, re-releases, games, and more.

If you’re a football fan and you’re trying not to miss the game, they’ll have three TV’s out so you can drink and enjoy while catching every minute. They’ll also have games like foosball, darts, arcades, corn hole, and more to entertain attendees, plus prize pack giveaways with free merch, glassware, and gift certificates.

Cafe 804 will be providing the eats for the occasion, so come out to grab one of your favorite Three Notch’d brews and celebrate with them.

Hardywood’s got a great new beer coming up this Friday, with their Benny & The Fest can release. Also — did you know that Hardywood was recently voted Richmond’s favorite brewery? No surprise there, because everything they do is delicious, and this one’s no different: Benny & The Fest is a lighter 5.8% ABV marzen lager, and it’s malt-forward with a nice, light sweetness. As the crisp air of fall starts rolling in early next month, it’s “a great treat to pair” with the cooler temperatures of fall.

And in even *better* news, Hardywood’s Gingerbread Stout series is back!!! Pre-sales began this Monday, and complete sets are on sale now. They’ve got seven new variants for 2019, and they sound even better than last year: with special variations like Christmas Pancakes with maple syrup, Christmas morning with Mexican Chiapas coffee, Fluffy GBS with marshmallows, and Frosty GBS with white ginger and local honey. Also, all the whiskey-lovers out there can look forward to Kentucky Christmas Pancakes (take your regular pancakes, and add bourbon to them), Christmas Island with Toasted Coconut, and the classic Bourbon Barrel GBS.

Also this week, Hoax comes out at Hardywood on Saturday! This 13.5% — yeah, you read it right — Barrel-Aged Milk Stout just spent 9 months in freshly-emptied brandy barrels, and it’s a “behemoth” of a beer according to the brewers. It joins their crew of misfits, Trickery, Foolery, and Ruse, which are some of the highest-rated milk stouts in the world. Now’s your chance to come get a fresh taste of their next sibling, so don’t miss it this weekend!

Coming up on Saturday, the 5th Annual Wahoo Cup Craft Brewers Invitational is also coming to Hardywood. This yearly event benefits the Richmond Cycling Corps, which brings competitive cycling and educational possibilities to “tough city neighborhoods.”

Tons of local breweries will be in attendance, like Ardent Craft Ales, Bingo Beer Co., Fine Creek Brewing, Hardywood, Lickinghole Creek, Kindred Spirit, Starr Hill, and Three Notch’d — plus some of my faves from elsewhere around the state, like Blue Mountain Brewery, Random Row, and more!

Fresh out at Väsen Brewing Company this week is Mosaic Secrets, a brand-new brew hazy Triple IPA that keeps these last warm days of the year alive with its mango and passionfruit aromas.

The flavors were created through the hopping process with Vic Secret and Mosaic hops, and if you’re looking for a taste of your own, you can get one at the brewery after its release last night. Head over to the brewery for board games with friends, one of Väsen’s favorite pastimes, or bring your own games instead of diving into their “treasure trove” with a beer in hand.

Another recipe of my favorite brew style is making its way to Steam Bell Beer Works this Friday evening. Subrosa, a New England-Style Double IPA, was created with what Steam Bell calls a new-to-us hop combined with a decadent hop-bomb:

“Cashmere hops are fairly new on the scene, but making a splash (pun intended) in the IPA game.”

In Subrosa, you’ll catch some deliciously tropical notes to complement its higher 8.9% ABV, from peach to tangerine, and pineapple to other citrusy fruits. It was also double dry-hopped with Amarillo and Mosaic to bring out an extra dose of fruit.

Another Oktoberfest is in line, and it’s happening all month long at Strangeways Brewing. Our buds at Strangeways have specials running all month long on Oktoberfest beers, and you can catch any of these delicious brews at their locations:

Albino Monkey Belgian White Ale, Fest Bavarian-style Lager, Helles Frozen Over Munich Helles Lager, Playday Pilsner, Überlin Berliner Weisse, and the Woodbooger Belgian-Style Brown Ale.

More news at Strangeways this week brings the release of SMaSHing Simcoe, a Double Dry-Hopped IPA (my favorite!) that came out over the weekend, brewed with a single malt and single hop variety to showcase the character and versatility of its ingredients. You’ll catch an aggressive bitterness from the Simcoe hops, rounded out with a resinous, piney and dank flavor through its double dry-hopped process.

Fresh to Ardent Craft Ales is Old Molasses Ale, a historical combination that was brewed up in collaboration with the John Marshall House. The ale was based on a recipe from John Marshall’s cousin, Mary Randolph, “that she brewed in the late 1700s and featured a late addition of molasses in the boil.”

This 4.6% ABV Brown Ale drinks easy, according to the brewers, and has a low bitterness that brings out its delicious notes of molasses both in its taste and its smell. There’s only one keg available of this special brew, so make sure you get a glass while you can!

Last night at The Veil Brewing Co., another multi-release went down, with brews I can’t wait to get a taste of. First up for us is Use Me, a Double IPA (yum) brewed with Mosaic, Motueka, and Nelson hops, along with its large additions of oats and wheat — and at 8.5% ABV, this one’s riiiight up my alley.

They also released Charcoal Yella Lambz, a Charcoal Lemonade-inspired Sour beer that was brewed with milk sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice, activated charcoal, and lemon purée. Could there be any more awesome ingredients in one beer? This one comes in lower, at 4.5% ABV, so it’s the perfect beer to drink like a glass of lemonade and keep things light — although it’s completely black in a glass.

Not quite like its redmiata sibling, greenmiata is a luxuriously-hopped IPA that returned to The Veil last night in all its flaked barley, Simcoe, and Citra-hopped glory. At 6% ABV, greenmiata comes in somewhere in the middle on alcohol percentage, so it’s a good brew for most folks looking for a taste.

Now here’s a phrase I know a few people could stand to hear: Who Hurt You? This brand-new Double IPA debuted at The Veil last night and, brewed with malted oats and raw wheat, its taste is as delicious as its wheaty, creamy color. It came together with Galaxy, Nelson, and Citra Lupulin Powder to hit in at 9% ABV.

This Friday at Intermission Beer Company, ArtoberFest is dropping as a new release in their variation of an Oktoberfest beer. This one was brewed up in collaboration with CultureWorks and ArtoberVA, and a portion of its sales will go back to the organization at CultureWorks, too — and what’s better than drinking for a cause? You’ll get to grab food from the Good Doggie! food truck at the release as well, with German Beer Brats and German Pretzel Dogs.

