Once known as RVA-B-Que, Richmond’s summer beer and barbecue festival returns this Sunday August 17th from Noon to 5pm as RVA BrewBQ at 17th Street Farmers’ Market. The new name changes the beer focus to our now eleven Richmond area breweries.
Beer samples are $2 each; full pours are $6.
Satisfy your thirst with these Richmond brews:
Ardent Craft Ales — Richmond
Center of the Universe — Ashland
Saison
Ray Ray’s Pale Ale
Honey Ginger
Oktoberfest
Extra Billy’s — Midlothian
Hardywood — Richmond
Double Deke Black IPA
Singel
My Only Weiss
Bohemian Pilsner
Isley Brewing — Richmond
Legend — Richmond
Blue Hefner Hefeweizen
Oktoberfest
Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter
Pilsner
Lickinghole Creek — Goochland
Midnight — Goochland
Creator Hoppelbock
Granite Oatmeal Stout
Saison
Virginia Midway
Rusty Beaver — Ladysmith
Strangeways — Richmond
Roy’s Big Bad Brown Ale
Albino Monkey
Bucktooth IPA
Woodbooger
Triple Crossing — Richmond
Saison
Kill the Lights Black IPA
All this local beer plus food from an array of Virginia barbecue producers including Richmond favorites like Halligan’s, Buz and Ned’s, Alamo, and Extra Billy’s.
Head over to the Facebook event for more information and take a look at the important reminders below.
Last week’s Capital Ale House National Beer Expo events were a lot of fun albeit with a few first year hiccups. All in all it was a great start to what I hope will come back bigger and better next year. Take a look at my photos for the various events I was able to attend.
Collabeerate at The Jefferson
Collabeerate Menu
Welcome Beer: cask conditioned Hardywood Cream Ale with Asian spices and fruit
Passed app: Takoyaki (octopus dumpling)
Passed app: tempeh mushroom taco
Passed app: mu shu duck taco
Joe Sparatta: Local Fluke Sashimi with Lychee-Jalapeno Granita, Ginger and Basil
Patrick Ehemann: Crispy Pastrami Pork Belly with Compressed Cantaloupe and Twice Cooked VA Peanuts, Arugula and Charred Shishito Vinaigrette
Tom Sullivan (Ardent Craft Ales) introduces Honey Ginger
Lee Gregory: Rice Crusted Mahi, with Charred Turnips, Radish, Bean Sprouts, and Basil in a Chili Pho Broth
Sara Ayyash: Golden Angels Apiary Honey and Roasted Banana Gateaux
CRAFT at Virginia War Memorial
DeFazio’s: Scotch Egg with Terrapin Hi-5 IPA
The Bruery Tart of Darkness & Terrapin Hi-5 IPA
Victory Wild Devil IPA
DeFazio’s: Mini Reuben with Victory Wild Devil IPA
Brookville Restaurant: Tomato & Duke’s Mayo Sammy with Sam Adams Tetravis
Brookville Restaurant: Chilled Gazpacho Shot with New Belgium Gruit
Brookville Restaurant: Melon Salad with Green Flash Hop Odyssey 30th Street Pale
There will be a variety of events centered around the National Beer Expo next week July 15th to 20th. Sorry, a break is just not in the cards if you were expecting to take things easy this weekend. You get delicious Virginia beer in return so you come out on top in the end.
Here are a few things to look forward to this weekend.
Strangeways will celebrate their one year anniversary with three brand new beers plus eighteen new curiosities all in three days starting Friday July 11th. There will be special bottle and draft releases for each day.
I really don’t think I need to say much more about this but Lickinghole Creek is releasing their rum barrel quad, Batchelor’s Delight, Saturday July 12th starting at 1pm. If you loved their Goochland Quad, then you will really want to get your hands on it after aging three months in Flora De Cana rum barrels Oh and there will be pirates.
Carytown Craft Beer Festival moves to The Diamond for its second year this Saturday June 7th from noon to 6pm. Tickets are $25/$50 (GA/VIP) in advance and include a souvenir pint glass (while supplies last) and unlimited sampling of over 40 different craft beers. VIP ticket holders will be able to start sampling an hour early (11am) and will have access to a separate tent to relax in throughout the day.
