The inaugural National Beer Expo will takeover Richmond next week from Tuesday July 15th to Sunday July 20th.  There are so many great events to choose from I had trouble even picking for myself which events to attend.  If you go to only one event, it has to be the Grand Tasting on Saturday July 19th with over 150 craft beers to sample; take look at the full list here.  VIP admission gets you in an hour earlier plus a few exclusive tastes for $50 versus $39.50 for general admission. Check out the main ticket page for combo options to save some money.

You can use the Pombe app to plan out your tasting.

If you want to go a bit more in depth, try on these events for size:

Tuesday July 15th

Ultimate Kickoff Party at Mekong — 5PM — $39

It’s the food you’ve come to love at Mekong with beers selected by An Bui. This is a no-brainer and a great deal at $39/person.  Here’s just a sampling of beers and appetizers to enjoy:

Beers
Triple Crossing/The Answer Brewpub Street Creds Double Session IPA (Mekong exclusive!)
Blue Mountain Hopwork Orange IPA
Boulevard Saison Brett
Three Brothers VA Wild Blend
Stillwater Gose Gone Wild
St Bernadus Extra 4
Strangeways Uberlin Berliner Weiss
Victory White Monkey

Heavy Appetizers
Crispy Spring Rolls
Soft Spring Rolls
Rocket Shrimps
Toasted Shrimps
Dumplings
Banh Xep
Goi Ga
Mekong Famous Wings

Wednesday July 16th

Collabeerate at the Jefferson Hotel — 6PM — $66

There is no menu just yet for this dinner at the Jefferson but I have never been disappointed by the dinners at TJ’s with Patrick Ehemann.  Diners will be in for a treat when Joe Sparatta and Lee Gregory join him in the kitchen.

UPDATE: The menu is in and looks delicious.  Take a look.

MENU

Welcome
Collaborative Pin of Hardywood Asian Cream Ale Shandy
Passed Hors (chefs choice)

1st course
Hardywood Hoppy American Summer Wheat
Local Fluke Sashimi with Lychee-Jalapeno Granita, Ginger and Basil

2nd Course
Legend Barrel Aged Imperial Brown Ale
Crispy Pastrami Pork Belly with Compressed Cantaloupe and Twice Cooked VA Peanuts, Arugula and Charred Shishito Vinaigrette

3rd Course
Ardent Craft Ales Honey Ginger Ale
Rice Crusted Mahi, with Charred Turnips, Radish, Bean Sprouts, and Basil in a Chili Pho Broth

4th Course
Isley Brewing Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter
Golden Angels Apiary Honey and Roasted Banana Gateaux

Craft “The Movie” at Capital Ale House Downtown — 8PM — $10

If I were not already attending dinner at the Jefferson, this movie would be my next pick for the night.  Yes, there is no beer included in the $10 ticket but at that price you can choose from any of Capital Ale House’s beer and learn about the people making the industry.

Take a look at the trailer.

Thursday July 17th

CRAFT at Virginia War Memorial — 5:30PM — $60

Enjoy the back drop of the Virginia War Memorial as you take part in this beer and food pairing event.  There will be 20+ small plate items, each paired with at least two delicious craft beers (25+ craft beers for your enjoyment). Your ticket purchase includes unlimited beer tastings and food.

Here are some of the more interesting beer from the list:

Allagash Golden Brett
Devils Backbone Tectonic Barleywine
Evil Twin Nomander Weisse
New Belgium Gruit
Lonerider Addies Revenge
Lost Rhino Genus Loci Brew
Strangeways Placebo Pils
Three Brothers Wild Virginia Blend
Triple Crossing Falcon Smash IPA

UPDATE: Here is the full menu with the chefs and their beer pairings.

MENU

Brookville Restaurant (Chef Harrison Keevil)
Chilled Gazpacho Shot
New Belgium Gruit

Mini Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Parkway Factory Girl IPA

Melon Salad
Green Flash Hop Odyssey 30th Street Pale

Tomato & Duke’s Mayo Sammy
Sam Adams Tetravis

DeFazio’s Catering (Chef Joe DeFazio)
Arizona Rattle Snake Eggs: Jalapeño peppers stuffed with roasted garlic, cream cheese, and crispy pancetta and broiled
Smartmouth Rule G IPA & Lonerider Cowboy in Black IPA

Mini Rueben: Lean corned beef, layered with Russian dressing, sauerkraut, on rye bread.
Victory Wild Devil IPA

Pepperoni Rolls: Peasant style sweet dough stuffed with imported pepperonis and banana peppers sprinkled with sea salt and Romano cheese.
Evil Twin Nomader Weisse & Blue Mountain Local Species

Roasted-Pepper Pasta Salad: Rigatoni pasta, tossed with roasted red and yellow peppers, bocconcini (small mozzarella bites) and toasted almonds, basil, flat leaf parsley, and Extra virgin olive oil.
Strangeways Placebo Pils & Devils Backbone Tectonic Barleywine

Scotch Egg: Hard-boiled egg wrapped in seasoned sausage, rolled in panko bread crumbs oven roasted. Served with basil aioli or hot sauce
Blue Mountain Sour Banshee & Terrapin Hi-5 IPA

Patina ( Chef Mike Ladesma)
Beer braised kalbi short ribs
Three Brothers Wild Virginia Blend & Legend Crim Dubbel

Local Berry Trifle
Sierra Nevada Single Hop Harvest

Smoked tomato crab compote crostini
Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

