Author Archives for rvabeermeister

New Belgium Takeover at Bar Louie

Today is just the day of dueling tap takeovers.  If you’re going to be in Short Pump tonight, Thursday May 31st, check out Bar Louie for a New Belgium tap takeover.

Bar Louie will have the following New Belgium mainstays:

Fat Tire
Ranger IPA
Somersault
Trippel
Abbey
1554
Belgo IPA

But wait, there’s more. Three beers from New Belgium’s Lips of Faith series also on hand for the evening:

Cocoa Mole Ale
Tart Lychee
Biere de Mars

Bar Louie
11788 W. Broad St.
Henrico, VA 23233
(804) 440-7301

Devils Backbone Steals Sedona’s Taps

Tonight, May 31st, head out to Sedona Taphouse for Devils Backbone Steal the Glass/Tap Takeover night! Beers featured for the night include:

  • Bavarian Dark Lager
  • Gold Leaf Lager
  • Reilly’s Red Ale
  • Black Rock Milk Stout
  • Pear Lager
  • India Pale Lager
  • Vision Quest (collaboration with Beer Run)
  • Vienna Lager
  • 8 Point IPA
  • Belgian Congo Pale Ale
  • plus, a special cask conditioned pin

Sedona Taphouse
15732 Wc Commons Way
Midlothian, VA 23113
(804) 379-0037

Flavor Festival Enters Second Year

Flavor – Beer, Wine, & Food Festival is back for its second year this Saturday, June 2nd from noon to 6pm at the Innsbrook SnagAJob Pavilion. A $25 sampling ticket will grant you access to over 60 beers on tap in the main area of the festival, including 9 beers from Wild Wolf, 10 from Sierra, 6 from Sam Adams, 4 Duck-Rabbit (including the new Hoppy Bunny ABA!) and many, many others.

For $10 more, you can get into the VIP section, which will feature a cheese and chocolate pairing by Whole Foods Short Pump with 9 special beers exclusive.

Exclusive Beers
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum
Sierra Nevada 2010 Bigfoot Barleywine
Ovila Belgian Quad
Thomas Creek Chocolate Orange IPA
Wild Wolf Strawberry Schwarzcake
Brew Ridge Trail Collaboration Ale (Belgian Wit brewed with honey and pear), brewed by Blue Mountain, Devil’s Backbone and Wild Wolf at Wild Wolf Brewery
Samuel Adams Dark Depths Baltic IPA
Samuel Adams Norse Legend Sahti (Nordic Ale brewed with juniper berries)
Cricket Hill Imperial IPA

Cheeses (all Whole Foods Market exclusives):
Havanero Cheddar
Robusto (Aged Gouda)
Smoked Seaside Cheddar
Azores Flores
Belavitano Balsamic

Chocolate
Caramel covered with Dark chocolate and sea salt paired with Bigfoot Barleywine

Head to the Facebook event page or festival website for more information.  Buy tickets for the festival here.

Innsbrook SnagAJob Pavilion

4901 Lakebrook Drive
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
(Map)

Hardywood Throws Great Corn-Holy-O Tournament!

I know there’s a Beavis & Butthead joke to be made here.  Get it out of your system now.

Done?

Good.

Hardywood will hold their first annual corn hole tournament Saturday June 2nd at 11:30am.  Proceeds from this year’s tournament will benefit Area 10 Global’s 2012 Mission Team to Petit Bourg de Borgne, Haiti.  First prize in the tournament includes a private tour of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery with the founders for the winning team and eight of their friends. 

Team registration ends Friday June 1st.  Use promo code “Hardywood” to save 30% on registration here.

Heaed over to the Facebook event for more information.

James River Homebrewer’s Dominion Cup Goes Pro-Am

Homebrewers, how would you like to have one of your beers brewed by Hardywood?  Well, here’s your chance.  James River Homebrewers have partnered with Hardywood to make the 19th annual Dominion Cup a Pro-Am competition.  Hardywood Park will collaborate with the winning homebrewer to scale up and brew their beer on their professional equipment and offer for sale to their distribution area. The brew will also be entered into the 2013 Great American Beer Festival Pro-AM Competition for further consideration.  The Dominion Cup will be held on August 11, 2012; entries are due by July 30th at either Hardywood Park, Weekend Brewer, or Original Gravity.  Last year’s Dominion Cup saw over 700 entries.  The competition will most likely far exceed that number but that should not stop you from entering.  Besides you can’t win if you don’t enter.  See full competition details here.

