The first ever Virginia Craft Brewers Fest hits the concert grounds at Devils Backbone in Nelson Co, VA on Saturday August 25th. This will be the premier event of VA Craft Beer Month. You are going to want to go to this. For more information, check out the festival website and Facebook event.
There’s no shortage of awesome food and beer events happening this Sunday August 12th. The trick will be figuring out how to do them all.
RVA-B-Que — 17th St Farmer’s Market — noon – 6pm
Feed your local beer and barbecue addiction.
Legend Brewing Starr Hill Devils Backbone
Brown Ale Starr Pils Vienna Lager
Oak Aged Dopplebock Northern Lights IPA Azrael Belgian Golden
Oktobefest Belgian Dark Strong Ale of Fergus
Midnight Brewery Hardywood Brass Cannon
Rockville Red Singel Hazelnut Coffee Brown
Watermelon Lime Kolsch Belgian Double IPA Caliber Red Virginia Blackberry
Wolf Hills Brewing Bold Rock Bull and Bones
English Dark Mild Virginia Apple Cider Maroon Effect Brown
Nelson Sauvin Belgian Pale Lunch Pale Ale
Big Daddy Brewery Mad Fox Brewing James River
Black IPA Molotov Hoptail Double IPA Rock Island Red
Sunshine Belgian Wit Kolsch River Runner Bitter
O’Connor Brewing
El Guapo IPA
Red Nun Red Ale
All this local beer plus barbecue from over twelve of the best in RIchmond including the llikes of Halligans, Buzz and Ned’s, Alamo BBQ, and Ronnie’s.
Crab Freakout! — Pasture — 4pm until
Head over to Pasture for $2.50 crabs and $8 half pounds of steamed shrimp and Rappahanock oysters. The featured beers for the evening are both from Flying Dog: Gose (made with Old Bay) and Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout(Rappahanock oysters). Rappahanock oysters are my new obession so I will definitely be checking this out. It’s just a question of when.
‘And For The Last Course…..’ Pop-Up — Avalon — 5:30 – 9 (reservations recommended)
Richmond.com has the story on Chef Ethan “Knox” Vaughn’s last supper in Richmond. You just might want to check it out. I think I went to Avalon once for drinks but pretty sure I’ve never eaten there. Probably a shame if the brussel sprouts were as good as everyone claims.
Mekong continues their celebration of Virginia Craft Beer Month with a night dedicated to breweries belonging to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild. The Guild is the group responsible for leading the charge to get SB 604 passed so that you can go into local breweries like Hardywood and order a pint of beer. Mekong will be donating $500 to support the Guild’s future initiatives. Breweries representing the for the night are:
Hardywood Park — Richmond, VA
Legend — Richmond, VA
Starr Hill — Crozet, VA
Devils Backbone — Nelson Co, VA
O’Connor — Norfolk, VA
Blue Mountain — Afton, VA
Bold Rock — Nelson Co, VA
Wolf Hill — Abingdon, VA
Midnight — Goochland, VA
James River — Richmond, VA
So head out tonight Thursday August 9th starting at 4pm and support these wonderful local breweries.
Hardywood continues their celebration of Virginia Craft Beer Month with the official release of Virginia Blackberry today August 8th from 4 – 8pm. Yes, it has already been on tap at the brewery for a few days now but it will be the first time the beer has been given the randall treatment. I have the extreme honor of crafting tonight’s randall with blend of dark Belgian candi sugar, fresh lemon, and fresh purple basil from my garden.
Here’s more about the release from Hardywood’s Facebook page:
Hardywood Virginia Blackberry is a Belgian wheat beer brewed with over 1 lb. per gallon of fresh, local Agriberry CSA and Farm blackberries. Agriberry will be on hand with some of their latest harvest, The Official Gelati Celesti Ice Cream Makers will be serving up a special batch of Hardywood Virginia Blackberry ice cream, and Station 2will be grilling up some delicious burgers. Growlers and bottles will be available to take home.Look for Hardywood Virginia Blackberry later this week at Richmond’s best restaurants and beer stores.
Come on out and try this beer for the first time again.
How often do you get the chance to say you had a hand in helping to make a beer at your local brewery? That’s the idea behind Hardywood’s RVA IPA – The Community Hopped IPA. More from Hardywood:
In the spring of 2012, Hardywood kicked off a “Community Hopping Project” by giving out 1,000 hop rhizomes to local gardeners interested in growing hops and contributing to a commercially brewed beer. The project will culminate in this annual Hop Harvest Festival, where freshly picked local hops will serve as 100% of the hop bill of Hardywood’s RVA IPA. Given that most first year hop plants do not produce cones, the majority of the 2012 hop harvest will come from some more experienced local growers and a few progressive farmers who are working to bring hop growing back to Virginia.
