What’s happening craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s “Tapped,” RVA Magazine’s go to weekly craft beer column where you can find all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals and all the booze news your little hearts’ desire.

If you missed last week’s beer news, you can check those out here. Our cup is overflowing with news this week from releases to events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs because we’re getting ready to tap this thing!

Castleburg Brewery will celebrate two years brewing beer in Scott’s Addition this Saturday. The brewery will release two beers, feature live music from Back Seat Drivers and King Easy and guest taps from James River Brewing, Bold Mariner, Twisted Ales, and Coelacanth Brewing will also be flowing. One of the beers is, of course, their anniversary brew, The Queen’s Garde, Bier de’ Garde, and the other release isHis Majesty ‘s New Groove, a double IPA made with local group King Easy. Papa V’s Backyard Grill Catering & Food Truck will be serving up North Carolina BBQ. Get your beer tickets at the door.

This weekend, celebrate Center of the Universe’s two-day Summer Moon Music Festival at their Ashland brewery. Back for its sixth year, the festival features 12 local bands who will be battling it out for their charity of choice. To accompany the bands, there will be several food trucks on site. 3 different draft beer stations will be set up, so you won’t have to worry about lines to get a delicious cold one. Check out the link for the band food lineups.

Strangeways Brewing will release a whopping four brews to help you celebrate Memorial Day weekend. All of them sound and look delicious so without further ado, we’ll roll right into what they’ll be pouring. First up, is The Emperor’s Forbidden Rice Sake Lager. Black rice, known as the “Emperor’s” or “Forbidden” rice, has a rich cultural history dating back to ancient times, although its exact date of origin is shrouded in secrecy.  It was originally reserved exclusively for the Emperor in Ancient China and was used as a tribute food, yet more recently it has become prized for its high levels of antioxidants. This Asian-inspired lager packs more than 230 pounds of black rice, and also showcases ginger and Sorachi Ace hops.  To take it one step further, it was specially finished with a Sake yeast.

Next up is their Zubizuri Norwegian Farmhouse Ale, brewed with Pilsner and Spelt. Fermented hot with a Norwegian Voss Kveik Yeast and dry hopped with chinook and huell melon.

This next one should get you drooling. Strangeways has brewed up a Midnight S’mores Coconut Sweet Stout which is brewed with oats, lactose, and coconut and is loaded with flavors of coffee, roasted malt, shredded coconut, and chocolate. This version of Midnight in Her Eyes was conditioned on a mixture of toasted marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars. Yum.

And finally, similar to the one above, Strangeways will also be pouring Midnight Cookies and Cream Coconut Sweet Stout. This version of Midnight in Her Eyes was conditioned on gobs of chocolate cookies and vanilla icing. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.

On Thursday, Ardent Craft Ales will release its Bohemian Pilsner, a traditional Czech pilsner with spicy hop notes. Continental Divide Richmond‘s taco truck will be in the beer garden for this release! Available in the taproom and in crowlers to go.

This Friday, Triple Crossing with have Mosaic Triangles at its Fulton location, a bright citrusy IPA with notes of clementines and tangerines that’s sure to chase all your rainy day blues away. $14.50 a 4 pack.

Today, Vasen Brewing releases Justice For Ale. Presented by Commonwealth Law Group this year’s event is not one to be missed with great beer from Väsen Brewing Company food from River City Wood Fire Pizza and Gaucho and music from DJ Elliot Ness. Your $10 ticket gets you a Justice 4 Ale Pint Glass, our custom Koozie, and 1 beverage ticket! Our custom Growlers will be available for $25 (beer not included)

Magic Lantern will be making its return back to the Twisted Ales Brewing’s taproom this Friday, May 25. This dank west coast IPA features Citra hops galore and is bursting with flavor.

Hardywood has got two releases for you this weekend. First up, on Friday, is Mamaw’s Mean Cobbler,  a delightful variation of their Peach Tripel with real vanilla (over 1,000 Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans per batch), cinnamon, coconut, and milk sugar additions delivering the classic flavors of a southern-style peach cobbler. Hopefully, they’ll have some actual cobbler to pair it with for those with an ultra sweet tooth like me.

