craft beer Archives

Good Beer For Good Change

Noah Daboul | August 27, 2020

Topics: beer, black is beautiful, black is beautiful beer richmond va, black is beautiful beer virginia, craft beer, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, richmond va breweries, richmond va craft beer, starr hill richmond, Strangeways Brewing, the answer brewpub, The Veil Brewing Co., weathered souls brewing

Virginia craft breweries are participating in the Black Is Beautiful initiative, raising funds for charities supporting people of color and creating their own spins on a collaborative recipe. We caught up with Hardywood and The Veil to learn about their take on the imperial stout.

New imperial stouts are popping up across Virginia, and it’s no coincidence that they share the same name. “Black Is Beautiful,” a collaborative beer initiative by San Antonio’s Black-owned Weathered Souls Brewing Co., invites brewers to join in and help bring the community together. Hardywood, The Answer, Lickinghole Creek, The Veil, Starr Hill, Strangeways, and many more have taken their own spin on the recipe.

“It seemed like the perfect thing to participate in. It was entirely positive,” said Eric McKay at Hardywood. “It allowed us to use our passion, and what we love doing, to brew creative and interesting beers. We hoped in some ways [this collaboration] would be healing, and might help to bring our community together. I think that’s really important right now.”

Weathered Souls provided the artwork and recipe for the beer, which is intended to be a stout, to all breweries who wanted to participate.

Hardywood has chosen to donate all proceeds from the now-sold-out stout to the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, a familiar event to Richmonders, which showcases Black chefs and their restaurants.

“A major cost of the event is advertising and promoting it,” said McKay. “Some [breweries] have chosen beneficiaries that are broader and more national. We felt that doing one a little closer to our own community would be more ideal.”

*PHOTO: Black Is Beautiful Stout at Hardywood*

More than 30 brewers in Virginia have participated in the Black Is Beautiful collaboration.

“The sheer number of craft breweries that have engaged in this collaboration, specifically, is a good sign of the response and desire of Virginia’s breweries to make craft beer more inclusive,” said McKay. “It’s emphasized the need to broaden our customer base.”

Hardywood usually hosts an annual Heart and Soul Festival, which promotes soul food and music in Richmond.

“This past year, it was awarded a grant by the Brewers Association,” said McKay. “[The grant] is specific to promoting inclusivity in an industry that, admittedly, is not at all diverse, and could really improve from increased diversity.”

For their spin on the Black Is Beautiful Stout, Hardywood reached out to Candy Schibli, owner and founder of Southeastern Roastery in Baltimore. She recommended two coffee varietals to Hardywood, an Ethiopian and a Tanzanian, which she then custom-roasted and blended for the brewery. These two varietals add very pleasant notes of berry and apricot to the stout.

“We felt we could enhance the cause more by engaging a Black artisan who lives in the region, and showcase her passion,” said McKay.

Hardywood’s imperial stout is very heavy, rich, and slightly bitter. There are lots of dark chocolate notes present, and an underlying coffee character which is enhanced by the cold-press brewing that occurred when they ran the beer through the beans. Hardywood is currently sold out of the 10 percent ABV stout, although their distributor has some on its shelves. It’s also available at a few stores around Richmond (if you’re lucky enough to find it).

“The end result turned out really well,” said McKay. “The subtle berry and apricot notes really came through from the coffee.”

*PHOTO: Black Is Beautiful Stout at The Veil Brewing Co.*

Another Richmond brewery, The Veil Brewing Co., also sold out of their Black Is Beautiful Stout. Justin Anderson, director of production at The Veil, said they added some adjuncts to it for their spin on the recipe.

“We added single-origin coffee donated by Blanchard’s Coffee, caramel, and maple syrup,” said Anderson. “Ours was 11 percent ABV, which is higher than the original recipe. We also blended it with some barrel-aged imperial stout we had.”

The Veil doesn’t usually get involved in political issues, but they felt that this was a good time to make an exception.

“This is the first time we’ve taken a political stance as a company,” said Anderson. “A lot of us felt that it was important to do so… We thought, ‘What’s going to be cool, and get people excited to support the cause?’”

The Veil is donating 100 percent of proceeds from sales of the Black Is Beautiful Stout to nonprofits in Richmond, although they are still in the process of choosing which one would be best. They want to align their donations with the intentions stated on the Weathered Souls Black Is Beautiful website, which describes the project as “a collaborative effort to raise awareness for the injustices people of color face daily and raise funds for police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged.”

Anderson said the stout has a very roasty flavor from the coffee, which complements the intense maple and caramel flavors. Similar to Hardywood’s recipe, The Veil’s stout pairs very well with chocolate desserts, ice cream, or by itself as a digestif.

The Veil and Hardywood are just two of many breweries across the state and nation participating in the Black Is Beautiful brewing movement, raising funds and awareness for the daily injustices against people of color in America. Smartmouth Brewing Co. and O’Connor Brewing Co. in Norfolk have also participated, and the latter is donating all of their proceeds to the Urban League of Hampton Roads.

Craft beer has largely not been a diverse community in its time, and the Weathered Souls initiative has shed light on that. The movement hopes to bring change to the future of this scene, and with the recent funds raised, to bring positive change for people of color across the nation.

To keep up with Weathered Souls and learn more about the Black Is Beautiful initiative, find them on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Capsoul Presents Cohesion: Where Craft Meets Culture

Mitchel Bamberger | August 10, 2020

Topics: Capsoul, Chilalay, Cohesion Double IPA, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, diversity, Eric Jackson, vasen brewing

Capsoul exists to help diversify taprooms and bring new communities to the world of craft beer. Their latest effort in this direction is Cohesion, a Double IPA bringing together the talents of Vasen Brewing and streetwear company Chilalay.

On August 15th, Capsoul is presenting Cohesion: a new beer that is the product of a collaboration between local Richmond brewery, Vasen, and a local streetwear company called Chilalay. Capsoul is a unique RVA company that acts as a cultural adhesive between local brewers and other Richmond businesses in other industries.

Eric Jackson is one of the cofounders of Capsoul, and offered some of his time to enlighten us on their mission and latest project. “The whole purpose of Capsoul is to diversify and energize taprooms… by bringing in new clientele, new faces, and a new demographic,” he said.

Capsoul puts on events in local taprooms and operates brewery tours, but they primarily work to connect local brewers with potential collaborators in an effort to make craft beer culture inclusive, diverse, and more interesting. “A lot of times those demographics aren’t new to beer, but are new to feeling comfortable and at home in those spaces,” he said.

Capsoul have a unique business model, one part production company and one part creative consultants. Through their operations, they help local brewers expand into new territories and make new connections by enlarging their social and business networks. Because every project and collaboration looks different and functions differently, it can be difficult to sum up what Capsoul does succinctly. There are their brewery events, as well as a magazine they publish on a regular basis. They also host a podcast about craft beer culture.

“We talk to different industry people within the brewery scene, local hip-hop artists, things like that,” said Jackson. “Our motto is ‘where craft meets culture.’” Part of the reason Capsoul is so versatile, and why it’s services and productions are so diverse, is because their interests and passions are equally eclectic. “We love craft beer but we also love the culture that we’re in,” he said. “It’s an outpouring of our passions.”

For Jackson, the dedication and enthusiasm that craft beer fans possess for the artful passion of craft beer is not so different from the enthusiasm streetwear fans have for their own passions. “In the same way people go out and stand in line for the new Jordans, craft beer drinkers do the same exact thing,” he said. “I think it’s a commodity that we all understand and it brings us together. It’s showing that there’s this cohesion right in our midst, and we don’t always see it.”

When Jackson was asked why he thinks some people who might enjoy it don’t discover craft beer, he said, “I think it’s a lack of exposure. I was exposed to craft beer within the career that I was working, and I loved it.” However, he immediately had to wonder why more of his friends didn’t seem to know about it.

“Why don’t any of my friends know about craft beer?” he remembered thinking. “There’s some really great options, besides Corona and Bud Light and the stuff you find in the store, at local spots in the city, that we can support the community and enjoy.”

Cohesion is Capsoul’s newest baby. This collaboration between Vasen and Chililalay is a hoppy, fruity double IPA, highly anticipated by the craft beer fanatics of Richmond. “We used southern passion which is a very fruity, floral hop,” Jackson said. “We used African Queen, which comes from South Africa, and we used Asaka… It’s gonna be a double IPA, 8%, hazy dank fruit notes.”

So how did this collaboration come to be? And what inspired the team-up between an urban clothing company and a local brewery? Jackson assures us that it didn’t happen overnight.