My Designs for New Capital Ale House Growlers

Capital Ale House try these new Hydroflask growler designs on for size. These are the same stainless steel growlers used by Hardywood.  On the left, you’ll see I used your 10th Anniversary logo; this limited edition growler would be a great take home item for your fans to celebrate the occasion.  People will still want growlers after the limited version is gone; image on the right shows growler with your current logo.

Richmond Food Cart Derby Revs Up This Sunday

The final event of American Craft Beer Week is almost here.  The Richmond Food Cart Derby will take place on Sunday, May 20th at the 17th St Farmer’s Market from 11am-6pm. Presented by Taste the Local, Style Weekly, Monkey Dish Media, 2BNB, Richmond 17th Street Farmers Market, Clear Channel, Radio Rubber Room, and Brown Distributing, the event will celebrate Virginia beer and local food. 

Take a look at all the trucks/carts scheduled to be on hand:

The following Virginia breweries will be pouring their unique beers as well:

This will be a great event you should not miss.  Come on out and get some local food and beer.  I will see you there!

Mekong’s Surprise American Craft Beer Tapping

American Craft Beer Week in Richmond has been truly exceptional this year.  Just when I had figured out what I was doing tonight, An Bui decided to throw a monkey wrench into my plans.  Mekong will be tapping some great American craft beers starting at 2pm today!  Especially exciting are the two beers from Great Divide because their beer is currently not available anywhere else in Richmond.

2009 Dogfish Head Fort
2009 Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
2009 Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
2010 Great Divide Grand Cru
2009 Smuttynose Barleywine
2009 Bells Expedition Stout
2009 Founders Breakfast Stout
2010 Allagash Curieux
Weyerbacher Fifteen
2012 Hardywood Grand Cru
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace
New Belgium La Folie
Stone Oak Arrogant Bastard
Allagash White
Hardywood Singel
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Now how’s that for a monkey wrench? Once again Mekong proves beer is the answer!

American Craft Beer Week, RVA Style

American Craft Beer Week officially starts on May 14 and runs until May 20.   This year Richmond will start the party early Friday with Midnight Brewery’s open house and Capital Ale House Anniversary beer double tapping.  Here are some details on other events to consider checking out during the week.

Saturday May 12th

Virginia Hops and Barley Fest

The second annual Virginia Hops & Barley Festival will feature over 30 craft beers from from twelve Virginia breweries.  This will be your first chance to try beers from Blue Lab Brewing, Big Daddy’s Brewing, and Midnight Brewery. Take a look at the complete beer list here.  Tickets are $15/person in advance or $20/person at door if available and include unlimited sampling of all the beers. Order tickets here.

Check out the Facebook event here.

Update:

Pins available at the festival:

  • O’Connor Dreamsicle- Green Can Golden Ale infused with Organic OJ & Vanilla
  • Legend Golden IPA dry hopped with Citra hops
  • Hardywood Bourbon Cru & dry hopped  double IPA.

Monday May 14th

ACBW Firkin Crawl

Head out for a pub crawl featuring beers from Legend, Mad Fox, and Victory.

Weezie’s Kitchen (5:30pm)
Beer: Legend Golden/Brown Ale blend, dry hopped with Sorachi Ace.

3123 W. Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23221

Commercial Taphouse (6:45pm)
Beer: Mad Fox ???? The exact beer from Mad Fox has not been decided but any beer from Mad Fox will be great.  I’m sort of hoping for their Orange Whip IPA.

111 N. Robinson St.
Richmond, VA 23220
 
Update: Looks like I’m getting a Mad Fox beer I’ve never had before!  Commercial Taphouse will be getting Mad Fox’s Broad Street IPA – 6.8% ABV aka Snap IPA, an American-style India Pale Ale that is brewed with 100% Centennial/CTZ hops from the Pacific Northwest and then dry-hopped with over 44lbs of Centennial/CTZ hops for an extra fresh hop punch. This beer has a fresh resiny herbal and citrusy grapefruit aroma that follows through to a tingling hoppy herbal bitterness in the finish. The British pale and German Vienna malts provide a biscuity malt sweetness that balances the hop bitterness.
 