And on Saturday, Hardywood will release its Cuvee Peach, a white wine barrel-aged peach tripel ale. This jucy brew is sure to brighten up your Memorial weekend.

On Friday, Buskey Cider will have a limited can release of their Watermelon Rosemary cider. A balance of savory herbs and sweet fruit, this refreshing cider will keep you cool throughout the summer.

On Sunday, Blue Bee Cider will host a Capitol Waffle Brunch. Downtown’s Capitol Waffle Shop will be there for a build your own waffle bar with a wild array of toppings, paired with their ciders. Gluten-free options available.

Sunspots IPA returns this Friday to Final Gravity Brewing Co. With flavors of pineapple, stone fruit and citrus this brew is sure to carry you away to someplace tropical away from all our rainy days here.

Three Notch’d Brewing RVA Collab House returns this Thursday with their weekly collaboration. This time, its a Mimosa Gose made in partnership with The Brunch Market. Its tart, tangy base pairs with the bright, citrusy flavor of orange juice to give you the perfect beer for your Sunday Funday.

This weekend, Fine Creek Brewing Co. will have Helles Lager and Turf & Twig brown ale back on draught. They will also have some barrel aged beers including Wine Barrel Aged Sour Red, Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Brewed with Molasses, Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Peated Porter, and Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Thai Tea Milk Stout. The Powhatan brewery will also be tapping a cask of Citra Mosaic Double made with some strawberries grown in their garden. Pair all this with some live music and you have a pretty awesome weekend.

And we missed this last weekend, but Legend Brewing just released a Vanilla Bean Brown Ale, a second installment of their classic Brown Ale variation which features flavors of molasses, caramel, and vanilla.

Submissions or ideas for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at [email protected] Cheers! 

Top Photo By: Twisted Ales Brewing

What’s happening craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s “Tapped,” RVA Magazine’s go to weekly craft beer column where you can find all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals and all the booze news your little hearts’ desire.

If you missed last week’s beer news, you can check those out here. Our cup is overflowing with news this week from releases to events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs because we’re getting ready to tap this thing!

Goochland’s Midnight Brewery is turning six this Saturday, and they’re celebrating in a big way. Come out for food from Intergalactic Tacos & Haywood Grill and Music from 804’s & Flashlight Tag and of course, good beer.

Triple Crossing’s Fulton location will have cans of All Neon Like, a 6% IPA with massive amounts of ripe pineapple and peaches for a tropical delight for your summery weekend. $15 per 4 pack.

This Saturday, Castleburg Brewery will release their Run the Gauntlet Pale Ale is #8 in the series. The brew is a single hop pale ales with notes of tangerine for a fruity taste.

This Friday, Final Gravity Brewing Co. will bring back its 12 Parsecs Double IPA. This fan-favorite 8% DIPA burst with citrus and pine aroma while tasting ever so smooth.

Hardywood’s Scott’s Addition location will release Autocorrect in cans on Friday, a hazy IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic and Mandarina Bavaria, then dry hopped with El Dorado.

Three Notch’d Brewing RVA Collab House returns this Thursday with its weekly collaboration. This time, its Drip Drop, A DIPA made in partnership with local art gallery, Endeavor RVA. This blush orange New England Style IPA clocks in at 7.7% and brings with it notes of fruit and melon.  PINT SPECIALS starting at 4 PM when we tap the first keg! Pint specials run until 7 PM. Stick around for trivia which starts at 7 pm.

Ardent Craft Ales will release its Weissbier brew this Thursday, a traditional, German-style wheat beer brewed with 100% German wheat, malt, hops, and yeast. With Weissbier, you can expect plenty of citrus and vanilla notes in the aroma and classic clove and banana character.