“The relationship between Vasen and Capsoul is over a year old,” said Jackson. Capsoul first worked with Vasen last year during their Hop Crawl. Later, they returned to Vasen to make a brew in collaboration with the Pink Boots Society, an organization that highlights an under-represented demographic in the craft beer community: women.

So what about the other half of the collaboration? Chilalay is a clothing store on Broad Street downtown that specializes in streetwear. In light of their location, they were affected in an unfortunate way by the protests that took place in late May and early June when their building was vandalized. Jackson wanted to make sure the collaboration would give back to Chilalay.

From that inspiration, Jackson had the idea to do a collaboration that would bring business to Chilalay and raise money to help them repair damages and recoup losses. “They had to close down the storefront for about two months,” Jackson said. “[So I thought,] how about we do the release party at Chilalay and have Chilalay design a t-shirt? It’s turned into this whole three-day weekend release party in August around this conversation and idea of Cohesion.”

The name for Cohesion comes from Capsoul’s desire to “bring things together in unity,” as Jackson explains. He hopes that, by creating a collaborative craft brew that brings together two cultures not usually associated with one another, an increased sense of the things the different groups have in common will result.

The label artwork for Cohesion features the work of Virginia Beach artist Marlon Diggs. “He specializes in pop art,” Jackson said of Diggs. “We kind of told him what we were doing, but we didn’t give him too much direction. He put the art together, and we thought it turned out beautiful; really showcased what we are doing in the city.”

The theme of Cohesion applies not only to the beer’s collaborative nature, but to the artwork Diggs created as well. “Even with the theme of pop art, you bring all these different scattered and bruised and blurred pieces together and you make this one beautiful piece,” said Jackson. “When we saw his piece, it just made sense.”

For Diggs, pop art came into play in his design for the Cohesion label through his appreciation for commercial images of bygone eras.

“I originally drew inspiration from old weathered billboards and advertisements,” he said. “I’ve always been able to see the beauty in chaos, layers of ads and posters peeling off of a billboard.”

*Image by Marlon Diggs, courtesy Capsoul*

This aesthetic works well for the collaboration with Chilalay’s streetwear style. The art contains deeper layers of meaning within the broader context of Cohesion as well. “This piece is one that means a lot to me from a lot of angles — a group of Black men coming together seamlessly to create something I think will leave a lasting impression and impact on the community,” Diggs said. “The artwork itself [is] of a black woman peeking through and standing out amongst the chaos — different pieces one may usually overlook, coming together to create something beautiful. It’s kind of symbolic of Black people, the way a billboard may become weathered over time or fade, [but it’s] still standing, and the message is still heard through it all.”

Both Jackson and co-founder Ty Murdaugh are Black, and the Black Lives Matter movement has been an inspiration for them in their work with Capsoul. “By nature, Capsoul looks to diversify,” Jackson said. “We don’t necessarily say we are a Black organization, but I think it’s by nature that people see that.”

In the wake of the protests that have been taking place around the city, the country, and beyond over the past two months, Capsoul have found themselves involved in more conversations about racial justice, and the lack of diversity that exists within craft beer culture.

“We have been more outspoken about the things that we, as a Black community, go through on a daily, weekly, yearly basis,” said Jackson. “We are mainly speaking about craft beer, but myself and my business partner have gone out to the protests. And we talk about it, we’ve posted about it. If you listen to our podcast those topics are coming up — our frustrations with what’s going on… but we’re also speaking about it over a cold pint.”

The official Cohesion release party will be on August 15th, but the entire weekend will feature events that are part of Capsoul’s celebration of community, collaboration and, of course, good beer. It begins with a pre-release party at Chilalay on Friday, August 14, and all proceeds from that event will be donated back to Chilalay. There will be a DJ, Vasen will be in attendance, and Capsoul will be selling posters of the Cohesion label art, as well as a collaborative t-shirt with Chilalay, commemorating the craft brew.

The official release party for Cohesion will take place the next day at Vasen, from 12 til 6 pm. A DJ will be there as well, as will Chilalay, Capsoul, and label artist Marlon Diggs. Then, to cap off the release weekend, there will be a VIP event at Vasen’s barrel room. “That event is strictly to highlight Vasen and Tony, the head brewer, to talk about their barrel program and the beers that they have,” Jackson said.

Capsoul hopes to expand the reach of craft beer and to get new people interested in the complexity and beauty of high quality, locally brewed beer. They aim to bridge the gap between people that drink craft beer and those who aren’t acquainted with its pleasures. “A lot of time within craft beer, there is an ocean-sized difference between the people that drink craft beer and those that don’t,” said Jackson. “{But] I think we are all really one and the same.”

Top Photo via Capsoul/Facebook

RVA On Tap: Ditch The Corona. Here’s How To (Safely) Support Local Brewers!

Caley Sturgill | July 29, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, coronavirus, covid 19, covid19, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, Final Gravity, Fine Creek Brewing Company, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood, Intermission Beer Company, Isley Brewing Company, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, Starr Hill, the answer brewpub, things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, triple crossing, vasen brewing

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

Our kegs are overflowing this week with craft beer, and we’re not riding out this virus without our favorite local brewers… but this time, we’re bringing them home with us.

This week in Booze News, we’ve got fresh can releases, new brews for growler fills, and even local ciders and spirits. You’ll get all the best for delivery & pickup, in alphabetical order, to find your local favorites easily. Don’t miss out, Richmond, and continue supporting local business!

We’ve got pickup and delivery services from locals like The Answer Brewpub, Ardent Craft Ales, Belle Isle Moonshine, Bryant’s Cider, Center of the Universe Brewing, Intermission Beer Company, Isley Brewing Company, Final Gravity, Fine Creek Brewing Company, Garden Grove, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Lickinghole Creek, Starr Hill, Stone Brewing, Strangeways, Triple Crossing, Väsen Brewing Company, The Veil Brewing Co. and more. Stay healthy, and drink up!

BREWERS: If your outdoor spaces are opening at a safely-limited capacity, please email [email protected] with updates.

The Answer Brewpub

In to-go brews, The Answer Brewpub is first on our alphabetical list of local spots for carry-out purchases. The Answer also released brand new “Black Is Beautiful” brew, plus a series of Quy Pham-inspired beers to honor their beloved friend — so go show them support and spread the love where you can.

Check out their available brews and Order Here!

THE ANSWER BEERS:

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL IMPERIAL STOUT
KISSING THE LIPLESS HAZY NEIPA (sold out)
SUMMER SHOWERS (sold out)
PETTY MOSAIC SESSION IPA
BLUE MAJIK TROPICAL COCKTAIL GOSE
IMPERIAL MILK STOUT “QUY IS THE ANSWER”
QUY LIME PIE GOSE
NEW GUINEA VANILLA BEER
TASTED LIKE SUNSHINE DUST
FEVER DREAMS
THE VIBES
MURDER BEARS
NO WAY DOWN
MALARKEY TIPA
MILK CHOCOLATE CHUGYO
TACTICAL LAGER
QUAD MOTHER OF MORENO: MANGO, MARSHMALLOW, VANILLA
CONDRON DOUBLE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE
PASSIONFRUIT MANGO HONEY LEMONADE
KING ROBINSON COBBLER: STRAWBERRY RHUBARB
IMPERIAL 3 SCOOPS: PASSIONFRUIT MANGO PEACH
RUM PASSIONFRUIT PAINKILLER

Don’t forget to add your tips to support their team when you place your order!

If you’re planning to stop by for a to-go order, the brewery is encouraging you to please follow CDC safety guidelines.

Ardent Craft Ales

Ardent Craft Ales is offering curbside pick-up options and delivery. Beer shipping across Virginia and D.C. is available here. Locally in Richmond, you can Order Here!

Ardent partially reopened their beer garden last month, and hours are expanded to 12-8pm Tuesday-Sunday. They’ll also be serving food every day, so head out for a bite and a beer! Keep up with them on social media for updates.

AVAILABLE BEERS:

IMPERIAL STOUT WITH VANILLA & CACAO NIBS
SHORT THROW BREWING – RESTING MY GREATNESS
MIXED BERRY GOSE
SAISON
HIGHPOINT DIPA
HONEY GINGER
IPA X
BOHEMIAN PILSNER
IPA 12oz FLAGSHIP IPA
ARDENT PILSNER
ELDIG BALTIC PORTER
EARL GREY BROWN ALE
DEFENESTRATOR
DARK RYE
HONEST ADMIRATION
IMPERIAL MILK STOUT

For pickups, park in Ardent’s parking lot off Highpoint Avenue, and give the taproom a call to let them know you’re there. They’ll bring your orders out and check your ID at your car, so folks won’t have to get out and come inside at all. These are expected to be available within 30 minutes of the order being placed, so shoot for that time frame, and you’ll receive updates from Ardent if there are any delays due to higher volumes of orders.