Selba (8pm)
Beer: Victory Ranch R DIPA- 9% ABV DIPA with whole flower Centennial hops grown on Roy Farms in Yakima Valley.  Victory’s Ranch series is a rotating double IPA with hops sourced from one different farm for each batch.

2416 W. Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23220

For your convenience, I’ve created a map with all the locations on it here.

Tuesday May 15th

Pales…In Comparison

Head out to Joe’s Inn in the Fan for a tap takeover celebrating the American Pale Ale. Here are the featured pales:

Legend Pale Ale
Devils Backbone 4 Point w/ single experimental hop
Heavy Seas Pale
Dale’s Pale
Southern Tier Pale
Southern Tier HopSun
Victory Headwaters
O’Connor Norfolk Canyon
Sierra Nevada Pale

205 North Shields Ave
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 355-2282

Hardywood Park Beer Dinner at The Blue Goat

I don’t have a menu for this one yet but if you’ve ever eaten at The Blue Goat, you know this dinner is a great idea.  Cost for the dinner is $50/person plus tax and tip.  Reservations are required so call the restaurant at (804) 288-8875 to RSVP.  Dinner starts at 7:30pm

Breckenridge Steal the Glass Night at Capital Ale House

Breckenridge Brewery is probably one of my favorite Colorado breweries just because of their Vanilla Porter. If you’re heading to Cap Ale for the evening, I would make sure to get one of these glasses to go.

Wednesday May 16th

Beer Theater: Goose Island

Celebrate the triumphant return of Wine & Beer Westpark owner Matty Lake’s Beer Theater in the Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall starting at 5:30pm. Settle in to the Music Hall for a skype tasting with brewmaster Brett Porter featuring Sofie, Matilda, Pere Jacques, 312, Honkers, and IPA.  Cost for the tasting is $10/person.  Read more over at Facebook event here.

Goose Island Beer Dinner at Acacia Midtown
At first, I was worried about this beer dinner and beer theater being on the same night.  Fortunately, this dinner is being structured such that you can come in anytime Wednesday night from 5:30 -9pm and get this meal.  Take a look at the menu.

MENU

1st Course

Sofie
Local Raw Oyster with Radish, Mandarinquat & Chive, Fluke Crudo with Foie Gras and Meyer Lemon Emulsion, Sea Bass Ceviche Peruvian Style with Red Pepper Gelee

2nd Course

IPA
Hop Spiced Pork Pate, Roasted Barley Crust, Edible Flowers

3rd Course

Matilda
Almond Crusted Grouper, “Moules Frites”

OR

Pepe Nero
Corned Beef Brisket, Pumpernickel Gnocchi, Coriander Veal Jus

Cost for the dinner is $30/person excluding tax & gratuity.  Call (804) 562-0138 for reservations.

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

Thursday May 17th

O’Connor Firkin Night

There will be three firkins from O’Connor Brewing in town Thursday night.  Head over to Station 2 to get Rad Nun (Red Nun Red Ale infused with Raspberries) or Brutella (Great Dismal Black IPA infused with Peanut Butter, Nutella, Chopped Hazelnuts and Dry-roasted Peanuts.

Meanwhile, The Camel will have a pin of Xocolat, Great Dismal with organic fair trade cocoa and ground cinnamon.

Friday May 18th

Taste the Local Tasting at Once Upon a Vine South

Head over to  the  Once Upon a Vine off Forrest Hill Ave to meet Virginia brewers and taste their beers. Be prepared to have a great time.  Tasting runs from 5 – 8pm.

Once Upon A Vine South
2817 Hathaway Rd
Richmond, VA 23225

More Fun than a Barrel of Virginians

Head out to Mekong for a wood and barrel aged beer bonanza featuring beers from Legend, Hardywood Park, Heavy Seas, Mad Fox, and more.

Sunday May 20th

Final event for the week is the Richmond Food Cart Derby at Historic 17th Street Farmers Market. 20+ food cart vendors, beer, music, and more.  I’ll have more on this as the date gets closer but I’ll say now you want to go to this.  Check out the Facebook event here.

1 … 60 61 62 … 72
Blog at WordPress.com.