Tag Archives: VA Beer

Show Garden Grove Some Love This Valentine’s Day

Head over to Garden Grove Brewing in Carytown today Saturday February 14th for their grand opening as the 100th Virginia brewery.

Here is what they will have on tap for the grand opening starting at noon:

The Farmhouse — Belgian Saison (ABV 6%;  IBUs 36;  O.G. 1.052;  12oz $6)
A delicious blend of fruit and spice on a barley, wheat, and rye base. This ale cherishes and toys with the Saison tradition.

The Knight — Belgian Triple (ABV 9.1%;  IBUs 32;  O.G. 1.080;   10oz $7)
Esters and Phenols take flight at 9.1% ABV with the right amount of malt character to keep it grounded.

Southern Hemi India Pale Ale  (ABV 7.1%;  IBUs 60;  O.G. 1.068;   12oz  $7)
This IPA featuring hops entirely from New Zealand and Australia introduces a fruit forward hop character completely unique from West Coast, East Coast, and British IPAs.  The malt character is rich yet the beer is still dry and crisp ensuring that the hops are the star attraction.

Ronnie’s Red Ale  (ABV 6.8%;  IBUs 56;  O.G. 1.065;   12oz $6)
Our British red ale is an exercise in malt and hop excess.  The malt and hop characters are in a battle to be the stars.

Carytown Brown  (ABV 5.6%;  IBUs 36;  O.G. 1.054;   12oz $5)
A British style brown with an American twist.  Clean, drinkable with a restrained bitterness but quite rich in caramel, chocolate, and nuts. Nutella and peanut butter on toast.

Solera Stout (ABV 8%;  IBUs 58;  O.G. 1.072;   10 oz $6)
We aim to have an ever evolving complex Imperial Stout reminiscent of a fine port by using the Solera System.  We generally blend in up to 10% of older vintages of our Imperial Stout into the most recent batch in the fermenter.

Honey Sparkler (ABV 8%;  IBUs  0;  O.G. 1.066;   10oz $7)
A confused soul that is reminiscent of a fine sparkling wine.  Our Sparkler is formulated with white sorghum, orange blossom honey and finished with a touch of the French hop variety Strisselpalt to heighten the fruity aromas. Great acidity, effervescence, fruit, and delicious honey flavors make it thirst quenching. Gluten Free.

Take a look inside the brewery from my time during the soft opening.

Check out Garden Grove’s Facebook event for more details on the grand opening.

Garden Grove Brewing Company
3445 W Cary St
Richmond, VA 23221

Don’t Miss Hardywood Milkman & Cigar City Milkmaid Collaboration Release Saturday

Hardywood Milkman Cigar City MilkmaidHardywood and Cigar City have joined forces to create two original milk stouts — Milkman and Milkmaid.

With its full body, palate coating viscosity, and a hefty 13.5% ABV, The Milkman is a beer to be reckoned with. Heaps of chocolate malts and a massive addition of gourmet cocoa nibs meld with a generous dose of milk sugar to satisfy the biggest chocolate craving. Available on draft at the brewery and in 750mL bottles to go (limit 2 bottles per guest, no growler fills).

The Milkmaid displays a copper to amber color, surprising and delighting your olfactory senses and tastebuds with the unmistakable roasted and chocolate notes of a stout. Cocoa nibs from Ghana and Ecuador impart hints of espresso and roast, while a unique combination of hop varieties adds layers of dark chocolate and licorice. 7%ABV Available in 750mL bottles to go only (limit 2 bottles per guest).

These stouts will be available for the first time anywhere Saturday January 24th starting at 2pm. A sweeping lineup of Hardywood and Cigar City beers will join these two new stouts to create an event not to be missed.

Check out the tap list and locations as detailed by Hardywood.

Get Stung By Virginia Stingo At Strangeways This Weekend

This has to be the strangest video for a beer release yet.

How did Strangeways come up with the name Virginia Stingo?

