Author Archives for rvabeermeister

Still Room At Popkin Tavern’s Goose Island Beer Dinner This Wednesday

Goose Island Big John Logo4Surprisingly, tickets are still available for Popkin Tavern’s Goose Island Beer Dinner this Wednesday January 23rd at 7pm. This dinner boast seven great Goose Island beers with three of their most limited stouts from the Borubon County line for dessert.

MENU

First Course
Crostini, burrata, clementine chutney, lavender, basil
312 Urban Wheat Ale

Second Course
Beer Cheese Tots, naughty cheddar beer cheese, grilled scallion, house bacon
Naughty Goose Brown Ale

Third Course
Porchetta, citrus and herb roasted pork, crispy cracklins, braised greens
Matilda Belgian Ale

Fourth Course
Boar Pops, peppercorn crusted boar, smoked root vegetables, cognac cream sauce
Pepe Nero Black Saison

Fifth Course
Bacon Chocolate Cupcake, house bacon, dark chocolate, peanut butter frosting
Nightstalker, Big John, Bourbon County Coffee

The all inclusive tickets for the dinner are $45/person and can be purchased here.

123 W. Broad St
Richmond, VA 23220

Taste The Local Declares Beer Town RVA

ImageTaste The Local posted this declaration to their Facebook page this afternoon proclaiming the great abundance of local beer to be available in Richmond this year. Check it out:

By the end of 2013 there will be 30 VA Breweries available in the city of RICHMOND, VA (including festivals etc). At least 6 will be in the Richmond Metro Area (*). Whether you are a fan of all, or just some of these locals, not too many cities in the country can boast that kind of number. Cheers RVA! Its going to be a great year for local beer.

1. Apocalypse
2. Beach
3. Big Daddy
4. Blue Mountain
5. Brass Cannon
6. Bull and Bones
7. Center of The Universe*
8. Champion
9. Corcoran
10. Devils Backbone
11. Extra Billy’s*
12. Hardywood Park*
13. James River
14. Legend*
15. Lickinghole Creek*
16. Lost Rhino
17. Mad Fox
18. Midnight Brewing*
19. O’Connor Brewing
20. Parkway
21. Port City Brewing
22. Roanoke Railhouse
23. Smartmouth
24. St George
25. Starr Hill
26. Strangeways*
27. Three Brothers
28. Wild Wolf
29. Williamsburg Alewerks
30. Wolf Hills

(*) Brewing in the Richmond metro area

DRINK LOCAL RVA!

 

Hardywood Has Good Reasons For Mocha Belgique Switch Out For Sidamo

Hardywood is releasing their Sidamo Coffee Stout this Saturday January 5th starting at 11am.  I caught up with co-founder Eric McKay to inquire about decision to replace Mocha Belgique.  In his reply, he confirms the replacement but leaves the door ajar for a possible revamp plus hints at the next barrel series beer:

Sidamo Coffee Stout is going to replace Mocha Belgique. We really enjoyed working with the guys from Black Hand on that beer last year, and did receive some great feedback on it. That said, we also reviewed a lot of the negative feedback and our own perceptions of the beer and felt that the use of chocolate and particularly our choice of a Belgian yeast strain created some complex flavors that distracted from the coffee. Ultimately, with our Reserve Series, we want to showcase the local ingredients we use, not mask them, and have done a fair amount of brainstorming on reinventing a coffee beer in a way that would highlight the signature ingredient.

Through our team members frequent visits to Lamplighter and its Kickstand counterpart right around the corner in Scott’s Addition, we’ve built a good relationship with them and explored some ideas with them through a cupping. Ultimately, we came out of it in love with the unique flavor and aroma of their Sidamo coffee and decided to blend it with a Russian Imperial Stout recipe (no lactose in this one!) that keeps the focus squarely on the coffee.
We may bring back Mocha Belgique on a smaller pilot scale at some point, or do a variation of the base beer without chocolate or coffee, but in the meantime, we’re feeling really good about this new Sidamo Coffee Stout and are planning to age some in freshly dumped Maker’s Mark barrels (due to limited supply of Bowman barrels).
The only other beer from our commercial releases that will go into retirement this year due to customer feedback is Virginia Strawberry. Not only did the strawberries create some unusual flavors, they were obscenely labor intensive to process. Fortunately, we’ll be brewing more Virginia Blackberry this year with berries from the same local farmer, Agriberry.
Even though we will miss Mocha Belgique, you have to respect their commitment to respect the ingredients.  Go out and try the new coffee beer.

