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RVA ON TAP: Beer Slushies & Pineapple Brews

Caley Sturgill | August 19, 2020

Topics: Ardent craft ales, bars richmond va, beer, beer column, Black Heath Meadery, Bryant’s 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. Don’t forget to check out their full menu for food, as well! Be sure to check out their new policies during Covid-19. 

Pickup and Delivery: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • MOORE ST. DIPA — 9% ABV Double IPA. Moore St. is the biggest, boldest addition to Ardent’s series featuring streets from Scott’s Addition. Double dry-hopped with Galaxy and Amarillo, this brew is full of flavors like orange and pineapple in a soft, smooth, minimally-bitter DIPA. 
  • 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 

  • MEAD SLUSHEES — Check out Black Heath’s Facebook page for daily flavor updates! The most recent editions are Blueberry Lemon and Cherry Lime. 
  • 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 

  • LEO — The latest in Bryants Cider’s zodiac series, Leo is coming soon… and this special edition is flavored with habanero and pineapple. Stay tuned for release date! 
  • 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.  
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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 

  • KEY LIME PIE — The latest in Dragon Run’s “Grandma’s Sour Pie” series. This one brings out the down-home dessert flavors with real key lime, plus graham cracker notes and a creamy finish. 
  • MATTAPO-NELPA — Hazy New England Style IPA, back on tap this week. 
  • 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 

  • DOPPLER EFFECT IPA — 7% ABV Flagship IPA. Back on tap, brewed with all Mosaic hops! Juicy New England-style IPA, crisp and clear like West Coast style. 
  • ITALIAN STYLE DRY-HOPPED PILSNER — Also back on tap this week (so get it while you can)! Dry-hopped with Mandarina Bavaria and Hallertau Blanc hops. 
  • JUICE BOX HAZY DOUBLE IPA — 8% ABV Double IPA. This hazy beauty was brewed with Strata, Belma, and Citra hops. 
  • 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. 

The Wild & Weird Festival is back!! This festival is one of my favorites each year, because it brings together all the best styles of beer that aren’t your regular IPA. All of September will be showcasing some of Fine Creek’s favorite beers brewed at the farm, and some brewed with their friends as well. All seating will be outdoor, and orders and pickups will take place at the bar if you’re heading out to spend the day with these awesome brewers. 

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 

  • RKATSITELI SOUR — 6.6% ABV Golden Sour collab with Blenheim Vineyards. Rkatsiteli is a grape often used to produce white wine, and is one of the oldest cultivated grape varieties. The beer has a funky, floral aroma with notes of gooseberry, peach skin, and subdued oak. The flavor leads with a predominant combination of white grape and tart lemon, which gives way to layers of spice and mixed berry. Despite an initial juicy and round mouthfeel the beer finishes with a refreshing, drying tartness. 
  • 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 

  • MUNICH KOLSCH — 4.8% ABV Kolsch. The latest recipe is a traditional, crisp golden brew with slight floral aromas (and it’s a sneak peek at their upcoming Oktoberfest lineup)! 
  • 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 

  • GRAPEFRUIT SINGEL — Hardywood’s classic flagship, Singel, gets a zesty makeover to help beat the summertime heat with the addition of refreshing grapefruit. 
  • TRIUMVIRATE — This New England-Style IPA has notes of fresh mandarin, orange, lemon peel, and a hint of pineapple. 
  • TRIADIC — New England-Style IPA with “a hop combination like no other.” Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Bramling Cross hops blend together a triad of flavors – citrus, tropical fruit and black currant. Chewy and juicy with a balanced bitterness. 
  • 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 Honey Hibiscus Saison Slushie, plus the 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. 
  • HONEY HIBISCUS SAISON — 5.9% ABV Saison Farmhouse Ale. Light bodied with a slightly tart, dry finish. Notes of fresh honey along with a pink hue. 
  • TROPICAL THUNDER IPA — 7% ABV American IPA. Malt base with tropical fruit hop notes, doubled down with passion fruit, mango, and pineapple. 
  • 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 and Peach Sour are recent favorites. 
  • 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!) 
  • BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST IMPERIAL BROWN ALE — 8% ABV Brown Ale. This American Brown Ale was conditioned on fresh vanilla, cinnamon, and blueberries with a noticeable maple syrup flavor. 
  • 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 