The name Stingo, derived from a fashionable slang word in the 1700’s for a strong or old English ale, likely comes from the sharp or “stinging” flavor arising from this barrel-aged style of beer. Gigantic amounts of malt were split between two separate mashes, and then blended back into the kettle to provide an extremely solid backbone into which dark candi syrup and coconut sugar were intertwined. Virginia Stingo then spent nine months maturing in oak barrels that originally housed red wine from Virginia’s Horton Vineyards. The result is a big, boozy, yet balanced ale, meant to be sipped and savored like a fine red wine.

http://instagram.com/p/vMekHCDUIg/

You can get stung by this British invasion starting today Friday November 14th starting at noon.  Check out the Facebook event for more information and updates.

RVA Beer Week 2014: Tap Takeovers, Pub Crawls & Tappings

Join in on the yearly celebration of Richmond’s craft beer scene during RVA Beer Week (November 1 – 9).

All Week

The Cask Cafe Turns 1!

Join Cask in celebrating a phenomenal first year. Draft and growler specials, rare beer tappings, pub crawls, tap invasions and more!

Monday Nov 3rd — Brewer’s Parade 
Hardywood Rye Pumpkin
Ardent Craft Ales  VA Common
Strangeways Soledad
Triple Crossing Liberty or Death Porter
Lickinghole Creek Gentleman Farmer
Legend Winter White Ale

Tuesday. Nov 4
Tapping BFM Grand Cru aged in French Champaign Barrels!

Wednesday, Nov 5 — Brews Cruise
https://www.facebook.com/events/1499286323681709/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Thursday, Nov 6 — Lickinghole Creek Tap Invasion
VA Black Bear
Rosemary Saison
Goochland Quad

Monday November 3rd

RVA Brewers Parade — 5:30PM
Richmond’s local breweries have united in a show of support for restaurants in the Fan and Carytown for the second annual RVA Brewers Parade.  Want to join them? Meet up with the crew from Hardywood, LCCB, Midnight, Triple Crossing, and Extra Billy’s in the Fan starting at Postbellum. Meanwhile COTU, Ardent, Rusty Beaver, Strangeways, Isley, and Legend will hit the streets of Carytown starting at Weezie’s Kitchen. Each group will get started around 5:30 and stay at each location for about 30 minutes.

Here are the routes they will be taking before meeting back up at Cask to head over to Commercial Taphouse together:

The Fan
Postbellum
Bellytimber
Joe’s Inn
Social 52

Carytown
Weezie’s Kitchen
Can Can Brasserie
Mellow Mushroom
Daily Kitchen & Bar

Tuesday November 4th

Devils Backbone Takeover at Portrait House — 4PM
Portait House hosts a total tap takeover with Devils Backbone. They have helped change the landscape for Virginia beers since their opening in 2008. Each of Portrait’s 24 taps will be pouring a unique offering. Go sample some familiar beers, as well as ones not seen often in Richmond.

Vienna Lager
Gold Leaf Lager
Pear Lager
Schwartz Bier
8 Point IPA
Striped Bass Pale Ale
Pumpkin Hunter
Azrael Golden Strong Ale
Kilt Flasher Wee Heavy
Dark Abby
Turbo Cougar
Ofest
Trail Angel
Spider Bite
Marsedon Quad
Dead Bear
1887 Stout
Ginger Lager
Skull Crushing Ape
Smokehaus Lager
Pilot Brau Pils
Ale of Fergus
3 Ridges Triple
Brew Ridge Hop Revival

They’ll also have 4 tickets to give away to the showing of The Big Lebowski at the Byrd Theater on Friday, November 7th hosted by Center of the Universe.

Portrait House
2907 W Cary St
Richmond, VA 23221

Wednesday November 5th

Honey Ginger Farewell Party at Ardent Craft Ales — 4PM

Get your Honey Ginger while you still can…

Brews Bike Cruise — 5:30PM

Join Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Legend Brewing Company, andSTRANGEWAYS BREWING for a Brews Cruise through Carytown and The Fan!

At 5:30pm, pick up a map at Agee’s Bicycles and cruise right over to Portrait House. Beers start pouring at 6:00pm.

6:30pm: Bike to 821 Cafe
7:15pm: Bike to Postbellum
8:00pm: Hit the last stop, Cask Cafe, for a chance to win some exclusive brewery swag!

Bike reflectors are required!

