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Review: Starr Hill Summer Jam Pack

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Every so often RVA Mag gets some craft brews to try, and its fun to try them out to see what creative recipes Virginia breweries are churning out. Recently, we had the chance to try Starr Hill’s latest releases, the Summer Jam Variety Pack, four cans of light, refreshing goodness and just what we needed on these sweat-your-ass off days we’ve been having.

Now of course, we were in a hot office sampling these, but these four brews would be perfect for a cookout or a lazy day floating on the James. Starr Hill even created a playlist for you to listen to while you drink these.

But let’s get down to what we thought. So, included in the pack is the Grateful Pale Ale, The Hook (Grapefruit Session IPA), The Love Wheat Beer, the Warehouse Pils. Here’s the breakdown:

Warehouse Pils

A 5.5% German style Pils. The brewery  made this in celebration of the Dave Matthews Band 25th Anniversary show. It’s a classic pilsner, malty. For the people who like PBR, this is a classier step up from that. Dry hop bitter aftertaste, easy drinking if you have a block of sharp cheddar around which is what Starr Hill recommends for this brew. Can’t go wrong with a beer and cheese pairing.

The Love Wheat Beer

5.1% German Hefeweizien. Light body, fruity aroma and super easy drinking. Great for summer to have several while drinking near the river or a day at the beach. Little spice on the end. Star Hill suggests lemon dessert bars, which sound delicious. It would be great if they would send those! (Hint, Hint)

The Hook, Grapefruit Session IPA

A 4.9% IPA packed with flavor.  Super zesty with the grapefruit punching you in the face with the first sip, but in a good way. This one was my favorite, the grapefruit overpowers the hops which I like, President John Reinhold wanted a little more of a hop profile, but still took the grapefruit punch to the face like a champ. Starr Hill suggests Jerk chicken with this citrusy session IPA which I think would make a great pairing with the fruit and spice. We do however appreciate them not mailing us jerk chicken. Seasonal, available May-August.

Grateful Pale Ale

A 4.7% hop forward pale ale, a flagship at the brewery. So this was a favorite of both John and myself. I first tried it on a recent trip up to the brewery to scout out rehearsal dinner locations and I couldn’t get enough of it. Its’s a awesome beer for outside and festival season. Very drinkable, fruity and smooth. The brewery used Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic & Falconer’s Flight hops for the Grateful Pale Ale and they really come through. We savored this one and this won out as the office favorite. Starr Hill recommends Thai Green Curry and Lemon Meringue Pie. Odd, but we trust them. They do have a recipe for Grateful mac and cheese which I would highly recommend. Check it out here.

You can only get these for a limited time so check out more details on Starr Hill’s Summer Jam Variety Pack here. Cheers!

 

Tapped: Hardywood’s Passionfruit Berliner Weiss & Garden Grove’s Scarlet Brown

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

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

Hardywood will release its Passionfruit Mosaic Berliner Weiss, a German-style sour wheat ale on draft and in 4 packs to-go starting at 4pm this Friday.

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Garden Grove Brewing Company will release its Scarlet Brown, 5.7% hybrid between an English & Belgian Brown fermented with Red Sour Cherries in Red Wine Barrels.

On Sunday, Hardywood will host their 2nd Annual Love On Tap event to benefit VA Pride. There will be live music, food, a local LGBT owned vendor pop up market, and the 2017 VA Pride beer collaboration with Ardent Craft Ales & Center of the Universe Brewing: TROPIC LIKE IT’S HOT is a hefeweizen brewed with passion fruit, pineapple and lime.

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On Friday, Triple Crossing will release Waxing Poetic brew with Blue Raspberry. $16.50 x 4pack 4 4packs per person limit.

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Castleburg Brewery will release its 5th brew in the Run the Gaunlet Challenge series of single malt, single hop Pale Ales. Its made with Azacca Hops, which give it a tropical fruit profile. 6.2%

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On Saturday, Trapezium Brewing is hosting a Pet Adoption Event with animals from Prince George County Animal Shelter. Adoption fees will be reduced to $25 for the event.