Happy Brew Year 2013 Richmond

Happy New Year Richmond! Welcome to 2013!  There is a lot going on to start the new year.  Here is your new brew run down for the start of 2013.

Hardywood Sidamo Coffee Stout

Hardywood is releasing their new coffee beer this Saturday January 5th starting at 11am.  While speculation abounds that this beer will replace last year’s Mocha Belgique, I will hold out hope for a possible return until I hear confirmation from Hardywood.  That said, the use of a coffee with blueberry undertones in a beer is something I can definitely get behind.  Somebody get me a blueberry waffle. STAT!

Head over to the Facebook event to learn more about the release.

Legend Hopfest

Legend announced the addition a new year round beer to their portfolio over on their Facebook page:

Happy New Year with a Happy New Beer! Legend is proud to announce our newest year round brew, the former seasonal, the reighning champion of seven years as our Anniversary Ale, this IPA style fighter comes to you out of Richmond, VA by way of west coast influence. The undefeated, undisputed, light heavyweight Legend fan choice champion…weighing in at 6.7% abv. and 57 ibu., a well rounded fighter with experience in yeast, malt, and hops, available soon on draft and in six packs, Legend HOPFEST! Fighters obey my commands at all times. Touch gloves and let’s get it on!

Strangeways Brewing

A new brewery ready to enter the fray in Richmond asks you to “Think Strange, Drink Strange.”  Follow their progress on Facebook here.

Apocalypse Ale Works Ready to Startup

Apocalypse Ale Works in Forest, VA will be starting production some time this month. Their tasting room  is expected to be open in February.   In the meantime, you can follow along on their pre-production brewery tours on their Facebook page here.

Parkway Brewing

Parkway Brewing, out of Salem, VA, is expected to be available int eh Richmond area sometime this year through Specialty Beverage.  Learn more about them over on their Facebook page.

Devils Backbone Cranks Out The Barrels

Last but not least, maybe you caught this Washington post article detailing new beers on the way from Devils Backbone’s Outpost brewery in Lexington, VA.  Also, there’s the little accomplishment of the Outpost’s 10,000 barrel production year! While brewmaster Jason Oliver does R&D in Austrailia, the Outpost will release a few new beers:

  • Dark Abby – Belgian dubbel with black pepper, coriander and secret spice X; 7.5% ABV
  • Schwartz Bier – German black lager; Available February – September
  • Danzig – Baltic Porter; Available October – January
  • 16 Point IPA – Imperial India pale ale; there was keg of this from the Basecamp at Popkin Tavern last month for a tap takeover.

Looks like 2013 will be another great year of beer.

Last Minute Beer Geek Gift Ideas 2012

Look at that, the world is still here.  If you put off your holiday gift shopping until after seeing the world didn’t end, you’re way behind the game.  Don’t worry I have you covered with a few ideas plus take a look at my ideas from last year.

I’ll be taking a break to enjoy the holidays.  I hope you all have a great holiday season; I will see you back here next year.

Cheers!

Ellwood Thompson — You’ll find all of this just as you walk in the door. Tripel Karmeliet, Chimay , oh my.
Sedona Taphouse had these baskets as you walked in the door but have more to offer here. http://www.sedonataphouse.com/gift-basket-order-form
Libbie Market Ridgefield — Curious collection of holiday beer.
Libbie Market Ridgefield — Craft beer sampler
Whole Foods Short Pump has this entire wall of cool gifts.
Whole Foods Short Pump — Shmaltz & St Bernardus packs.
Whole Foods Short Pump — Sam Adams Winter separates St Bernardus Christmas from more gift packs.
Whole Foods Short Pump — More Shmaltz & Christmas Ale

 

It’s A Time Of Keg Holiday Trees At Hardywood Illumination Tonight

Hardywood 2011 Illumination3-cropThat’s right . The end of the world came and went, and the holiday season is back in full swing.  Hardywood presents their second annual Illumination tonight Friday December 21st starting at 4pm.