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: Throwing Down in RVA & Untappd Comes To Town

Caley Sturgill | September 18, 2019

Topics: Ardent craft ales, beer, beer column, bluegrass festival, Canon And Draw, craft beer, final gravity brewing, fine creek brewing, Hardywood, Isley Brewing Company, Lickinghole Creek, pride crawl, RVA On Tap, scotts addition, Steam Bell Beer Works, Stone brewing, the answer brewpub, The Veil, triple crossing, untappd, vasen brewing

This week, we’re kicking things off with a lot of awesome events in addition to tons of great new releases. Fall flavors are finally starting to come in more consistently, and they’re perfect to go along with the festivals of the season.

We’ve been waiting a long time for this one, and it’s finally here! Stone Brewing is hosting their annual Stone’s Thrown Down In RVA this Saturday, celebrating their third anniversary in the River City with a full day of badass beers and bands.

They’ll be slinging drinks from their own brewery and from other locals we love, with live music all day long. J Roddy Walston and The Business is headlining, a popular Richmond-based band, playing alongside White Denim, Cory Wong, Howlin Rain, and The Long Ryders. Another bonus: all ticket sales and total proceeds will benefit some of our favorite local nonprofits like the James River Association (yay!), the Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton, the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, and Venture Richmond.

If you’re too busy on Saturday or you’re too broke to cover tickets + craft beer, Stone’s got you covered! Stone’s Throw Down Eve is going down on Friday, with food trucks and special beers galore. They’ve also got some great bands on deck like Colin Phils and Colder Planets to get the party going and keep it rolling through the weekend.

Pride season is here, and the events of the city are here for it! This Saturday brings one we’ve been especially excited for: the Scott’s Addition Pride Crawl. Hosted over at the Robert B. Moss Theatre with the Richmond Triangle Players, VA Pride, and OutRVA, the Pride Crawl will bring all your favorite brewers from Richmond’s booziest neighborhood together for a day of celebrating (and even free stuff).

Look forward to drinking with your faves, like Blue Bee Cider, Ardent Craft Ales, Vasen Brewing Company, Black Heath Meadery, The Veil Brewing Co., Buskey Cider, Isley Brewing Company, Courthouse Creek Cider, Reservoir Distillery, and Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, along with the Scott’s Addition Beverage District.

“Cheers, Queers!” says the family of event planners, and if you’re looking to wear it with pride, you can grab a shirt for the occasion as well. They’ll have plenty of beers and plenty of parties to keep your Saturday fun all day long, plus the chance to win gift certificates from your favorite local brewers — because free stuff is the best stuff.

*PHOTO: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery*

Happy birthday, Lickinghole Creek! One of our favorite farms is celebrating their 6th anniversary this Saturday, and not only will it be a great celebration, it’ll be packed with their fall harvest of sunflowers! Sunflower season at Lickinghole Creek might just be the most beautiful time of the year, and they’ve been in bloom over the last few weeks out at the brewery.

During the anniversary party, Lickinghole Creek is releasing two awesome beers. First comes the next edition of their Juicy series, with Juicy #15 “Something Pretty” coming out for the occasion. Next is their Vanilla Virginia Black Bear, which sounds as great as I’m sure it tastes. If you’re in the market for live music over the weekend, they’ll have bands like Magnetite, Sunrizen, and Dreaddy Bear all day.

In new releases this week, we’ll get started with Triple Crossing Beer’s Interstellar Burst. This beautifully-canned beer came out early this week, and it’s an 8% ABV Double IPA (my favorite!) that was created with a generous mix of Galaxy, Citra, and El Dorado hops. You’ll catch flavors of passionfruit, pineapple, grapefruit, and mango to keep the last days of summer in season, with a deep and plush feel out of the glass.

*PHOTO: Untappd Seven City Tour, The Answer Brewpub*

Our pals at The Answer Brewpub are teaming up with Untappd this Friday as part of the awesome social beer site’s Seven City Tour. Untappd is kicking off their tour of the nation all month, and stopping right here in Richmond (obviously, because everyone knows The Answer is the best spot). Their co-founder, Greg Avola, will be spending his evening with The Answer and giving away free Untappd merch like t-shirts, stickers and more.

After Richmond, Untappd is hitting Denver to finish out the tour. They’ve already made it to San Diego to visit Ballast Point, Milwaukee to visit Eagle Park, and Washington, D.C. to visit ChurchKey. Tonight, they’re heading to Raleigh for Burial Beer Co. before hitting Pittsburgh tomorrow for Southern Tier, and then making their way down the East Coast to land at The Answer.

This might be my favorite combination of things to happen all year! A bluegrass festival is coming up at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.

This Saturday, our faves at Hardywood are hosting the Richmond Bluegrass Festival, complete with six bands to keep the music going til the sun goes down. First up is Hogweed, then Slack Family Bluegrass Band takes the stage. Ragged Mountain String Band follows, then The Hot Seats and Gallatin Canyon play before Nobody’s Business closes the night.

Also — if you’re loving this poster as much as we are, be sure to come and take one home with you. They’ll have a limited number for sale at the festival, so get there early!

Over at Väsen Brewing Company, Wanderlust 9 is coming out this Saturday. As Väsen says, “Embrace your inner wanderlust” with this velvety-smooth, juicy brew. Wanderlust 9 was inspired by the classic combination of peaches and cream — and this time of year always gets me, because as in love as I am with fall brews, there’s nothing I love like I love peaches and cream.

It came together with fragrant Madagascar vanilla beans blended with peach, which impart a complex and fruity flavor profile, according to the brewers, with a surprising depth. It’s also got a moderate hoppy bitterness — to remind you that “it’s still a beer.”

Final Gravity Brewing Co. has been cooking up something good this week. Moon Cresta New England Double IPA is dropping this Friday, full of fruits and combining the firepower of Belma and Citra hops together.

There’s a big blast of orange, so to all of our Blue Moon fans, this one’s for you. As a Double IPA, it’ll bring out some of your favorite flavors from that classic, usually with a higher ABV and a bolder, thicker fruity taste. Subtle notes of strawberry and tropical melon come together with the larger orange flavors, with “just a touch of spice” to take this one to the next level.

Another awesome brew is out at Canon & Draw Brewing Company, this time with an even sweeter flavor. Berries n’ Cream IPA comes out this Friday at the brewery, complete with all the blueberries, raspberries, and sweet cherries your fruity hearts desire.

This one is coming in as the latest in their Fruit n’ Cream series, which has had a delicious array of recipes so far. It’s definitely on my list to try.