For Mother’s day, Fine Creek Brewing Company will have a house made Vanilla Sponge Cake layered with strawberry preserves and white chocolate ganache and you can wash it down with the rest of their Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Peated Porter they have left in the taproom. Willie DE playing with both Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, Buskey Cider will have a cider sangria to celebrate all you mothers out there. For this infusion, the cidery has combined strawberries, lemons, limes, oranges, and, arugula to give it a punch, all over a Tart Cherry base. All mothers will be getting a rose as well so perfect opportunity to swing by after a nice brunch.

On Saturday, Blue Bee Cider will have Bacon truffles and cider for Mother’s Day. Alongside with Blue Bee Cider’s “Rosé May” celebration, which consists of four berry-infused ciders, for this month they will also have four Motherly-Inspired Bacon Truffles. For This event, customers are to buy their Cider & Bacon Flights separately. There will be a limited amount of pre-sale tickets for the Bacon Truffles, as well as a limited amount on site the day of the event. See link for details on the flights.

This Friday, Isley returns with its weekly infusions and this go around its a spearmint twist on a crowd favorite, “Charlie’s Barley” American IPA. Brewery open 4-10 PM and Happy Hours starts at 4 PM.

Center of the Universe will serve up a Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday, with a day filled with live music by female-fronted acoustic rock band The Articles, delicious Beer Bloody Marys and MOMosas, and yummy British restaurant inspired cuisine provided byCurry in a Hurry.

And on Saturday, Strangeways Brewing is hitting you with a triple beer release. The brewery’s rolling out Sneed’s Raspberry Wheat Ale, Hey Brett (You Know What Time It Is) Oak Aged Lager and — our tribute to American Craft Beer Week — Not So Common Kentucky Common Cream Ale.

Submissions or ideas for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at [email protected] Cheers! 

Top Photo By: Midnight Brewery

What’s happening craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s “Tapped,” RVA Magazine’s go to weekly craft beer column where you can find all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals and all the booze news your little hearts’ desire.

If you missed last week’s beer news, you can check those out here. Our cup is overflowing with news this week from releases to events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs because we’re getting ready to tap this thing!

Hardywood will release its Capital Trail Pale Ale and Peach Ginger Berliner Weisse on Friday. Both available on draft and in cans.

And on Saturday, Hardywood will release its Peach Tripel, which releases as one of the favorite summer sippers in their VA Roots Series! Also tapping draft-only For Every Saison, a French Saison brewed with fresh lavender, thyme and lemon balm grown in the gardens atMaymont.

Double-Dry Hopped Clever Girl 6% IPA will be available for 16.50 per 4 pack this Friday at Triple Crossing’s Fulton location. Mosaic and Citra take a front seat on this one with pungent notes of citrus rind, orange, and mango.

Ardent Craft Ales will drop a surprise sour this weekend. Keep an eye on their Facebook for details.

Steam Bell’s Canon & Draw Brewing Company in the Fan has released two new brews recently including Paradigm Shift Dark Saison and Blueberry Gose. Paradigm Shift lends sweet notes of dried plums and dates, and minimal roasted malts provide faint hints of cocoa to an otherwise sweet and floral aroma. The Gose release is all about the blueberry, with mild sweetness.

Fine Creek Brewing in Powhatan will celebrate Cinco de Mayo this weekend with a Mexican-themed menu and release of ‘Cerveza de Tamarind’ a light Vienna Style Lager with Tamarind added to the brewing process. A very light refreshing beer to complement the Mexican influenced food. They will also release Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Peated Porter. A full bodied and boozy dark beer.

Lickinghole Creek will release La Calavera Catrina this Saturday, the brewery’s Three Chopt Tripel which is aged in Tequila barrels.

Kindred Spirt’s Orange Dream, its cream ale has made its return to the Goochland brewery. Go give it a try now that the weather has warmed up.

Head to Center of the Universe Saturday, May 5 for their 6th annual Kentucky Derby Day and first ever Kentucky Derby de Mayo. There will be live music, a fancy hat contest, and charitable 50/50 raffles for all of the day’s action including the main event. All proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will got to benefit CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation.