  • AIR DRUMMER HAZY IPA — The latest brew from Starr Hill, available now after its debut in April! This Hazy IPA is out on tap and in 4-pack cans for pickup. 
  • 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. Stone also has a great new “Odd Beers for Odd Years” series going on, so stay tuned for updates as special releases come out! 

Pickup: Order Here 

THE LATEST BEERS 

  • OLD GUARDIAN — Triple IPA. This one-time-only release, part of Stone’s “Odd Beers for Odd Years” series, takes a downright excessive brew into uncharted, extra-hoppy territory. They did this by dry-hopping it with Azacca hops, essentially turning an American barley wine into a triple IPA. Like its Classic counterpart, this delicious oddity has evolved into an even more glorious beer with age, and now the Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine (Extra Hoppy) is on tap in Richmond. 
  • 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 

  • HANSEL & KETTLE IMPERIAL OKTOBERFEST — 8% ABV Oktoberfest. This imperial version of the classic Marzen style has Munich and Vienna malts, which give the beer a toast-like malt sweetness, balanced by the classic spice profile of German Noble Hops. 
  • 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 

  • CLEVER GIRL IPA — It’s back! 6% ABV IPA. This light-bodied, soft, and dry American IPA has impressions of tropical citrus and dark berry floral aromas. 
  • BOBBY FALCON — 4.5% ABV. The beloved Falcon brew is reimagined here, with tropical papaya, pineapple, white grape melon, and a classic Falcon orange oil citrus marmalade. 
  • LITTLE HILLTOP — 3.8% ABV Kellerbier. This Franconian-inspired recipe has an “effortlessly session-able ABV,” comprised of a simple grain bill with a hop kettle treatment. 
  • 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 

  • TRIPLE PEACH SAISON — 6.2% ABV Saison. This crisp, fruity brew was made with white, yellow, and blood peach to get a deep, natural character which perfectly complements the classic saison flavors of spice and clove. 
  • NORSE DIPA — Returning alongside Triple Peach Saison in cans, this hazy double dry-hopped IPA was made with Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops. 
  • COHESION — This collab with Capsoul and Chilalay brought us a brand-new Hazy Double IPA, and it’s focused on community health, cultural awareness, and social change. African Queen, Azacca, and Southern Passion hops lend aromas of pear and white grape, along with flavors of tangerine and vanilla. Support your community simply by having a beer! 
  • 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 

  • DIRT NAP — 8.8% ABV. DIPA featuring Galaxy, Citra, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin! This batch is popping with juicy papaya and a Southern Hemisphere tropical muskiness that is perfectly balanced by the American Citra and Mosaic. 
  • STRANGE STRANGE & ETERNAL ETERNAL — 6% ABV. Strange Strange & Eternal Eternal is a double dry-hopped IPA with Citra, Mosaic, Motueka, and Simcoe. Tastes like gushers fruit snacks. A unique, cool, soft crusher. 
  • CARRY ME — 8% ABV. Carry Me is a brand new Double India Pale Ale that’s heavy on the fluffy oats and hopped with a blend of Citra, Nelson, Idaho 7, BRU-1, Enigma, and Mosaic. Layered notes of strawberry and skittles candy. 
  • 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. 
  • 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: 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: 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: Dogs & Brewing, Festivals, and Fresh Releases

Caley Sturgill | February 5, 2020

Topics: 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, Garden Grove Brewing, happy hour richmond va, motorworks brewing, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, RVA On Tap, Strangeways Brewing, The Peedmont, The Veil Brewing Co., things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, Triple Crossing Beer, Vasen Brewing Company, wdbj7 news

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, love is alive in America before Valentine’s Day, but it’s the best kind of love — the love between a dog and her human mom. MotorWorks Brewing reunites a long-lost pup with her owner, and more great news comes with Garden Grove Brewing and Urban Winery’s release of EarthTone in honor of Mike Brandt.