For deliveries, drivers will come to the address provided, and IDs will be checked upon arrival. Be sure to plan for it — if you’re unavailable when they arrive, they’ll bring your order back to the taproom and keep it available for pick-up.

Belle Isle Moonshine

In more local craft drink news, Belle Isle Moonshine is offering local delivery (even same-day for orders before 2pm!) of their premium moonshine, canned cocktails, and more. Head over to their website to order here if you’re looking to mix things up and add a few cocktails into your evening brews!

Last month, they introduced Honey Habanero & Pineapple, the latest in their series of canned cocktails. This is the first small-batch, limited run cocktail to come out of Belle Isle, and this special recipe is available only to Virginia residents via their Online Distillery Store.

Check out the list below for a full rundown of moonshine and craft cocktails available from the local distillery.

AVAILABLE MOONSHINE & CANNED COCKTAILS:

HONEY HABANERO
HONEY HABANERO & PINEAPPLE
INFUSION 12-PACK
BELLE ISLE BLOOD ORANGE MOONSHINE
BELLE ISLE RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT MOONSHINE
BELLE ISLE BLACK LABEL MOONSHINE
HONEY HABANERO & PINEAPPLE CANNED COCKTAIL
BLOOD ORANGE & SODA CANNED COCKTAIL
RUBY RED & SODA CANNED COCKTAIL
SHINE & SODA CANNED COCKTAIL

Belle Isle also has merch available on their online store, so head over to see all the options when you order drinks.

Bryant’s Cider

Bryant’s Cider is now open! We’ve been waiting forever to see the brand-new beautiful tasting room (thanks, coronavirus) and we couldn’t be more excited to see they’re able to open safely. Congrats on the opening, Bryant’s, and downtown welcomes you!

Order Online here if you’re still not comfortable venturing out, and check below for a list of everything available for pickup.

AVAILABLE CIDERS:

BRITE GOOD
SUMTHIN JUICY
UNICORN FUEL (this one made them famous, so you’ll definitely want to check it out!)
500ML CANCER
500ML GEMINI
500ML MINT JULEP
500ML SATAN’S HAVEN
500ML STRAWBERRY SNORT
500ML BRITE GOOD
500ML HELL HOP

Stay tuned for more info as we get to test out the new cider location, and support local biz!

Center of the Universe Brewing

Head to cotubrew.square.site to order delivery for their best recipes. You can place orders at (804) 368-0299, or via the website by checking “Fulfillment Method” and “Delivery” with your address before finishing check-out.

AVAILABLE BEERS & CROWLERS:

BELGIAN WHEAT ALE
BLACKBERRY CRYSTAL COTU HARD SELTZER
CHAMELEON IPA
CREATIVE JUICES IPA
MONKEY’S UNCLE LEMONGRASS TRIPEL
OAKY POKEY
OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE PORTER
PINEAPPLE WHIP
POCAHOPTAS IPA
RALLY CAP GRAPEFRUIT SHANDY
SUMMER MOON IMPERIAL RASPBERRY WHEAT ALE

Customers can park alongside the front curb and proceed to the front door. Patrons will stay outside, and COTU team will deliver orders to the front. All tips received will benefit the front staff during closures. Kegs are available, ordering via email at [email protected] for availability and pricing. Gift cards are available here.

Final Gravity Brewing Co.

Over at Final Gravity Brewing Co., to-go pours are available for every brew you could dream of: all you need to do is grab a Crowler. Check out their website and Order Here!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

LAKESIDE LAGER
JAMES BROWN ALE
VENUS RISING DOUBLE IPA
ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE HAZY DIPA
ILL TECHNIQUE HAZY DIPA
THE DOPPLER EFFECT IPA
STEPPING STONE BLONDE ALE
THIRD SEASON SAISON
FIRE STATION 5 AMERICAN AMBER ALE
IRISH GOODBYE STOUT

Delivery runs up to 10 miles! For regular pickup, head inside to their bar. For curbside pickup, there’s a green tent set up behind their building. Call 264-48084, Option 1, to let them know when you’ve arrived.

Fine Creek Brewing Company

Out at Fine Creek Brewing Company, beer delivery is available! Check out Fine Creek’s website for a full list of beers available for pick-up and delivery, and find them on Facebook for updates and more information. Order Here!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

HELLES LAGER
TRICKNOLOGY IPA
GAMMA GARDEN DIPA
DAD STRENGTH DIPA CROWLER
MURPHY & RUDE MOSAIC PALE ALE
NEW ZEALAND PILSNER
PARTICLE FALLS SMOKED IPA
RAYGUN GOTHIC IPA
RYE LAGER CROWLER
HOPPY CROWLER
LAGER CROWLER
HERBARIUM WILD SAISON
BARREL AGED GOLDEN SOUR

Be sure to keep up with Fine Creek on social media and at their website for the latest news from these awesome Powhatan brewers!

Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery

At Garden Grove, along with carry-out orders, they’ve also started curbside pick-up for all their best brews. With your favorites like EarthTone, you’ll be able to order beers here and pick them up from your car to keep things safe.

AVAILABLE BEERS:

CARTOON VILLAIN IPA
MADELINE SAISON
TABLE FOR TWO BELGIAN PALE ALE
EARTHTONE
GIVE EM’ HELLES
KOUSHMA
ROUGAROU
ARASSAS KOLSCH
FERGUS WEE-HEAVY
EVANGELINE
SYNTHESIS

WINE:

HUAY CHIVO CIDER
KOBOLD DRY-HOPPED CIDER
SUPER SEYSHAN CIDER
GRANDEUR!
TYPHOON PASSION FRUIT AND MANGO HONEY WINE
PINK LEMONADE HONEY WINE
2018 CHARDONNAY
2017 PETIT VERDOT
2018 ADAPTATION
SYNTHESIS 300ML

They’re keeping things safe, and encouraging folks to use curbside pickup to limit the number of customers in the taproom at any given time on to-go orders. Keep up with them on Facebook for updates.

*PHOTO: Hardywood West Creek by Chad Williams of Creative Visual Design*

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Hardywood West Creek and Richmond locations are open, folks! The outdoor spaces have been re-arranged to allow for proper social distancing, and all us Hardywood fans can now visit them again safely. New hours are Tuesday-Friday 2-9pm, and Saturday-Sunday 12-9pm. First come, first serve! Find more information here on rules and what to expect.

If you’d rather still drink from home, head over here to Order Online. They’ll be offering awesome new beer releases regularly, so be sure to stay updated with them going forward.

Hardywood Richmond brews listed below. CLICK HERE for West Creek info & cases/growler fills!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

PEACH TRIPEL
NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE
BALTIC SUNRISE
HARDYWOOD HEFEWEIZEN
TURNING POINT
BOURBON CRU
RICHMOND LAGER
GREAT RETURN
HARDYWOOD PILS
HARDYWOOD SINGEL
VIPA
WYLDFLOWER
TANGERINE SUNCRUSH
WEST CREEK HARD CIDER
HOPKEEPER
BOURBON BALTIC SUNRISE
RASPBERRY STOUT

Keep up with Hardywood on Instagram and Facebook for more updates, and make your way out to support!

Intermission Beer Company

Intermission Beer Company is open! Masks are required to enter.

Intermission is now open for taproom and patio seating, for 21+ only and no pets during this time (hold tight, dog lovers!) It’s first-come, first-serve, and it’ll be closed for seating once they reach capacity. Always remember to wear your mask and keep folks safe!

Order Here for delivery! To grab a curbside pickup order, call or text Intermission at 804-585-0405 and they’ll deliver any of their available beers straight to your car when you arrive. Beer slushies are now available, too!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

BEER SLUSHIES! Check Facebook every Friday to see the weekend’s flavor.
HONEY HIBISCUS SAISON
HATHOR GOSE SOUR
GHOST LIGHT LAGER
OVATION HARD SELTZER LEMON
OVATION HARD SELTZER ORANGE
OVATION HARD SELTZER RASPBERRY
STRAWBERRY BLONDE
VIENNA CREAM ALE
CONJURED DARKNESS
TROPICAL THUNDER IPA

They’ll deliver within a 5 mile radius of Intermission, and reserve the right to cancel any orders further than 5 miles away. You can check here to see if your address is within their range.

