Tag Archives: devils backbone

Devils Backbone Takeover At Popkin Tavern Tonight

Devils Backbone RVA logoI was really thinking about settling in for a quiet evening at home.  That was until I found out about the Devils Backbone Tap Takeover at Popkin Tavern tonight, Tuesday December 4th.  Starting at 6pm, they will feature eight nine Devils Backbone beers, many of which have only seen sort stints in RVA.  Get there before 7pm and enjoy happy hour pricing on the beers.  Devils Backbone rep Brian Coe will be on hand to answer any questions.

Here are the beers:

Vienna Lager (Multiple Gold Medals)
8 Point IPA
16 Point IPA (First ever in Richmond)
Kilt Flasher
Schwarzbier
Smoked Porter
Blue Ridge Hop revival (wet hopped with local Cascade hops)
Ramsey’s Stout (Dry Irish Nitro Stout)
Virginia Dark Lager

Head over to the Facebook event for more info.

123 W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220

RVA Beer Week 2012: Four Beer Dinners & A Brunch

With four beer dinners and a brunch this week, I will most likely be very fat by the end of RVA Beer Week. Fat and very happy.

Sunday November 4th

Secco Wine Bar’s October beer brunch had to be moved due to Hurricane Sandy so now we are welcoming them to RVA Beer Week.

Update:  Secco will be donating 10% of the proceeds from this Sunday’s brunch to the American Red Cross.

OCTOBER RVA BEER WEEK BRUNCH MENU
available 11AM – 3PM

biscuits & Border Springs lamb sausage gravy

roasted apple and walnut pancakes, house-made bacon and hash browns

huevos rancheros with cilantro crema (option to add braised pork shoulder)

smoked paprika sausage, braised collard greens, potatoes and soft egg

hash browns “all the way” (sauteed onions, Mahon cheese, diced ham, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and chili)

house-made brioche with raspberry preserves and whipped vanilla butter

Mike’s bagel, smoked salmon spread, shaved radish and field greens

tortilla Espanola with potato, onion and Mahon cheese

grilled Border Springs lamb burger, harissa yogurt, feta and sliced red onion with fries

field green salad, chevre, pistachios, lemon-thyme vinaigrette

Featured Beers

Potter’s Cider

Founders Breakfast Stout

Bahnhof Leipziger Gose

Stillwater/Mikkeller “Our Side” (on deck)

This is a non-ticketed event and all items are served a la carte. Seating will be done on a first come, first served basis. Email info@seccowinebar.com or call (804) 353-0670 to get reservations for parties of five to eight.  Keep in mind that Secco’s size means the smaller your party, the quicker they will be able accommodate you.

Secco Wine Bar
2933 W. Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23221
(804) 353-0670

Tuesday November 6th

Blue Goat Devils Backbone Beer Dinner — 6:30PM

Attending a Devils Backbone beer dinner hosted by The  Blue Goat in conjunction with Slowfood’s RVA Chapter could be the no brainer of the week.  I don’t have a menu yet but I’m working on getting one.

Beer Menu

Skull Crushing Ape– strong black wheat ale

Four Point Pale Ale– extra hoppy low gravity beer. The beer is slightly floral with a pleasant resinous note Scottish-style Wee Heavy “Kilt Flasher“- Deep rich dark brown ruby hued beer Vienna Lager- 2012 Gold World Beer Cup, 2012 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner, and 2009 Great American Beer Festival Silver Medal winner

8 Point IPA– American-style India Pale Ale, medium in body with intense hop flavor and aroma

Cost for the dinner will be $65/person plus tax and tip.  If you prefer not to wait for a menu, call the restaurant at (804) 288-8875 to RSVP.  Dinner starts at 6:30pm

Wednesday November 7th

Fat Dragon Virginia Beer Dinner — 6:30PM

Fat Dragon is not even open yet and they’ve already scheduled their first beer dinner.  Their Virginia Beer Dinner will be five courses featuring beers from Hardywood, O’Connor, and Starr Hill.  Cost for the dinner will be $45/person excluding tax and tip.  I will post a menu as soon as I receive it.

Thursday November 8th

Libbie Market Ridgefield — 7PM

Libbie is hosting a Fall Harvest Victory Beer Dinner benefiting the James River Association starting at 7PM.

MENU

Amuse
Mushroom Napoleon with Roasted Mushroom, Red Pepper, Peppered Asparagus, Cheese and Spinach Saute
Victory Prima Pils(German Pilsner)

First Course
Fall Harvest Salad with Mixed Mesclun Greens, Virginia Apples, Cranberries, Asiago & Pecans
Victory Headwaters Pale Ale(Am Pale Ale)

Second Course
Mixed Cheese Plate with Cheryl’s Libbie Market Selections
Victory Hop Devil(Am IPA)

Third Course
Libbie Market’s BBQ Glazed Atlantic Salmon with Chinese Short Ribs
Victory Hop Wallop ( American Double Imperial IPA)

Fourth Course
Libbie Market’s Chocolate Decadence
Victory Storm King Stout (Russian Imperial)

The cost  for the dinner $35/person.  Reservations will be required so call Libbie Ridgefield at (804)741-0063 or email jonathan.scott@libbiemarket.com to RSVP.

