Author Archives for rvabeermeister

The Weekend Brewer To Close For Last Time This Saturday

Weekend Brewer store frontSad news coming out of Chester as The Weekend Brewer announced their last day of operation July 4th. I know I wouldn’t be doing this today if not for Bob and Jeanne. It was one day back in the summer of 2009 when I first purchased my homebrewing starter kit and the ingredients to make a mango hefeweizen. At the time, I was living close to my day job so I could just email Bob my recipe, pick everything up at lunch and be ready to brew when I got home.

Cheers Bob and Jeanne and enjoy the retirement you have earned after years of service!

Read their closing notice here:

06/15/2015

Notice of Closing

The WeekEnd Brewer Home Brew Supply was founded in 1988. Born from the knowledge of both the ‘Beverage Equipment Company’, that started business in Richmond, Virginia 1972. And ‘Eitzen Enterprises’, Brewery Equipment Installation, that started in the late 1980s. The combined knowledge from Jeanne, Bob & Wayne helped create ‘The WeekEnd Brewer’ into one of the most successful Home Brew supply stores on the East Coast.

Now after 27 years as the ‘WeekEnd Brewer’ and 43 years also as the ‘Beverage Equipment Company’, it has been decide by the Henderson’s to retire.

The business has grown through the years and has been sustained by increased growth in both the Home Beer and Home Wine industry.

The WeekEnd Brewer is grateful for the notoriety, of being one of the largest Suppliers on the East Coast.

Maintaining a large variety of Brewing Supplies has promoted our name as a premium supplier and with our customers help we have maintained a plus rating on all of the Customers Service forums.

We would like to thank not only all our great customers for their support through the years, but also all the Beer and Wine clubs we have had the privilege to start and be a part of.

We have been lucky to pair with some wonderful manufactures and suppliers that have through the years given us great support.

Please continue to teach and share and enjoy this wonderful craft.

At 5:00 pm. July 4th 2015 we will close our doors for the last time.

Thank you All

Bob & Jeanne Henderson

The WeekEnd Brewer
4205 West Hundred Road
Chester, VA
804 796 9760

Metal Album or Beer Release? The Snake & The Snowman Drops At Strangeways Saturday

Snake & Snowman StrangewaysIf the latest beer coming to the taps at Strangeways sounds like heavy metal band’s upcoming album, there is a very good reason for that. “The Snake & The Snowman” is a collaborative project from the minds of Head Brewer Mike Hiller and metal/punk music industry veteran Dave Witte.  You’ve probably seen Dave behind the bars at Commercial Taphouse and The Answer Brewpub.

This Belgian Strong Golden Ale is a nod to a beer formulated by some fellow Mad Brewers that changed Witte’s life and cemented his life-long devotion to craft beer. This bottle conditioned ale, which underwent oak barrel aging, utilizes white candy sugar to add a pleasant sweetness, and Nugget, Magnum, and Horizon hops for balance. Enjoy fresh as well as procure more to store in a cool area away from direct light to age into divine bliss.

8.2% ABV~46 IBU
Woodsman Series

Here is what Mike and Dave had to say when asked if “The Snake & The Snowman” had a particular musical reference:

Mike: Not really. Stille Nacht by de Dolle was one of the beers that changed how Dave Witte thought about beer, and this beer is an homage to Stille Nacht. The Stille Nacht label sports a snowman wearing a scarf. Through discussions with Jim Callahan (Barf comics and designer of our cases) we decided the scarf should be a snake. Hence The Snake (Dave Witte) and the Snowman (Mike Hiller).

Dave: Haha. Yes it does, well partially anyway. The Snake part is a Whitesnake reference cause the name I wanted use initially was In the Stille of The Night (Whitesnake song). The beer is also homage to Still Nacht, the beer that changed my life.

The Snake & The Snowman will start flowing from Strangeways taps today Saturday June 27th at noon. Head over to the Facebook event for more details.

Brewer’s Ball Returns For Second Year At Virginia War Memorial This Thursday

Brewers Ball RVA 2015 061815Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide) have CF.

In people with CF, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

  • Clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections.
  • Obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down food and absorb vital nutrients

As part of their fundraising efforts to aid in the search for a cure, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Virginia Chapter will host the second annual Brewer’s Ball tomorrow Thursday June 18th at 6:30pm, to celebrate Richmond’s finest young professionals who have spent months raising money for the foundation.  This year Triple Crossing’s Scott Jones is among the honorees for the event. Once again, the Virginia War Memorial will serve as a the backdrop for an fun evening enjoying the best of Richmond while raising money for a great cause.