Don’t miss Chocolate Fest at Center of the Universe Brewing, the annual Can Jam at Triple Crossing Beer, two fresh releases at Strangeways, a Black Currant Sour Ale with Isley, multi-releases at The Veil, and Wanderlust 13 at Väsen Brewing Company. A bonus read comes at the end from The Peedmont this week, so read through for the best of Richmond’s local satire news.

PHOTO: WDBJ7 News

Brewery’s Adoptable Pets cans help Minnesota woman find her long-lost pup

Here’s some adorable news to start off the week: thanks to MotorWorks Brewing, a woman from Minnesota found her long-lost dog all the way down in Florida.

The Bradenton, FL brewery began printing adoptable pets on their beer cans to raise awareness for local shelters and promote adoptions in their area. After her adventure far, far away from home, the pup pictured above was named “Day-Day” by the shelter she eventually landed at. Miles away in Minnesota, her owner recognized her face on a MotorWorks can and contacted the shelter. It’s a delightfully-happy ending for both Hazel (her real name) and her owner, Monica Mathis. While the craft brewing world has always been full of dog lovers, this story was especially-wholesome — and big ups to the folks at MotorWorks for making such a great idea a reality at their brewery.

PHOTO: Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery

EarthTone Release Day: Honoring the Legacy of Garden Grove’s Michael Brandt 

This release might just be the most important one we’ve had all year. Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery is putting out their brew in honor of Michael Brandt, their Co-Owner, Brewer, and Winemaker, who passed away suddenly last year. More than 20 local breweries came together to create the EarthTone beer in his memory, and you can head out to support them at its release event on Monday. 

EarthTone is an homage to Mike’s love for the earthy, natural colors of the world, and for balanced, complex malts in his beer. The 5.4% ABV recipe is a “straight-forward, unapologetic, bock-inspired Festbier” that came together at Hardywood West Creek with Garden Grove, along with 20 other local breweries: Hardywood, The Answer, Ardent, Bingo, Castleburg, Center of the Universe, Final Gravity, Fine Creek, Intermission, Isley, Legend, Lickinghole Creek, Midnight, Molly’s Bicycle Shop and Blind Dog Brewery, Steam Bell and Canon & Draw, Stone, Strangeways, Trapezium, Triple Crossing, and The Veil. 

Proceeds from the beer go back to a college fund for Mike’s son, Miles, and to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. For everyone wanting to support the Garden Grove family after such a heavy loss, this is a great way to do it — so we’ll see you on Monday for its release. Another special note for this one is that the artwork on its cans was done by one of our favorite longtime Richmond artists, Nils Westergard, who is behind many of the beautiful murals that paint the walls of our city. 

PHOTO: Center of the Universe

2nd Annual Center of the Universe Chocolate Fest

Center of the Universe Brewing Co. is celebrating Valentine’s Day early this year with their 2nd Annual Chocolate Fest on Saturday. As Center of the Universe says, don’t wait too long to go shopping for your sweetheart — or better yet, celebrate the whole holiday early and beat the crowds with Richmond’s finest chocolates, handcrafted jewelry, artisan gifts, and live music.

The Chocolate Fest comes along with the release of The Box of Chocolates Stout, a fan favorite every year that’s dropping during the party with five different variants. There’ll be a taste to please everyone that day, so swing by and check out vendors like Pencraft & Post, Taylor Made Chocolate, Custom Candyy, Ko Designs, Bright Body, Donna’s Baking Creations, TM Designs Custom Gifts, Godiva Chocolatier, and food from the Freekin’ Rican food truck. 