The 4th annual Virginia Hops & Barley Festival is this Saturday May 10th over at the Historic Malvern Farm in Midlothian. If you have not been to this festival before, you should grab some friends and check it out. Tickets are $20 in advance for general admission or $50 for VIP admission and can be bought here. Check out the festival’s Facebook page for more information.
Historic Malvern Farm
288 Hugenot Trail
Midlothian VA 23113
Where did the time go? It is time to celebrate three years of great beers, food, and everything in between. Here are just a few things that caught my eye this weekend.
Thursday April 24th
Devils Backbone Auster Brau Release at Rappahannock — 4PM
What is Auster Brau?
@rvabeermeister@dbbrewingco 5% Smoked Wheat Kolsch w/ Sorachi Ace hops, wanted a brew that paired well w/oysters and I think we nailed it.
If you live in Southside and have not check out Crossroads Forest Hill, then you are really missing out. One visit had me addicted to pistachios with my beer. Today, six of their sixteen taps are being takeover by Heavy Seas beers.
There will be glassware to steal with these beers on tap:
Black Cannon IPA
Riptide
Peg Leg
Small Craft Warning
Big DIPA
Loose Cannon IPA
Style Weekly is proud to bring you the city’s favorite celebration of earth day again this year. Musical entertainment from critically acclaimed local bands, tasty local food, eye-popping local art, thirst-quenching Virginia craft beers and more. In all, you can expect a beautiful day. And it’s FREE to attend.
If you’ve been to the festival in any of the past four years, we’ll be at the SAME GREAT LOCATION — in Manchester, from riverside through Plant Zero. The fun starts on the south of the 14th Street Bridge and continues from East 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th streets, from Hull to Decatur, including riverside and flood wall activities. Look for new activities on Mayo Island.
Benefitting FeedRVA, RVA Earth Day Festival will feature all nine local Richmond breweries with the following beers on tap.
Center of the Universe — Ashland
Hardywood — Richmond
Ray Ray’s Pale Ale
Singel
Main Street
Hoplar
Isley Brewing — Richmond
Legend — Richmond
The Bribe – Oatmeal Porter
Brown
Lickinghole Creek –Goochland
Maibock
Magic Beaver Pale Ale
Hopfest
Midnight — Goochland
Lager
Rockville Red
Strangeways — Richmond
Triple Crossing — Richmond
Albino Monkey
Falcon Smash IPA
Phantasmic IPA
Devils Backbone — Roseland
Bold Rock — Nellysford
Vienna Lager
Virginia Apple
Starr Hill — Crozet
RooStarr Coffee Cream Stout
Make sure to head over to the Legend Lounge to continue their 20th Anniversary Celebration and for a special treat. Legend Brewing will be the site of the official after-party from 7:30 – 11:30pm.
To celebrate the 3rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Beard & ‘Stache Championships, Hardywood and RVA Beard League created a small batch of bourbon barrel aged barleywine that they are releasing in capped and waxed limited edition 16oz growlers.
This Saturday April 12th RVA ROCK$ and Fetch-A-Cure present the first beer festival of the season with OnTap Beer Festivalon Mayo Island from Noon to 5pm. I would be going if I did not have out of town plans so I need you to do a little reporting for me.
First you will need tickets. Tickets are $25 (general admission) or $40 (VIP) if you buy online here. Ticket prices will go up at the door; $30 GA, $50 VIP.
Got your ticket? Your general admission tikcet gets you unlimited samples of 24 beers from Richmond breweries with live music and a selection of food trucks. Yes, you can buy a full pint for $6/7 but you can always go back and get another sample of a beer you really like. VIP admission will get you in at 11am plus a catered VIP section, preferred parking, and more. Designated drivers will be granted FREE admission.