Tickets for the event are $75/person ($45 tax deductible) and includes all food and drink and can be purchased here.

Pick up your collector’s glass and enjoy beers from ten Richmond (or at least soon to be) breweries plus Bold Rock Cider for the night:

  • Ardent Craft Ales – Pale Ale 5.8% ABV
  • Bold Rock – Cider 4.7% ABV
  • Center of the Universe – Chin Music. Amber Lager 4.5% ABV
  • Hardywood – Pilsner 5.2% ABV
  • Isley – The Bribe. Oatmeal Porter 6.6% ABV
  • Legend – Strong Arm. Wee Heavy Scotch Ale 8.4% ABV
  • Lickinghole Creek – Till Sunset. Session IPA 4.7% ABV
  • Midnight – Head first. Pale Ale 6.5% ABV
  • Stone – Ruination 2.0 & Delicious IPA
  • Strangeways – Woodbooger. Belgian style brown ale 6% ABV
  • Triple Crossing – Falcon Smash. IPA 7.5% ABV

While you sample away, try some goodies from the fine folks from:

Head over to the event’s Facebook page for more information and updates.

brb…San Diego! Richmond, Here Are Your Assignments.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/california-san-diego-at-night-royalty-free-image/537000917

In just a few hours, I’ll be hopping on a plane to head out to sunny San Diego, California for ten days of fun that will end at the National Homebrewers Conference. Part of me hates that the timing of this trip because there are so many cool events I will miss.

Thursday June 4th

Ardent’s Honey Ginger Retruns at Mellow Mushroom — 6PM

Honey Ginger returns starting with a tap release at Mellow Mushroom tonight!

RVA Playlist 5th Birthday Party at The Broadberry — 7PM

This is the event it kills me the most to miss. Andrew Cothern, RVA Playlist, is one of my best friends, and I have no idea how he covers as much local music as he does day in day out. All the bands he has selected to play his 5th year shindig at The Broadberry are personal favorites of mine that I might not have heard of if not for him. Check out his spotlights on Goldrush, Jonathan Vassar & the Badlands, and No BS! Brass then get your tickets here.

RVAPlaylist 5th Bday

Saturday June 6th

Cover to Cover Presents: BACK TO BLACK at Hardywood — 6:30PM

This is the second music entry in this post. RVA Playlist, does this officially make me a music blogger?

If you haven’t experienced Spin, Spit, & Swear’s Cover to Cover band, then you really need to. I fell in love with them when they performed Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours.” I have no doubt (Hmmm…maybe an idea for their next project) their performance of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” will be anything less than stellar.

Cover to Cover Back to Black at Hardywood 060615

OFF Broad Appetit at Pasture — 6:30PM

Off Broad Appetit 2015I’ve had the pleasure of attending this the past two years. It’s a shame I will miss this year as the money goes to a great cause. Get your tickets here.

Join Richmond magazine and the National Pork Board on Saturday, June 6th for a Broad Appetit kick-off feast at Pasture on Grace! Here you will discover five amazing chefs (and one kick-ass winemaker) all representing true farm to table cuisine. These famed chefs will present amazing dishes featuring local food producers from across Virginia, all done with the flair that has made them famous. Virginia wines, brews and ingredients will be featured throughout the evening. Our chef line-up includes:

Rob Newton
Chef & Owner of Seersucker in Brooklyn, NY will be serving

Brad Farmerie
Executive Chef at Public in New York City

Chad Colby
Chef at chi SPACCA in Los Angeles

Stephen Gerike
Director of Food Service Marketing, National Pork Board

Jason Alley
Chef at Comfort & Pasture Restaurants in RVA

Jose Enrique
Chef and owner of Capital and Miel in San Juan, Puerto Rico

David Varley
Chef at RN74/the Mina Group in Seattle, WA

Bryan Voltagio
Executive Chef at VOLT in Frederick, MD

André Hueston Mack
Owner and Winemaker at Mouton Noir, NY

Full Menu Coming Soon!

Bar snacks:  pimento cheese, tons of pickles, pork rinds with home-made hot sauce, and crab spiced boiled peanut dip

Esteemed local beverages being served include:
Foggy Ridge Cider

Only 125 tickets are available.
Tickets to this incredible event are $125 per person. Net proceeds benefit FeedMore.

Support provided by National Pork Board, Richmond magazine, Brown Distributing/Taste the Local, Pasture, Hilton Garden Inn, & Duke’s Mayonnaise/CF Sauer and Echelon Event Management.