Biking Brews Cruise RVA Beer Week 2014-1

 

Thursday November 6th

Legend & Starr Hill Collaboration Celebration — 5:30PM

Legend Brewing Company & Starr Hill Brewing Company come together to release a collaboration beer called HooVale!

The beer gets its name from the urban legend that argues Charlottesville was the inspiration for Dr. Seuss’s children’s book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Continental Divide Richmond will be cooking up some great and well paired specials as well as the classics.

Part of Legend’s “Urban Legend Series,” HooVale is a Spiced Holiday Ale. Also on Tap:
Legend Winter White
Legend Brown
Starr Hill Gava Joe Belgian Espresso Stout
Starr Hill Grateful Pale Ale

Continental Divide Richmond
2501 W Main St
Richmond, VA 23220

AW Shucks Country Store Third Anniverary  with Three Brothers & Triple Crossing — 6PM

 

Friday November 7th

The Big LeBYRDski by Center of the Universe  at The Byrd — 7PM
Center of the Universe and The Byrd Theater Foundation present “The Big LeBRYDski.” There are a lot of ins, a lot of outs, and a lot of what have yous but all proceeds will benefit The Urban Achievers The Byrd Theater Foundation.

Will you watch The Big Lebowski at the Byrd Theater? Yes.
While having a beverage? El Duderino and other COTU brews.
Will the money you spend go to The Byrd Theater foundation? 100% – this is no ringer dudes.

The Big LeBYRDski

Date: November 7th
Time: Doors Open at 7:00pm
Movie starts at 8:00pm

Tickets
$10 + applicable fees in advance through eventbrite here.
Advanced ticket sales will end at 12:00am on November 6.
$15 at the door starting at 7:00pm on November 6.

*Ticket includes admission into the theater as well a 1 beer token to be redeemed for a glass of El Duderino.

THIS IS NOT NAM. THERE ARE RULES.

  • This is a 21 and up event. Only those with a VALID ID will be permitted into the building. No 8 year olds, dude. This goes for advance ticket sales as well. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  • Only a token can be redeemed for a glass of El Duderino. No cash sales. Other COTU beers will be available for purchase from the concession area.
  • No outside food or alcohol permitted.
  • The Byrd Theater only accepts cash. There is a cash machine in the building.
  • No refunds. No re-entry.
  • The Byrd Theater reserves the right to not serve intoxicated patrons. The Byrd Theater also reserves the right to remove from the premise any person who is causing a disturbance, without a refund.

Saturday November 8th

IPA All Day! at Ardent Craft Ales — Noon

Gingerbread Stout 2014 Release at Hardywood — 2PM

And now you can get it in a can…

RVA Beer Week 2014: Beer Dinners & Food Pairings

The yearly celebration of Richmond’s burgeoning craft beer scene is here as RVA Beer Week  runs November 1 – 9. Here are a few options if you would like to eat your way through the week..

Monday November 3rd

Sam Adams Beer Dinner at Maggiano’s — 6:30PM

Check out the menu for this Sam Adams Beer Dinner at Maggiano’s in Short Pump.  I don’t have the exact cost for this dinner but past dinners have been $65/person including tax and tip. Call the restaurant at (804) 253-0910 for more information and to reserve your spot.

Maggiano's Beer Dinner Menu

Tuesday November 4th

Smartmouth Beer & Food Pairings at Urban Tavern — 6PM

Head up to The Urban Tavern as they sample four Smartmouth beers and pair them with Tim Bereika’s food.  Call the restaurant to reserve your spot.

Smartmouth Urban Tavern Tasting 110414-3

Wednesday November 5th

Bites & Flights at Toast & Estilo — 5PM

Join Estilo & Toast RVA as we celebrate RVA Beer week by featuring a flight from some of our favorite breweries, paired with delicious bites from Executive Chef Ian!

4 beers & 4 bites at each restaurant!