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It’s $1 Oyster Night at The Veil Brewing Company tonight featuring Northern Neck Oysters.

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Three Notch’d Brewing Company RVA Collab House returns this Thursday with their beer collaboration, this time with Unbound RVA. The brewery has made an IPA called “Hopportunity” with the local non-profit organization which focuses on empowering individuals from low-income backgrounds through the opportunity to own their own businesses and transform their lives. Each year, UnBound RVA takes on a new class of entrepreneurs to help them down their path towards opening a business. Collab taps at 5pm, Brewer’s Toast after 6pm and we’ve got pint specials on the 1st keg until it kicks or until 9pm.

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Any submissions or releases for Tapped can be emailed to Amy at [email protected] Cheers!

 

Three Notch’d Brewing Company to expand Charlottesville spot

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Back in September , Charlottesville’s Three Notch’d Brewing Company joined the RVA craft beer community with the opening of their RVA Collab House in Scott’s Addition. Now, after releasing local favorites like “Fernet Saison” and “Hops Addition” IPA, the hands behind the beer have recently announced plans to expand their original facility. 

The expansion will create eight new jobs through its $2.9 million investment. The Charlottesville brewery, which opened in 2013, will purchase 69 percent of its agricultural inputs from Virginia farmers according to Wednesday’s news release . Three Notch’d will be able to grow distribution and meet demand in Virginia and the surrounding markets with the expansion.

“As a company, Three Notch’d Brewing is rooted in the history of the Commonwealth, and the ideals ingrained in the formation of Virginia,” said Three Notch’d Brewing CEO George Kastendike in the release. “We are dedicated to putting those ideals into action through community involvement and the utilization of resources found locally and regionally. This grant will allow us to continue driving innovation within the industry while staying true to our core mission of bringing the highest quality product to our customers.”

The Scott’s Addition spot, which operates a 3.5 barrel brewhouse, brews 75 percent of their beer in collaboration with local businesses and organizations in Richmond. Expansions on the original location are set to build local Charlottesville businesses as well.

Photo: Three Notch’d Brewing

Three Notch’d Brewing Company opened in Charlottesville in 2012 and expanded with a location in Harrisonburg location in 2014. Head Brewer Dave Warwick, George Kastendike, CEO & Founder, Scott Roth, President & Founder, and Derek Naughton, Director Of Sales & Founder make up the Three Notch’d team and you can read a more detailed interview with Warwick from RVA Mag’s 25th issue here on expansion plans.

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They hold strong to their Virginia roots with brews like ’40 Mile IPA’ and “No Veto”, but sill keep it creative with beers like their Biggie S’mores Imperial Stout.

According to the news release, The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partnered with the City of Charlottesville, the Charlottesville Economic Development Authority, and Three Notch’d Brewing Company to secure the project. Gov. McAuliffe approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which Charlottesville will  match with local funds.

A look back: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery relives its humble beginnings, successes and future expansion plans before five-year anniversary 10/22

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Those outside of Richmond or those just moving to the city are probably the only ones left not hip to Richmond’s exploding beer scene at this point. With over 15 breweries, as well as cideries, and a few distilleries thrown in, the city’s cup is overflowing if you will.
[Read more…] about A look back: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery relives its humble beginnings, successes and future expansion plans before five-year anniversary 10/22

10 Virginia beers to try before VA Craft Beer Month ends

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Virginia Craft Beer Month may be on its way out, but we’ve still got some local recommendations for you to try. A few of our local favorites were mentioned on our list of 10 Richmond beers to try for Virginia Craft Beer Month, which if you missed that you find it here. Many of them won awards at the recent Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, you can also find our story on that here.
[Read more…] about 10 Virginia beers to try before VA Craft Beer Month ends