Vasen Brewing will drop two Saisons this Saturday, Figue Rustique Saison, and Pêche Blanche Saison.  Papa V’s Backyard Grill Catering & Food Truck out front from 1-8pm and a live set from Kris Scott starting at 5 pm.

On Friday, Buskey Cider will release its Jalapeno Lime Cider in cans. This spicy, citrusy cider will be just the thing you need to cool you off this weekend!

The annual Beer and Wine Classic returns to Maymont this Friday. Guests can sample beer, ciders, and more from 20 local breweries and wineries, all while enjoying delicious food and live music from Three Sheets To The Wind | America’s #1 tribute to Yacht Rock.

Breweries and wineries on tap for this year’s event include Alewerks Brewing Company, Ardent Craft Ales, Barboursville Vineyards, Blue Bee Cider, Blue Mountain Brewery, Bold Rock Hard Cider, Buskey Cider,Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, James River Cellars Winery, Kindred Spirit Brewing, Legend Brewing Company, Smartmouth Beer, South Street Brewery, Steam Bell Beer Works, Stinson Vineyards, STRANGEWAYS BREWING, Three Notch‘d Brewing Company, Trussings Craft Fizz, Valley Road Vineyards and The Virginia Beer Company. Food from  Carytown Burgers & Fries, Continental Divide Richmond, Curry in a Hurry, Gaúcho Food Truck,Goatocado, Grilled Meats And Treats, Mean Bird and Monique’s Crepes.

This Friday, Final Gravity will release Skylab, a Double IPA which brings a bounty of Galaxy hops with flavors of citrus, passion fruit, peach, grapefruit, and guava that will ease you into the weekend.

On Saturday, Final Gravity is throwing down with an Oysters and Bluegrass Big Brew event. Come out and enjoy some oysters from Rappahannock River Oysters, beer, and music from Old Dogs New Tricks Bluegrass Band.  Everything will be set up right behind Final Gravity Brewing Co. so and local homebrewers from James River HomeBrewers will be doing their thing. ANY homebrewer can join in and brew a batch amongst friends. Folks who choose to brew will enjoy discounts and be entered into a raffle.

Three Notch’d RVA Collab House returns this Thursday with its weekly collaboration. This time, its “project: HOPS,” a hazy IPA made in partnership with project: HOMES, a non-profit in Richmond that strives to improve the housing and living conditions of Central Virginians through the construction of high-quality affordable housing, large-scale home repairs.  Pint specials run till 7 PM. Stick around for trivia which starts at 7 pm.

Legend Brewing brings back their springtime brew, Z Dam this Thursday. Named after the iconic Z Dam of the James River, this ale is light and refreshing with flavors of lime, ginger, and orange.

Submissions or ideas for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at [email protected] Cheers! 

Top Photo By: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

What’s happening craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s “Tapped,” RVA Magazine’s go to weekly craft beer column where you can find all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals and all the booze news your little hearts’ desire.

If you missed last week’s beer news, you can check those out here. Our cup is overflowing with news this week from releases to events, and other cool happenings around town, so hold on to your mugs because we’re getting ready to tap this thing!

Fine Creek Brewing Co. in Powhatan will have a bottle release on Saturday of Sour Red Ale – Aged in Red Wine Barrels. The brewery will have music Saturday from Cook County Bluegrass, and Sunday from Ron Gentry. Fine Creek will also have five new beers in the taproom including a pre-prohibition era Kentucky Common Ale, a Hoppy Pilsner, Daffodil Daydream – White IPA, Tractor Juice – Belgian DIPA, and a limited run of the Red Wine Barrel Aged Sour Red Ale.

Strangeways Brewing will release its latest installment of their annual Legalize It IPA series, Legalize It Doc’s Choice New England IPA.  The name is in honor of recent VA legislation effectively making medicinal marijuana legal. They will be tapping the beer at 4:20 pm on 4/20 (Friday) in both of their tasting rooms as well as the following local restaurants: Capital Ale House Midlothian, Capital Ale House Innsbrook, Capital Ale House Downtown, and Southern Railway Taphouse.