PHOTO: Triple Crossing Beer

Can Jam comes back to Triple Crossing Beer 

One of our favorite annual festivals at Triple Crossing Beer is back this Saturday, and it’s packed with tons of breweries we can’t wait to try.

The Can Jam returns at the Fulton location this weekend, bringing together “the best and brightest” from all around the country. Participating breweries will be featuring cans of their favorite recipes, and it’s a great time to get a taste of something new.

They’ll have breweries like 3 Sons Brewing Co., Alvarado Street Brewery, Brewery Bhavana, Burial Beer Co., Casita, Cellarmaker House of Pizza, Charles Towne Fermentory, Creature Comforts, Dancing Gnome Beer, Deciduous Brewing Company, Equilibrium Brewing Company, Foam Brewers, Great Notion Brewing, Grimm Artisanal Ales, HopFly Brewing Company, KCBC, Other Half Brewing Company, Resident Culture Brewing Company, Short Throw Brewing Co., and WeldWerks Brewing Company. The list is full of great visiting spots, old and new, and we’re stoked to revisit some of our favorites from past years and other festivals. 

PHOTO: Strangeways Brewing

Lemondrop New England IPA and Turbogenerator Doppelbock at Strangeways

Two new brews hit the taps this week at Strangeways Brewing, and we’re especially-excited for the first: a Lemon Drop-inspired IPA. 

Lemondrop New England IPA pours as a golden, hazy IPA at 6.6% ABV. This one has an IBU in the middle of the bitterness range at 45, and this double dry-hopped recipe comes with fruity notes, sweet citrus, and candied lemon peel from Lemondrop hops with a moderate sweetness. 

Next up is Strangeways’ Turbogenerator Doppelbock, a higher-alcohol 8.5% ABV Lager that brings out its malt bomb with tastes like fresh-baked bread and toffee. At 18 IBU, it’s significantly lower in bitterness than its co-release recipe, and it came together with six different malts for a complex flavor.

PHOTO: Isley Brewing Company

Black Currant Sour Ale at Isley Brewing Company 

Back by popular demand, a fan favorite has returned to Isley Brewing Company with their Black Currant Sour Ale that released over the weekend. 

This has got to be my favorite of the beers coming this week. Even for someone like myself who leans more toward the earthy and sweet tastes in craft brewing, the black currant flavors of this Sour Ale sound irresistible. At 5.4% ABV, this golden soured ale pulls together dark berries, sweet fruits, and mild floral notes that come from its “heaps of fresh black currant” puree. It’s packed with earthy flavors that only hit 14.5 on the IBU scale, and its clean, tart finish rounds it all out. 

Grab a glass at Isley this Saturday, and be sure to come on its release day for live music by The Royal We and plates from the Thai Won On Food Truck.

PHOTO: Väsen Brewing Company

Wanderlust 13 at Väsen Brewing Company

The latest in the Wanderlust series is here at Väsen Brewing Company, and this lucky number 13 brings something new to the table. 

Wanderlust 13 is a crisp Saison, and the floral brew is a fruity one that you can “drink all day long.” The recipe in this one is just begging for springtime to get here, and on these occasional warm February days (again… thanks, but no thanks, global warming), there’s nothing like a fresh Saison to enjoy the tastes of a new season. It was brewed with flavors like honey and wildflowers from the local Rostov’s Coffee & Tea Jasmine Tea, plus dried chrysanthemum petals from Fairfax’s High Side craft beer bar and hangout.

PHOTO: The Veil Brewing Co.

Weekly Multi-Release at The Veil 

The Veil Brewing Co. kicked things off last night again with another Tuesday release, this time featuring five beers coming out in bottles and cans. 

AMUN RA (pictured above) is first on our list, and this collaboration with Omnipollo comes to us after more than three years in its brewing process. The dense Imperial Stout was double barrel-aged, with two variations in its aging process for different outcomes of flavors.