Sunday June 7th

Broad Appetit on W Broad St Between Henry & Adams — 11AM – 6PM

Find a new favorite restaurant through $3 plates from some of the best Richmond has to offer.

Saturday June 13th

Ardent Craft Ales Year One Anniversary Block Party — 1PM

Ardent 1yr Anniv 061315This one really stings. I love these guys and really wanted to be here to celebrate with them. Please raise several glasses for me.

One year down. Wow. To celebrate, come out Saturday, June 13 to officially mark exactly 365 days (no joke) since we opened and joined the incredible Richmond beer community! We are hosting a massive block party at the brewery from 1 to 8 p.m. that will feature our biggest line-up of beer, local food, live music, and outdoor fun. On this day only, we will offer more than a dozen of our own brews including:

1 / Honey Ginger
2 / Session India Pale Ale
3 / Diamond Pale Ale
4 / Virginia Common
5 / IPA Batch #12
6 / IPA Batch #13
7 / IPA Batch #14
8 / Saison
9 / “Defenestrator” Dopplebock
10 / Touchstone Wheat Ale
11 / Berliner Braunbier
12 / Szechaun Peppercorn Saison
13 / Earl Grey Brown Ale
14 / Dark Rye
15+ / Casks: No fewer than two casks, to be announced next week!

Beyond our own beers, we will have local cider and several guest brews from nearby brewery friends on tap for the day. In addition, we will release a special anniversary beer just available for the day in 750 mL bottles and to be announced a few days before the party.

There will a long line of food trucks running along West Leigh Street including some of Richmond’s finest: KavaKava gourmet , The Return of the Mac, Goatocado, Bonbontruck, Happy Empanada, River City Wood Fire Pizza, Hungry Turtle Food Truck, Station 2, and King Of Pops – Richmond. No one is going hungry.

Finally, we’ve invited some incredible regional bands to perform throughout the day, as follows:

2 – 3pm / Peace Beast
3 – 4pm / Clair Morgan
4 – 5pm / The Milkstains
5 – 6pm / Christi
6 – 7pm / NO BS! Brass Band

Event is free to enter with beverage and food tickets for sale at the door and inside the event with cash or credit. One ticket = $1. Attendees must be 21 and over and present valid ID to consume alcohol. Event is rain or shine.

Want to volunteer at this event? If you are interested, please visit: http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/06417988010

Hardywood Vinalia Urbana Release w. Lady God, The Ar-Kaics & Dave Watkins — 2PM

Hardywood Vinalia UrbanaThis sounds like it will be delicious. Please save me some.

Named after the Roman festival held to bless and sample the wine of the previous season, Vinalia Urbana, a Belgian-style strong golden ale, is aged for months in freshly emptied Sauvignon Blanc barrels. This maturation process lends some light vinous notes and a hint of oak that blend beautifully with the subtle fruit and light spicy character imparted by the Belgian yeast. Vinalia Urbana is delightfully dry and delicate on the palate with lingering white grape and stone fruit undertones. 9.0 % ABV

Hardywood Vinalia Urbana will be available at 2:00pm on draft and in 750mL bottles. King Of Pops – Richmond, BoDillaz, Slideways Mobile Bistro, Cheezilla’s Grilled Cheese on site through the day.

Live music with:

Dave Watkins
minimalist appalachian math rock live looping sound explosion
www.davewatkinsmusic.com

The Ar-Kaics
…play troglodyte teenbeat 60s-style punk.
www.thearkaics.bandcamp.com

Lady God
Bristling surf guitar, webby bass lines, and sneering dual vocals compose an oddly satisfying vintage rock n’ roll salad we call “Slink.”
www.meetladygod.bandcamp.com

Sunday June 14th

3rd Annual Richmond Bacon Festival at 17th St Farmers Market — 11AM

Bacon dishes and Devils Backbone beer! What more could you need? Ok. How about a couple food photos?

Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar will be bringing back their Bacon & Shrimp Ramen.

Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar will be bringing back their Bacon & Shrimp Ramen.

 

Rare Olde Times Public House will be serving up mouth watering Bacon Covered Scotch Eggs.

Rare Olde Times Public House will be serving up mouth watering Bacon Covered Scotch Eggs.

Join Master Cicerone Neil Witte For A Duvel USA Invasion At The Answer Brewpub Tonight

Boulevard tapsHead over to The Answer Brewpub tonight Tuesday, June 2nd as they host a tap invasion of beers from Duvel USA, which includes Boulevard Brewing, Ommegang, and Duvel among their brands. As a bonus, Master Cicerone, Neil Witte (one of 9 in the world!) of Boulevard Brewing will be hanging out from about 6pm on.