Ardent Craft Ales has two great new beers this week. First up is an 8% ABV Summit DIPA, the first to be brewed by Ardent with their Hordinal Kveik Norwegian Ale yeast. This yeast brings out tropical fruit flavors with a clean finish, and as a hazy Double IPA, it was triple dry-hopped with Citra and Amarillo. According to the brewers, it’s bursting with juicy stone fruit and citrus flavors.

Second comes Sweet Potato and Sage, two of my most favorite things. Is it becoming clear yet that I can’t get enough of fall flavors? I feel like every beer this month has had me saying “this is my favorite!” and then another one comes along that I love just as much.

Anywho, Sweet Potato and Sage is more of a dry-style brew, as a farmhouse saison. You’ll catch more earthy notes than fruity in this one, balancing the sweet potato flavors with the fragrant sage. The 6.4% ABV recipe is a fall seasonal with a continental malt backbone that complements its subtle hop tastes.

O.P.P. is fresh at Steam Bell Beer Works this week, coming out on Friday as a classic pale ale. You’ll get flavors of grapefruit and tropical fruit in this one, with orange peels “waiting patiently to drive home the sweet citrus finish.”

It was hopped lighter than their IPA’s usually are to keep it simple and refreshing, with English base malts and additions of Cascade hops to add to its dose of dried orange peel. And an important thing to note: while most pale ales are on the lighter side in ABV, O.P.P. hits in at 7.4%, so keep it careful!

It’s Oktoberfest at Isley Brewing Company! Benedict’s Brew is coming out this Saturday and hits in at 7.3% ABV. If you’re unfamiliar with the background of Oktoberfest, Isley was kind enough to give us a little taste of history:

“The Oktoberfest celebration began in 1810, when the populace was invited to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. This marked the first time the general public was asked to participate in such a regal event. Shortly thereafter, beer vendors began offering Malty, traditional German lagers as refreshment during the annual festival.”

Keeping with tradition, Isley is following the styles used in the original Oktoberfests. Their Benedict’s Brew is a copper-colored, bottom-fermented lager beer according to the brewers, and it was hopped with traditional German malt, hops, and yeast.

More multi-releases are in line at The Veil Brewing Co., and these four just came out last night:

R.I.P. Me, probably my favorite name of a beer that I’ve seen in a while, just returned to the brewery in all its Double IPA glory. Honestly, I haven’t found a brewery that can completely kill it at Double IPA’s as consistently as The Veil does, and this one I’m sure is no different. Brewed with flaked barley and a maximum saturation of Citra, Simcoe, and Nelson hops, this one comes in at 8% ABV.

Blackout Tastee also returned last night, a smoothie-style Sour created with milk sugar (yum!!), “mad amounts” of blackberry, and black currant purée. At a lower 5.5% ABV, this is one you can have seconds on — as long as you don’t get too full.

Frozen Frozen Ocean is the third to return this week, a double dry-hopped version of Frozen Ocean that was created with 100% Lupulin Powder as a Double IPA. With Lupulin Powder, Citra hops, Simcoe hops, and Mosaic hops on top of its puffy flaked oats, it comes together at 8% ABV.

Speck of Light was the individual debut of the evening, and this brand-new beer at The Veil was brewed with Pilsner malt, raw wheat, and Citra, El Dorado, and Vic Secret hops that combined come in at a medium 6% ABV.

Over the weekend, Fine Creek Brewing released their House Saison as their Friday Beer Feature. This one has some special flavors we don’t see too often, with bubblegum combined with spicy and fruity tastes. With a dry and refreshing feel out of the glass, this lower 5% ABV beer is a classic interpretation of the Saison style, and its moderate bitterness and rye spiciness help to “elevate” the mellow citrus and peppercorn you’ll taste in it.

RVA ON TAP: Kicking Off Halloween & Beer Fest Season

Caley Sturgill | September 11, 2019

Topics: ardent, beer, beer column, Canon And Draw, Castleburg Brewery, Center of the Universe, craft beer, Final Gravity, Hardywood, intermission, RVA On Tap, Science Museum, Science on Tap, septembrewfest, The Veil, Väsen

Friday the 13th is upon us again this week, and what better way to celebrate it than starting the Halloween season? Local breweries are releasing some great autumn brews in addition to beginning-of-fall events with spots like Red Vein Haunted House, Septembrewfest at the Science Museum, and a sweet Kings Dominion collab.

Keeping the spooks going, Intermission Beer Company is hosting their Fall Kickoff Party this Friday with Red Vein Haunted House (our favorite haunted house in town!) as the Halloween season gears up.

Head out to Intermission on Friday the 13th this week for their Halloween party and special re-release of All Hallows Ale, a fan-beloved brew that is RIGHT up my alley. This collaboration between Intermission and Red Vein is a harvest amber ale, and it was brewed with maple and cinnamon in the most perfect combination of tastes. Summer beers are good and all, but I live for fall flavors. I can’t wait to light this column up next month with pumpkin beers from all around the state. Y’all stay tuned!

At the Fall Kickoff Party, you’ll also get to jump in for their never-too-early-for-Halloween Costume Contest, win prizes from Red Vein for their haunted houses and the Ashland Haunted History Tour, and get boozy cupcakes with Lush Cupcakes… plus hang out with the folks behind the Coffee With The Dead podcast. It’s the perfect way to get your fall gears turning (and maybe even come up with some costume ideas for next month).

Halloween season is finally here, and it’s only going to get better this month with the release of more spooky brews and themed events. Kicking off this week is an awesome collab between Center of the Universe and Kings Dominion, Redrum IIPA — a blood-red Imperial IPA that’s “packed with as many hops as haunts” and devilishly good.

This 8% ABV ale brings a big punch with its flavor, full of kiwi, mango, pineapple, and other tropical fruits that come together with an earthy finish. If you haven’t made it out to Kings Dominion for their Halloween seasons before, you’ll definitely want to check it out this fall. The park is crawling with things to do, between shows and rides, and haunted houses for those of you who can stomach them (I definitely can’t). Catch me on a hayride picking pumpkins and staying as far away from the scary stuff as possible, drinking on something delicious like Redrum IIPA.

If you’re ready for the brew fests of October but you don’t want to wait, we’ve got just the thing to get your drinking season rolling! We’ve been big fans of the Science Museum of Virginia’s Science On Tap events since they first started, but at RVA On Tap, we’re extra stoked for this one.