Check with Intermission on Facebook for updates as things go on, and catch up with them to find out more about brews on tap.

Isley Brewing Company

To-go brews are available at Isley Brewing Company! The tasting room will be closed, but beers on tap will be available for pickup. Order Here!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

ISLEY SUNBURNT COUNTRY DIPA
TEA-RIFFIC SWEET TEA AMBER ALE
SET SAIL
SHIP FACED
6 FEET CLOSER TO YOU
OFF THE BOULEVARD
THE BRIBE
CHOOSY MOTHER
PLAIN JANE
PLAIN JANE STRAWBERRY
PLANE JANE BLUEBERRY
CASH AND CARRY CASHMERE HAZY IPA
RHIZOME SUN
APPLE OF MY EYE BLONDE ALE
ISLEY CZECH PILSNER
RASPBERRY RAZZLE
GOSE-BUSTERS

In orders, be sure to include your name, address, email, and what you’d like to order in four-packs, then let them know when you’re there. There’s a minimum purchase of two four-packs per order, and delivery charges will apply. A big plus: they deliver up to 5 miles away from the brewery — so if you’re located further out, it’s no problem!

Check their post here for more information on ordering, and keep up with Isley on Facebook for updates.

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

Multi-state shipping and drive-thru pickup now available! Get your brews online and Order Here from Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery’s website.

AVAILABLE BEERS:

GOOCHLAND QUADRUPEL ALE
BEAR BAIT BERLINER WEISSE WITH BLACKBERRIES
JUICY #21
WATERMELON GOSE
NINE MILE IPA
LCCB JUICY #20
ABSOLUTE COUP OF ENLIGHTENED DESPOT
NUCLEAR NUGGET IMPERIAL HONEY IPA
BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST IMPERIAL BROWN ALE
THREE CHOPT TRIPEL
HEIR APPARENT MEXICAN SPICED IMPERIAL STOUT
MAIDENS BLONDE ALE
FRENCH TOAST BROWN ALE
VIRGINIA STRAWBERRY HEFEWEIZEN
ONE RIDE NON-ALCOHOLIC
SUNFLOWER SAISON
CHALLENGE THE BEAR BALTIC PORTER
TWELFTH NIGHT SPICED BELGIAN QUAD
VANILLA VIRGINIA BLACK BEAR
COCONUT QUADRUPLE ALE
RUM BARREL AGED CARROT CAKE IMPERIAL AMBER ALE
BOURBON BARREL & GINGER THREE CHOPT TRIPEL
REDNECK SOAP OPERA
ILLUMINATOS
HIDE THE DESPOT
HUG THE DESPOT
AWAKEN THE DESPOT

Head over here to Lickinghole Creek’s website for more information on policies regarding COVID-19, and catch up with them on Facebook here.

Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop

Starr Hill is also keeping things safe, with to-go beer sales taking place during abbreviated business hours. All of their year-round beers will be available, in addition to some special favorites from the brewery. Order Here!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

SUMMER TOUR
SAY IT AIN’T SOUR
CRYSTAL RIVER GRAPEFRUIT IPA
KING KUNU PINEAPPLE IPA
NORTHERN LIGHTS IPA
RAMBLE ON HAZY IPA
REVIVER RED IPA
STAY FOREVER ESPRESSO STOUT
SUBLIME CITRUS WIT
WAREHOUSE PILS
CARLY CUCUMBER GOSE
CAROLE CRAN-RASPBERRY GOSE
FRONT ROW GOLDEN ALE
GRATEFUL PALE ALE
JOMO LAGER
NORTHERN LIGHTS IPA
PIXIE PINEAPPLE GOSE
ROXANNE RASPBERRY SOUR
THE LOVE HEFEWEIZEN
WILD HEART HOPPY BLONDE
2 TONE VANILLA PORTER
ALL THAT HAZY IPA
CURRANT AFFAIRS BLACKBERRY CURRANT SOUR
EXPAT BARREL STOUT
HATHOR RASPBERRY GOSE
LIZZY LIME GOSE
LOOKING GLASS IPA
REDUX RASPBERRY SPARKLING ALE

+ More in cases! Check out Starr Hill’s website for more details.

Keep up with them on Facebook for updates on hours and information, and check their website here for news on their COVID-19 precautions being implemented at the brewery.

Stone Brewing Richmond

Stone Brewing Richmond is open for pick-up! This awesome East End brewery has had some delicious releases lately, and you can keep up with them on Facebook for updates on the newest brews. Order Online!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

STONE FARKING WHEATON W00TSTOUT VINTAGE
STONE RUINED AGAIN TRIPLE IPA
STONE TIKI ESCAPE
STONE IPA
BUENAVEZA SALT & LIME LAGER
DELICIOUS
ENTER NIGHT PILSNER
TROPIC OF THUNDER
SCORPION BOWL IPA
///FEAR.MOVIE.LIONS DIPA
TANGERINE EXPRESS IPA
STONE RIPPER
ARROGANT BASTARD ALE

Be sure to keep up with their updated available beer list here, as supplies are subject to change. Drink happy, y’all!

Strangeways Brewing

Strangeways Brewing just celebrated their 7-year anniversary, and they’ve got fresh brews for us every week!

All 3 tasting rooms are open for delivery, curbside pick-up, and to-go orders! Be sure to check their website to Order Online.

AVAILABLE BEERS:

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL IMPERIAL STOUT
SHIMMER & SHAKE SPIKED SPARKLING SELTZER LEMON-LIME
AFM WILD ALE FARMHOUSE SAISON
ALBINO MONKEY BELGIAN WHITE
ARNIE’S ARMY BERLINER WEISSE
BAVARIAN RHAPSODY HEFEWEIZEN
DR. FOUDRE I WILD ALE
FULL STACK LUMBERJACK STOUT
GNAR SHREDDER DIPA
HELLES FROZEN OVER MUNICH HELLES LAGER
LEGALIZE IT WEST COAST IPA
LUCKY CHARMS BERLINER WEISSE
MARTIAN SPRING HOPPY ALE
PLAYDAY PILSNER
RAZZLES DAZZLE BERLINER WEISSE
RED SANGRIA BERLINER WEISSE
SEA SPRITZ CRANBERRY BERLINER WEISSE
SLEAZESTACK NEW ENGLAND IPA
SLIGHTLY STOOPID SOUR IRISH STOUT
SMUCKER’S JELLY BERLINER WEISSE
SOUR CHERRY COBBLER BERLINER WEISSE
TIRAMI’ZU RUM BARREL AGED PORTER
TURBOGENERATOR
UBERLIN BERLINER WEISSE
WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GOSE
WOODBOOGER BELGIAN STYLE BROWN ALE

Be sure to catch up with Strangeways on their website for a full list of beers, and for the most-updated brews available.

Triple Crossing Beer

Triple Crossing Beer has to-go and delivery options available, and can shipping is another brand-new option!

With Texting Can Alerts, you can text TCALERTS to (855) 918-2808 to be enrolled with all the new can releases and beer information available at Triple Crosisng. If you’re feeling hungry, they’ve also got food to-go, which is awesome to have around (and we love their pizza!) Order Here!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

Fulton

FOEDER I
LAST BROADCAST
NECTAT AND KNIFE DIPA
ZWICK’L

Downtown

FOEDER I
LAST BROADCAST

Be sure to check your locations and order here, as different locations will have different availability.

Triple Crossing is also offering delivery options, and thanks to high demand, they’re able to keep supporting their staff while the taproom is closed. Be sure to tip your delivery drivers well, and help service industry folks get through these shutdowns. Head here to order downtown pick-up orders, and here for Fulton pick-up orders. Keep up with Triple Crossing on Facebook here.

Väsen Brewing Company

At Väsen Brewing Company, Order Here for pickup and delivery!

Väsen recently partnered up with The Capsoul Collective for a brand-new brew called Cohesion: a Double IPA collaboration with Chilalay and local artist Marlon Diggs.

According to Capsoul, this collaboration was brought about after a conversation between Eric Jackson, Co-Founder of Capsoul, and Tony Giordano, Head Brewer of Väsen, on the racial injustices that America and the city of Richmond are experiencing. This beer was designed to show unity and a way to raise money to give back to the community.

The label of this special release was designed to “highlight the Richmond art community while showing how distorted, torn, and broken pieces can come together to create something beautiful,” according to Capsoul. Proceeds from Cohesion will be donated directly to the local BIPOC community.