First is the Bourbon/Maple AMUN RA, which started with 18 months in bourbon barrels before moving to maple bourbon barrels for another 18 months. It was conditioned on toasted and fresh coconut for a “rich chocolate coconut pie” taste, and comes in at 13% ABV.

The next variation is their Bourbon/Apple Brandy AMUN RA, which, like its predecessor, started in 18 months of bourbon barrels before its flavored aging process. This one spent the next year and a half in Apple Brandy barrels, and came out with french toast, vanilla bean maple syrup, and fresh-ground cinnamon flavors at 13% ABV. 

Space Toof comes as a collaboration with Other Half Brewing out of New York City, and it’s a brand-new recipe to add to The Veil’s extensive list. This Double IPA brings out flavors like pineapple, geranium, and bonus tropical fruits at a middle-range 8% ABV for DIPAs. Its brewers report that it’s super soft going down the hatch, and it tastes like an “amped-up Toof Ache with the Other Half treatment.”

Caskets is another brand new beer from The Veil this week. Like Space Toof, it’s an 8% ABV Double IPA — but unlike that recipe, this one has fruits like orange pith and papaya, along with freshly-opened hops to burst out new flavors. It was brewed with raw wheat, oats, Idaho7, and Citra for a great combination in a classic DIPA brew.

Stay Hydrate comes in at a lower 6% ABV, so this easy-drinking beer is perfect for the forthcoming warm weather in the River City a few short weeks away. With Citra, Galaxy, Wakatu, and Motueka hops, Stay Hydrate is “soft and juicy” and packed with tastes like tropical must, orange blossom, and honey.

Window closes out our releases from The Veil this week — and while it’s last today, it’s definitely not least. This beautiful black-pouring porter was just introduced at the brewery, made perfect for the last cold days of winter as we roll into the final chills of the season this February. At 6% ABV like Stay Hydrate, this recipe is the polar opposite, with darker notes like cocoa, hazelnut, and tobacco. Tobacco is a rare find for craft beer flavors, and if it tastes anything like it smells in earthy candle scents, we’re all here for it. It was made with a complex malt bill, according to The Veil, and while it’s heavy on taste, it’s nice and drinkable in character.

PHOTO: The Peedmont

The Peedmont: Sheetz and The Veil Brewing Team up to Make Regular Unleaded IPA

In an extra-fun one to close out the week, The Peedmont — Richmond’s resident satire news publication — highlighted The Veil in one of their latest pieces. “Sheetz and The Veil Brewing Team up to Make Regular Unleaded IPA” brings us some hilarious (and cringeworthy) mental images this week, and their writing was too good not to share: 

“Hoping to capture the suburban dad market, The Veil Brewing Co. and Sheetz, Inc. have announced a joint partnership to develop Regular Unleaded IPA,” The Peedmont reported. “… the company was looking for a beer with a ‘little more nuts to it’ for the type of discerning man who changes his own oil and orders buffalo wings from a gas station.”

And it gets even better, folks. In our favorite section of all, The Peedmont writes: 

“‘The market for hipster beers is pretty well saturated right now,’ said Jacques Freeman, chief creative brewmaster at The Veil. ‘We thought we’d try to make something for the anti-hipster.’

“The beer is rumored to be a heady mixture of roasted hops, hot dog water, and the sweet, sweet smell of 87 octane on a hot summer day. Tripleton said he hopes it will corner the market of middle-aged men who like a pair of pristine white New Balance shoes and Columbia fishing shirts who need a beer to connect with their stepsons. They are really aiming for the niche market that is currently dominated by Coors Light.”

Cheers to all the Coors Light drinkers out there. I know this type of dad personally, as it’s like pulling teeth to get my own dad to drink anything outside of Miller (and he’s seriously missing out on better brews, but he doesn’t care). While our readers may have a more-refined taste than your typical New Balance dad, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t all break out a Coors Light now and then — and we won’t ever judge you for it here at RVA Magazine. 

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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