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RVA ON TAP: Dragon Run & Fresh River City Brews

Caley Sturgill | August 12, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars richmond va, beer, beer column, Black Heath Meadery, bryants cider, Center Of The Universe Brewing, craft beer richmond va, craft beer RVA, Dragon Run Brewing, Final Gravity, Fine Creek Brewing Company, garden grove, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Intermission Beer Company, Isley Brewing Company, Lickinghole Creek, RVA On Tap, Starr Hill, Stone brewing, strangeways, the answer brewpub, The Veil Brewing Co., Three Notch’d RVA Collab House, triple crossing, Vasen Brewing Company

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. 

As the River City slowly transitions into a new normal during the pandemic, we’re highlighting the best local brewers. From in-person outdoor events to take-home and delivery beers, let’s support our local businesses together — and stay safe in the process. 

We’ll be bringing you fresh news in the beer world with guidelines on safety. If you’re planning to venture out during the pandemic, your RVA Magazine team wants to stress the importance of wearing your mask. As we all support our favorite brewers, let’s also support the community by taking precautions to ensure everyone stays healthy. 

We’ve got pickup and delivery services from locals like The Answer Brewpub, Ardent Craft Ales, Black Heath Meadery, Bryant’s Cider, Center of the Universe Brewing, Dragon Run Brewing, Final Gravity, Fine Creek Brewing Company, Garden Grove, Hardywood, Intermission Beer Company, Isley Brewing Company, Lickinghole Creek, Starr Hill, Stone Brewing, Strangeways, Three Notch’d RVA, Triple Crossing, Väsen Brewing Company, The Veil Brewing Co. and more. 

Drink up, Virginia! 

The Answer Brewpub 

At The Answer Brewpub, fresh brews are here to cool down these hot summer days. 

Takeout is available, and you’ll want to keep up with The Answer on Facebook to see updates on pre-sales for their latest recipes. This week, we’ve got a brand-new beer available, along with a few special releases from the summer. 

Pickup: To-go locations and info updated regularly on Instagram. 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • CAFE CON LECHE COCONUT BANANA — Now available on the Frozan machine at The Answer. 
  • HEH HEH HEH HRR RRR HEH HEH HEH HEH HUH RAKAU! HA HRR DIPA — Double IPA. A mouthful just to speak aloud. This is Batch 3 of The Answer’s New Zealand Rakau DIPA, with an excessive triple dry-hop treatment for stone fruit, peach, and apricot flavors. 
  • YOU PUT YOUR WHEAT IN THERE — Huge body from its wheat heavy grain bill, and “jumps out of the can” with intense candied citrus aroma. 
  • HARD TO GET A TICKET — 100% Mosaic DIPA ready in a fresh batch. Described as a “tropical fruit bowl,” the Double IPA is available in 4-packs. 
  • SUMMER SHOWERS — 6.5% ABV Citrus IPA. Ready to carry you through clear skies or summer rains, this pillowy-soft IPA is available in 4-packs. 
  • BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL — 10% ABV Imperial Stout. This glittering brew came as a collaboration for the Black Is Beautiful equality and inclusion campaign, and all proceeds go to the Sister Fund RVA and Campaign Zero. With maple syrup, New Guinea vanilla beans, a touch of cinnamon, Roanoke Coffee, and shimmering edible gold glitter, this recipe was inspired to end injustices against POC and promote equality in our community. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Ardent Craft Ales 

Curbside pickup and delivery are available at Ardent Craft Ales, along with beer shipping across Virginia and D.C. Ardent partially reopened their beer garden last month, and they’ll be serving food every day as well. Be sure to check out their new policies during Covid-19. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • ATLANTICO — 4.4% ABV Mexican-Style Lager. This summertime crusher is brand-new, and was brewed with flaked corn and rice for a dry, refreshing finish. Light-bodied with minimal bitterness, Ardent says this one is the perfect beer on a hot summer afternoon. 
  • MIXED BERRY GOSE — 4.4% ABV Gose. Brewed with raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, and black currant, Mixed Berry Gose pours a distinctive purple color with a sweet, jammy flavor to balance the tart acidity of the style. 
  • SPILLMATIC — Collab with Short Throw Brewing and Equilibrium Brewery. 10.1% ABV Triple IPA. Adorned with copious amounts of Strata, Galaxy, and Citra. Dry-hopped with the same varietals. Tangerine, pineapple, mango, and citrus notes dominate the palate and aroma, paired with a smooth, unobtrusive malt bill. 
  • RESTING MY GREATNESS — Short Throw Brewing Co. available at Ardent. 11.8% ABV Imperial Stout with coffee, Vermont maple syrup, and whole vanilla beans. 
  • IMPERIAL STOUT WITH VANILLA & CACAO NIBS — 11% ABV Imperial Stout. Bold, full-bodied beer that pours deep black with a tan head. Rich, chocolatey sweetness complements the roasted malt character for a balanced stout with a smooth finish. 
  • BOHEMIAN PILSNER — 4.8% ABV Czech-Style Pilsner. Brewed with a simple recipe of Czech floor malt, Saaz hops, and a Czech lager yeast. Clear golden color with soft mouthfeel, spicy hop notes, and clean finish.

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Black Heath Meadery

Black Heath Meadery has the patio open for plenty of great outdoor events now, so keep up with them on Facebook for the latest updates — and be sure to wear your mask! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST MEADS 

  • JERRY VANILLA — Sour Cherry mead aged in Reservoir bourbon barrels with vanilla beans and cacao nibs. 
  • BLUE ANGEL — Gold Medal Mazer Cup International award winner. Batch 6 utilizes Jonagold apples and VA wildflower honey. 
  • GINGER — Traditional mead fermented with VA wildflower honey and Casselmonte Farms baby yellow ginger. 
  • MEADSAIC — Traditional mead dry hopped with Mosaic. 
  • SOUR CHERRY — Traditional strength mead fermented with VA wildflower honey, Montmorency and Balaton cherries. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Bryant’s Cider 

The new Bryant’s Cider location in Richmond opened this summer, and we’re stoked to keep up with their latest releases. They’re offering shipping and pickup, so if you want to drink from home, they’ve got you covered! Stay tuned for more info on their latest project, River City Seltzer, which is opening up in September. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST CIDERS 

  • BLUEBERRY LAVENDER AND LIME — A brand-new cider recipe featuring blueberry, lavender, and lime flavors with Crescent Simples. 
  • RED EYE — Coffee collaboration with Recluse Roasting Project. This brut cider is made with a single origin bean from a farm named Cual Bicicleta in Honduras. Bryant’s says, “The coffee is amazing, just like the cider it’s cold brewed in.” 
  • GEMINI — Zodiac series Cider. A blood orange and hibiscus cider made with the air signs in mind. 
  • CANCER — Zodiac series Cider. A blueberry cider with the perfect combination between tart and dry. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Center Of The Universe

Center of the Universe is offering pickup and delivery services, and their Beer Garden is open for business! Be sure to check here before you head out to Ashland, and ensure you’re up-to-date on their new policies to keep everyone safe. 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • OKTOBERFEST — Traditional German Märzen with a clean, light-malty sweetness.  Balanced with a light breadiness and cracker aroma.  
  • PINEAPPLE WHIP — 6.5% ABV Oat-based beer. Brewed in collaboration with Origin Beer Lab, this beer was made with whole Madagascar vanilla beans and pineapple juice. The result is a creamy, full bodied-brew that “takes your taste buds on a tropical escape.”
  • MONKEY’S UNCLE LEMONGRASS TRIPEL — 9% ABV Belgian Tripel. Brewed with local lemongrass, with a light, crisp body and straw color. Fresh lemongrass grown by Village Garden added to the boil for a refreshing treat. 
  • THERE GOSE SUMMER TANGERINE GOSE — German-Style Sour. Brewed with heaps of tangerine and a dash of salt, this slightly tart brew will make the “agony of a diminishing summer” a little less dreadful, and much more flavorful. Available in 4-packs and at the brewery. 
  • CREATIVE JUICES IIIPA — 10% ABV Double IPA. Big, bold, juicy, and gives back! This DIPA is a collaboration with Connor’s Heroes to help celebrate their 10th Annual Heroes Art Ball, which is virtual this year. $5 from every 4-pack will go straight to Connor’s Heroes.
  • BLACKBERRY CRYSTAL COTU — Low calorie, gluten-reduced, fruity and fizzy hard seltzer. Available in 4-packs and at the brewery. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Dragon Run Brewing

Dragon Run Brewing is a charming space located to our east. If you’re looking for a new day trip out of the city, this is your spot — and they’ve got plenty of unique recipes to make it worth your while. With a blend of history behind each brew, Dragon Run brings something fresh to the table with every glass. 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • BORN HERE RASPBERRY LEMONADE SHANDY — 4.4% ABV Raspberry Lemonade Shandy. This one takes the Born Here Pilsner and mixes it with fresh raspberry lemonade for a summertime treat. 
  • BRAXTON’S BITTER — 5.2% ABV English IPA. Named after the local founding father, Carter Braxton, who signed the Declaration of Independence among other things, this English Bitter has a slightly sweet malty taste and then an English Hop bite that is reminiscent of that old English Pub taste. 
  • MARY OF ORANGE — 4.5% ABV Cream Ale. You know William of Orange, but do you know his wife, Mary Of Orange? This beer is brewed for Mary of William and Mary (Or the Queen in King and Queen County). This is a light cream ale that has a subtle taste of both orange and vanilla to remind you of that favorite ice cream treat, perfect for a warm summer day. 
  • TOM’S “COFFEY” STOUT — 6.6% ABV Coffee Stout. This coffee stout is a coffee lover’s dream. Big, bold coffee taste, combined with the malty fullness, and finished with a creamy top provided by the nitro tap. Just like drinking a cold-brew coffee. Named after the brewers’ maternal grandfather, Tom Coffey, who was a legend in his own time, made this beer to be worthy of his namesake. 
  • BLACK CHERRY HARD SELTZER — 4% ABV Hard Seltzer. A hard seltzer for those that want a gluten free option. Touched off with with fresh fruit juices for a refreshing taste. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Final Gravity Brewing Co. 

