Homebrewing

Big Brew Day Turns Sweet Sixteen Saturday

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Credit: Homebrewers Association

Saturday, May 6th, marks the 16th annual Big Brew Day sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association. Homebrewers from around the  world choose from predetermined recipes to brew on that day.  AHA is celebrating Big Brew’s birthday by by providing three sample recipes from the upcoming 4th edition of How to Brew.

Starting at 10am, Richmond’s oldest local homebrew club, the James River Homebrewers, will be brewing at Original Gravity over on Lakeside Ave.  This is a great opportunity to learn how beer is made and promises to be a great time for all.  So drive on down and join on the fun.  Get there by 1pm to join in on the worldwide toast. Check out the Facebook event for more information.

Original Gravity
6118 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 264-4808

UPDATE: Sierra Nevada has shared the homebrew version of their Ruthless Rye IPA.

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

Grab Your Hops & Barley. Tomorrow Is Big Brew Day 2014

Credit: American Homebrewers Association

Credit: American Homebrewers Association

Saturday, May 3rd, marks the 13th annual Big Brew Day sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association. Homebrewers from around the  world choose from predetermined recipes to brew on that day.  The three recipes selected this year are gold medal winners from 2013 National Homebrew Competition (categories 10, 13, & 4): Regal Pale Ale, Split Open and Melt Imperial Stout, and Black Dog Lager Schwartzbier.  You can see the actual recipes here.

Starting at 9am, Richmond’s local homebrewing club, the James River Homebrewers, will be brewing at Original Gravity over on Lakeside Ave.  If you ever wondered about how beer is made, this is a great opportunity and promises to be a great time for all.  So drive on down and join on the fun.  Get there by noon to join in on the worldwide toast.

Original Gravity
6920 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 264-4808

Weekend Brewer 25th Anniversary Sale Going On Now

The Weekend Brewer in Chester,VA is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing supplies to homebrewers and home wine makers of the Richmond area.  Head into the store from today Tuesday July 16th to Friday July19th to take advantage of the specials listed below as well as select in-store specials. 

Beer Specials

10% off — All WeekEnd Brewer Beer Ingredient Kits

15% off Whole Briess ‘Brewers 2 row Malt’ bag ($46.66; while supplies last)

10% off  — Induction Ready Pots with 1/2 “Valve (Limited Supplies)
10gal – $86.39
15gal – $227.00
20gal – $258.57
25gal – $293.76

Special ‘2 ounce Pack’ Cascade Pellet Hops — $1.50 each; Limit 2 per visit

Wine Specials

15% off — All ‘Vintners Reserve’ Wine kits and ‘World Vineyard’ Wine kits
20% off — All ‘Selection’ Premium Wine Kits 15 liters
20 % off — All ‘Selection’ Premium Wine kits 16 liters
25% off —  All ‘Eclipse’ (Estate) Wine Kits — July 19th only
25% off — All Selection Premium Wine kits with Skins — July 19th only

Moscato kits on sale all of July @ 25% off (while supplies last)

25% off — 3 gallon PET Carboy —  $20.17 (reg.  $26.90 )
15% off — 5 Gallon PET Carboy — $23.71 (reg. $ 27.90 )

Don’t miss out on many more in store specials and giveaways each day (Wine Glass Sets, Beer Bottle Openers, Gear and Accessories). Stop in Friday July 19th for cake. Congrats on 25 years Bob and Jeanne!

Big Brew Day 2013 Is Tomorrow

bigbrew2012Saturday, May 4th, marks the 12th annual Big Brew Day sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association. Homebrewers from around the  world choose from predetermined recipes to brew on that day.  There are three recipes this year: Belgian Blonde (hardywood Singel anyone?); English Dark Mild and an American Pilsner (think Legend Pilsner); see the actual recipes here.

Starting at 10am, Richmond’s local homebrewing club, the James River Homebrewers, will be brewing at Original Gravity over on Lakeside Ave.  If you ever wondered about how beer is made, this is a great opportunity and promises to be a great time for all.  So drive on down and join on the fun.  Get there by noon and you may be able to join in on the worldwide toast.

Original Gravity
6920 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 264-4808

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.

Two Richmond Big Brew Spots For 2012

Saturday, May 5th, marks the 11th annual Big Brew Day sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association. Homebrewers from around the  world choose from predetermined recipes to brew on that day.  This year’s recipes are an American Brown Ale and a Northern English Brown Ale; see the actual recipes here.   

Starting at 9am, Richmond’s local homebrewing club, the James River Homebrewers, will be brewing at two locations this year the The Weekend Brewer in Chester and Original Gravity over on Lakeside Ave.  If you ever wondered about how beer is made, this is a great opportunity and promises to be a great time for all.  So drive on down and join on the fun.  Get there by noon and you may be able to join in on the worldwide toast.

The Weekend Brewer
4205 West Hundred Rd
Chester, VA 23831
(804) 796-9760

Original Gravity
6920 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 264-4808

Come Brew with Us: RVA Edition

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to brew your own beer but lack the motivation? Loveland Distributing, in conjunction with Samuel Adams, is hosting a Text-to-Win contest to help you do just that.  They have recruited James River Homebrewers‘ members, yours truly included, to act as mentors to the lucky winners.

To Enter: Text “BREW” to 71280.  A message will pingback with a link to an online form.

The last day to enter is March 17th. Winners will be selected on March 19th and paired with mentors.  Five winners will receive the following supplies as a starter kit:

7.8 gallon Primary Bucket
5 gallon Glass Carboy
Fermentation Lock and Stopper
Autosiphon and tubing
Triple Scale Hydrometer with sampling tube
Floating Thermometer
Bottle and Carboy brush
Sanitizer
Capper
Bottle Filler
Caps
The Complete Joy of Home Brewing

Winners and mentors will develop recipes to brewed at Original Gravity on March 31st.  Finally, apprentice brewers will have the opportunity of pouring their beers at the Flavor Beer and Food Festival at Innsbrook Pavilion on June 2nd.

 

Big Brew Day Is This Saturday


Saturday, May 7th, marks the 10th annual Big Brew Day sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association. Homebrewers from around the  world choose from predetermined recipes to brew on that day.  This year’s recipes include an India Pale Ale, a Belgian Wit, and a Porter; see the actual recipes here.   Our local homebrewing club, the James River Homebrewers, will be brewing beer at the Weekend Brewer in Chester starting at 9am.  If you ever wondered about how beer is made, this is a great opportunity and promises to be a great time for all.  So drive on down and join on the fun.  Get there by noon and you may be able to join in on the worldwide toast.

The Weekend Brewer

4205 West Hundred Road
Chester, VA 23831-1734
(804) 796-9760

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