Septembrewfest coming up tomorrow night is the latest theme in their Science On Tap series, and these are always a blast. At night, they open up the Science Museum in the dark and turn it into basically an adult playground for the 21+ folks who come out to drink and learn about science in the coolest of ways. My personal favorite parts are always the IMAX shows, which have some incredible space themes and make you feel like you’re sitting in the center of the galaxy — and this one is beer-themed!!!

After the IMAX show, drinking while we learn about the connections between beer and space, some of the best points on this event’s agenda start off with testing your knowledge of brewing in beer science trivia, learning about quick pickling, and turning trash into beverage treasure. For our beer drinkers whose favorite plus-one can’t get into craft beer, you can finally bring them along to a beer event, too: moonshine cocktails, kombucha spritzers, and cold brew coffee are all featured alongside our favorite local breweries like Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Ardent Craft Ales, Strangeways Brewing, Buskey Cider, Starr Hill Brewery, Legend Brewing Co., and Bingo Beer Co.

You can come hungry, too, because Haulin’ Balls, Sammich, and Gaucho are going to be out slinging eats, with The Dan Scutt Band playing live throughout the night. If you want to grab a discounted ticket, head over to their website ahead of the event on Thursday, and don’t forget your ID when you make it to the door!

Over the weekend, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery dropped Pappy’s Pumpkin Pie in a can release for their #FreshCanFriday. This one brings in more of our favorite fall flavors and even jumps past Halloween into the best flavor time of the year: Thanksgiving!

Hardywood spiced up their Wallonian Farmhouse Pumpkin Ale with extra additions of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice, then topped it off with vanilla bean, toasted coconut, and lactose. All together, this beer pulls all the best things together to taste like Thanksgiving in a glass and feel just like your grandparents’ homemade pumpkin pie.

Also coming up at Hardywood is the West Creek 5K for ALS on Sunday, which takes participants all through the West Creek neighborhood, twisting between the woods and landing at Hardywood’s awesome farmhouse. Folks of all abilities and ages are welcome, with wheelchairs, ADA tricycles, and jog strollers all invited.

Over at Väsen Brewing Company, the German Festbier is making its way back to the taps on Friday. In mid-September, this deep amber lager is made for the season, with a rich malty character from its Munich malts. It’s also got notes of fruits and spices from noble hops and its Bavarian lager yeast, and this frothy brew comes in half-liters in true German fashion.

“Zum Wohl!” Väsen says, so throw your glass up with a Cheers! and join them for the great return.

I don’t think there are many foods outside of a straight-up pumpkin pie that I could love like I love sweet potatoes. Our friends at Ardent Craft Ales have done it again, this time with their Sweet Potato & Sage Saison in a dry, farmhouse-style beer releasing tomorrow night at the brewery.

You’ll catch earthy notes balanced with fragrant aromas between the sweet potatoes and local sage flavors, with a continental malt backbone and subtle hop presence. Coming together in a drinkable 6.4% ABV, this brew is well-rounded and great for any time of the week when the nights start to cool down. Head over to Ardent tomorrow night for a taste, and grab a bite from the Go Go Vegan Go food truck out in the beer garden to pair with the release.

Blood Orange season is here, and Canon & Draw Brewing Company is ready with their Corrosive Haze w/ Blood Orange brew, the freshest beer in their Corrosive Haze series. The fan favorite series is continuing on with the latest recipe, and this one was created with tons of flavor.

This Sour IPA has a full-on citrus punch, with “more blood orange than reasonable” added in along with grapefruit to take it to the next level. Bag after bag of fresh citrus-forward American hops went into the dry hop, according to the brewers, to create the perfect blend of sweet orange, grapefruit, and a bit of tart lemon citrus.

Out at Final Gravity Brewing Co., the #55 Hazy IPA is dropping this Sunday in honor of Quy Pham. This special release is a hazy IPA that hits in at 6% ABV, and brewed with Citra and Falconer’s Flight hops. They’ll be bringing out the new beer with River City Wood Fire Pizza, and they’ll also have rotating flavors of Love Berliner Weisse on tap through the day.

All proceeds from the brand-new beer will go to directly Quy’s family, and they’re bringing it out to go along with the 30 mile ride on the Capital Trail for the second annual Tour de Quy. This year, the event is taking place as a fundraiser for Quy’s family, Final Gravity will be out biking in their support. If you want to come out for the event, make sure to check out their page here and get tickets to come show your support as well.

Another multi-release went down at The Veil Brewing Co. last night, starting off with Never Never Gonnagetit Gonnagetit. This 5.1% ABV beer is a Gose brew made with sea salt, double blackberry and double boysenberry additions, and double raspberry purée to pack in all the flavor possible.

The Veil also debuted Supernatural Creature, a brand-new Double IPA that was brewed with a blend of base malts, flaked oats, and flaked wheat then heavily hopped with a complex blend of Citra, Galaxy, Enigma, Motueka, Waimea, Amarillo, and Mosaic hops — so if you’re looking for a big variety in your flavors, you know what to try!

Next up in their releases was @[email protected]_natureboi, another Double IPA (my absolute favorite lately). This one was created with rolled oats before being double dry-hopped with Citra and Motueka hops, and hitting in at 8.5% ABV, it’s great if you want to swing by for just one beer and still get your fill.

The brewery is hosting an oyster roast this Saturday as well, teamed up with Ruby Salts Oysters and Savory Grain for the annual event. You’ll be able to get your oysters raw, grilled, or in an oyster stew, and the festival is also bringing out The Veil’s stouts for the season, with 10 stout beers pouring outside starting at noon and going all day.

Castleburg Brewery and Taproom is bringing out the second of their hazy IPAs this Friday with Seize the Throne IPA. This brew was made with Azacca and Idaho 7 hops, and it’s packed with notes of pineapple and grapefruit to hold onto summer a little longer and “seize your taste buds” in all the best ways. It’s a light straw hazy color that comes in at 6% ABV, so this easy-drinking beer is great for beer lovers of all kinds.

RVA ON TAP: Diablo Forever & The Return of Scream Forest

Caley Sturgill | September 4, 2019

Topics: Ardent craft ales, beer, beer column, booze clues, booze clues podcast, clown battle royale, craft beer, diablo forever, final gravity brewing co, fine creek brewing, Halloween, Intermission Beer Company, Kindred Spirit Brewing, mekong, podcast, quy forever, quy pham, RVA On Tap, scream forest, Stone Brewing-Richmond, the answer brewpub, The Veil Brewing Co., Three Notch’d RVA Collab House

This week, we’ve got an early announcement for a very special fundraiser to the people of Richmond, plus the return of Scream Forest Blood Orange IPA and more to get your Halloween juices flowing.