Final Gravity Brewing Co. is open for pickup and delivery. To-go pours are available for every brew you could dream of: all you need to do is grab a Crowler! The brewery will be hosting food trucks and some new events as well, so be sure to stay safe and wear your mask. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • TANGERINE GOSE — Ancient Mariner and Habanero Mango. 
  • VAPOUR TRAIL HAZY DOUBLE IPA — 8% ABV Hazy Double IPA brewed with Citra and Falconer’s Flight hops. 
  • STEPPING STONE BLONDE ALE — 5% ABV Blonde Ale. 
  • CASSIOPEIA HAZY DOUBLE IPA — This fan favorite is back in the online store, and it’s no wonder it’s been so well-received in its time. Dry-hopped with Cashmere and Mosaic hops, Cassiopeia is full of tropical fruit notes, pineapple forward with a touch of dankness and a smooth finish. 
  • STARDUST HAZY IPA — 6% ABV. Hopped with BRU-1 and Mosaic, Stardust IPA has bright, floral characteristics and a pineapple punch. 
  • RITES OF SPRING GINGER HONEY LAGER — 5.5% ABV. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Fine Creek Brewing Company 

Beer delivery and pickup is available at Fine Creek Brewing Company! Check out their website for a full list of beers available, and below for new brews on tap. With brand-new recipes and old favorites back in stock, there’s something for everyone at the Powhatan farmhouse. 

Some more exciting news from Fine Creek: they’re now Craft Malt Certified. That means they’ve committed to purchasing more than 10 percent of all the malt they use from craft malthouses inside the Craft Maltsters Guild. A note from Fine Creek: “We buy a lot more than 10 percent, and often brew beers that are made with 100 percent locally-sourced malt. This is important not only to the end product of what we produce, but to the very essence of everything we do.” 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • GOLDEN SOUR — Bottled Sour Ale. The barrels layered this beer with notes of mixed berries, red wine, oaky tannins, and vanilla. Golden sour culture brought a bright acidity, along with flavors of lemon and fresh pineapple. This beer combines deeper wine barrel tones with a refreshing tart palate and a dry and tannic finish.
  • GERMAN PILSNER — 4.8% ABV Pilsner. Light Bodied, malt-forward. Floral, grassy, & herbal hop notes. 
  • PROTOSCIENCE IPA — 7.3% ABV IPA. Orange, papaya, and mild grapefruit flavors with a rich, fruity character. 
  • RAYGUN GOTHIC IPA — 7.5% ABV IPA. Pineapple and tropical fruit flavors with a full mouthfeel. 
  • CITRUS HONEY SAISON — Back on tap! The last keg of this beloved brew is coming back this Friday, and it’s only available for a limited time. It goes fast, according to Fine Creek, and it’ll also be available on the next canning run. 
  • VITALISM IPA — Hazy IPA. This new release was dry-hopped with Kohatu and Mosaic hops, combining for a sweet aroma of bright tropical fruit, with notes of freshly cut papaya and pineapple. Earlier additions of Idaho 7 and German Amarillo hops contribute more to the flavor, which features fruity tones alongside black tea, citrus zest, and a mild floral note. Vitalism has a medium body and a round mouthfeel that is paired with enough bitterness to avoid feeling too rich. 
  • AMERICAN STOUT — 7% ABV. The latest batch comes from English Pale malts from Murphy & Rude Malting Co. in Charlottesville, and with a nutty and sweet backbone, this one was layered in Toasted Oats and Crystal Wheat to build up a sweeter tone of whole grain cereal and baked goods. Toasty notes of black coffee and baker’s chocolate, medium body balanced by a subtle hop flavor. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery 

Garden Grove is offering curbside pickup, carry-out orders, and same-day delivery! Masks are required to visit their taproom, and they’ve been offering some great new brews to get us through the insanity that is the summer of 2020. We don’t know where we’d be without local beer through all of this! Check below for fresh releases and more updates. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • TYPHOON PASSION FRUIT AND MANGO HONEY WINE — 7% ABV Honey Wine. Sweet tropical aromas of passion fruit and mango swing together. “Bursting with big, bold flavors wave after wave.” 
  • MADELINE SAISON — 6.5% ABV Saison. Notes of classic banana and spice. Soft bodied, with flavors of tropical fruit, white pepper and rye.
  • ARASSAS KOLSCH — 4.8% ABV German-Style Kolsch. 
  • DEATH — 10% ABV Belgian. Brings out as much ripe and dark fruit flavors reminiscent of rich red wines as possible, by fermenting with red wine grapes from each year’s harvest. Death is made once a year in tandem with the Virginia wine grape harvest schedule. 
  • CARTOON VILLAIN IPA — 7% ABV IPA. Tropical and juicy. 
  • MOZU — 8% Peach Yuzu Honey Wine. Flavors and color from White and Blood Peaches, balanced by bright and shiny Yuzu. “Confuse your palate” with this brew that’s both sweet and dry. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery 

Hardywood Richmond and West Creek locations are open! And just look at that awesome setup above at West Creek. The outdoor spaces have been rearranged to allow for proper social distancing, and all us Hardywood fans can now visit them again safely. If you’d rather drink from home, online ordering is still available with all of Hardywood’s best. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • RICHMOND LAGER LIME — Richmond Lager Lime still has the same local ingredients we love, including Virginia-grown malt and hops. Real lime juice takes this beer to the next level. 
  • DREAMLIKE — Malted Wheat and Flaked Oats round out this dreamy New England Style IPA using Galaxy, Azzaca, Falconers Flight and Cascade hops in both Whirlpool and Dry Hopping on this iteration. 
  • CUVEE PEACH — Peach Tripel matured in freshly-dumped white wine barrels to allow for a true depth of flavor to develop. The result is a beautifully complex beer with stone fruit esters and juicy peach undertones, complemented by a pleasantly dry finish. 
  • STRAIGHT TALK VOL. I & VOL. II — The Straight Talk Series are a “single barrel & single beer experience.” Vol. I is an Imperial Milk Stout, perfectly balanced with notes of silky chocolate and toffee, plus vanilla and smooth dark caramel from its bourbon barrel. Vol. II is a Saison aged in Red Wine Barrels for 11 months. 
  • RICHMOND DARK LAGER — The same refreshing and crisp experience of its original recipe, with an ever-so-slight sweet dark malt characteristic. Although visually darker then its golden bubbly brother, Richmond Dark Lager does not have the roasty characteristics you might usually find in a beer this color. 
  • PEACH TRIPEL — A bright, effervescent tripel with a balance of white pepper and honeysuckle. Refermented on apricots and heaps of yellow peaches for a stone fruit taste and dry finish. 
  • NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE — Double IPA. New England Style, brewed with Mosaic and El Dorado hops. 
  • SUNCRUSH — Summer’s favorite hard seltzer. Check Hardywood’s ordering site for available flavors! 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Intermission Beer Company 

Intermission is open! These brewers have taken it to the next level this summer with beer slushies (and yes, it’s as good as it sounds). A recent favorite is their Abbey Colada, which adds Piña Colada mix to the Abbey Ale for a tropical banana, coconut, and pineapple delight. Masks are required to enter. Taproom and patio seating are available, and no pets during this time. 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! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • BEER SLUSHIES! — Check Facebook every Friday to see the weekend’s flavor. 
  • HATHOR GOSE — 4.6% ABV. Bright pink Sour Ale in collaboration with the local RVA chapter of the Pink Boots Society and Stone Brewing Co. Raspberry puree and pink Himalayan sea salt add bold berry flavor and a neon pink color, together with subtle citrus and light hoppy character. 
  • GHOST LIGHT LAGER — 5% ABV. Light and crisp American Lager. Gluten Reduced.
  • STRAWBERRY BLONDE — 5.7% ABV. American Pale Wheat beer. Light body, low bitterness and of course: Strawberries!
  • HONEY HIBISCUS SAISON — 5.9% ABV. Farmhouse Saison Ale. Light bodied slightly tart with a dry finish. Uniquely refreshing with notes of fresh honey and a lovely pink hue. 
  • OVATION HARD SELTZERS — Raspberry and Orange flavors available. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Isley Brewing Company 