If you can’t attend the dinner, there will be a free pre-dinner tasting at 6PM featuring Otto in Oak, Dark Intrigue, Yakima Glory-just added and Ranch Double IPA.  Donations to the James River Association will  gladly be accepted.

Libbie Market Ridgefield
10470 Ridgefield Parkway
Henrico, VA 23233

Friday November 9th

TJ’s at the Jefferson — 7PM

TJs probably has the most interesting dinner concept of the week.  For their Whole Hog & VA Cask Beer Pig & Pins Dinner, Chef Patrick Ehemann has crafted a 5 course whole hog dinner to pair with cask beer from Mad Fox, O’Connor, Hardywood, Legend and Devils Backbone.

MENU

Family Style Appetizers
Poached Oysters & Lardo on Braised Collard Greens, BBQ’d Scrapple & Apples, Buffalo Spiced Pork Rinds
Mad Fox Mason’s Mild

Crispy Pigs Feet Confit with Shredded Root Slaw, Horseradish Pommery Vinaigrette
O’Connor Black Saison Dry Hopped with Amarillo Hops

Pastrami Style Pork Belly with Caraway Potato Puree, Brussels, Pulled Pork Hash, Dry Hopped Pig Tea
Legend Weizenbock

Molasses Glazed Pork Flank Steak with Braised Pork Shank Hominy, Fried Collard Greens
Devils Backbone Smokehouse Porter

Bacon Coconut Snowballs
Hardywood Park Milk Stout with Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Beans and Coconut

The cost for the dinner is $50/person plus tax and gratuity.  Call TJ’s at (804) 649-4672 or email jonathan.kibiloski@jeffersonhotel.com for more information or reservations.

TJ’s at the Jefferson
101 W. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 649-4672

Devils Backbone Striped Bass Pale Ale at Conch Republic Tonight

The only three kegs of Striped Bass Pale Ale from Devils Backbone will be tapped at a party tonight September 12th at Conch Republic. 

Devils Backbone founder Steve Crandall will be in attendance to present the Chesapeake Bay Foundation with a check for $30,000 to support their efforts to restore and protect clean water in Virginia’s streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.

The party starts at 6pm

Conch Republic Rocketts
11 Orleans St.
Richmond, VA 23231
(804) 226-6242

Striped Bass Pale Ale: Beer On A Mission

Two weeks ago, Devils Backbone tweeted this picture of a new beer they were bringing to market, Striped Bass Pale Ale.

Of course, I was ready to make a lame joke about bass per gallon ratios.  How was I to know the noble intentions behind the production of this beer?  Proceeds from the sale of this beer will benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

CBF endeavors to restore and protect clean water in Virginia’s streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay by actively working with the region’s landowners, businesses, residents, and local governments.

Devils Backbone founder Steve Crandall, an avid outdoors man,  conceived the  idea of Striped Bass Pale Ale on an island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay while fishing for stripers in near gale force winds.  He has teamed up with his distributors to actively contribute approximately $30,000 this year.   Devils Backbone’s commitment to clean water and a healthy environment leads it to share proceeds from the sale of its Striped Bass Pale Ale with CBF, whose mission to “Save the Bay” extends throughout the Bay’s watershed and into the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Richmond, here’s where you come in.  Look for 22oz bottles of Striped Bass Pale Ale to be for sale in stores around town starting this week .  Go buy yourself one, make that two and share one with a friend.

Want to experience the beer on tap?  Join Steve Crandall and members of the CBF at Conch Republic on September 12th at 6pm for a special party/check presentation where the only 3 kegs filled will be tapped.

Hope to see you at the party.

The Camel Goes All In For Virginia Beer Tap Takeover

The Camel is going all in for the start of the inaugural Virginia Craft Beer Month on Wednesday August 1st.  In what had to be an astounding task to coordinate, Virginia craft beer  will be flowing from all of their 28 taps.  This list is a sight to behold:

Williamsburg Alewerks Caledonia
Williamsburg Alewerks Springhouse Ale
Blue Mountain Dark Hollow
Blue Mountain Full Nelson
Blue Mountain Isabel
Blue Mountain Local Species
Bold Rock Virginia Apple Hard Cider
Brass Cannon Caliber Red Ale
Bull & Bones Maroon Effect Brown Ale
Devils Backbone 8-point IPA
Devils Backbone Azrael Golden Ale
Devils Backbone Vienna Lager
Hardywood Belgian IPA
Hardywood Bourbon Cru
Hardywood Hoplar
Hardywood Singel
Hardywood Virginia Strawberry
Legend Brown
Legend Saison
O’Connor Great Dismal Black IPA
Roanoke Railhouse Amber lager
Roanoke Railhouse IPA
Starr Hill Double Platinum
Starr Pils
Wild Wolf Alpha Ale
Wild Wolf Blonde Hunny Ale
Wolf Hills Imperial Stout
Wolf Hills Lonesome Pine Porter

Head out and try these beers while you can.