Here are the participating breweries and the beers they will be serving:
Center of the Universe — Ashland
Extra Billy’s — Midlothian
Scotchtown
Citra Ass Down IPA
Ray Ray’s Pale Ale
My Only Weiss
Barrel Aged Scotchtown*
Hardywood — Richmond
Isley Brewing — Richmond
Singel
Scott’s Addition IPA
Hoplar
Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter
Brian’s Barrel Blend #4*
Legend — Richmond
Lickinghole Creek –Goochland
Hopfest
Magic Beaver Pale Ale
Maibock
Three Chopt Tripel
20th Anniversary Imperial Brown*
Saison*
Midnight — Goochland
Rusty Beaver — Ladysmith
Rockville Red Ale
Roy’s Big Bad Brown Ale
Not My Job Brown
Bucktooth IPA
Strangeways — Richmond
Triple Crossing — Richmond
Albino Monkey
Falcon Smash IPA — RVA debut!
Phantasmic IPA
Wampus Cat Triple IPA*
* = special limited beers
Music will be provided by DJ Carter Baldwin, The Big Payback, and The Downbeat Switch starting at 11am, Noon, and 3pm, respectively.
Thai Cabin, Halligan’s, Burgerworks, Mosaic, Kentico and Red Eye Cookie will be serving food.
Check the Facebook event and RVA ROCK$ page for more information and updates. So head out, drink some beers, snap some pics and have a good time.
BFM’s Jerome Rebetez and Mekong’s An Bui have been working very hard over the past year planning the blowout of birthday parties to celebrate turning forty. Best part is that you are all invited to the week long celebration. Head over to Mekong tonight Monday March 17th at 5pm for the start of the Festival of Forty.
Here are some of the special beers to be tapped for the event:
Single Barrel Bon Chien — 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Barrel
Single Barrel Bon Chien — 2010 Rum Barrel Bon Chien 2010
Bon Chien 2011
Bon Chien 2012
Pedro Jimenez Bon Chien
Bourbon Bon Chien
“We’re Turning 80” Bon Chien — An Mekong and Jérôme Rebetez blended on a getaway romantic night in Swiss Square Root 225 — saison
Square Root 225 Shiraz
Square Root 225 Cornalin
Square Root 225 Humagne Rouge
Square Root 225 with Apricot
B.A.T.S. — smoked beer
Barrel Aged B.A.T.S.
Cuvee du 7eme Zymotore
Oude Bruin — Jerome’s take on Flanders Sour Brown La Torpille — Brown ale
La Douze La Muele — hoppy golden ale with hint of sage Cuvee Alex le Rouge — Jurassian Imperial Stout La Mandragore — winter stout
Bon Bon — Bon Chien with Cacao nibs
Bon Berry — Bon Chien with Blackberry
Head over to the Facebook event for more information and updates.
I always have a tough time deciding when to take trips out of town. There is always something awesome going on. If you haven’t noticed, Virginia craft beer is better than it has ever been and shows no signs of slowing down. Sometimes you just need to get away so I’ll be off to Washington, DC to check out Bluejacket and their restaurant, The Arsenal. While I’m doing that, I’m going to need you to fill in for me at some events this weekend.
Center of the Universe First Anniversary
COTU is throwing a three day party to celebrate one year of great beer in Ashland. This all starts tonight Friday, November 15th at 4pm with the return of The Richard Imperial IPA. Originally released at their grand opening, Richard was the happy accident of COTU’s first brew on their system. A little off here, short some water there, and they were left with a double IPA very similar to Pocahoptas, but much stronger. COTU will also be tapping some “Barrel Aged wonders,” barrel-aged versions of a selection of COTU beers. Something Shiny will provide live music for the evening.
Saturday, the celebration resumes at 3pm with guest taps from Homefront IPA collaborating breweries. Left Hand, Cigar City, 21st Amendment, and Stone have provided 2 kegs of limited release beers. Enjoy music from The Hippy House Band and Chuck County.
Sunday, the party continues with music from The Royal We. and growler fills of all remaining guest taps. Football fans can enjoy the Redskins/Eagles game on COTU’s 22 foot screen in the back.