To-go brews are available at Isley Brewing Company! Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and dogs are welcome if they’re leashed. Be sure to ask about the latest Ice-sley slushie flavors, because these brewers have something fresh every week. No reservations required, and be sure to wear your mask! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • ICE-SLEY SLUSHIES — Check in every week for fresh new slushie flavors! Bahama Mama IPA is a recent favorite. 
  • I’LL BEE BOCK — 8% ABV. Single / Traditional Bock. Hopped exclusively with Czech Saaz hops, and finished with a clean German lager yeast, the beer pours a light copper, with a thick, creamy head. 
  • SUNBURNT COUNTRY IPA — 8.5% IPA. A Hazy DIPA, brewed exclusively with varietals grown only in the Southern Hemisphere. The beer pours a cloudy yellow, with a soft, pillowy foam.
  • TEA-RIFFIC — 6% ABV Amber Ale. Growing up, summer in the South meant… Sweet Tea! They’ve brewed a malty Amber Ale, infused it with heaps of Black Tea, and sweetened it right up with approximately 100 percent of pure cane sugar. 
  • SET SAIL — 6% ABV Hopped Lemon Pale Ale. Brewed with late additions of Mandarina Bavaria and Citra hop varietals, and lemon and orange zest, the wheat and barley blended base is a perfect vessel to let the fresh, citrus flavors really shine. 
  • OFF THE BOULEVARD — 5% Irish Red Ale. Balanced, easy-drinking traditional Irish Red Ale. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery 

Multi-state shipping and drive through pickup available! The taproom is also open, and with plenty of awesome outdoor seating, the farm at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is one you don’t want to miss. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL — 10% ABV Imperial Dessert Stout. This one is for the true stout lovers out there. Lickinghole Creek took the Black Is Beautiful recipe from Weathered Souls Brewing, and tried to keep it as true to the original as possible. “We wanted this beer to showcase the masterfully roasted and caramel malt graciously donated from Murphy and Rude Malting out of Charlottesville, VA. We get huge notes of deeply roasted coffee, rich cacao, creamy vanilla, and caramel toffee.” All proceeds will go to organizations in pursuit of ending racial and social injustice everywhere. 
  • JUICY #22 — 7.5% ABV. Juicy 22 is layered with orange zest, orange juice, and with a soft kiss of vanilla. Juicy 22 showcases the wonderful hop LOTUS. (This is a personal favorite of mine, so I definitely encourage you to try it!) 
  • NUCLEAR NUGGET IMPERIAL HONEY IPA — 10.5% ABV. While it’s not brand-new, it’s worth noting as a fan favorite. This hop bomb is a lot of things. One thing it is not, is subtle. Nuclear Nugget explodes the nose with notes of citrus, flowers, and Centennial hops, then the nuclear fallout is accompanied by local clover honey, to bring everybody back to safety. 
  • GOOCHLAND QUADRUPEL ALE — 11.2% ABV. Tasting notes of raisin, plum, prune, and currants. Easily drinkable, complex, and refreshing. 
  • BEAR BAIT BERLINER WEISSE WITH BLACKBERRIES — 4% ABV. Blended with Blackberries to create a tart, crisp, fruity, and beautifully hued-libation. 
  • WATERMELON GOSE — 5% ABV. Traditional German-style wheat ale. Expect a light and crisp beer with notes of sour, salt, and juicy watermelon on your taste buds.

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop 

Starr Hill RVA 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. 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • HEY BUDDY — The latest pilot batch from right here in Richmond. This beer is dedicated to Starr Hill’s buddy, Dio, who’s been a member of the crew for over 10 years. This golden brew lagered in our tanks for over five months, for a crisp and refreshing finish. 
  • FESTIE — Oktoberfest Lager. This recipe is rich, malty, and perfectly refreshing for the season. 
  • BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL — Starr Hill’s recipe of the Weathered Souls Brewing initiative. This hopped-up stout was brewed with Chinook, Citra, Centennial and Falconer’s Flight. 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Equal Justice Initiative! 
  • DOUBLE PLATINUM IMPERIAL IPA — 8.6% ABV Imperial IPA. Brand-new Imperial IPA from Starr Hill, limited edition! 
  • KING KUNU PINEAPPLE IPA — Pineapple IPA. 4-packs available from the brewery. 
  • SAY IT AIN’T SOUR — 12-pack that brings together all the best Starr Hill Gose brews. Pixie Pineapple Gose, Carly Cucumber Gose, Carole Cran-Raspberry Gose and Lola Guava Gose. 
  • RECEIVER RED IPA — Another brand-new recipe from Starr Hill in a Double Dry-Hopped Red IPA. 
  • SUBLIME CITRUS WIT — Witbier. New recipe with a fresh lime zest. Citrus, wheat, and spice meld together to create the perfect summer beverage. 
  • CARLY CUCUMBER GOSE — 6-pack of the new Gose recipe. 
  • CAROLE CRAN-RASPBERRY GOSE — A cranberry-raspberry infusion in 6-packs available at Starr Hill. 
  • PIXIE PINEAPPLE GOSE — Another fresh recipe available in 6-packs. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Stone Brewing Richmond 

Stone Brewing Richmond is open for pick-up! This awesome East End brewery has had some delicious releases lately, and they’ve got brews ready at the door if you plan to take them home. The patio is open as well, so mask up and head out for some great new releases. 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • FEATURES & BENEFITS — 4% ABV IPA. This new recipe is Stone’s low-calorie IPA, a trend we’ve been seeing more of this summer (and loving it!) Gluten-reduced, hop forward flavor with 95 calories. 
  • STONE BUENAVEZA SALT & LIME LAGER — 4.7% ABV Lager. This one has been a favorite this summer, so grab one while you can! 
  • ENTER NIGHT PILSNER — 5.7% ABV Pilsner. German-style pilsner with low bitterness and bright tastes. 
  • STONE RIPPER ALE — 5.7% ABV West-Coast style Pale Ale. 
  • 24 CARROT GOLDEN ALE — Belgian-Style Ale. Carrot cake-inspired recipe between Stone, Juli Goldenberg, and Monkeypaw. 
  • RUINED AGAIN TRIPLE IPA — 10.8% ABV Triple IPA. Available in Crowlers to-go and at the brewery. This one’s coming out officially on August 10! 
  • NOTORIOUS P.O.G — 4.7% ABV Berliner Weisse. Tart, tropical, and “damn tasty.” 
  • STONE TIKI ESCAPE — 7.7% ABV IPA. Tropical, fruit-forward IPA brewed with Sabro and Mosaic hops. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Strangeways Brewing 

All three Strangeways Brewing tasting rooms are open for delivery, curbside pick-up, and to-go orders! They’re also open for draft brews, and wear your mask when visiting in-person. Be sure to check their website for updates. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • SINEWY — 8% ABV Strong Saison. A fan favorite for years, Sinewy is basically an imperial farmhouse ale, made with Vienna, White Wheat, and Belgian Aromatic Malts then generously hopped Sorachi Ace. Fermented very dry producing a crushable farmhouse ale with notes of honey, green peppercorn, earth, and freshly cut hay. 
  • I KNOW WIT YOU DID LAST SUMMER — 5.4% ABV Sour Witbier. Combines the spice of a traditional Belgian wit, with the mellow tart of German sour wheat ale. A subtle citrus characteristic sticks around from nose to aftertaste, briefly replacing mid-taste with a light peppery sweet tart. 
  • BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL — Imperial Stout. Highlights intense roast character with moderate sweetness and subtle booze on the nose. 100 percent of proceeds benefit Girls for a Change. 
  • SHIMMER & SHAKE — Spiked Sparkling Seltzer. Lemon-lime flavors, with a light, crisp, and effervescent taste for summertime. 
  • AFM WILD ALE — Farmhouse Saison. 2-row, Vienna, and Wheat Malts. Heavily hopped with Columbus in the brewhouse, then aged 22 months in French Oak barrels. Strong, but drinkable, with a balance between hops and funk. 
  • FULL STACK LUMBERJACK — Stout. Dark, rich and luscious. Conditioned with pure Wisconsin Little Man maple syrup and thick-cut Smithfield maple flavored bacon. 
  • GNAR SHREDDER — Double IPA. Soft and pillowy with light sweetness. Intensely fruity from big additions of Vic Secret and Cashmere hops giving notes of passionfruit, peach, pear, and rock candy. Double dry-hopped. 
  • LEGALIZE IT — Small Axe West Coast-Style IPA in honor of the recent decriminalization of marijuana in Virginia. 
  • LUCKY CHARMS BERLINER WEISSE — Cloudy, sour wheat beer. Dry, fruity funk with a sharp tartness. 
  • SEA SPRITZ — Cranberry Berliner Weisse. 
  • WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GOSE — Lighthearted Germanic Sour. Lemony tartness alongside Sicilian sea salt, coriander, and ginger to “put the boom-boom into your heart.” 
  • WHAT THE ASTRONAUTS DRINK — Sour Berliner Weisse. Infused with orange flavored drink mix for a familiar tangy flavor. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Three Notch’d RVA Collab House