To celebrate the release with its brewers, head to Chilalay on August 14 and Väsen on August 15 (plus a VIP tasting event at Väsen on August 16). As always, wear your mask and be safe if you’re going out in public.

Information on Väsen’s available beers for pickup and delivery this week can be found below.

AVAILABLE BEERS:

FEASTA
APRICOT SOUR
MIERKA
NEOMEXICANUS
HEFEWEIZEN
FREYJA
RADAPILS
ESCAPE CLOUD
THE SUNRISE OTTER
HATHOR GOSE
MEXICAN LAGER
LAGER
THE VELVET WALRUS ON VANILLA COFFEE & CINNAMON
WINDHOOK IPA
NORSE DOUBLE IPA
VANILLA MOONBEAR DUBBEL
GOLDENBEAR TRIPEL
CITRON SAISON

Check out the full order info here!

The Veil Brewing Co.

The Veil Brewing Co. will be doing outdoor to-go sales from both locations. Cans will be sold directly outside of the main entrance of our taproom under a tent in the parking lot side of both locations. Order Here!

AVAILABLE BEERS:

PURPLEBUGATTI
PREMIUM SAUCE
VEIN
SIGNAL DRAFT
NEVER NEVER FEAR FEAR
TYPHOON LAGOON TASTEE
LOVELY
ERODE
FOR LOVE
NEVER NEVER MIND MIND
HOLLOW PLACE: SINGLE ORIGIN

Check here for updated lists, as stock is subject to change as orders come in.

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: Bryant’s Cider Taps Downtown

Caley Sturgill | March 11, 2020

Topics: alewerks brewing, Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, bryants cider, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, Fine Creek Brewing Company, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Intermission Beer Company, midnight brewery, omnipollo, 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

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 beloved Bryant’s Cider announces their brand-new spot downtown, with all the charm of their family orchard origins. Hardywood kicks off four new releases this Friday and Saturday, and Last Broadcast DIPA returns to Triple Crossing Beer.

Ardent and Alewerks come together for a sweet & spicy Imperial Stout, and The Veil tests the limits of fruit beers with Omnipollo. Don’t miss Fine Creek’s English Pub Ale, Midnight Brewery’s St. Paddy’s Day celebrations this weekend, and terrarium-building workshops at Intermission Beer Company tonight.

Governor Northam Announces New Bryant’s Cider Location in Downtown Richmond

Kicking off this week’s Booze News, the governor recently announced a new location and production facility for Bryant’s Cider in Richmond. You may already recognize Bryant’s from their famous Unicorn Fuel brew, which quickly became popular with its first release.

Now the family farm is bringing a piece of itself into downtown, and we’re excited for the new spot. Bryant’s has been long-loved by the craft beer and cider family since its original opening. The fresh space will be located in a revitalized historic Shockoe Bottom building, and according to owner Jerry Thompson, they plan to create an experience that “you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the city.” With their newfound production space, they’ll be able to partner with local artisans and collaborate with more local businesses.

This family-owned cidery comes with a warm welcome from Richmonders, and here at RVA Magazine, we’re especially glad to see the growth of independent business like ourselves in our beloved hometown. Bryant’s Cider currently operates on their sixth-generation family orchard, and as an added bonus, they’re even planting apple trees on the site, in true Bryant’s fashion.

Congratulations to Bryant’s! We can’t wait to check it out. Stay tuned with RVA On Tap for more updates, and come see the new location after its soft opening on March 14, along with some brand-new special releases.

Four Releases Come to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery This Weekend

It’s going to be a big weekend for Hardywood. Our buds at the brewery have four releases lined up for this Friday and Saturday, starting off with Nona’s Biscotti coming out in cans to begin.

Nona’s Biscotti is the #FreshCanFriday feature this week, and this Tuscan old country-inspired recipe is Hardywood’s tribute to the twice-baked cookie family favorite. With a blend of almond and walnut nuttiness, the ingredients of this brew perfectly complement each other. You’ll catch zhuzhed up vanilla, milk sugar, and toasted coconut, along with a touch of anise, in this one — and at 9.5% ABV, one can will get your weekend going right from the beginning.

As Hardywood says, “From our famiglia to yours, cent’anni!”

On Friday, they’ve also got their Richmond Lager draft release. This one is well-known for its River City-themed mini bottles, and the city’s favorite lager is finally coming out on draft. Friday night will include plenty of celebrations, with giveaways along with live music from Andrew Alli and Josh Small.

On Saturday, look out for Hopkeeper and Bourbon Cru. Hopkeeper comes to us from Virginia-grown malt from Williamsburg’s Copper Fox Distillery, and this Double IPA has flavors like juicy pineapple, fresh orange zest, and citrus fruit along with its Virginia Honey additions. Bourbon Cru is on the other end of the spectrum, with a “rich mahogany hue.” This one has tastes like almond, toffee, oaky vanilla, and caramel, with notes of dark cherries and raisins.

Last Broadcast DIPA Returns to Triple Crossing Beer this Friday

This Friday brings the first return of Last Broadcast in 2020 at Triple Crossing Beer in Fulton.

At 8% ABV, this Double IPA hits perfectly on the alcohol scale, and there’s even more perfection to this brew: it combines soft apricot peach flavors with candied grapefruit dank, plus floral green pineapple citrus. Could that sound any better?

Last Broadcast DIPA came together with hops like Mosaic, Nelson, Citra, and Galaxy, with great flavor complements from each individual addition. As Triple Crossing notes, this perfectly-balanced recipe was created to cohesively pull together that softness that’s widely sought by Double IPA fans.

Collab with Ardent Craft Ales and Alewerks Brewing Company

Man, this is a good one. Our buds at Ardent Craft Ales came together with Alewerks Brewing Company to create the Honest Admiration Imperial Stout: a stout that’s big, bold, and brewed to reflect the mutual sentiment between these breweries.

Honest Admiration is not only wholesome, it’s delicious. These Caribbean-inspired flavors include a cinnamon aroma, unrefined cane sugar blended with vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and peppers. It’s right in between sweet and spicy, and it brings out the best of both. At 10.6% ABV, it’s in an average range for stouts, and it’s higher on the IBU scale at 40 for those who want to taste the bitterness in their hops.

With a moderate sweetness and varied spices, this “intricately-layered” stout balances it all.

Friday Beer Feature at Fine Creek Brewing Company

Over the weekend at Fine Creek Brewing Company, the English Pub Ale came out for their Friday Beer Feature.

This 6% ABV Pub Ale is reminiscent of the atmosphere at Fine Creek, with a homey ambiance and pub-like vibe that “evokes the older traditions of taverns and public houses,” as Fine Creek says. When they created the English Pub Ale, they combined English ingredients with an American yeast strain to brew up something to embrace their location’s feel.

Its malts come from the Murphy & Rude Malting Co. with malts like Biscuit and Brown, and it blends with English Milds and Bitters. With tastes like graham cracker, toasted bread, and biscuits, English Pub Ale’s full body also features mild citrus characters along with peach and apricot yeast esters.

Come out to grab a glass at Fine Creek while it lasts, and find a little piece of the UK right outside the River City.

Weekly Multi-Release at The Veil

The Veil Brewing Co. is at it again with a wide list of beer releases this week, and you can catch all these beauties now at the brewery. Tefnut (Berry Blaster) kicks things off for us, and this collaboration with Omnipollo is a fresh variation of their original Tefnut. This one comes to us with blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, boysenberry, and strawberry puree to fully live up to its name.

The Berry Blaster is a cosmic Imperial Gose, and at 11% ABV with this deep red pour (pictured above), you won’t want to miss a taste of it. Its brewers wanted to reimagine what a fruit beer can be, and with new processes and fruit volumes, they have definitely accomplished that task.

Never Never Lucky Lucky comes next, as a St. Paddy’s Day-inspired Gose brewed with double kiwi puree. In The Veil’s true fashion, its double name comes as a double version of their original Never Lucky, and with salt and lemon balances, you’ll catch bold kiwi tastes in this one at 5.1% ABV (so you can enjoy more than one for the holiday — which we know you will).

Master Master Shredder Shredder is a bit higher at 5.5% ABV, but not so much that you’ll have to cut back your pour limit. With juicy cantaloupe, melon, orange, and blueberry, Master Master Shredder Shredder combines a big array of fruit flavors into one double dry-hopped house IPA.

Crucial Taunt³ comes on the heels of The Veil’s original Crucial Taunt, but this one packs a big flavor punch from its triple dry-hopped process. At 8% ABV, candied orange and pineapple are the dominating tastes in this brew, and its Citra-forward notes showcase the best from this hop addition.