UPDATE: Check out the great Q & A Robey Martin did with Neil Witte over at Richmond Magazine.

Here are the beers that will be tapped starting at 4pm:

Boulevard Brewing 
Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
The Calling
Ginger Lemon Radler
Hibiscus Gose (RVA/VA debut)
Saison Brett 2014
Saison Brett 2015
Harvest Dance Wheat Wine 2014
Imperial Stout 2014
Chocolate Ale

Brewery Ommegang
Hennepin
Three Philosophers
Calypso Hennepin

Duvel Belgium
Duvel Single
Houblon Chouffe
Maredsous Blonde
Liefmans Goudenband

Check out the Facebook event for more details and updates.

The Answer Brewpub
6008 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23230

RVA Memorial Day Weekend 2015: Strangeways, Triple Crossing, Center of the Universe, & Hardywood

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Richmond! Here are a few things to start your long weekend off today Saturday May 23rd.

Guarded by Monkeys Release at Strangeways — Noon

To obtain this beer, you will need to creep quietly through the lab as to avoid waking the monkeys who stand guard. Plus you can pick up a free Grunt, Growler, Blue Ball Mason Jar, or CANABLE now through Memorial Day with the purchase of a fill.

RVA BrewCraft: Coco for Coconuts Imperial Porter Release at Triple Crossing — Noon

Head over and try local homebrewer Steve Beasley’s winning entry into Triple Crossing’s RVA BrewCraft Competition. Coco for Coconuts is an imperial porter with 50 pounds of coconut, Blanchard’s Dark as Dark coffee, and vanilla beans.

Homefront IPA Day at Center of the Universe — 1PM
Homefront IPA Day at COTU 052315

Hops for Heroes and Center of the Universe Brewing are proud to introduce the 4th annual Homefront IPA celebration on May 23rd from 1pm until 9pm! Homefront IPA is a collaborative effort between 10 American craft breweries including:

-21st Amendment Brewery
-Cigar City Brewing Co.
-Fremont Brewing Co.
-Maui Brewing Co.
-Stone Brewing Co.
-Palmetto Brewing Co.
-Left Hand Brewing Co.
-Revolution Brewing Co.
-Perennial Artisan

Homefront IPA clocks in at 7% ABV and is brewed using fresh orange zest. The beer is then aged on unfinished Louisville Slugger Maple bats. 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the beer are being donated to Soldiers’ Angels (Official). Soldiers’ Angels provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families and the growing veteran population.

There will be live music by Vexine, food trucks, and a raffle for the beer soaked Louisville Slugger bats. Head out to the brewery to celebrate the service men and women and give back to this great cause!

Peach Tripel Release at Hardywood — 2PM

Hardywood Peach TripelHardywood is expanding their foray into fruit beers with the release of their Peach Tripel.

The celebrated tradition of monastic brewing is perhaps best known for the dubbel, and stronger, brighter tripel styles, which are characterized by abbey yeast strains that create a delightful harmony of fruity esters and spicy phenols. Hardywood Peach Tripel displays a voluminous head, a sunshine golden hue, notes of white pepper and honeysuckle, and is refermented on over 50 pounds per barrel of peaches, apricots and nectarines, lending a subtle but luscious stone fruit character, and a pleasantly dry finish.

Peach Tripel will be available for draft, 750ml bottles, and growler fills starting at 2pm. Enjoy live music from Samantha Pearl, Gull, Josh Small & Andrew Alli, and Manatree starting at 5pm.

Enjoy The Smoky Beers Of Copper Fox Brewfest & Mesquite Challenge At Capital Ale House Midlothian Saturday

Copper Fox Brewfest 051615Let me tell you, I love smoky flavors in food. I keep a stock of several different smoking woods for anytime I’m grilling out; right now I have apple, cherry, orange, peach, oak, hickory and mesquite wood chips. Anytime I see a new type of wood, I have to pick it up even if I have no clue how or when I will use it.

So it should come to no surprise that I was very excited when I heard about Copper Fox Brewfest & Mesquite Challenge happening this Saturday May 16th at Capital Ale House Midlothian starting at noon. Yes, my love of smoke extends to beers. While I’ve never had a traditional rauchbier (I need to get around to that), I have had some favorite interpretations over the years:

  • Allagash Smoke & Beards — a smoky tripel, who knew?
  • Fullsteam Hogwash — Fullsteam smokes their own malt over hickory for this porter. People loved this beer so much that when their smoker was stolen the community rallied together to raise money for a replacement and a security system.
  • Brothers Craft (fka 3 Bros) Rocktown Smoked Brown — I had this beer on one of my first trips out to this Harrisonburg, VA brewery. Every so often I’ll see Adam and ask when it’s coming back. I hear other people have been ask for it recently as well!