This summer, our friends at The Answer Brewpub and across the Richmond community lost a beloved member of The Answer’s family, and a beloved friend to folks all around the city. Quy Pham, a longtime bartender at our favorite brewpub and close friend of the owner An Bui, is memorialized forever now on the building The Answer calls home, in a mural along its main wall.

“Diablo Forever” is the phrase of the summer, and one that will stay endlessly in the minds and hearts of all those Quy touched in his life. Last month saw the release of Quy Forever by The Veil Brewing Co. in his honor, and it was brewed to taste sweet, like all our memories of Quy are.

Coming up on September 14, The Answer Brewpub and Mekong are hosting a celebration of Quy’s life and a fundraising event to benefit his family. They’ll have a special beer and glassware auction for fundraising, with bottles, glassware, and other memorabilia donated by the friends and community of Quy and The Answer. If you’re unable to make it out to the event, you can still do your part and donate to his family’s GoFundMe page, which lists an excellent and heartfelt tribute to the kind of guy Quy was with the folks he loved:

“Quy’s ability to at the same time be the most humble caring human and the most sarcastic outgoing comedian is unparalleled. If you have never seen the TV show Cheers, go watch it right now. If you have, you know that you could easily insert Quy as a main character.

“His innate ability to understand people and make them feel relaxed and at home embodied the best of the RVA craft beer & food community. The truth is, he represented the best of what everyone should aspire to be… an amazing friend to everyone. As soon as you sat down at the bar at Mekong you felt like you were at home. If you passed him walking through The Answer with that smile, it was infectious. Quy was always laughing, smiling and giving the best hugs. He was an amazing father & husband and inspired others to be the same. He was always a source for motivation for whatever you wanted to accomplish. Quy has and will continue to impact countless lives.”

After the tragedy of his loss, friends of Quy around town have come together to help his family during hard times. If you’re able to make it out to the fundraising event, your support would be greatly appreciated by The Answer and its community.

Now that fall is nearing, the local breweries around town are gearing up for all the events and releases it brings. With Halloween just around the corner, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House has partnered up with Creepy Hollow Scream Park again to drop Scream Forest this Friday, a Blood Orange IPA that made waves last year for its awesome flavors… and an awesome photo shoot to accompany it.

Creepy Hollow Scream Park is out in Glen Allen, and it’s filled with spooky scenery to keep the experience going at every turn with realistic illustrations and scary surprises. It’s Richmond’s favorite Halloween destination, and it’s made even better by the blood orange flavors bursting in Scream Forest. This IPA was dry-hopped with Mosaic hops to give the blood orange a nice base, added right before they kegged it to keep the tastes fresh — and it’s “bloody delicious,” according to those who have had the pleasure of drinking this spooky brew.

Join Three Notch’d at their Scott’s Addition spot this Friday for the release, and get your spooky gears turning… we’re only a few short weeks away now from cold nights and the thrills of the season.

Happy birthday, Intermission Beer Company! The Glen Allen brewery is celebrating its second birthday this Friday, and we couldn’t be more excited to congratulate them on two trips around the sun together.

For the occasion, they’ll have two new beers on tap: Levy-goz-ah, a Cranberry-Lime Gose coming out Friday, and Ghost Light Lager on Saturday. With a new brew for each evening, Intermission will be keeping the party going throughout the weekend with some awesome entertainment as well.

On Friday, you’ll catch Firesides Food Truck along with the Richmond Astronomical Society for an awesome show, and dessert with Lil’ Stuff Cookies, which has some delicious galaxy-looking batter that fits the occasion. Saturday night, Haulin’ Balls RVA is coming out with music by Spenser Morgan to jam through the evening and celebrate the 2-year anniversary right.

Our friends at The Veil Brewing Co. are at it again, with another multi-release that just went down last night.

Hornswoggler made its way back last night, and this one’s on the opposite end of the flavor spectrum. The Chocolate Milk Stout is on the heavier side, with a huge percentage of fresh chocolate and caramel malts to complement its milk sugar and actual chocolate additions. It’s a little heavier at 7% ABV, and it comes with a surprise: in a true Willy Wonka-inspired candy fashion, this beer will be coming out with 10x Golden Tokens hidden underneath the 4-pack holders that will win you a free Hornswoggler glass if you find one. The glasses aren’t ever going to be for sale, so if you’ve really got your heart set on this limited-edition swag from The Veil, you’ll want to grab a 4-pack ($18.00/pack) while you can!

Summer Sauce Tastee came out just in time for the end of summer, and this smoothie-style Sour Ale was brewed with oats, milk sugar, and tons of awesome fruits to bring out the warm-weather season’s best. You’ll taste a crazy amount of apricot, guava, and passionfruit, according to the brewers, and this 5.5% ABV brew is perfect for an early evening or the last days by the river of the year.

Now that we’re past Labor Day, I think all of us can describe the last few days with the name of The Veil’s next brew: Sick Weekend. And we mean that in the fun style (though I’m sure after your first two nights of celebrating the holiday, you probably got some of the hungover style, too). This brand-new IPA just made its debut last night, brewed with raw and malted wheat and malted oats, then over-saturated with fresh Galaxy, BRU-1, Motueka, and El Dorado hops, hitting in at 6.5% ABV.

Merciless was the fourth release of the night, another fresh recipe from The Veil with some of my most favorite flavors. This Double IPA was brewed with raw wheat, malted wheat, oats, and “piles” of fresh Citra, Galaxy, Simcoe, and Vic Secret hops — plus some extra Citra and Simcoe LP for an extra boost of hop saturation and flavor without the bitterness. Like most Double IPAs, its higher in ABV at 8%, and it’s smooth straight out of the tap.

Check back with us next week for more of The Veil’s delicious releases, and hopefully (fingers crossed) another week of several dropping all at once.

It must be the week of multi-releases, because we’ve got an awesome one coming from Final Gravity Brewing Co. too.

This Friday, Final Gravity’s returning a few fan favorites and bringing out something brand-new. If you’re part of the Final Gravity fan club like we are, you’re gonna be really pumped on a few of these coming back: like Morning Glory New England DIPA, made with Cashmere and Azacca hops.

Also this week is the return of Satellite of Love Berliner Weisse with mango, lime, tangerine, and pineapple-passionfruit flavors — plus the new California Dreamin’ West Coast IPA that blasts flavor with bold hop bitterness, and just a hint of pine for a clean, easy drinkability.

DaddyG PopUp is also heading out to the brewery for the release, and you’ll only be able to get Satellite of Love to drink on site, so make sure to swing by and get a few favorite tastes while they’re here!