HMU is an 8.5% Double IPA, and after a few of these, “hit me up” is exactly what you’ll be saying to everyone at the bar. Brewed with El Dorado, BRU-1, Enigma, Simcoe, Kohatu, and Citra hops, HMU brings together a big combination of hop additions for a balanced taste. You’ll find notes like canned pineapple, lychee, and pungent mango in this one, with impressions of a freshly-opened bag of hops.

Gladiola Pumpernickel closes out our releases from The Veil this week. This open-fermented Hefeweizen is unlike many of the other recipes of theirs on the roster, and it was fermented at higher temperatures than Braühaüsenweisse, according to its brewers. At 5.4% ABV, it was dry-hopped with Hallertau Mittelfruh hops straight out of Germany, and it’s got notes from floral to earthy… and as The Veil says, it tastes like “taking a spin on a hay-ride through a field of flowers with your grandma on a nice spring afternoon.” And oh, what I would give to teleport to a moment like that.

St. Patrick’s Day at Midnight Brewery

More St. Paddy’s Day celebrations are coming up at Midnight Brewery with their party coming up this Saturday.

If you’re looking for an occasion to drive out of town, this is a great one. Midnight is located out in Rockville near Hanover and Goochland County, and they’re celebrating big this holiday. Come out to catch live music from Elana Lisa & the Hot Mess, plus River City Wood Fire Pizza to satisfy all your cheesy, wood-fired cravings.

Midnight is also releasing their Jack McStout beer for the occasion, and according to the brewers, rumor has it that big Jack is making an appearance — so whether you’re a fan from Richmond or a regular at the Rockville brewery, it’s one for the calendar.

Plant Nite at Intermission Beer Company

Where the yogis at? Tonight at Intermission Beer Company, you don’t have to say “Namaste” after a long session of downward dogs and sun salutations — you can get all the great, earthy feelings from working with plants.

For Plant Nite, Intermission is bringing out Kat Hemphill to help attendees make their own custom terrariums (no green thumb or trips to the garden store required, they say). Terrarium-making has become a popular hobby for folks in the River City over the last few years, with workshops popping up around town, friends hosting plant parties at their houses, and even PlantBar RVA opening up in The Fan for full-time plant crafting opportunities.

Now you can try your hand alongside your favorite craft beers at Intermission, and head down to the brewery tonight to learn from Hemphill’s talents. Make your own to bring home, and grab tickets here ahead of time if you plan to attend. May the ferns be with you!

RVA On Tap: Scott’s Addition Comes Together for a Collab Beer Crawl

Caley Sturgill | March 4, 2020

Topics: 2020 collaboration crawl, Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, beer crawl, Black Heath Meadery, Blue Bee Cider, Buskey Cider, Center of the Universe, courthouse creek cider, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, Fine Creek Brewing Company, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Isley Brewing Company, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, scotts addition, scotts addition beverage district, starr hill richmond, Strangeways Brewing, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, Vasen Brewing Company

This week, a unique new beer crawl hits Scott’s Addition for their 2020 Collaboration Crawl — which teams up pairs of local breweries in the neighborhood to show off their best collabs together. You’ll catch Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, Blue Bee Cider, Ardent Craft Ales, Väsen Brewing Company, Black Heath Meadery, Strangeways Brewing, Buskey Cider, Isley Brewing Company, Courthouse Creek Cider, and Starr Hill Richmond there, so be sure to check it out.

St. Patrick’s Day gears up with celebrations at Center of the Universe and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s Shamrock Shindig and Run, with some extra-awesome food trucks like Grandpa Eddie’s Alabama Ribs & BBQ at COTU on Saturday. Fine Creek has a great new earthy release, and The Veil Brewing Co. drops another delicious multi-release this week — plus Väsen teams up with the local Pink Boots Society for an International Women’s Day collab brew.

6th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Party at Center of the Universe Brewing

It’s that time of year again: St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, which means many of our favorite brewers are gearing up for the annual celebrations.

A favorite of ours is the annual St. Paddy’s Day Party at Center of the Universe Brewing that benefits the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — an organization that, for twenty years now, has been providing life-saving research on children’s cancer to the community. Our pals at COTU are big on nonprofit benefits, and this yearly event is a staple at the brewery every spring.

The event will feature a delicious brew, the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Porter, returning for the occasion with plenty of vanilla, cinnamon, and cookie-inspired flavors. At 6.5% ABV, it’s a nice medium on the alcohol scale, and it was their first satellite-brewed beer to be released in four-packs of 16oz cans. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Porter came together with Maris Otter, Flaked Oats and Barley, Carafa 3 Dehusked, Crystal 90, and double-roasted Crystal Malts.

Its return comes with live music all day at the brewery for their St. Paddy’s Day Party, with bands like Gift Horse, The Royal We, Flashlight Tag, Something Shiny Band, and Pizza Scissors. You’ll want to show up early if you plan to catch all the jams, because live music goes all the way from noon to 9:30pm. Along with a full day of shows, they’ll have food from Two Kings Concessions, Freekin’ Rican, and…. drumroll, please… GRANDPA EDDIE’S! My favorite food truck of all the food trucks! Grandpa Eddie’s Alabama Ribs & BBQ is an absolute must-try, and I go on about it constantly when it pops up in this column, but that should be an indicator for you that you’re seriously missing out if you haven’t tried it. Trust me, this event is one for the calendar!

Scott’s Addition Beer Crawl This Saturday

The latest beer crawl is coming to Richmond’s booziest neighborhood this Saturday, with the Scott’s Addition Beverage District Collab Crawl.

More than 10 breweries and cideries are coming together for the occasion, including Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, Blue Bee Cider, Ardent Craft Ales, Vasen Brewing Company, Black Heath Meadery, Strangeways Brewing, Buskey Cider, Isley Brewing Company, Courthouse Creek Cider, and Starr Hill Richmond, along with the Scott’s Addition Beverage District.

What makes this beer crawl different from others is that all participating breweries came together for collaborations — each brewery was randomly assigned a collab partner on the list, and over the last few weeks, they’ve all created their perfect recipes. They’re all going to be on deck starting this Saturday at 12pm, and the Scott’s Addition Beverage District wants to remind folks that many of these brews will be available for one day only.

All locations will have Collab Crawl Cards available, so be sure to grab one at your first stop. The crawl includes plenty of raffles and prizes, so the more stamps you collect at various breweries, the better! You’ll get a chance to win lots of great prizes and taste some of Scott’s Addition freshest beer.

Isley and Three Notch’d Collab Brews

For the Scott’s Addition Crawl, Isley Brewing Company and Three Notch’d RVA Collab House came together to create their Collaboration Nation beer along with Tour de Obst.

Collaboration Nation kicks off our new beer releases this week, a Blackberry Blonde ale that came together with additives like fresh blackberry puree and German noble varieties. At 4.5% ABV, this easy-drinking recipe pours as a light-bodied, golden Blonde Ale.

Tour de Obst comes in a bit lower, with a 3.8% ABV and an extra-low 5 IBU — which means it’s the perfect place to kick off your beer crawl to get in the drinking mood without overdoing it at your first stop. This Strawberry and Apple Radler was inspired by traditional German Radlers, according to the breweries, which started off as beer mixed with lemonade to meet the demand of light beers among cyclists.

Three Notch’d and Isley knew that a neighborhood-wide beer crawl would bring a similar demand, so they began their process brewing up Tour de Obst. It’ll be available this Saturday while supplies last, so swing by during the crawl for a glass.

Eldig Baltic Porter Collab with Ardent Craft Ales and Väsen Brewing Company

Another great release coming up at this weekend’s beer crawl is one between Ardent Craft Ales and Väsen Brewing Company: Eldig.

This Baltic Porter hits in at a higher 8.5% ABV, so it’ll make a great stop for a taste after Isley and Three Notch’d. With flavors like toffee, caramel, and dark chocolate, this brew brings out a roasted malt aroma to complement its sweet and earthy tastes. It’s full-bodied and cold-lagered, according to its brewers, and its name is especially unique: with Väsen’s Scandanavian roots, they landed on Eldig by translating “Ardent” to Swedish.

As they say, this brew embodies “the Swedish spirit of ‘Lagom’ — perfect balance.”

Fresh Multi-Releases at The Veil Brewing Co.

