It is amazing to think that we are looking towards the end of the year. Where did the time go?

Hardywood has come a long way in three years.  This year alone their distribution footprint has expanded west as far as Roanoke, north to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, and east to the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads areas. Their new grain silos outside the warehouse will be put to good use keeping thirsty patrons satiated.

In the coming weeks, Hardywood will mark another first, the addition of a second flagship (year round) beer in the form of Hardywood Pils:

Crisp, clean and incomparably quaffable, Hardywood Pils sparkles a brilliant shade of gold with a rich, cloud-white head. Hand crafted with only the finest European pilsner malt and German noble hops, Pils is patiently conditioned for weeks in our lagering tanks, maturing into a beer that refreshes the palate and satiates the soul. Brewed in strict accordance with the Reinheitsgebot, this classic pilsner is the quintissential lager beer in its purest form. A tad drier than its Bohemian cousin with the signature snappy herbal spice of Bavarian Hallertau hops to balance delicate maltiness, this pils offers a nod to old world tradition by the innovative brewers at Hardywood. Prost!

You will have to wait until November 1st to try this at the brewery or you can get a sneak preview at Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival on Saturday. Pils will hit the market in draft and six packs starting November 3rd.

Let’s get back to the day at hand.  Hardywood will celebrate their third anniversary Saturday October 25th starting at 2pm. The end of a momentous third year would be incomplete without Hardywood Third Anniversary Ale, “a classic style Berliner Weisse that will refresh your palate with tart complexities found in this German-style sour beer. Bright, dry, and refreshing, our Berliner Weisse has a strikingly tart start and prickly finish. Straw-like color and natural haze due to an abundance of wheat intensifies the rustic feel of this beer. Tart citrus notes explode on your palate, while the dry finish leaves you wanting more.”

Oh no, Hardywood is not just stopping at one Berliner Weisse; they have bottled three variants using Apricot, Cranberry, and Raspberry.  Each variant will be available on draft and in 4-packs to go (750mL bottles). (Limit one 4-pack per person, no growler fills.)

You’d think that would be enough. You’d be wrong.  Hardywood has enlisted three craft cocktail masters to create signature syrups to be served with the base Berliner Weisse:

• Mattias Hagglund (Heritage): syrup of Virginia Cameo apples with lemon thyme and lemon zest.
• Thomas Leggett (The Roosevelt): syrup of ruby red grapefruit
• Jay Bayer (Saison): passion fruit and mosaic hops syrup that was also dry hopped with mosaic hops. The hops were boiled for 10 and 5 minutes for a bit of flavor and nose.

I feel like there needs to be a #RVAdine Flight option to be able to enjoy all three syrups against the base.

Live music will start at 5pm from The Red Hot Lava Men (pure surf), Goldrush (rock & roll music. Songs about stuff and beyond), and Black Girls (swaggering and seductive Motown rock).

Check out the Facebook event for more information and updates then head out and raise a few glasses.