Three Notch’d RVA Collab House is open for business, and they just welcomed a new Head Brewer in August: Bobby Faithful. With a wealth of professional brewing experience (including being the director of the brewing program at University of Richmond), Bobby’s got plenty of new recipes to cook up for the River City. Between pickup and delivery services, in addition to a great patio, Three Notch’d RVA is bringing lots of fresh tastes into this summer. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • BROADCAST BREW COFFEE BROWN ALE — Inspired by the flavors of a morning cup o’ joe, this craft creation uses a special blend of beans from Rostov’s Coffee & Tea. Notes of caramel and chocolate make this a delicious breakfast beer. 
  • NEPHOLOGY LOTUS — 7.8% ABV. the newest development of the HopSteiner’s Hop Breeding Program. A descendant of Cascade Eastern Gold and Apollo, look for flavors and aroma of orange, vanilla, and tropical fruit. 
  • BARREL-AGED BERRY SOUR — 6.4% ABV Sour. A wine barrel-aged sour ale brewed with blackberries and raspberries, straight from the Three Notch’d Sour House collection. 
  • SULTANA OF SWING — 7.5% ABV New England IPA. Bursting with bright, citrusy orange, resinous pine, and ripe pineapple flavors. Heavy handled dry-hopping with Sultana and Amarillo hops give this brew a big fruity and citrusy aroma, and a flavor to match. 
  • BLACK CHERRY HARD SELTZER — Hard Seltzer. Low sugar, low carb, and only 100 calories for the days you’re craving something lighter. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Triple Crossing Beer

Triple Crossing Beer has to-go and delivery options available, and can shipping is another option as well. Visit their patio for some outdoor time in the East End, and wear your mask! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • BUTTERCUP GRISETTE — 4.5% ABV. Open-fermented Grisette comprised of pilsner malt, spelt, red wheat and flaked barley. 
  • FALCON SMASH IPA — Flagship IPA. Dank hop character from Falconer’s Flight dry-hop process. 
  • PARANOID — 5% ABV Pale Ale. Mango, sweet apricot, and floral grapefruit orange. Built for summer!
  • FOEDER I  — 5% ABV Golden Ale. Candied pineapple, fresh pomelo, light notes of dill and sweet honey with a restrained acidity and dry finish.
  • SIMCOE TRIANGLES — Bright pink grapefruit, pulpy-melon, and citrus flavors. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Väsen Brewing Company

Väsen is open for pickup and delivery! Outdoor seating is available, so please wear your mask and keep folks safe. They’ve recently released a great array of fresh new brews, and we can’t wait to grab a glass of every one! Kegs are also available to take home. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • EVERYTHING FLOATS ON GUAVA AND PASSION FRUIT — Bold, dry-hopped sour… and all of it floats on a fruity foundation of real guava and passion fruit. Along with the tropical flavors dominating this tart brew, you’ll also find subtle citrus aromas and pleasant floral character from a light addition of citra hops. 
  • Gård — Wild sour ale with a bright, tropical character. 
  • FEASTA — 8% ABV Hazy DIPA. Brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Vic Secret Hops. 
  • NEOMEXICANUS — 8% ABV Hazy DIPA. Brewed with Sabro, El Dorado, and Azacca hops.
  • APRICOT SOUR — 7% ABV Sour Ale. Brewed with apricot for a summery, fruity flavor. 
  • MIERKA — 6% ABV Farmhouse Brett Saison. Dry-hopped with Citra and Amarillo hops. 
  • FREYJA — 6% ABV Hazy IPA. Brewed with Mosaic, Rakau, and the 2019 Pink Boots Hop Blend. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

The Veil Brewing Co. 

The Veil Brewing Co. is hosting outdoor to-go sales from both locations. They’ve also got shipping available to select states, and they’re currently open for curbside pickup only. Patio lovers, stay tuned for openings in the future! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • GOOD MORNING, ANXIETY — 8.5% ABV. DIPA brewed with milk sugar, Citra, Nelson, Motueka, and Vic Secret. A creamy texture with drippy flavors of mango, wine coolers, and a bowl of tropical fruit.
  • STEP STEP DAD DAD — 8% ABV. Mosaic Double Dry- hopped Double IPA. Saturated impressions of blueberry, papaya, cantaloupe, and bubble gum. 
  • 25 HRS — 6% ABV. IPA brewed with Citra, Enigma, BRU-1, Galaxy, and Motueka. Exceptionally soft and well-rounded. Juicy and full flavors of green tropical fruit, lime zest, and gummy bears. 
  • NEVER NEVER CALM CALM — 5.1% ABV Gose with the awesome fruit combo of double passion fruit and double pineapple. Tasty vibes of canned fruit cups, peach skin, and obviously tons of passion fruit and pineapple. 
  • HOLLOW PLACE 500ML BOTTLE — 10.5% ABV. Hollow Place: Vanilla Walnut is a new Imperial Stout conditioned on piles of crushed walnuts and freshly split Madagascar vanilla beans. Awesome oily flavors of rich vanilla cake, walnut fudge, and candy bars. 
  • REDREDMIATAMIATA — 6% ABV. Luxuriously soft Double Dry-hopped IPA with the freshest crops of Galaxy and Mosaic. Fun impressions of berries, musky tropical fruit, clean citrus, and rose.
  • MERCILESS MERCILESS — 8% ABV. Double Dry-hopped DIPA brewed with raw wheat, malted wheat, oats, and piles of fresh Citra, Galaxy, Simcoe, and Vic Secret. Tastes like “You stuffed too many gushers in your mouth, grape flavored Big League Chew gum, and sweet tangerine slices.” 
  • PURPLEBUGATTI — 11% ABV. Triple IPA with the freshest Galaxy and Vic Secret available to The Veil. An exemplary Australian-hopped Triple IPA.  Awesome pungent notes of tropical fruit gummies, wine grapes, and pine. 
  • VEIN — 4.5% ABV. Pilsner step-mashed with floor-malted barley and hopped with Saaz and Tettnang. Crispy, hoppy, and thirst-quenching.
  • LOVELY — 5.2% ABV. Lovely is a blend of a Farmhouse-inspired Pale Ale and a 100% wheat Farmhouse-inspired ale. Both beers were barrel fermented, inoculated with our house culture, and aged in French oak red wine barrels for 12 months.
  • ERODE — 6.1% ABV. Farmhouse-inspired Ale brewed with pilsner malt, spelt, and some flaked rye, then hopped throughout the entire process with whole leaf Hallertau, Tettnang, and Cascade alongside pellets of Citra, Hallertau Blanc, and a bit of Lemondrop. Impressions of spritzy orange citrus soda, clean minerality, round hoppiness. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

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: Summer Brews in the River City

Caley Sturgill | August 5, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars richmond va, beer, beer column, bryants cider, Center Of The Universe Brewing, craft beer richmond va, craft beer RVA, Final Gravity, Fine Creek Brewing Company, garden grove, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Intermission Beer Company, Isley Brewing Company, Lickinghole Creek, RVA On Tap, Starr Hill, Stone brewing, strangeways, the answer brewpub, The Veil Brewing Co., triple crossing, Vasen Brewing Company

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. 

As the River City slowly transitions into a new normal during the pandemic, we’re highlighting Richmond’s brewers. From in-person outdoor events to take-home and delivery beers, let’s support our local businesses together — and stay safe in the process. 

We’ll be bringing you fresh news in the beer world with guidelines on safety. If you’re planning to venture out during the pandemic, your RVA Magazine team wants to stress the importance of wearing your mask. As we all support our favorite brewers, let’s also support the community together by taking precautions to ensure everyone stays healthy. 

We’ve got locals like The Answer Brewpub, Ardent Craft Ales, Bryant’s Cider, Center of the Universe Brewing, Final Gravity, Fine Creek Brewing Company, Garden Grove, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Intermission Beer Company, Isley Brewing Company, Lickinghole Creek, Starr Hill, Stone Brewing, Strangeways, Triple Crossing, Väsen Brewing Company, The Veil Brewing Co. and more.

Drink up, Virginia! 

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

The Answer Brewpub 

At The Answer Brewpub, fresh brews are here to cool down these hot summer days. 