Cat Nap starts off our releases from The Veil Brewing Co. this week, and with some of the cutest cans we’ve seen, it’s one you’ll definitely want to take home. Thankfully, you can, because this IPA is available in four-packs to go. With flavors like sweet pineapple, musky papaya, tangerine, fruit snacks, passionfruit, and berries, Cat Nap combines a large array of tropical flavors into one IPA. According to The Veil, it’s a smaller sibling to their Dirt Nap brew, and it hits in at a nice medium 6% ABV.

Broz Night Out, in title, sounds like the opposite of a cat nap — but as packed as it is with tropical fruits, these two are more alike than you’d expect. This 100 percent Citra-brewed Double IPA is right up my alley, with intense flavors of mango, juicy pineapple, white peach, and grapefruit at a perfect DIPA 8% ABV.

Cold Blue is another fresh DIPA at the brewery, and it’s making its debut in cans with several combinations in its brewing process. This one came together with Citra and Experimental Hop HBC586, and it brings out flavors like lychee, pineapple juice, and mango.

Last but certainly not least, Coalesce closes out our releases from The Veil this week. This Czech-style Pilsner is unlike the rest in this batch, but it still pours with the bright, vibrant colors we’ve come to love at the brewery. With no limit on to-go packs, you’ll be able to bring as many of these home as you’d like. It comes in at 5.5% ABV for a lower alcohol content, and it was conditioned extensively in The Veil’s horizontal lager tanks for a crisp taste with “just enough Czech Saaz character.”

Shamrock Shindig and Run at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Hardywood’s annual Shamrock Run 5k is coming back this Sunday, and they’re celebrating its completion with a big St. Patrick’s Day bash. If you’re ready to gear up for the holiday, our local brewers have you covered — after COTU’s celebration on Saturday, you can keep the party going with Hardywood at their downtown location.

Artists like Church Hill Music Co. and The Fighting Jamesons are coming out to keep the music going all day long, and Irish Dancing will gear up during the break between bands. The brewery’s also bringing out traditional Irish fare along with several food trucks, plus photo booths and Irish-inspired vendors.

If you join in for the 5k, Hardywood says dress to impress: they’ll be giving out Best Dressed prizes to racers, along with a glass, finisher’s medal, beverage tickets, and age group awards to their participants. Come out to the brewery on Saturday from 1:30-4pm to pick up your race packet, or swing by early on the day of the event at 11:30am. Good luck, and happy racing!

International Women’s Day Collaboration Brewing at Väsen

This Friday at Väsen Brewing Company, the local Pink Boots Society chapter is teaming up with the brewery to make a brand-new collaborative brew.

International Women’s Day is coming up on Sunday, so the groups are coming together ahead of time to make something extra-special for it. The beer will be a Kettle Sour, and with the 2020 PBS Hop Blend, it’ll also have unique tastes from raspberry and pink Himalayan sea salt additions. They’ve invited all PBS members and female-identifying employees of local breweries to come out and create it together, so if you fall into either of those categories, here’s your chance to brew up something great with your local beer family.

To join in, head over to the brewery at 9am and plan to stick around until 3-4pm. They’ll also have breakfast and snacks out for everyone, and attendees are invited to bring beers and snacks to enjoy while brewing.

New Release at Fine Creek Brewing Company

Over the weekend at Fine Creek Brewing Company, the brewery released their Mountain House Buckwheat Honey Saison.

This Friday Beer Feature is full of some delicious combinations of flavors, and at 5.8% ABV, it’s another nice easy drinker for the week. With Malted Triticale from Epiphany Craft Malt, and Malted Oats from the Riverbend Malt House, this brew has a “pleasant tannic character” to complement its chamomile, dried hay, and damp soil flavors. It would stand as a great earthy recipe with those alone, but they went the extra mile by adding in local buckwheat honey from Mountain House Apiaries. This mono-floral honey gives the recipe flavors of molasses and rich malty notes, and the fermenting of its sugar makes for a perfect combination with its earthy characters.

If you’re ready to grab a glass, head out to Fine Creek and enjoy the tastes of nature while soaking it all in at the farmhouse brewery.

RVA On Tap: New Head Brewers & Flying Squirrels Beers

Caley Sturgill | February 26, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, Center Of The Universe Brewing, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, final gravity brewing co, garden grove brewing and urban winery, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, Stone Brewing-Richmond, Strangeways Brewing, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, tom bova, Triple Crossing Beer, Vasen Brewing Company

A big congrats goes out to Tom Bova as the new head brewer for Strangeways Brewing in Richmond. This week also brings great releases like Väsen Brewing Company’s Guava Passion Sour, Likely Story at Triple Crossing Beer, and Center of the Universe’s Flying Squirrels-inspired Rally Cap Grapefruit Shandy.

Be on the lookout for long-awaited returns like Ruse at Hardywood and The Message at Final Gravity, plus fresh new brews at Ardent Craft Ales, Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery, Stone Brewing Richmond, The Veil Brewing Co., and more.

Announcing a new Head Brewer at Strangeways Brewing

Here’s some awesome news to brighten up the gloomy weather this week: Tom Bova has taken over as the new Head Brewer of the Strangeways Brewing locations in Richmond.

We got a great note from owner and founder Neil Burton last week, and of Bova, he said, “As Tom proudly promotes, you’ve got to ‘Risk it for the Biscuit,’ and this mantra seems to have paid off for him handsomely. We are excited to see what Tom will cook up from scratch in this new chapter of his brewing career, and the future is bright indeed.”

It certainly will be. We’re always excited to hear of new folks making their mark on the craft brewing scene here, and Bova’s contributions aren’t limited to the River City; he started off in Norfolk at Coelacanth Brewing before heading to Strangeways. During his time in Richmond, he’s worked through each sector of brewing, from the cellars to the brewing process. He’s grown his expertise in every part of the operation, which is always a great recipe for folks to work confidently with their team and make things better for all.

In just three short years, Bova has made his way to Head Brewer, and we’re shouting out a big congratulations to him this week as he embarks on the new journey with Strangeways. We wish them all the best!

Ruse release at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

An award-winning favorite is making its way back to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery this Saturday, and this year’s release is especially exclusive.

Ruse, a port-like brew aged in red wine barrels, has earned its wide recognition with its bold flavor. It’s won not one, but two international awards at worldwide beer festivals — yet again making a name for these stellar Richmond brewers (and our beer scene as a whole) around the globe.

Its first award came with a Bronze Medal at the World Beer Cup in 2016, in their “Wood- And Barrel-Aged Strong Stout” category. The following year, it brought home the Bronze again for the “Specialty Beer/Wood-Aged” category at the Australian International Beer Awards.

If you’re wondering what all the hype is about, you’ll want a taste of your own: with dark chocolate and molasses characteristics, plus oak and leather-like aromatics, Ruse brings to the table a rich mouthfeel with “a deceptively dry, tannic finish,” according to its brewers.

Get your glass of Ruse this Saturday at Hardywood, and keep in mind that this run is more limited than usual, with a four-bottle limit per person. If you head out to the brewery, you’ll also get to catch some great eats from the Smokie JOE’s BBQ truck to warm you up. This weekend might get cold again, folks, but we’re almost there!

Guava Passion Sour release at Väsen Brewing Company

Coming up this Friday at Väsen Brewing Company, a brand-new Guava Passion Sour is making its debut.

At 7.8% ABV, this sour hits in at a nice middle on the average ABV range for craft beer. Flavors of peach and clove come out among subtle spices in this one, coming from its brewing process with traditional Belgian saison yeast. It’s full of summery characters that bring the tropical and bright back into this dreary River City, and with heavy additions of guava and passionfruit, its brewers say it’s bursting with tropical flavor. It’s not too sour compared with others in its family, and it’s also flavored with a light citrus taste from its lacto ingredients.

Guava Passion Sour comes out this Friday, along with The Velvet Walrus on Raspberry, a milk stout that’s packed with hundreds of pounds of raspberry. That one comes in at a higher 9.5% ABV, so there are great new options for both sides of the scale available at the brewery this weekend.

Double Dry-Hopped IPA X release at Ardent Craft Ales

A great return is coming to Ardent Craft Ales tomorrow night. Their delicious Double Dry-Hopped IPA X is on its way back, and this unique IPA was created with twice the standard amount of Citra and Mosaic hops for the brewery.

It hits in at 7.1% on the ABV scale, and it’s also available to-go in 16oz four-packs for those who would rather drink at home (and honestly, I can’t blame you — I’m a huge homebody myself). If you do want to make it out on a Thursday night, Ardent’s got this extra-special release as a big incentive. With plenty of citrus and tropical fruit notes, Double Dry-Hopped IPA X is the product of Ardent’s favorite combination of hops, and it pours in a cloudy, deep-golden color for a juicy brew without all the usual IPA bitterness. LOWCO Eatery will also be out for the event in the beer garden, so all our Southern low-country food lovers will definitely be pleased.