Now I’m ready to try ten new smoked beers created using Copper Fox’s Mesquite Malt by ten of Virginia’s finest breweries. The key to the successful use of smoked malt in different beer styles will be finding the proper usage level for the malt. You don’t want to use too much and overpower the more delicate flavors in a particular style. By the same token, you want to be able to tell that the smoke is there.

The event will be held from 12 pm – 5 pm in the spacious parking lot at Capital Ale House Midlothian. Live music will be provided by Notch 9, a Richmond based bluegrass and folk band. There will also be homemade BBQ and other fare to pair with the smoky ales.

For guests 21 and over, tickets are $20 and include the following:

– Entrance into the event
– A commemorative Copper Fox glass
– 9 taster tickets to sample every brew
– Opportunity to try some of Copper Fox’s whiskies and gins
– Live entertainment
– Opportunity to vote for your favorite brew with the chance to win a Barrel Kit from Copper Fox that you can use to age your own whisky

For guests under 21, non-taster tickets will be available for $5 and include entrance and live entertainment. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult and entrance is free.

Here are the different beers you will be able to try with tasting notes by the breweries and smoked malt percentages as detailed by Annie Tobey:

  • Adroit Theory Smoked Roggenbier (10% CF malt; 8.3% ABV) A slightly hazy beer with a nice smoke note and smooth rye spiciness to go along with the hop bill, which consisted of Galena and New Zealand Green Bullet hops.
  • AleWerks Mesquite Smoked Brown (21.5% CF malt; 6.4% ABV)
  • Center of the Universe PlayHator Smoked Doppelbock, (15% CF malt; 7.7% ABV) Fermented with a classic Munich lager yeast and conditioned after fermentation for 4 weeks, this light amber dopplebock  was then filtered for a clean and crisp taste and appearance.
  • Hardywood Mesquite Scotch Ale (14% CF malt; 8.5% ABV) smoke-filled vortex of nutty malt flavors, caramel, and dark fruit undertones with a warming alcohol note in the finish.
  • Isley Jah’s Fire Smoked Marleywine (20% CF malt; 10% ABV) This English Barleywine combines bready and rich English Maris Otter as its base malt. Jah’s Fire has a complex balance of bitter, sweet, and smoky flavors add an incredible aroma.
  • Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Fire Pit Smoked Porter (7% CF malt; 6.3% ABV) Named for the fire pit at Lickinghole Creek where cold winter nights are made to feel just right. Fire Pit Smoked Porter is a delicious, full flavored smoked porter that embodies the style and tastes just right.
  • Midnight Midnight Smoke Brown Ale (28% CF malt; 6.7% ABV) Light bodied and smoke forward, this smoked brown ale is the perfect companion to sticky, sweet barbeque!
  • O’Connor South by SouthWit (16% CF malt; 5% ABV) Coriander, lime zest, agave nectar, and white sage paired with the smokiness of Copper Fox’s Mesquite smoked malt makes this a unique witbier. We are certain you will agree!
  • St. George Stumbling Peasant Smoked Vienna Lager (10% CF malt; 10% applewood/cherrywood-smoked malt; 6% ABV) Brewed using European Malts to provide a beautiful amber color, rich malt character and balanced hop presence. This Vienna style lager has a smokey nose and a sweet smoked finish that are sure to please any palate.
  • Three Notch’d Cobre Zorro (7% CF malt; 6.9% ABV) amber ale with hearty body. The sweetness of the beer is balanced by the use of First Gold hops and rye malt which provides a hint of spiciness.

You don’t want to miss this. You can get your tickets online here or at the door.

American Craft Beer Week RVA 2015: Taste The Local Cask Crawl Returns Tonight

 

ACBW 2015 tapThere will be a lot of events as Richmond celebrates American Craft Beer Week (May 11 – 17) but none are as beloved as a pub crawl.  Taste the Local has revived the cask crawl that has been so well received in years past for tonight Monday May 11th.

Head out and enjoy three special Virginia beer cask conditioned pin tappings at these locations:

5PM — Portrait House — Ardent Craft Ales Porter with CTZ (Columbus, Tomahawk, Zeus blend) and Jarillo hops
6PM — Cask — Hardywood Great Return with peaches
7PM — Commercial Taphouse  — Lickinghole Creek Imperial Brown with mangoes and habaneros

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