Takeout is available, and you’ll want to keep up with The Answer on Facebook to see updates on pre-sales for their latest recipes. This week, we’ve got a brand-new beer available, along with a few special releases from the summer. 

Pickup: To-go locations and info updated regularly on Instagram. 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • HARD TO GET A TICKET — 100% Mosaic DIPA ready in a fresh batch. Described as a “tropical fruit bowl,” the Double IPA is available in 4-packs. 
  • SUMMER SHOWERS — 6.5% ABV Citrus IPA. Ready to carry you through clear skies or summer rains, this pillowy-soft IPA is available in 4-packs. 
  • BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL — 10% ABV Imperial Stout. This glittering brew came as a collaboration for the Black Is Beautiful equality and inclusion campaign, and all proceeds go to the Sister Fund RVA and Campaign Zero. With maple syrup, New Guinea vanilla beans, a touch of cinnamon, Roanoke Coffee, and shimmering edible gold glitter, this recipe was inspired to end injustices against POC and promote equality in our community. 
  • HOPTONE — Double dry-hopped with Wai-iti hops for the perfect balance between “tropical fruit bowl” and “crispy boy” energy. This latest addition to the Hoptone series at The Answer came out in July, and it’s ready to refresh these hot summer days. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Ardent Craft Ales 

Curbside pickup and delivery are available at Ardent Craft Ales, along with beer shipping across Virginia and D.C. Ardent partially reopened their beer garden last month, and they’ll be serving food every day as well. Be sure to check out their new policies during Covid-19. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • ATLANTICO — 4.4% ABV Mexican-Style Lager. This summertime crusher is brand-new, and was brewed with flaked corn and rice for a dry, refreshing finish. Light-bodied with minimal bitterness, Ardent says this one is the perfect beer on a hot summer afternoon. 
  • RESTING MY GREATNESS — Short Throw Brewing Co. available at Ardent. 11.8% ABV Imperial Stout with coffee, Vermont maple syrup, and whole vanilla beans. 
  • IMPERIAL STOUT WITH VANILLA & CACAO NIBS — 11% ABV Imperial Stout. Bold, full-bodied beer that pours deep black with a tan head. Rich, chocolatey sweetness complements the roasted malt character for a balanced stout with a smooth finish. 
  • BOHEMIAN PILSNER — 4.8% ABV Czech-Style Pilsner. Brewed with a simple recipe of Czech floor malt, Saaz hops, and a Czech lager yeast. Clear golden color with soft mouthfeel, spicy hop notes, and clean finish.

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Bryant’s Cider 

The new Bryant’s Cider location in Richmond opened this summer, and we’re stoked to keep up with their latest releases. They’re offering shipping and pickup, so if you want to drink from home, they’ve got you covered! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST CIDERS 

  • BLUEBERRY LAVENDER AND LIME — A brand-new cider recipe featuring blueberry, lavender, and lime flavors with Crescent Simples. 
  • RED EYE — Coffee collaboration with Recluse Roasting Project. This brut cider is made with a single origin bean from a farm named Cual Bicicleta in Honduras. Bryant’s says, “The coffee is amazing, just like the cider it’s cold brewed in.” 
  • GEMINI — Zodiac series Cider. A blood orange and hibiscus cider made with the air signs in mind. 
  • CANCER — Zodiac series Cider. A blueberry cider with the perfect combination between tart and dry. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Center Of The Universe 

Center of the Universe is offering pickup and delivery services, and their Beer Garden is open for business! Be sure to check here before you head out to Ashland, and ensure you’re up-to-date on their new policies to keep everyone safe. 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • PINEAPPLE WHIP — 6.5% ABV Oat-based beer. Brewed in collaboration with Origin Beer Lab, this beer was made with whole Madagascar vanilla beans and pineapple juice. The result is a creamy, full bodied-brew that “takes your taste buds on a tropical escape.”
  • MONKEY’S UNCLE LEMONGRASS TRIPEL — 9% ABV Belgian Tripel. Brewed with local lemongrass, with a light, crisp body and straw color. Fresh lemongrass grown by Village Garden added to the boil for a refreshing treat. 
  • THERE GOSE SUMMER TANGERINE GOSE — German-Style Sour. Brewed with heaps of tangerine and a dash of salt, this slightly tart brew will make the “agony of a diminishing summer” a little less dreadful, and much more flavorful. Available in 4-packs and at the brewery. 
  • CREATIVE JUICES IIIPA — 10% ABV Double IPA. Big, bold, juicy, and gives back! This DIPA is a collaboration with Connor’s Heroes to help celebrate their 10th Annual Heroes Art Ball, which is virtual this year. $5 from every 4-pack will go straight to Connor’s Heroes.
  • BLACKBERRY CRYSTAL COTU — Low calorie, gluten-reduced, fruity and fizzy hard seltzer. Available in 4-packs and at the brewery. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Final Gravity Brewing Co. 

Final Gravity Brewing Co. is open for pickup and delivery. To-go pours are available for every brew you could dream of: all you need to do is grab a Crowler! The brewery will be hosting food trucks and some new events as well, so be sure to stay safe and wear your mask. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • CASSIOPEIA HAZY DOUBLE IPA — This fan favorite is back in the online store, and it’s no wonder it’s been so well-received in its time. Dry-hopped with Cashmere and Mosaic hops, Cassiopeia is full of tropical fruit notes, pineapple forward with a touch of dankness and a smooth finish. 
  • STARDUST HAZY IPA — 6% ABV. Hopped with BRU-1 and Mosaic, Stardust IPA has bright, floral characteristics and a pineapple punch. 
  • RITES OF SPRING GINGER HONEY LAGER — 5.5% ABV. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Fine Creek Brewing Company 

Beer delivery and pickup is available at Fine Creek Brewing Company! Check out their website for a full list of beers available, and below for new brews on tap. With brand-new recipes and old favorites back in stock, there’s something for everyone at the Powhatan farmhouse. 

Some more exciting news from Fine Creek: they’re now Craft Malt Certified. That means they’ve committed to purchasing more than 10 percent of all the malt they use from craft malthouses inside the Craft Maltsters Guild. A note from Fine Creek: “We buy a lot more than 10 percent, and often brew beers that are made with 100 percent locally-sourced malt. This is important not only to the end product of what we produce, but to the very essence of everything we do.” 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • CITRUS HONEY SAISON — Back on tap! The last keg of this beloved brew is coming back this Friday, and it’s only available for a limited time. It goes fast, according to Fine Creek, and it’ll also be available on the next canning run. 
  • VITALISM IPA — Hazy IPA. This new release was dry-hopped with Kohatu and Mosaic hops, combining for a sweet aroma of bright tropical fruit, with notes of freshly cut papaya and pineapple. Earlier additions of Idaho 7 and German Amarillo hops contribute more to the flavor, which features fruity tones alongside black tea, citrus zest, and a mild floral note. Vitalism has a medium body and a round mouthfeel that is paired with enough bitterness to avoid feeling too rich. 
  • AMERICAN STOUT — 7% ABV. The latest batch comes from English Pale malts from Murphy & Rude Malting Co. in Charlottesville, and with a nutty and sweet backbone, this one was layered in Toasted Oats and Crystal Wheat to build up a sweeter tone of whole grain cereal and baked goods. Toasty notes of black coffee and baker’s chocolate, medium body balanced by a subtle hop flavor. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery 

Garden Grove is offering curbside pickup, carry-out orders, and same-day delivery! Masks are required to visit their taproom, and they’ve been offering some great new brews to get us through the insanity that is the summer of 2020. We don’t know where we’d be without local beer through all of this! Check below for fresh releases and more updates. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • TYPHOON PASSION FRUIT AND MANGO HONEY WINE — 7% ABV Honey Wine. Sweet tropical aromas of passion fruit and mango swing together. “Bursting with big, bold flavors wave after wave.” 
  • CARTOON VILLAIN IPA — 7% ABV IPA. Tropical and juicy. 
  • MOZU — 8% Peach Yuzu Honey Wine. Flavors and color from White and Blood Peaches, balanced by bright and shiny Yuzu. “Confuse your palate” with this brew that’s both sweet and dry. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery 

Hardywood Richmond and West Creek locations are open! And just look at that awesome setup above at West Creek. The outdoor spaces have been rearranged to allow for proper social distancing, and all us Hardywood fans can now visit them again safely. If you’d rather drink from home, online ordering is still available with all of Hardywood’s best. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • STRAIGHT TALK VOL. I & VOL. II — The Straight Talk Series are a “single barrel & single beer experience.” Vol. I is an Imperial Milk Stout, perfectly balanced with notes of silky chocolate and toffee, plus vanilla and smooth dark caramel from its bourbon barrel. Vol. II is a Saison aged in Red Wine Barrels for 11 months. 
  • RICHMOND DARK LAGER — The same refreshing and crisp experience of its original recipe, with an ever-so-slight sweet dark malt characteristic. Although visually darker then its golden bubbly brother, Richmond Dark Lager does not have the roasty characteristics you might usually find in a beer this color. 
  • PEACH TRIPEL — A bright, effervescent tripel with a balance of white pepper and honeysuckle. Refermented on apricots and heaps of yellow peaches for a stone fruit taste and dry finish. 
  • NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE — Double IPA. New England Style, brewed with Mosaic and El Dorado hops. 
  • SUNCRUSH — Summer’s favorite hard seltzer. Check Hardywood’s ordering site for available flavors! 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Intermission Beer Company 

Intermission is open! Masks are required to enter. Taproom and patio seating are available, and no pets during this time. 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!