The Return of The Message DIPA at Final Gravity Brewing Co.

Something special returned to Final Gravity Brewing Co. over the weekend for the first time in three years: The Message DIPA.

This recipe has been on hiatus since 2017, and there’s even more to it than the comeback itself. The Message DIPA has been one of Final Gravity’s most-requested beers to bring back to the brewery, and its longtime fans can finally rejoice now that it’s here.

Simcoe and Amarillo hops came together to bring The Message to your glass, and with incredibly high ratings from all of its drinkers, it’s one you won’t want to miss. Its fans report this one to be full of citrus flavors with a cloudy texture (my favorite combination!), and Richmond drinkers aren’t the only ones that are impressed. The Message DIPA won a Bronze Medal at the 2016 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup for IPAs, and its brewers say it’s “guaranteed to push you close to the edge.” You’ll want to make sure to grab a taste while it’s here, because it’s been talked about for years since it last came to Final Gravity.

Final Gravity is also dropping a brand new release this Friday with their JuiceBox Hazy Double IPA. These two DIPAs are right up my alley, and as a beer writer that often can’t find the perfect beer at a brewery, I can tell you these releases are music to my ears. JuiceBox came together with Strata, Citra, and Belma hops for a burst of passionfruit, citrus, and berry flavors with an extra-juicy character. And as Final Gravity notes, while it’s not available in actual juice boxes (that’d be the dream), you can take this one to-go in growlers and crowlers if you can’t get enough of it.

Tmavé Pivo release at Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery

Over the weekend, a new Czech Lager made its way into the hearts (and glasses) of all our friends at Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery. Tmavé Pivo is the latest Old World-style dark lager from their brewers, and it’s packed with bold, earthy flavors.

You’ll catch notes of dark chocolate, coffee, dark fruit, toast, and raisins in this brew, and they come together with a “dangerously smooth” character. We’re moving into the time of year now where dark chocolate and coffee brews will become few and far between, so this is a great opportunity to find these flavors fresh from the keg while they’re still around. Garden Grove is also hosting another Bluegrass Jam coming up on Tuesday, and if the weather’s nice (fingers crossed!) it’ll extend out to the patio for some early-springtime outside jams. This brewery hosts tons of great events each week, and it’s a great spot to check out if you’re looking for stand-up comedy and live music in a laid-back setting. Catch up with more of their events here, and be sure to check back for more as warmer weather returns for nights on the patio in Carytown.

Rally Cap Grapefruit Shandy release at Center of the Universe Brewing

Happy Leap Year, y’all! Center of the Universe is celebrating this special date in the most Richmond fashion of all: with a brand-new beer collaborated with the Flying Squirrels Baseball Team here in town.

If you’re ready for the return of sunny days at the ball field, filled with great beer, ice cream (an essential), and the all-American hot dog tradition, you’re not alone. Center of the Universe is amping up the craft beer game for Richmond’s Flying Squirrels stadium this year with their brand-new Rally Cap Grapefruit Shandy.

Rally Cap comes out on Saturday at Center of the Universe, with a thirst-quenching recipe that brings out the zest from its Perle hops and grapefruit additions. It was also brewed with 2 Row, Malted Wheat, and Acidulated Malt, and it comes in at a perfect 5% ABV — because anything higher would make it hard to go back for a few refills during the game. A lower ABV is great for events like this, so you can enjoy a few and still remember who won by the end. Go Squirrels!

As Center of the Universe says, “When the game is on the line and your hometown needs that extra push, grab your Richmond Rally Cap, pop the top, and let your voice be heard!” And if you’ve been to a Squirrels game before, you know Richmond is great at making sure everyone hears those voices. Rally Cap was created to fuel the charge and fan the flames of victory here at our stadium, and it’s available pre-season starting this weekend at the brewery.

The Veil wins four awards with Ratebeer Best 2019

It’s no surprise to anyone who has ever visited The Veil Brewing Co. that these Richmond brewers could make a big name for themselves (and the city) in awards all around. They did it again this year, with their wins in the Ratebeer Best 2019 Awards just announced by the brewery.

Starting with the beer, The Veil won “Best Beer By Style” for Flavored Gose brews, with #1 and #2 awards going to their Never Never Again Again and Never Never Gonnagetit Gonnagetit. If we had to pick the most colorful beer in town, I’d say The Veil could probably take the cake every single time — there’s nothing brighter than their fruited brews, and they’ve even managed to brew a perfectly-pitch-black beer in the past.

Along with their beer awards, they also won “Best Brewer in Virginia,” “Best Brewer Taproom in Virginia,” and “Top 100 Brewer in the World” categories. We’re very proud of this hometown brewery, and we encourage you to swing by their Scott’s Addition spot for a celebratory drink with them this week.

In their weekly multi-release last night, The Veil also dropped some fresh brews here in Richmond:

Strength in Solitude kicked it off, and this 5.5% ABV Red Ale comes with some warmer flavors. With subtle caramel, biscuit, and a gentle European hopping, Strength in Solitude pours with a light reddish color in this malt-forward crusher.

pinkmiata came out in cans last night in all its luxuriously-hopped glory. This IPA comes in at 6% ABV, and with Nelson and Galaxy hops, it brings out flavors of pineapple, grapefruit, and pungent exotic fruits.

Velvet River is The Veil’s Barleywine collaboration with Fonta Flora Brewery that’s fresh out in bottles. In true barleywine fashion, it has a higher ABV at 10% — so take it slow with this one. It was brewed with Rye Raisin bread from Richmond’s Sub Rosa Bakery, along with Ugandan vanilla and nutmeg. It’s full of tastes like cotton candy, old world bread, candied raisins, and fruitcake, so it balances out the sweet with the earthy.

Dirtyferrari is fresh in cans, and this DIPA was brewed with “the freshest Citra” in the whirlpool before blending Galaxy, Citra, Nelson, and Mosaic in its dry-hopping process. At 8% ABV, The Veil notes that this one is a mash-up between their Dirtnap and whiteferrari beers. You’ll catch fruits like ripened cantaloupe, candy, and papaya in this one for a bright, fruity flavor.

Never Never Calm Calm closes out our releases from The Veil this week, and this Gose is packed with tropical fruits. It has a lower 5.1% ABV to make for an easy drinker, and features passionfruit and double pineapple for tastes like canned fruit cups and peach skin.

Arrogant Consortia Double Bastard release at Stone Brewing Richmond

The bastards are in at Stone Brewing Richmond.

In addition to the 2016 Classic Double Bastard and the 2013 Double Bastard returning, Stone just released a great new variation to their Arrogant Bastard Ale. Adding in some extra smokey flavors with an “aggressively delicious variation” on this longtime favorite, the latest Arrogant Consortia Double Bastard is now fresh at the brewery. A bit earlier this month, Stone also released their Diehard Fan IPA in a fresh, crisp, Mosaic-hopped recipe, perfect for everyone out there who can’t resist trying every new brew Stone brings to town. Trust us, we’re definitely in that category.

In more news at Stone, they’ve just announced their participation in this year’s FloydFest 2020, which is coming up this July 22-26. If you’ve never been, we’d suggest getting your tickets early — this event brings together some of the best Americana, Folk, and Indie-style artists in the Blue Ridge Mountains for a weekend of great views and great tunes. We’re even more pumped now that we know it’ll also include some of Virginia’s greatest beer. Tickets start selling quick, and this year will be extra-special with the addition of three awesome Virginia breweries: Stone Brewing, Three Notch’d, and Devil’s Backbone. They’ll also have Oskar Blues Brewery and Deschutes (RIP Virginia location!) on the list, so it’s one you won’t want to miss… but more on that later as it gets closer. Consider this your friendly reminder to secure your spot before they’re all gone!

Likely Story release at Triple Crossing Beer

This one came to us over the weekend at Triple Crossing Beer. Likely Story is a dry-hopped Pilsner that was created with 100 percent German Pilsner malt base, and the pale lager variation is packed with floral white grape notes.

This pale, straw-colored brew brings in a bright white head on each pour, and it was dry-hopped with Hallertau Blanc, along with its cooler fermenting process with Triple Crossing’s house lager yeast. Its zesty hop flavors come together for an easy-drinking 5% ABV — and it’s a great weeknight brew for all the “relax” without too much of the “party” for a Wednesday. Head out to the farm and grab a glass!