Over the weekend at Fine Creek Brewing, Vitalism came out for their Friday Beer Feature. This 7% ABV Hazy IPA brings out a sweet aroma of bright tropical fruit from its Kohatu and Mosaic hop combinations, and notes of papaya and pineapple from its fresh-cut fruit.

It was also brewed with earlier additions of Idaho 7 and German Amarillo hops, so you’ll catch even more fruity tropical tastes like blackberry tea, citrus zest, and mild bits of floral in this beer. Fine Creek sits on a gorgeous farm outside of town in Powhatan, so if you haven’t made it out yet, this beer is a great reason to go enjoy the outdoors on the last of our warm days before fall makes its way in.

Labor Day Weekend brought another great new release with Ardent’s Mixed Berry Gose.

This is Ardent’s most-fruited gose ever, and at a low 4.4% ABV, it’s great for any time of the week — so if you’re still reminiscing of easy nights and fun over the weekend, this is a great one to sip on during the week to ease up those back-to-work blues.

Mixed Berry Gose is packed with raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, and black currant to pour with a distinct purple color and a sweet, jammy flavor that balances out the tart acidity of the gose style. It’s full of flavor while staying on the refreshing side, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.

Out at Stone Brewing Richmond, a national release got an early debut just for the beer-lovers of Richmond to taste first.

Stone Buenaveza Lime & Sea Salt Lager just came out at the East End brewery, and it was inspired by the area Stone originally called home: Southern California, just minutes from the border. According to Stone, many of their flavors have been influenced and enriched by our Southern neighbors, and this Buenaveza was inspired by one in particular. Stone Xocoveza, an imperial stout released back in 2014, brought all of the rich and complex flavors of Mexican hot chocolate into a beer.

This Stone style is back again now with Buenaveza that follows that same take on a classic lager, and you can get it now in Richmond — which you’ll want to do soon, because it won’t be back in distribution until next year, when it’ll come out on a national scale.

Our favorite local beer podcast is out with a new episode again, and it’s as great as ever. Booze Clues just released a new episode and hosted another live recording, and you can catch the latest episode here: called Clown Battle Royale.

Booze Clues takes national headlines of all things drunkenly-inspired from around the globe, with the world’s most “spirited” headlines… which are always hilarious, and often include the nation’s mysterious residents like Florida Man, who is somehow always getting into the worst shenanigans. Make sure to check out their latest comedy episode and subscribe, both to make fun of the world’s drunks and to feel a little better about your own Saturday night drunken shames. We all know we’ve had them.

A new beer is on tap now at Kindred Spirit Brewing, and it’s “dangerously drinkable” at 9.3% ABV (lord help me, because these are always the first to get me). Imperial Red is full of malty goodness, with a resiny-hop finish to keep the flavor as high as the alcohol percentage.

It’s been described by some drinkers as “The best Red I have ever had,” with its smooth, easy flavor that makes the high ABV surprising. It was out back in the spring of last year, and this new brew of the old variation is just as delicious as ever.

RVA ON TAP: The Return of Pumpkin (Finally)

Caley Sturgill | August 28, 2019

Topics: Ardent craft ales, beer, beer column, canon and draw brewing company, double ipa, Fine Creek Brewing Company, Hardywood, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, pumpkin, RVA On Tap, Steam Bell Beer Works, Stone Brewing-Richmond, three notchd, Triple Crossing Beer, vasen brewing

This week, we’ve got some great new releases from the brewers across Richmond, and HUGE big exciting news that I’ve been waiting a long time for. If you read this somewhat regularly, you’ll probably know (and be tired of) my summer woes and the desperate wait for fall… so you’ll know why I’m so pumped this week for:

The moooooost wonderful tiiiiiiiime ooooof the yeeeear!

FINALLY, fall is almost here, and the best tastes of the year are coming back. I’ve been waiting very impatiently since the end of last fall for another one to begin, and this beautiful short season better stick around longer this time.

If you’ve been eagerly-awaiting the return of pumpkin to your life, you’re not alone. Catch me in a flannel and dirty old boots eating an entire pie to myself and living my best life, I don’t care. I’m so happy this hell of a summer is almost over.

Our buds at Hardywood have the perfect beer to commemorate the happiest season of all: Farmhouse Pumpkin. It’s making its way back to the taps this Saturday, much to my enjoyment. This classic Richmond favorite is brewed with saison yeast, over 1,000 pounds of Virginia-grown sugar pumpkins from Grandma’s Pumpkins RVA, three pounds of whole nutmeg, clove and allspice, and over four pounds of fresh ginger root from the local Casselmonte Farm out in Powhatan. This farmhouse brew is soft on the tongue, with a great amount of rustic fall flavors to ring in the cold nights and changing leaves.

God, I’m so happy. I’ve been waiting to write this blurb for months. Go get a pumpkin beer! Also, in more great news, Hardywood’s dropping Union Break in cans on Friday, a delicious Belgian-style White Ale that took 10-hour days from the packaging team to bring to life — with plenty of stoic dedication, sorcerous endurance, and a steady diet of energy drinks, according to Hardywood. And, obviously, a big dose of 80’s heavy metal. This beauty is coming out for #FreshCanFriday right before the big pumpkin release, so if you ever needed a reason to spend an entire weekend at Hardywood, you’ve definitely got one now.

Out at Ardent Craft Ales, the Leigh Street DIPA can release is going down tomorrow night. This beer made its debut a while back, but it’s returning to us in cans with its big, juicy flavor that was double dry-hopped. In its brewing, Ardent used only Mosaic hops, so it’s packed with the tropical, fruity flavors and aromas its hops are known for.

This is actually my current favorite beer-type, because it’s up there in alcohol at 8% ABV, but still soft to the taste. You’ll catch a low bitterness with this one, but still the classic bold flavors you expect from a brew that’s been through a double dry-hopped process. This is one I definitely don’t want to miss a taste of, so if you’ve got similar taste, swing by for a set while you can.

Falcon Day! Triple Crossing Beer’s got something awesome brewing, with a giant four-part release coming up this Friday. You’ll have to bounce back and forth between their downtown and Fulton locations if you want to try all four, but my bets are on that you won’t need so many. Triple Crossing’s Fulton spot is one of my favorite in town, and not too far from Stone Brewing Richmond if you’re looking to make a brewery-hopping evening out of it.

Beloved favorites are coming out in cans and crowlers to bring the full series out at once, with Falcon Smash IPA’s Retro Can Release at both locations, Space Falcon IPA and Falcon Heavy DIPA at just Fulton on Friday, and finally, Baby Falcon Session IPA in crowlers only at both locations.