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • BEER SLUSHIES! — Check Facebook every Friday to see the weekend’s flavor. 
  • HATHOR GOSE — 4.6% ABV. Bright pink Sour Ale in collaboration with the local RVA chapter of the Pink Boots Society and Stone Brewing Co. Raspberry puree and pink Himalayan sea salt add bold berry flavor and a neon pink color, together with subtle citrus and light hoppy character. 
  • GHOST LIGHT LAGER — 5% ABV. Light and crisp American Lager. Gluten Reduced.
  • STRAWBERRY BLONDE — 5.7% ABV. American Pale Wheat beer. Light body, low bitterness and of course: Strawberries!
  • HONEY HIBISCUS SAISON — 5.9% ABV. Farmhouse Saison Ale. Light bodied slightly tart with a dry finish. Uniquely refreshing with notes of fresh honey and a lovely pink hue. 
  • OVATION HARD SELTZERS — Raspberry and Orange flavors available. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Isley Brewing Company 

To-go brews are available at Isley Brewing Company! Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and dogs are welcome if they’re leashed. No reservations required, and be sure to wear your mask! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • I’LL BEE BOCK — 8% ABV. Single / Traditional Bock. Hopped exclusively with Czech Saaz hops, and finished with a clean German lager yeast, the beer pours a light copper, with a thick, creamy head. 
  • SUNBURNT COUNTRY IPA — 8.5% IPA. A Hazy DIPA, brewed exclusively with varietals grown only in the Southern Hemisphere. The beer pours a cloudy yellow, with a soft, pillowy foam.
  • TEA-RIFFIC — 6% ABV Amber Ale. Growing up, summer in the South meant… Sweet Tea! They’ve brewed a malty Amber Ale, infused it with heaps of Black Tea, and sweetened it right up with approximately 100 percent of pure cane sugar. 
  • SET SAIL — 6% ABV Hopped Lemon Pale Ale. Brewed with late additions of Mandarina Bavaria and Citra hop varietals, and lemon and orange zest, the wheat and barley blended base is a perfect vessel to let the fresh, citrus flavors really shine. 
  • OFF THE BOULEVARD — 5% Irish Red Ale. Balanced, easy-drinking traditional Irish Red Ale. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery 

Multi-state shipping and drive through pickup available! The taproom is also open, and with plenty of awesome outdoor seating, the farm at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery is one you don’t want to miss. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • JUICY #22 — 7.5% ABV. Juicy 22 is layered with orange zest, orange juice, and with a soft kiss of vanilla. Juicy 22 showcases the wonderful hop LOTUS. (This is a personal favorite of mine, so I definitely encourage you to try it!) 
  • NUCLEAR NUGGET IMPERIAL HONEY IPA — 10.5% ABV. While it’s not brand-new, it’s worth noting as a fan favorite. This hop bomb is a lot of things. One thing it is not, is subtle. Nuclear Nugget explodes the nose with notes of citrus, flowers, and Centennial hops, then the nuclear fallout is accompanied by local clover honey, to bring everybody back to safety. 
  • GOOCHLAND QUADRUPEL ALE — 11.2% ABV. Tasting notes of raisin, plum, prune, and currants. Easily drinkable, complex, and refreshing. 
  • BEAR BAIT BERLINER WEISSE WITH BLACKBERRIES — 4% ABV. Blended with Blackberries to create a tart, crisp, fruity, and beautifully hued-libation. 
  • WATERMELON GOSE — 5% ABV. Traditional German-style wheat ale. Expect a light and crisp beer with notes of sour, salt, and juicy watermelon on your taste buds.

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop 

Starr Hill RVA 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. 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • KING KUNU PINEAPPLE IPA — Pineapple IPA. 4-packs available from the brewery. 
  • SAY IT AIN’T SOUR — 12-pack that brings together all the best Starr Hill Gose brews. Pixie Pineapple Gose, Carly Cucumber Gose, Carole Cran-Raspberry Gose and Lola Guava Gose. 
  • DOUBLE PLATINUM IPA — 8.6% ABV Imperial IPA. Brand-new Imperial IPA from Starr Hill, limited edition! 
  • RECEIVER RED IPA — Another brand-new recipe from Starr Hill in a Double Dry-Hopped Red IPA. 
  • SUBLIME CITRUS WIT — Witbier. New recipe with a fresh lime zest. Citrus, wheat, and spice meld together to create the perfect summer beverage. 
  • CARLY CUCUMBER GOSE — 6-pack of the new Gose recipe. 
  • CAROLE CRAN-RASPBERRY GOSE — A cranberry-raspberry infusion in 6-packs available at Starr Hill. 
  • PIXIE PINEAPPLE GOSE — Another fresh recipe available in 6-packs. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Stone Brewing Richmond 

Stone Brewing Richmond is open for pick-up! This awesome East End brewery has had some delicious releases lately, and they’ve got brews ready at the door if you plan to take them home. The patio is open as well, so mask up and head out for some great new releases. 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • 24 CARROT GOLDEN ALE — Belgian-Style Ale. Carrot cake-inspired recipe between Stone, Juli Goldenberg, and Monkeypaw. 
  • RUINED AGAIN TRIPLE IPA — 10.8% ABV Triple IPA. Available in Crowlers to-go and at the brewery. This one’s coming out officially on August 10! 
  • NOTORIOUS P.O.G — 4.7% ABV Berliner Weisse. Tart, tropical, and “damn tasty.” 
  • STONE TIKI ESCAPE — 7.7% ABV IPA. Tropical, fruit-forward IPA brewed with Sabro and Mosaic hops. 
  • SOARING DRAGON IMPERIAL IPA — 8% Imperial IPA. Brewed with white peony tea and dry-hopped with Amarillo hops. 
  • LIBERTY STATION LIFEBLOOD — 6.8% American Brown Ale. Roasty and Nutty notes, and a crisp, slightly-sweet finish. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Strangeways Brewing 

All three Strangeways Brewing tasting rooms are open for delivery, curbside pick-up, and to-go orders! They’re also open for draft brews, and wear your mask when visiting in-person. Be sure to check their website for updates. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • SHIMMER & SHAKE — Spiked Sparkling Seltzer. Lemon-lime flavors, with a light, crisp, and effervescent taste for summertime. 
  • AFM WILD ALE — Farmhouse Saison. 2-row, Vienna, and Wheat Malts. Heavily hopped with Columbus in the brewhouse, then aged 22 months in French Oak barrels. Strong, but drinkable, with a balance between hops and funk. 
  • ARNIE’S ARMY — Berliner Weisse. Arnold Palmer flavored Berliner Weisse.
  • BAVARIAN RHAPSODY — Hefeweizen Munich-Style Wheat Beer. 
  • BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL — Imperial Stout. Highlights intense roast character with moderate sweetness and subtle booze on the nose. 100 percent of proceeds benefit Girls for a Change. 
  • FULL STACK LUMBERJACK — Stout. Dark, rich and luscious. Conditioned with pure Wisconsin Little Man maple syrup and thick-cut Smithfield maple flavored bacon. 
  • GNAR SHREDDER — Double IPA. Soft and pillowy with light sweetness. Intensely fruity from big additions of Vic Secret and Cashmere hops giving notes of passionfruit, peach, pear, and rock candy. Double dry-hopped. 
  • LEGALIZE IT — Small Axe West Coast-Style IPA in honor of the recent decriminalization of marijuana in Virginia. 
  • LUCKY CHARMS BERLINER WEISSE — Cloudy, sour wheat beer. Dry, fruity funk with a sharp tartness. 
  • SEA SPRITZ — Cranberry Berliner Weisse. 
  • WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GOSE — Lighthearted Germanic Sour. Lemony tartness alongside Sicilian sea salt, coriander, and ginger to “put the boom-boom into your heart.” 
  • WHAT THE ASTRONAUTS DRINK — Sour Berliner Weisse. Infused with orange flavored drink mix for a familiar tangy flavor. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Triple Crossing Beer