Beers featured for the evening include:

  • First Anniversary Ale – bourbon barrel aged blend consisting of  40% 2011 imperial milk stout, 40% 2012 imperial milk stout, and 20% 2012 Virginia Blackberry.  Wax dipped bottles will be available for purchase.
  • Friday Firkin – Russian Imperial Stout with vanilla beans and macerated dry cherries  designed by Ric Hersh and Erik White of Screens n Suds.
  • Dry Irish Stout – this season’s session beer
  • Plus other illuminating beers

The GrowRVA Holiday  Market will be open all evening for your holiday gift shopping featuring ten local artisans:

2 Dye 4 — tie-dye
Carved Wood Bowls
Jane Hendley Designs — Pottery
Jeff Vick Ceramics
Paul and Kate Studio – Pottery
Night Sky Farm — goat milk soap and cheese
Old Tavern Clay – Pottery, facebook: oldtavernclay
Red Chicken Pottery
Red Lintu — jewelry
Wandering Cow Farm — Wool, Fleece, Soap, Lotion

Pizza Tonight and Olio will be serving food with music by Julie Karr, Matt Connor, and Josh Small.

Devils Backbone Tap Invasion at Conch Republic Tonight

Devils Backbone RVA logoHead over to Rocketts Landing tonight  December 19th as Devils Backbone takes over the taps at Conch Republic starting at 5pm.  The six DB beers on tap for the night include:

Vienna Lager
8 Point IPA
Anniversary Ale
Advantageous Weizenbock
Old Germany Lager
Azrael Belgian Golden Ale

Conch Republic
11 Orleans St.
Richmond, VA 23231

Great perspective on craft vs crafty debate from Terrapin owner John Cochran.

JohnatUpCountry's avatarJohn at Terrapin

If you’ve been paying any attention to the world of “craft” beer the last few days, you’ve seen the Brewer’s Association’s latest message regarding “real” craft beer vs. “faux” craft beer. According to the BA, a “true” craft brewer produces less than 6 million barrels per year, uses “traditional” ingredients, and is less than 25% owned by a non craft brewer (i.e. anyone that produces more than 6 million barrels or whose flagship uses “non-traditional” ingredients).

Theoretically, these three criteria are all OK. Especially when one considers them as what they really are. They are an attempt by a trade organization, the Brewer’s Association, to define their clientele. Taken in that light, no big deal. The BA is trying to organize the chaotic beer world in a way that allows them to draw a line and say, “These are the companies that are part of our organization. These are the breweries…

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Holiday Beer Dinner At Acacia MidtownTomorrow

Acacia Midtown running their Holiday Beer Dinner tomorrow Wednesday December 19th from 5:30 – 9pm.  Just as with past dinners, the special menu will be available throughout the night.

MENU

1st Course
Classic Caesar Salad, Rosemary Croutons, White Anchovy OR Creamy Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich
O’Connor Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale

2nd Course
Roast Pork Shoulder, Sunchoke Farroto, Caramelized Onion Jus OR Cast Iron Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese Gratin, Surry Sausage Gravy
Devils Backbone Kilt Flasher Scottish Ale

3rd Course (Optional)
Assorted Holiday Cookies and Cakes
Goose Island Bourbon County & Hardywood Gingerbread Stout

Cost for the dinner is $25/person excluding tax and gratuity; the third course is available for an additional $10 fee.  Kids’ portions will be available without beer at a discounted price.  Reservations are recommended. Call (804) 562-0138 to RSVP.

Acacia
2601 W Cary St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 562-0138

Midnight Brewery Takeover At Sedona Taphouse

Midnight Brewery pint1Head over to Sedona Taphouse tonight Tuesday, December 18th to for a Midnight Brewery tap takeover.  Founder and brewmaster, Trae Cairns  will be there to talk about his beers.

Featuring largest collection of Midnight’s beers on tap at one time, beers on tap for the evening include:

New Beginning Kolsch
Rockville Red Ale
Not My Job Brown Ale
Granite Stout
Holiday Cranberry Kolsch
Christmas at Midnight Ale (last keg until next batch!)

Glass with each purchase while supplies last.

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