Also on Friday, make a pit stop in the East End at Stone Brewing Richmond for the release of their Mango Maya Milkshake IPA in collaboration with Rusty Burrell.

To bring this beer to life, Stone partnered up with the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) to host a people’s choice-style homebrew competition in Richmond. The winner, Robert “Rusty” Burrell, was chosen to brew in collaboration with Stone — and perhaps a reason for him to feel extra-lucky, his beer will also be entered into the annual Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am coming up later this year.

Rusty himself will be hanging out at the brewery on Friday evening, so stop by our favorite East End spot for a taste of your own and give him a cheers for his success.

A lot has been brewing at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery lately, in these brand-new collaboration beers with Three Notch’d RVA Collab House.

Starting off, The Source Blueberry Milkshake IPA looks like it’s absolutely to-die for. They’ve also got Juicy #14, which if you remember from last week, sounded amazing. The two brewers together also released The Source IPA, brewed with lactose for the perfect texture.

Lickinghole and Three Notch’d are two of my favorites in this huge sea of breweries that we call Richmond, because there’s nothing quite like an evening on the farm with Lickinghole (especially when the sunflowers are out for picking), and because I’ve spent many an evening with Three Notch’d down at their spot in my hometown, Roanoke. They were a welcome addition to Roanoke’s downtown, which is slowly growing with a number of breweries of its own, and they’re doing some awesome things up here in Richmond at their RVA Collab House.

Over the weekend at Väsen Brewing Company, Azanian Passion came out in all its hazy, New England-style Double IPA glory. Another Double IPA right up my alley (and hopefully up yours, too), Azanian Passion has some intense hop aromas “leaping” from each glass, which are brought to you by its perfectly-balanced combination of Azacca, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Southern Passion hops. It’s also packed with tropical flavors like pineapple and passionfruit, which are complemented by its different piney and floral notes. According to the brewers, it’s moderately bitter and intensely hoppy, so you’ll find yourself somewhere in the middle of the traditional IPA flavors.

Out at Fine Creek Brewing, a Friday Beer Feature dropped over the weekend that sounds like earthy dessert in a glass. Hudson Henry Granola Stout hits in at 7% ABV, and this traditional oatmeal-stout inspired brew was made in collaboration with the Hudson Henry Baking Co.

Rather than the oats of a traditional recipe, Fine Creek swapped for original granola to bring out some *delicious* maple, pecan, and coconut flavors. You’ll taste mild roasted grain flavors in this one, and even more with maple syrup, roasted malt, cafe con leche, and subtle toasted coconut… plus highlights of chocolate, vanilla, and dark roast coffee. Does it get any better than that? I’ll be damned, I don’t think it does.

Tonight at Canon & Draw Brewing Company, head over for a tasty (and hilarious) release. Canon & Draw has been running a series lately that they call the “Tim & Matt Awesome Beer Great Job!” IPA Series, which has featured great flavors like tropical fruits and floral aromas, with orange and grapefruit juice, plus hints of pine.

Next up in the series is Season 2, which you can taste anytime after 2pm today at the West Main Street brewery — so if you’re reading this in the morning and already craving a new beer, they’ve got you covered for day drinking after lunch.

A new American Barleywine is on its way to Steam Bell Beer Works this Friday, and if you’ve never tasted a Barleywine, get prepared. These thick, dark beer-wine mashups are heavy on the throat, but lord, they taste good.

If you’re not big on stouts and porters, this one might not be for you — but if you got as excited as I did for Fine Creek’s granola stout, this might just be up your alley. Hitting in at 10.6% ABV, you’ll want to go easy on the drinking, and you can grab it on draft or take it to-go if you think you’re better off not having to call that Uber afterward. Either way, a good Barleywine can be really hard to find in the city, so Steam Bell’s latest release is one you’ll want to get a taste of one way or another while you can!

RVA ON TAP: Festivals Galore!

Caley Sturgill | August 21, 2019

Topics: 18th Street, ‪3 Sons‬, ‪American Solera, ‪Anchorage‬, Angry Chair, ardent, Ardent craft ales, beer, beer column, Bellwoods, Benefit, Bissell Brothers, Black Heath Meadery, Blue Bee Cider, Buskey Cider, ‪Cantillon, Casey Brewing, Center of the Universe, Cloudwater‬, courthouse creek cider, Drie Fonteinen‬, Final Gravity, fine creek brewing, ‪Fonta Flora‬, ‪Half Acre‬, Hardywood, ‪Hill Farmstead‬, ‪Holy Mountain‬, ‪Hudson Valley‬, Isley Brewing Company, James River Association, ‪Jester King‬, lab rescue, Lickinghole Creek, ‪Monkish‬, nonprofit, ‪Notch‬, ‪Ocelot‬, ‪Omnipollo‬, ‪Other Half‬, outrva, ‪Oxbow‬, Reservoir Distillery, Richmond Triangle Players, RVA On Tap, ‪Sante Adarius‬, ‪SideProject‬, ‪Suarez Family, ‪The Answer, The Veil, ‪The Veil, The Veil Brewing Co., three notchd, ‪Threes, ‪Tired Hands, Trillium‬, TRVE‬, va pride, Vasen Brewing Company, weldwerks

This week, Richmond’s brewers are at it again with *tons* of awesome events. You’ll find some great new beer releases, in addition to lots of benefits to help out the nonprofits and organizations we all know and love, so save your weekly restaurant budget for the weekend, because we’ve got a lot of great reasons to come and support.

Big news at Hardywood! The James River Jubilee is coming up this Sunday, so make sure you don’t go too hard on Saturday so you can make it out. Our buds at Hardywood partnered up with the James River Association to create this special first-ever James River celebration to honor the biggest and best part of our city: the river that runs through it.

All of our river-goers know how important the James is to Richmond and its history, and the James River Park System is one of the best in the state for hiking, fishing, picnics, and swimming all summer long. There’s nothing like getting out of the hustle and bustle of downtown to escape into the trails along the river, and take a vacation from the city without ever having to leave it. The James River Association maintains our beautiful environment and keeps it in tip-top shape for us to enjoy year-round, so take this Sunday to come together with us to appreciate the river and the people who protect it.

All day long at Hardywood, food trucks and beers galore will be around along with interactive vendors and jubilant music to commemorate Richmond’s greatest asset, and the wildlife that surrounds it.