Strangeways is also releasing Midnight in Her Eyes Coconut Sweet Stout which was brewed with oats, lactose, and coconut with layers of flavors of coffee, roasted malt, shredded coconut, and chocolate. The brewer will also have Smashburg, a Centennial SMASH Pale Ale featuring a single malt and single hop. A session-able beer at 5.3% with malt sweetness and lemon.

Kindred Spirit Brewing in Goochland has two new beers for you to try out. First up, the North by North West, a classic west coast style IPA.

Their other beer, Bourbon Barrel Aged Smells Like Fan Spirit, was brewed in collaboration with Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries back in December 2017. It’s an 8.7% ABV, Almond Baltic Porter, with bold milk chocolate, almond, vanilla, and oak flavor with notes of bourbon and toffee.

This Friday, Hardywood will release its Pineapple Mango Berliner Weisse, a German-style sour wheat ale.

After their morning cleanup on the James, Vasen Brewing is celebrating with the release of a Norse Pale Ale.

On Friday, Center of the Universe will release its Chameleon IPA Blue brew. Come help them celebrate the release of this mouthwatering India Pale Ale.Freekin’ Rican – Puerto Rican Food Carts & Catering will be on site with food and Mark ShoDj Turner will be hosting COTU Karaoke Friday 4/20 from 6-9pm!

Canon & Draw Brewing Company in the Fan has recently released Sole Accomplice, a single hopped DIPA. The beer is brewed with 100% Mosaic hops with tangerine and grapefruit flavors intermingled with a hint of sweetness from mango and berries.

This Friday, tickets for Stone Brewing’s 2nd Annual Stone’s Throw Down in RVA will go on sale.  Kenneka Cook and Big Mama Shakes have been announced so far, and the brewery will release the full lineup of performers that will be taking the stage on September 8 on Friday. Plus, starting at 5 pm, the first 50 fans to visit the Stone Company Store – Richmond are to receive one free ticket!

This weekend, Buskey Cider will celebrate its 2nd Birthday, and they are celebrating with three days of food, music, and cider. Tickets will be sold at the door for $6, and you can use them on food or alcohol. The cider is tapping 3 new lines of perry, a new premium product of Buskey made with pear juice, crafted from local Asian pears from Silver Creek and Seamans’ Orchard in Nelson County, VA.

BUSKEY CIDER TAPS:
Buskey Perry, My Pear Lady Cider, Pear-Rye Barrel Cider, and more, guest taps from breweries and wineries, along with BBQ, tacos, and sides from Smohk RVA , a startup in Scott’s Addition.

Blue Bee Cider will celebrate their five-year anniversary on Fri., April 20 with a vertical tasting of all five vintages of Aragon 1904. Owner Courtney Mailey will guide the tasting, which will be accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, and a raffle. The tasting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15/each. Due to limited supply, this tasting will be capped at 25 seats.

On Friday, Final Gravity brings back Ill Technique – a hazy, fresh 8% DIPA brewed with Jarrylo and Citra hops – a mash-up of hard-core citrus mixed with the subtle smoothness of spice and pear.

On Thursday, Ardent Craft Ales will release its Schwarzbier, a classic dark German lager with a slightly chocolaty, roasted aroma. Medium bodied, with a crisp, clean mouthfeel.

RVA Three Notch’d RVA Collab House returns this Thursday with its weekly collaboration. This week, its “Paddy G’s”, an Irish Cream Stout made in partnership with Chris Galiffa; the owner of Daddy G’s Salsa. Pint specials run till 7 PM. Stick around for trivia which starts at 7pm. Daddy G’s salsas will also be served up with the beer!

Glen Allen’s Intermission Beer Company has a few brews back in its taproom including Milk Stout and Guava Pale Ale. Go give ’em a try!

Submissions or ideas for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at [email protected] Cheers! 

Top Photo By: Kindred Spirit Brewing