Watermelon salad with cured salami and feta
Boulevard Saison Brett & Lost Rhino Wandering Belgian

Savory Grain (Chef Sean Murphy)
Dry Rubbed & Grilled Chicken Wings, finished with Savory Grain’s signature house BBQ glaze
Triple Crossing Falcon Smash IPA & Hardywood Bohemian Pils

Marinated Kale Salad, marinated in a white balsamic berry vinaigrette, infused with Hardywood Virginia Blackberry; with pickled carrots, heirloom tomatoes, goat cheese & toasted almonds
Hardywood Virginia Blackberry

Salted Caramel Popcorn & Peanut Clusters
Allagash Golden Brett & Maine Mean Old Tom

Shaved Beef Skewer, medium rare, with globe grape and bleu cheese crumbles
Wild Wolf Area 151 & Highland Razor Wit

Zucchini Beer Bread with honey butter
Lickinghole Creek Bourbon Barrel Tripel

Friday July 18th

Taco Throwdown — 5:30PM — $39.50

Love tacos? Love beer? Well, I guess you could say they go hand in hand.  Try these tacos on for size and wash them down with over 30 craft beers to sample.

Restaurants
Boka Tako Chorizo and onion on a toasted tortilla. topped with napa cabbage, farm cheese, fig ginger compote, chipotle vinaigrette , sage-goat crema, and a sweet soy drizzle.
Aramark  Fresh smoked bbq pork with a cilantro pesto flour tortilla and black beans, blue cheese and blackened slaw
Estilo Veggie Taco: roasted vegetables, fire roasted poblano, pepitas, pickled onion, cancha & crema
Mezzanine Tempura avocado taco with sweet chili and a braised short rib taco. Cabbage, salsa fresca and white sauce for both.
India K’Raja  Indian Veggie Taco: Fresh yellow corn tortillas stuffed with chickpeas & spinach filling topped onions, tomatoes and special India K’ Raja’s salsa.
Capital Ale House Fresh Rockfish grilled and topped with cilantro-lime slaw, pineapple salsa and Ancho chipotle sauce in a freshly fried tortilla
Culinard Saison Braised Pork Carnitas on Blue Corn Tortilla with Mango-Jicama Slaw and Queso Fresco
Casa Del Barco Pork Chili Verde Tacos, with Cotija Cheese, Grilled Cactus & Corn Salsa, Pickled Radish Salad
Savory Grain Crispy Pork Taco, Tossed in a Hoisin BBQ sauce and topped with an Asian Slaw
Cha Cha’s Cantina Chicken tacos with delicious chorizo & portabella, topped with sprinkled goat cheese. And of course lettuce & fresh pico!

Beers
Allagash James Bean
Dogfish Head Kvasir
Green Flash Road Warrior
Highland Little Hump
Starr Hill Soul Shine Belgian Pale
Strangeways Wake Up Before You Gose
Sweetwater Waterkeeper
Terrapin Rye Cubed
Wild Wolf Kick It Hunny

Saturday July 19th

Summer Harvest Lunch at Saison — 11AM — $45

Join Chef Adam Hall and Jay Bayer for an extraordinary local food and craft beer lunch as you prepare for the upcoming Walk-Around Grand Tasting just blocks away at the convention center.

Enjoy Saison’s own interpretation of New Southern Food, which arose from Adam and Jay’s travels through Central America and the Southern U.S. Saison has been garnering awesome reviews for the classic techniques they have applied to the creative dishes they turn out featuring seasonal flavors and cuisine that reflect both a traditional and modern culinary sensibility.

You will be able to enjoy this lunch and take a leisurely walk to the convention center for the Walk-Around Grand Tasting (ticket sold separately).

MENU

1st Course
Melon Gazpacho, Fried Okra, Squash Blossom, Chili Oil
Hitachino Nest Anbai Plum Weizen

2nd Course
House Tasso, Fried Shrimp, Grits, Tomato Gravy
Port City Derecho Common Ale

3rd Course–
Habanero Fried Cornish Game Hen, Pickled Watermelon, Blue Basil
Off Color Apex Predator

4th Course
Honey Roasted Peaches, Graham Sable, Vanilla-Hefeweizen Sabayon
Epic Brainless on Raspberries 

Sunday July 20th

Virginia Brewers’ Brunch at Estilo — 10AM — $40

Join us at Estilo for a creative, multi-course brunch made from locally sourced ingredients and paired perfectly with a delicious flight of craft beers. You don’t have to be a champion to enjoy the adventurous comfort food and delicious libations you’ll gobble down in this sleek, indie-inspired establishment.

The “Brewer’s Brunch” will be a private event held at Estilo (7021 Three Chopt Rd. in the Village Shopping Center). The brunch will put two of Richmond’s favorite things together – BEER & BRUNCH! It will highlight the sweet & the savory side of Richmond’s favorite hungover breakfast treats while pairing all Virginia beers. A representative from each brewery will be present. 4oz. tastings of each brew are included in the brunch, and full size beers will be available for purchase.

MENU

Mocha Scone
Starr Hill Brewery – GAVA Joe, Belgian-style Espresso Stout

Omelet of cured chorizo, cilantro, goat cheese with a ginger hollandaise and potato latke
Strangeways Brewing  – Wake Me Up Before You Gose

Jalapeno breakfast sausage hushpuppy
O’Connor Brewing Co. – Spyhop Infused White India Pale Ale

Pecan bacon pancakes with blueberry butter
Three Brothers Brewing – Vicious Appetite Series Vol. 1, Eight Bells