Triple Crossing Beer has to-go and delivery options available, and can shipping is another option as well. Visit their patio for some outdoor time in the East End, and wear your mask! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • FALCON SMASH IPA — Flagship IPA. Dank hop character from Falconer’s Flight dry-hop process. 
  • FOEDER I  — 5% ABV Golden Ale. Candied pineapple, fresh pomelo, light notes of dill and sweet honey with a restrained acidity and dry finish.
  • LAST BROADCAST — Double IPA. Hopped generously with Mosaic, Nelson, Citra and Galaxy. Floral green pineapple citrus, deepened candied grapefruit dank, and soft apricot peach. 
  • PARANOID — 5% ABV Pale Ale. Mango, sweet apricot, and floral grapefruit orange. Built for summer!
  • SIMCOE TRIANGLES — Bright pink grapefruit, pulpy-melon, and citrus flavors. 
  • ZWICK’L — Unfiltered Cold-Conditioned Lager. Bright, floral, lemon, bread crust flavors. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

Väsen Brewing Company

Väsen is open for pickup and delivery! Outdoor seating is available, so please wear your mask and keep folks safe. They’ve recently released a great array of fresh new brews, and we can’t wait to grab a glass of every one! Kegs are also available to take home. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • EVERYTHING FLOATS ON GUAVA AND PASSION FRUIT — Bold, dry-hopped sour… and all of it floats on a fruity foundation of real guava and passion fruit. Along with the tropical flavors dominating this tart brew, you’ll also find subtle citrus aromas and pleasant floral character from a light addition of citra hops. 
  • Gård — Wild sour ale with a bright, tropical character. 
  • FEASTA — 8% ABV Hazy DIPA. Brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Vic Secret Hops. 
  • NEOMEXICANUS — 8% ABV Hazy DIPA. Brewed with Sabro, El Dorado, and Azacca hops.
  • APRICOT SOUR — 7% ABV Sour Ale. Brewed with apricot for a summery, fruity flavor. 
  • MIERKA — 6% ABV Farmhouse Brett Saison. Dry-hopped with Citra and Amarillo hops. 
  • FREYJA — 6% ABV Hazy IPA. Brewed with Mosaic, Rakau, and the 2019 Pink Boots Hop Blend. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

The Veil Brewing Co. 

The Veil Brewing Co. is hosting outdoor to-go sales from both locations. They’ve also got shipping available to select states, and they’re currently open for curbside pickup only. Patio lovers, stay tuned for openings in the future! 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • REDREDMIATAMIATA — 6% ABV. Double Dry-hopped IPA with the freshest crops of Galaxy and Mosaic. Fun impressions of berries, musky tropical fruit, clean citrus, and rose.
  • MERCILESS MERCILESS — 8% ABV. Double Dry-hopped DIPA brewed with raw wheat, malted wheat, oats, and piles of fresh Citra, Galaxy, Simcoe, and Vic Secret. Tastes like “You stuffed too many gushers in your mouth, grape flavored Big League Chew gum, and sweet tangerine slices.” 
  • LVL 3 — 11% ABV. Galaxy Triple Dry-hopped Triple IPA. Galaxy Triple Dry-hopped Triple IPA.
  • LUXURIOUS LUXURY VOLUME — 9% ABV. Overindulged Imperial Berliner Gose with black truffle sea salt, marshmallows, boysenberry purée, mango purée, and edible 24k gold flakes. “Concentrated fruit confectionary goodness.” 
  • PURPLEBUGATTI — 11% ABV. Triple IPA with the freshest Galaxy and Vic Secret available to The Veil. An exemplary Australian-hopped Triple IPA.  Awesome pungent notes of tropical fruit gummies, wine grapes, and pine. 
  • VEIN — 4.5% ABV. Pilsner step-mashed with floor-malted barley and hopped with Saaz and Tettnang. Crispy, hoppy, and thirst-quenching.
  • LOVELY — 5.2% ABV. Lovely is a blend of a Farmhouse-inspired Pale Ale and a 100% wheat Farmhouse-inspired ale. Both beers were barrel fermented, inoculated with our house culture, and aged in French oak red wine barrels for 12 months.
  • ERODE — 6.1% ABV. Farmhouse-inspired Ale brewed with pilsner malt, spelt, and some flaked rye, then hopped throughout the entire process with whole leaf Hallertau, Tettnang, and Cascade alongside pellets of Citra, Hallertau Blanc, and a bit of Lemondrop. Impressions of spritzy orange citrus soda, clean minerality, round hoppiness. 
  • FOR LOVE — 5% ABV. For Love is a Lager brewed with raw wheat, a touch of rye, and Sterling hops. Super crispy with a slight citrus twist. Step-mashed, naturally carbonated, and lagered for 2 months in our horizontal tanks. 

Updates: Facebook | Instagram | Website 

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. 

PHOTO: Bryant’s Cider

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. 

PHOTO: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

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.

PHOTO: Triple Crossing Beer

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.

PHOTO: Ardent Craft Ales

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.

PHOTO: Fine Creek Brewing Company

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.

PHOTO: The Veil Brewing Co.

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.

PHOTO: Midnight Brewery

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.

PHOTO: Intermission Beer Company

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! 

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: 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

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, 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. 

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: 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

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.

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.

PHOTO: Strangeways Brewing

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! 

PHOTO: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

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! 

PHOTO: Väsen Brewing Company

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. 

PHOTO: Ardent Craft Ales

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. 

PHOTO: Final Gravity Brewing Co.

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.

PHOTO: Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery

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. 

PHOTO: Center of the Universe Brewing

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. 

PHOTO: The Veil Brewing Co.

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.

PHOTO: Stone Brewing Richmond

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! 

PHOTO: Triple Crossing Beer

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!

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: Love Your Beer this Valentine’s Day

Caley Sturgill | February 12, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars in richmond va, beer, beer column, Center of the Universe, craft beer, craft beer richmond va, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, final gravity brewing co, fine creek brewing, happy hour richmond va, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, starr hill richmond beer hall and rooftop, Stone Brewing-Richmond, Strangeways Brewing, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Three Notch’d RVA Collab House

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, celebrate love (and anti-love) with your favorite beer families in Richmond. Center of the Universe throws their Anti-Valentine’s party in all its sweet, bitter glory, and Three Notch’d RVA Collab House hosts specials for the free spirits in town for Singles Awareness Day. Strangeways celebrates with a special burlesque show, and Ardent Craft Ales highlights the most important love of all: the love for your dog. 

Don’t miss fresh releases like Hardywood’s Raspberry Short Kate, Starr Hill Richmond’s Blackberry Currant Smoothie Sour, Fine Creek Brewing’s Daffodil Daydream, Stone Brewing Richmond’s Cali-belgique IPA, Final Gravity’s Doppler Effect IPA, and a seriously delicious multi-release at The Veil. 

PHOTO: Center of the Universe Brewing

Anti-Valentine’s Day Party at Center of the Universe 

Here’s one for the haters! The true spirit of Valentine’s Day, in our experience, is about more than heart-shaped candies and corny, overpriced cards. What this holiday often means is your Facebook friends complaining 10x more than usual, and half your friends trying to forget that it’s happening. 

Avoid the temptation to text your ex this year with Center of the Universe as they celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Day in all its sweet, bitter glory. With beer, live music, great food, and like-minded folks, they’re giving everyone an escape from all the “stupid Cupid’s arrows.” What a relief. Even if you’re in a loving relationship, this could be the place for you — there’s a good chance I’ll find myself there to escape the Hallmark stuff as well. And, as COTU themselves say: 

“Do you love Valentine’s Day? Do you love the flowers? The cards? The candies? Creepy little Cherubs? Unrealistic romantic comedies? If you said yes, that’s neat. If you said no… Congratulations! We’re the place for you this Valentine’s Day.” 

PHOTO: Strangeways Brewing

Pours and Pasties for Valentine’s Day at Strangeways 

One of our favorite recurring events is going down on Valentine’s Day at Strangeways: Pours and Pasties! 

In this perfectly-timed show, Burlesque Right Meow is heading to Strangeways to give everyone what they need most on this holiday: a dose of self-love. It’s never lost on us that finding love in yourself is number one for the rest of life’s great loves, and burlesque is one of those special things that knows just how to remind us of it. 

Pours and Pasties is returning this time with Ego Von Hubris as their host, and they’ll have dancers like Sasha Nyte, Maddie De Sade, Ed Phillips, Murphy Lawless, Scarlet Starlet, and Sally Stardust for the holiday special. Burlesque Right Meow invites everyone to grab tickets beforehand here, and they say, “Whether you’re looking for a night out with your sweetie(s) or having a day of self-love, there will be butts and beer, so everyone is a winner here!” Amen to that. 

PHOTO: Stone Brewing Richmond

Stone Cali-belgique IPA at Stone Brewing Richmond 

Last week, Stone Brewing Richmond introduced something fresh at our local spot. This Stone Cali-belgique IPA was aged in red wine barrels with sour cherries, and it’s a great deviation from the more common recipes. 