Hardywood’s also got some great can releases this week, with None Of This Makes Sense coming out on Friday in cans along with Cloud Shapes, a dreamy fruit Double IPA dropping in cans that day as well.

Calling all dog lovers! National Dog Day is around the corner, and our friends at Isley Brewing Company have brewed up something special to commemorate it.

This Saturday, head over to Isley for the release of Rescue Red Ale, a red that reflects its name in its deep, cherry color. It’s brewed with Jarrylo and Mosaic hops that balance out its malty, sweet backbone with a bit of a hoppy kick. with a good amount of hops but a still-approachable 5.2% ABV and 34 IBU to keep the bitterness at bay.

Along with great beer, you’ll find everything from treats to doggie pools and homemade ice cream for your pups, and giveaways and raffles to treat their humans, too. The beer benefits the Lab Rescue of Greater Richmond and the Lab Rescue LRCP, so drink happy knowing you’re helping some sweet babies find homes.

Another bonus: if you’re a dog lover who has yet to find their dog to love, the event will be hosting adoptions of some great pups in need of forever homes. Come to Isley for the beer, and come home with your newest (and favorite) family member.

Tomorrow night, swing by Ardent Craft Ales for some sweet earthy flavors in their latest brew. Barrel Aged Honey Ginger is making its way back to the taps, and this new version of a fan favorite is only available once a year — so make sure you don’t miss out, and get your taste before it’s gone.

Layered with bourbon and vanilla notes, this honey-ginger beer was aged for more than a year in bourbon barrels to add to its sweet honey tastes and spices with ginger. If you loved last year’s version, you’re sure to enjoy this one with its bourbon barrel additions of flavor. Coming in at a high 11.5% ABV, you’ll also only need one, unless you’re in that small class of folks I know who can grab a six pack and enjoy bourbon brews all night long.

If you’re wanting a taste without a weeknight evening at the brewery, you can also head over to grab some in bottles to enjoy anytime. They’re also hosting the release alongside one of our most-favorite foods with The Return of the Mac food truck out in the beer garden, so you won’t want to miss it.

Are you holding on to summer with all your might? You’re not alone. The Veil Brewing Co. feels your pain, and they’re hosting a banger for all the summer-lovers in the River City.

Forever Summer Fest is going down this Saturday at The Veil to benefit ChildSavers. This is an awesome way to give back, so don’t let the high ticket price scare you off if you’re able to swing it — all proceeds are going back to the nonprofit, so you can rest easy knowing those dollars are well-spent.

The event is taking place over three sessions throughout the day from morning to night, which lets you pick whichever time works best. Grab your tickets here for any session you please, and get tastes from tons of awesome breweries you won’t find around here… plus your local favorites like The Answer Brewpub who will be there pouring.

Here’s a full list of the brewers, many we don’t normally get to try at home, who are coming out:

18th Street, Angry Chair, ‪American Solera, ‪Anchorage‬, Bellwoods, Bissell Brothers, ‪Cantillon, Casey Brewing, Cloudwater‬, Drie Fonteinen‬, ‪Fonta Flora‬, ‪Half Acre‬, ‪Hill Farmstead‬, ‪Holy Mountain‬, ‪Hudson Valley‬, ‪Jester King‬, ‪Monkish‬, ‪Notch‬, ‪Ocelot‬, ‪Omnipollo‬, ‪Other Half‬, ‪Oxbow‬, ‪Sante Adarius‬, ‪SideProject‬, ‪Suarez Family, ‪The Answer, ‪The Veil, ‪Threes, ‪3 Sons‬, ‪Tired Hands, Trillium‬, TRVE‬, and ‪Weldwerks‬.

Returning to Final Gravity Brewing Co. this week is Cassiopeia, a Double IPA brewed in honor of the beautiful Greek Cassiopeia in mythology. Head over to Final Gravity this Friday for a taste of melon, coconut, pine, peach, and “whispers of pineapple” in this easy drinker.

Cassiopeia was brewed with Cashmere and Mosaic hops to come together in this heavenly congregation, as the brewers say, of radiant flavors with a smooth bitterness that brings out its lemon and tangerine flavors.

Out on the farm at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, our brewers are at it again with a brand-new brew coming out this Friday. Juicy #14 is the latest in Lickinghole Creek’s Juicy Series, dry-hopped with a massive amount of Eureka hops — and only Eureka hops.

A pale, hazy beauty according to Lickinghole Creek, Juicy #14 is full of tropical citrus, stone fruit, and blackberry flavors which all come together with a fluffy, wheat-based mash bill. You’ll love the low bitterness that comes with its big hop flavors from being rounded out with their house English Ale yeast to make this perfectly-dank and resinous beer.

Grab your wagons if you’ve got ‘em (wheelbarrows and station wagons are acceptable for those of us who live in the actual city) because Center of the Universe has a festival for you.

The 3rd Annual Circle the Wagons BBQ Cook-off and Concert is coming up this Saturday to benefit Circles Ashland, a nonprofit that works to reduce poverty in Ashland. This benefit is going down in the brand-new Green Top Hunt Fish with tons of entertainment, from music for parents to a 40ft inflatable obstacle course for the kids.

If you’re a big BBQ fan like myself, this event is definitely for you. A panel of 10 judges is going to be tasting one meat and one side from each of the vendors in attendance, which includes Saucy’s BBQ, The Salty Pig Smokehouse Co., Jake’s Place, Virginia BBQ Ashland, The UFO Truck, and my *all-time favorite* Grandpa Eddie’s Alabama Ribs & BBQ. You can bet your sweet bippy that I will be coming out if only for a massive plate of Grandpa Eddie’s just to take home and eat by myself in bliss.

They’ve also got amateur competitions that you can enter if you please, so get cookin’ and bring out your best recipes to take home the name of best cornbread in the state from the festival. All-around, this is going to be a day of bigtime good food, so bring your appetite and fast for food that morning if you have to. Lord knows I probably will.

Out at Fine Creek Brewing, a new Lemon Wheat came out over the weekend that sounds delicious. Already a favorite among fans, this American Wheat Ale brew hits in at 5.2% ABV and brings out all the refreshment you need for these hot summer days. It was brewed with Callista, Saphir, and Nugget hops in addition to its fresh lemon peel additions, and you can grab it to-go as well in Growlers and Crowlers.

They’ve also got their beloved Turf & Twig Brown Ale back on tap, which has just the right amount of sweetness to complement this dark-style Brown Ale. You’ll catch dessert flavors like nutty coffee, baker’s cocoa, and pumpernickel bread to bring out its rich maltiness, and a clean finish with just that hint of sweetness to round it out.