“There are a lot of people in Virginia, as well as around the country, that have helped us get to where we are today. This weekend is a celebration for them, and a thank you to our community and industry friends. Lets celebrate beer!” – Chris Ray, co-founder of Center of the Universe Brewing Company
Center of the Universe Brewing Company opened its doors in Ashland, VA on November 16th 2012. Brothers Phil and Chris Ray, who started as homebrewers turned their hobby into an obsession that is now a successful brewery in Virginia.
Hardywood Gingerbread Stout Release
Hardywood is releasing Gingerbread Stout Saturday November 16th at 2pm but the night before Mekong is hosting a pre-release party with some Hardywood beers that haven’t been seen in awhile.
Brian Barrel Blend #3
Heaven Hills Imperial Stout
Four Rose Imperial Stout
Bourbon Sidamo
Bourbon Cru
Hoplar
Raspberry Stout
Mocha Belgique
Virginia Blackberry
Quad
Andall Gingerbread Stout
If you’re looking to skip the lines during the party, Hardywood will be open 9 – 10:30PM Friday night for a pre-sale event for bottles (4 bottle/person limit) and other seasonal merchandise. The lines will be cut off at 10:30, and there will be no on-site consumption.
Lickinghole Creek Pumpkin Ain’t Easy Release & Farm Fest
LCCB is releasing the last pumpkin beer of the season Saturday, November 16th during a farm festival from 11AM to 8PM. Pumpkin Ain’t Easy features sugar pie pumpkins grown on LCCB’s farm. LCCB chose to omit the typical pumpkin pie spices in favor of their Belgian house yeast strain and German Tettnang and Hersbrucker hops.
The festival will feature a farmer’s market, artisan crafts (blacksmiths & gunsmiths), and children activities(bounce houses, a petting zoo, pony rides). Music will be provided by the ReVinyls, Barrelhouse, and Cashmere Jungle Lords.
Advance festival tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite here and include the following:
$5 advance entry ticket only/ $8 day of entry ticket only
Advance Purchase Only Brew Fest Ticket: $20 (Plus Fees) Good for entry to the vent, four 15 oz beer pours, an LCCB pint glass, access to farm and craft vendors, music, and activities. Discounted Brew Fest Tickets are only available online in advance. You must be 21 years of age or older to buy a this ticket. One ticket per person.
Rotary’s Brews for Charity is a local beer festival happening tomorrow, Saturday at Virginia Historical Society in order to raise money for non-profit organizations around the Greater Richmond Region. Rotary Club of Richmond has contributed over $300,000 to dozens of non-profits that work to improve the community over the last five years.
Tickets for the festival are available online here for $20/person (includes 2 drink tickets) or $10/person (non-drinking). Additional drink tickets are $5 each. I’m not sure if ticket prices will be increased at the gate so you should get tickets now.
Here are the beers to be served at the event.
Center of the Universe — Ashland
Bold Rock — Nellysford
Ray Ray’s Pale Ale
Virginia Apple
Main Street
Virginia Draft
Hardywood — Richmond
Legend — Richmond
Singel
Winter White
RVA IPA
Chocolate Porter
Lickinghole Creek — Goochland
Strangeways — Richmond
Magic Beaver Belgian Pale Ale
Wallonian Dawn Saison
Three Sheets ESB
Phantasmic IPA
Food Trucks
Paris Creperie
Pizza Tonight
Mosaic
Chupacabra
Meatball Company
Thai Wagon
Music
Tin Can Fish Band (11-1pm)
Starlighter Band (1-3pm)
The Taters (3-5pm)
Contact me at rvabeermeister@gmail.com to send recommendations on beers to try, places with a beer selection I should check out, or upcoming beer events.
Carytown Craft Beer Festival
Rotary’s Brews for Charity is a local beer festival happening tomorrow, Saturday at Virginia Historical Society in order to raise money for non-profit organizations around the Greater Richmond Region. Rotary Club of Richmond has contributed over $300,000 to dozens of non-profits that work to improve the community over the last five years.
Richmond Beermeister 