Since it came as a surprise tapping last week, you’ll want to head out to the brewery soon to grab a taste of it while you can. It’s only around as long as the batch lasts, so if you’re craving a taste, make your way to Stone for this crisp, refreshing, and “teasingly sour” brew. As its brewers say, it’s perfect for all these teasingly spring days we’ve been experiencing lately. 

Thankfully, according to this year’s Groundhog Day, early spring might just be a reality for us this year… but if it comes before we get a single good snow day, I know one local beer writer who’s going to be greatly disappointed. For real, when do we get to break out the sleds?! If it doesn’t happen, I’ll certainly be bummed out, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for river days to return. In the meantime, this brew will get us through as a perfect blend for both seasons. 

PHOTO: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Raspberry Short Kate returns in cans to Hardywood 

It’s back! This long-loved brew from Hardywood is returning in cans on the holiday itself, and this special V-Day edition of #FreshCanFriday is definitely welcomed. 

Raspberry Short Kate, the Raspberry Milkshake IPA we fell for last year, is thicker than your average IPA. Filled with fruit for a milkshake-style brew, this one’s named for Hardywood’s VP of Production and brewed with lots of love. Share some of that love with your honey this Valentine’s Day (or, if you’re spending it with friends, treat yourself!) and try this ruby-colored treat, made with local raspberries and flavors both sweet and tart. 

PHOTO: Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop

Valentine’s Weekend at Starr Hill Richmond 

Chocolate and beer are coming together once again, in a delicious combination starting at Starr Hill Richmond tomorrow night. On Valentine’s Eve and running into the weekend, the Scott’s Addition beer hall is bringing out their “captivating confections” to pair with their favorite brews. 

On tap for the event is the Currant Affairs Blackberry Currant Smoothie Sour, which is the featured beer for the evening and filled with dark fruit flavors to blend into the smoothie-style Sour Ale. 

They’ll also be offering up their “Box of Chocolates” flight, which brings out four different stouts for a sampler that’s *definitely* not your grandmother’s holiday chocolates. It comes with several variations of flavors brewed into their Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout, from toasted coconut to orange, mocha, and raspberry. These are also being sold in 12-packs for those who would rather celebrate at home, but be sure to grab one soon if that’s your plan, because they’re almost sold out. 

Each night of the weekend will host a new food truck and live band. Friday kicks it off with Kat Somers and Indira & Guppy Jo along with the La Bête food truck. Saturday brings Josh Small & Andrew Alli with Intergalactic Tacos, then Sunday closes out the weekend with Lovers Live: Mackenzie & Michael, Koda & Marie and Taqueria Panchito. 

PHOTO: Ardent Craft Ales

Must Love Dogs at Ardent Craft Ales 

If your most-loved person isn’t a person at all, we don’t blame you. Ardent Craft Ales is celebrating Valentine’s Day with the most loving souls in the world: dogs. There is no love on this planet like that of a dog for its human, and we’re stoked to see Ardent gearing up for a V-Day party like no other. 

Fresh beers will be out on tap like Historic Chocolate Stout, a small batch that was brewed in collaboration with The Valentine Museum and full of American Heritage dark chocolate. “For the Love of Stout” and “I Heart IPA” flights will also be available for tasting, along with handcrafted truffles from Chocolate Cravings that were created with Ardent’s Maple Dark Rye, Honey Ginger, and Plum Gose beers. 

“For the Love of Stout” brings together Ardent’s Historical Chocolate Stout, Dark Rye, Imperial Stout with Coffee, Coconut, & Almonds, and their Barrel Aged Milk Stout. In the “I Heart IPA” flight, you’ll catch tastes of Floreda Idaho, IPA X, Summit DIPA, and the IPA 14. 

The event also benefits Richmond Animal Care and Control, our favorite shelter in town, which works tirelessly to ensure animals in the community get proper healthcare and find their way to happy homes. You can drink happy at this one, knowing you’ll get to support the shelter and probably pet lots of dogs in the process. 

PHOTO: Final Gravity Brewing Co.

Doppler Effect IPA at Final Gravity Brewing Co. 

Over at Final Gravity Brewing Co., a great IPA is ready for your glass. This one is perfectly reminiscent of summer days, and it’s making us even more impatient for them to return. 

Doppler Effect IPA is a citrus-forward IPA with a crisp finish that’ll suit regular Pale Ale fans and heavier IPA fans alike. With lemon, grapefruit, and orange notes, it’s a delicious example of how complex Mosaic hop flavors can be. 

It comes along with One Drop Hazy Double IPA, which brings out plenty more lemon tastes along with mango, stone fruit, and other tropical fruit flavors. Brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops, this one’s a delicious heavier complement to Doppler Effect — and we can’t decide which to try first. 

PHOTO: Fine Creek Brewing Company

Daffodil Daydream at Fine Creek Brewing Company 

The latest Friday Beer Feature at Fine Creek Brewing Company sounds like a dream in itself. Daffodil Daydream is a 6.5% ABV White IPA that’s full of both earthy and fruity flavors. With Appalachian Malted Wheat in addition to Riverbend Southern Select Barley, this IPA came together for tropical hop tastes like white grape and lime. 

On the more bitter side of IPAs, Daffodil Daydream also brings out a dry finish with notes of freshly-baked bread and grassy tastes. Hops from New Zealand, Germany, and America all blended to make this recipe a reality, and it drinks with a round mouthfeel, according to its brewers. 

PHOTO: The Veil Brewing Co.

Weekly Multi-release at The Veil Brewing Co. 

Kicking off this week’s fresh list of recipes at The Veil Brewing Co., Tefnut (Blueberry Muffin) comes to us as a cosmic Imperial Gose. This one was another great collab with one of The Veil’s favorites, Omnipollo, and it was brewed to “reimagine what a fruit beer can be” with new processes and experimenting with fruit volumes. At 11% ABV, this beer tastes like a blueberry muffin in a can from all its milk sugar, blueberry, and vanilla additions for an extra-juicy finish, and it’s sure to please all the high-ABV lovers out there.  

Baked Apple Pie Hornswoggler comes next for us, and it keeps with The Veil’s dessert themes this week. This Chocolate Milk Stout is as close as it gets to making an apple pie into a beer, and it was conditioned with apple purée, brown sugar, milk sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The 7% ABV brew has great buttery crust and cool whip flavors, and it’s got another surprise — 10 Golden Tokens are hidden underneath its 4-pack holders, so there’s a real incentive to take some home with you. They’ve made special Hornswoggler glasses to accompany the recipe, and finding a Golden Token is the only way to get one for yourself. 

Never Sorry³ is a brand-new Gose at The Veil this week. This one came together with triple blueberry, triple raspberry, and triple black currant for an extreme flavor punch of dark fruits in the 5.3% ABV Gose. It’s a thick beer with flavors of “fresh fruit off the vine,” according to its brewers, and it’s backed up with the tannic complexity of black currant. 

dragged dragged is an 11% ABV IPA coming out in cans. Main hops with Galaxy and Citra blend with smaller additions of Nelson, El Dorado, and Vic Secret in this beer, and the double dry-hopped Triple IPA is not one to be messed with. Another from The Veil to please the high-ABV lovers, you’ll likely only need one glass here… but you’ll certainly want a second once you taste its pineapple juice, watermelon, and cherry flavors with flaked barley. 

Power On debuted last night as a fresh IPA, brewed with Citra, Sabro, and Motueka hops. This one comes in at a lower 6% ABV, so if you’re feeling the craft beer but don’t want to be calling your Uber after the first glass, it might be more up your alley than some of the others this week. It’s filled with notes like grapefruit pulp, coconut, lime, and tiki drinks for a new combination at The Veil. 

EarthTone is easily our favorite of this week’s batch. Brewed as a collab with 20 local breweries, we visited this one last week ahead of its debut at Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery. EarthTone is an homage to the life and legacy of Garden Grove’s Michael Brandt, and was crafted to remind us forever of his love for Lagers, malt balance, and complexity. Proceeds from this brew go to Mike’s son, Miles, for a college savings fund, and to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. It’s being served up in cans at The Veil starting yesterday (and starting today, for our Norfolk folks!) and it’s a great way to help Garden Grove honor their beloved Co-Owner. 

PHOTO: Three Notch’d RVA Collab House

Singles Awareness Day at Three Notch’d RVA Collab House 

Three Notch’d RVA Collab House is also feeling the anti-love this week, and we’re all for it. In another awesome Valentine’s Day event, head out to Three Notch’d with the free spirits of Richmond and celebrate the love for yourself. 

The brewery is bringing out $3 pints of their Chocolate Silk Pie milk stout through happy hour, and they’re going the extra mile to show some love to the singles for the holiday. With an extra bonus, their Chocolate Silk Pie even comes with free chocolates and red velvet cake — and it’s enough to make me wish I could fit that list for these desserts. 

As Three Notch’d notes, it’ll be nice to not have to share your beer with your S.O. this year. And who knows… with all the other singles there, you might even find love (that is, if you want it). 

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! 

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