The Camel
1621 W Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 353-4901

Capital Ale House Anniversary Beer: Devils Temptation

Update: This just in from Taste the Local: Like Capital Ale House’s post on the Dinner with Devils Backbone event and you could win dinner for 4 with Brewmaster Jason Oliver at the Midlothian location.

I was hoping there would not be anything to tempt me to delay my trip up to Washington, DC today for Savor.  Enter another edition of Capital Ale House’s tenth anniversary beer series this Wednesday June 6th to dash that hope.  This time the beer is from World Beer Cup Gold Medalist Devils Backbone.

Ten Low (Lemongrass Oatmeal Wit). It is made with malted & un-malted wheat, pilsner malt, acidulated malt, flaked oats, German select hops, Belgian ale yeast, coriander, and lemongrass.

Head out to the nearest Cap Ale location for the tapping at 6pm.   Brewmaster Jason Oliver will be at the Midlothian location to tap the first keg.  As much as I’d like for you to save me some for when I get back into town, I doubt what will surely be an amazing beer will last that long. So enjoy!

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

Thoughts for Next Year’s VA Cask Festival

I attended the first Virginia Cask Festival this past Saturday, April 21st.  Arriving a bit late, the crowd was noticeably thin but buzzing excitement.  Everyone in the room was there for beer. I started out light with Devils Backbone’s Wit Bier then dived head first into Hardywood’s Bourbon Cru.  By all accounts, Hardywood’s Cru was a crowd favorite.  In addition to the Cru, Mad Fox’s Wee Heavy and Williamsburg Alewerk’s Choca-Latte were a malt lovers dream in a room of IPAs. I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Madden of Mad Fox for the first time and thanked him for bringing one of my personal favorites from the Falls Church brewery.  I will say the only beer I was disappointed with was O’Connor’s Great Dismal Black IPA.  Normally, a favorite of mine, something about the addition of coffee did not work for me.  On the other hand, I found Starr Hill’s Double Platinum quite enjoyable and balanced as it is normally too hoppy for me.

Turning thoughts to next year’s festival, there are a couple items that I think would make next year’s festival even better.

More Breweries

With only eleven breweries in attendance, it may have been difficult for people to justify the price of admission.  The festival was a fundraiser for the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild; breweries who were not guild members were rightfully not allowed to participate. So in order to grow the festival, more Virginia breweries need to join the guild.  VCBG has done a great job promoting craft beer in Virginia, most notably the passing of SB 604 which will allow breweries(member or not) to sell pints without having to server  food.

Location

If we are able to increase the number of breweries at the festival, it would most likely necessitate a larger venue. Capital Ale House’s Music Hall was the perfect size for this years festival but add another five or ten breweries in the mix and the room could feel cramped.  I think Kanawha Plaza would be a nice step up from the Music Hall plus Richmond loves an outdoor festival.

How can you help? Next time you visit a Virginia brewery ask if they are VCBG members.  If they say no, ask them why not.  If they say yes, thank them for making great beer here at home.

Virginia Cask Ale Festival Picks

Heading out to the inaugural Tap into Virginia Cask Festival today, Saturday, April 21st, at the Downtown Capital Ale House Music Hall. Here are my personal first six picks:

  • Hardywood Park Craft Brewery — Bourbon Barrel Quad Yes you could wait to get it next weekend but why wait?!
  • Mad Fox Brewing  — Wee Heavy Scotch AleNot available in Richmond; you’d have to drive up to NoVA to have anymore of their great beers.
  • Devils Backbone Brewing — 1)Wit Bier – 4.5% ABV, 15 IBU  Belgian-style witbier that is hazy straw in color, light in body, with a refreshing fruity spicy finish. Spiced with coriander, orange peel, szechuan peppercorn, and brewed with an aromatic Belgian yeast strain to create a complex yet delicate wheat ale.  2) White Stag IPA – 7.0% ABV, 50 IBU’s.  A wheat IPA that blends aspects of American IPA’s, British IPA’s, and wheat ales . Brewed with 4 types of malted & un-malted wheat, kettle hopped with both American and English hops, and dry hopped with East Kent Goldings to create a beer that’s uniquely its own. Choose between two Devils Backbone beers? Not going to happen.
  • O’Connor Brewing — Great Dismal Black IPA –  infused with “Old Havana Cuban Coffee Blend” from Virginia Espresso in Norfolk, chocolate and vanilla bean.  ABV- 8%. A personal favorite so of course it’s here.
  • Wild Wolf Brewing — Tom Tom Founders Festival Ale — White IPA with extreme citrus and tropical hop notes added to the flavor of a traditional belgian wit, dry hopped with a pound of cascade. The brew used more than 60 pounds of local VA wildflower honey.  70IBU 5.5% ABV White IPAs are a very new style so I’m looking forward to trying this one from another Nelson county brewery. 

Have fun out there!

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