Monthly Archives: April 2015

Hardywood Walpurgisnacht Smoked Maibock Coming Soon

WalpurgisnachtGood luck pronouncing the name of this beer. As it so happens, this was not the beer I was trying to find information on from Hardywood’s website. I was looking for the Berliner Weisse I heard they were releasing this weekend. If you had their Third Anniversary Ale, I’d imagine it would be quite similar as it is the same style. Enough about that beer; I’m more excited about the prospect of a smoked beer from Hardywood. I’d often joke that Hardywood should have made a smoked version of Farmhouse Pumpkin using smoked pumpkins; I may have even written it up on their idea board in the brewhouse.

There is no announced date for this release but Thursday April 30th is ripe food pairing possibilities with all the food trucks on hand. Oh and it’s during my birthday week. Read up on Hardywood Walpurgisnacht:

As night falls on the 30th of April, people across Europe come together to revel around bonfires, dance, and be merry. Known in Germany as Walpurgisnacht, the festival commemorates the arrival of spring in a folklore-steeped celebration meant to ward off the last evil spirits of winter. Hardywood Walpurgisnacht takes cue from its namesake, welcoming spring with a traditional Maibock brewed with Pilsner, Munich, and Vienna malts that’s accentuated with a generous helping of beechwood-smoked malt, lending a mellow smokey character to this rich, deep-golden lager. The perfect accompaniment for combating the chill of an early spring night or for firing up the grill on those first warm days of the year.
Bottle Artwork by: Katie McBride

Strength (ABV): 7.2 % ABV
Color (SRM): 7 °L
Bitterness (IBU): 26 IBUs

Ardent Craft Ales: Tonight, Tomorrow, And Next Friday

Ardent Craft Ales is on a roll these days and its sure to increase with the weather getting nicer and their beautiful patio. Here are a few things you should try and check out.

Friday April 3rd

Head down to Station 2 tonight at 5pm as they tap a special cask conditioned pin of Sour Porter. This pin was created in the effort of duplicating a 150 year old recipe when porters were thought to be sour.

These other beers will be on tap as well:

Saison
Session IPL
IPA Batch #10
Touchstone Pale Wheat Ale (Triple Crossings collab)

https://www.facebook.com/events/802319126530846/

Saturday April 4th

Go out and try their collaboration with Triple Crossing on the patio starting at noon.

Friday April 10th

Just go ahead and get your tickets for Swine & Brine already! Ardent’s first outdoor festival will feature  The Roosevelt, Metzger Bar and Butchery, Saison and ZZQ cooking and grilling whole hogs, a slew of other pork cuts, and sides. Rappahannock River Oysters will also join the festivities with their delicious oysters (I’m hoping for some fried!) and crab cakes.  King Of Pops – Richmond will be there with plenty of desserts to help cool down your Friday afternoon.

Tickets are $18/person and include two tickets redeemable for food or beer as well as a Swine & Brine t-shirt.

All beers and food items will cost one ticket ($5) with the exception of crab cakes from Rappahannock (2 tickets) and King of Pops who will accept cash or credit cards. Guests will be given two tickets as part of their admission, and can purchase additional tickets via cash or credit card at check-in or once inside the event. Free water will be provided at stations around the festival.

If all of this hasn’t gotten you excited, then maybe this list of fifteen beers will.

Ardent Swine & Brine beers 041015

Go ahead get your tickets here.

Two Thursday Takeover Destinations: Lickinghole Creek At Joe’s Inn And Three Brothers At Buz & Ned’s

Sometimes you wish tap takeovers locations were right next door to each other. Such is the case  with Lickinghole Creek and Three Brothers takeovers happening tonight Thursday April 2nd. Both have beers I enjoy having at least once a year if possible: Enlightened Despot from LCCB and Rum Dubbel from Three Brothers. Then there are the new beers I’m intrigued by Good Adweiss (read: Advice) (3 Bros) and Illuminatos (LCCB), a rum barrel stout with vanilla.

Here are the Lickinghole Creek beers Joe’s Inn will be tapping at 5pm:

Enlightened Despot Stout
Illuminatos Vanilla Rum Barrel Stout
La Calavera Tequilla Aged Tripel
Vanilla Black Bear Stout
Heir Apparent Mexican Spice Stout
Mango Habanero Brown Ale
Magic Beaver Pale Ale
Til Sunset Session IPA
Three Chopt Tripel
Short Pump Saison
Bourbon Barrel Tripel
Red Neck Soap Opera Rum Barrel Quad
Gentleman Farmer Estate IPA
Rosemary Saison
Nonesuch DIPA
Virginia Black Bear Stout

Joe’s Inn
205 N Shields Ave
Richmond, VA 23220

Meanwhile, Buz and Ned’s will also tap these Three Brothers beers at 5pm:

Smooth Sailor — vanilla porter
Good Adweiss — hefeweizen
Homebody — tart brown ale with cherries
Daylight Cravings — maple coffee stout
Great Outdoors — pale ale
Admiral
Rum Dubbel

Buz & Ned’s
8205 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23230

Great beers to be had which ever decision you make. I’m still trying to make mine.