Head out tomorrow Saturday August 4th from 2 – 8pm to see the hop bines come down and learn more about how hops go into making beer. No BS Brass, one of my favorite local bands, will knock the party into the stratosphere when they take the stage at 3:30. This is an event you are not going to want to miss. Learn more at the Facebook event here.
And if you’re a hop grower yourself, read this.
From Hardywood:
Calling all RVA hop growers!! The time has come for our inaugural Hop Harvest Festival. Bring in any freshly harvested hops (please note the varietals) to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery this Thu, Fri, or Sat from 9AM – 8PM and you’ll get:
- Your signature included in the first ever label for Hardywood RVA IPA, “the community hopped India Pale Ale”
- Invitation to private first tasting of RVA IPA to be held mid-September at Hardywood
- “I Grow Hops” sticker
Hardywood has a lot going on for the rest of the week. I’ve got the day by day rundown for you .
Wednesday August 1st
Over in Midlothian, Sedona Taphouse will be hosting a Hardywood tap takeover and glass giveaway. Co-founder Eric McKay and head brewer Brian Nelson will be hanging out as well.
Belgian DIPA
Hoplar
Singel
Virginia Strawberry
Pin of SB 604
Pin of Belgian-Style Witte with lemongrass and black peppercorn
Thursday August 2nd
Mekong kicks off VA Craft Beer Month with a bang with Gingerbread Stout, first blackberry sighting, and a variety of IPAs.
2011 Gingerbread Stout
Singel
Hoplar
Mocha Belgique
Bourbon Cru
Virginia Strawberry
Virginia Blackberry
Belgian IPA
SB 604
IPA aged in peach
Serrano Pepper IPA (by Rachael and Friends)
Super Dank West Coast Extra Pale IPA (by Nick Danger & Friends)
Mystery Pin of something excellent
Friday August 3rd
First Friday Firkin with Sean O’Hern
Sean O’Hern, from Commerical Tap House, created the inaugural firkin in Hardywood’s First Friday Firkin Series which will feature a firkin created by a different local beer enthusiast each month. Sean has selected a blend of sage, ginger and lemon zest to create an one of a kind version of Singel. A matching Randall will be on hand as well.
Wow, that’ was a lot to take in and there is still Saturday to deal with….
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
Cupboards bare, struggling to figure out what to cook or just plain too tired to care this morning? Then get a move on over to Secco Wine Bar because beer brunch is back today July 29th and returning the last Sunday of every month, at least for now.
Just take a look at the today’s brunch menu and tell me you’re not drooling. My top three choices are the steak, BLT, and of course, the blueberry pancakes. Whatever you get, it is sure to be outstandingly fresh, delicious, and making you pray to the beer gods to convince Secco to do this more than once a month. Say it with me now: Every week!
JULY BEER BRUNCH MENU
(available 11AM – 3PM)
Grilled flat iron steak, salsa verde, poached eggs and hash browns
Prosciutto and melon with blackberries and mint
Quiche with Maryland blue crab, corn and fresh chives
House-made brioche, peach-cava preserves and whipped butter
Heuvos rancheros with cilantro crema (option to add braised pork shoulder)
Stack of blueberry pancakes with house smoked bacon and hash browns
BLT – House-smoked bacon, butter lettuce, heirloom tomato and avocado mayo with hand-cut fries
Curried egg salad sandwich with fried onions and hand-cut fries
Border Springs Farm lamb burger, feta, harissa yogurt and red onion with hand-cut fries
Field green salad, cucumbers, pine nuts, chevre, smoked salmon, za’atar
Featured Beers
Hardywood Virginia Strawberry
Belgian-style White ale brewed with fresh local strawberries 5.8% ABV
Potter’s Craft Cider
Farmhouse-style hard cider made using local Virginia apples and traditional production methods.
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
Were you excited to learn this years Hardywood Gingerbread Stout will be released November 17th? Or were you bummed once you realized how far away November is? Don’t worry Richmond, there are at least two places serving up Gingerbread in the next week. You’re first chance is TODAY!
Friday July 27th
Commercial Taphouse will be tapping a keg of Gingerbread Stout at 4:30pm. Rachel and Kenzie from Hardywood will be there handing out swag.
Thursday August 2nd
Mekong will have a keg as part of their first event for Virginia Craft Beer Month. I’ll have more on that later.
Richmond, go out and get your GBS on!
Richmond Beermeister 