Estilo Menu

Candied Pumpkin Quesadilla
Three Brothers Fairground Fall Ale

Chicken Mole Taquito
Devil’s Backbone: Coco Danzig Baltic Porter

Buffalo Sope
Terrapin: Hopzilla

Pepita Brownie with ginger blood orange glaze
Champion: Blood Red Hibiscus Hefeweizen

Toast Menu

Green Tomato Bruschetta
Champion: Tart Berliner Weisse

Citrus & Sambal Chicken Wing
Devil’s Backbone: Bravo 4pt

Savory Cheesecake with balsamic pears & goat cheese
Terrapin: So Fresh & So Green, Green

Salted Caramel Espresso covered Cherries
Three Brothers: Dear Watson

Featured Beers
Bravo 4pt & Coco Danzig from Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Tart Berliner Weisse and Blood Red Hibiscus Hefeweizen from Champion Brewing Company
So Fresh & So Green Green and Hopzilla from Terrapin Beer Co.
TBD – Three Brothers Brewing

Only $40 (plus tax & gratuity) to sample all 8 bites & beers

Estilo
7021 Three Chopt Rd
Richmond, VA 23226

RVA Beer Week 2014: Festivals

Join in on the yearly celebration of Richmond’s craft beer scene during RVA Beer Week (November 1 – 9).  Since everyone knows Richmond loves festivals, here are couple festival and tasting events to check out.

Sunday November 2nd

Autumn Bottom Brews — 12 – 5PM

Enjoy Virginia’s finest craft beers at the 4th Annual Autumn Bottom Brews festival Sunday November 2nd from 12-5pm at the historic 17th Street Farmers’ Market. Autumn Bottom Brews brings together Virginia’s top breweries for a day of full of food, drink, music and fun. You’ll find special limited release seasonal beers from 18 different Virginia breweries including:

Apocalypse – Lustful Maiden
Ardent – IPA
Bold Rock – VA Apple Cider
Center of the Universe – Monkey’s Uncle
Devils Backbone – Schwartz Bier
Extra Billy’s – Hoptrick
Hardywood – Pils
Isley – Stunt Dubbel Pumpkin
Legend – Winter White
Lickinghole Creek – Gentleman Farmer
Midnight – Not My Job Brown Ale
O’Connor – Great Dismal Black IPA
Rusty Beaver – Roy’s Big Bad Brown
Starr Hill – Starr Pils
Strangeways – Phantasmic IPA
Sunkey City – Steamboat
Three Brothers – Festbier
Triple Crossing – IPA

Beer samples are just $2 each, so you’ll be able to taste them all! Full pours will also be available for $6. Cash or credit will be accepted and there’s an ATM on site. Autumn Bottom Brews is the best place to discover your new favorite Virginia craft beer!

Some of Richmond’s favorite restaurants and food trucks will be here too, with fresh local offerings that pair perfectly with your favorite brew:

River City Wood Fire Pizza – freshly baked wood fire pizza with choice of toppings
Halligan’s – pulled pork & chicken barbecue sandwiches and platters
The Savory Grain – Dry Rub Roasted Chicken Wing with house BBQ beer glaze; plus spinach, artichoke & beer dip with tortilla chips
The Boardwalk – Hot dogs, hamburgers and cheesesteaks

Enjoy live music throughout the day from some of Richmond’s best musical talent including The Sweater Band (12-2pm) and Andrew Alli & the 5th Street Hospital Band (3-5pm).

While you’re here, get an early start on your holiday shopping at our expanded craft & fresh food market featuring local art, clothing, jewelry, gourmet snacks and more.

The 4th Annual Autumn Bottom Brews festival comes to the historic 17th Street Farmers’ Market in Shockoe on Sunday, November 2 from 12pm to 5pm. Admission is free, food and beverages available for purchase. Produced by The Enrichmond Foundation and sponsored by Brown Distributing and the Friends of 17th Street Farmers’ Market. See you there!

Saturday November 8th

Beer Extravaganza at Southern Season — 2 – 5PM

Head over to Southern Season Saturday, November 8th from 2-5 pm for their Beer Extravaganza. There will be various local and national craft breweries, and cideries to sample as well as food vendors, home brew accessory vendors, and live music. They will also have a “Sip From the Porron” area where for $1 donation to Share the Food, you can try your hand at drinking Spanish cider from the porron, a traditional Spanish pitcher. Giveaways will be done periodically over the three hour time period and the winners of the home brew contest will be announced at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Beer Vendors
New Belgium
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery
Foothills
Triple Crossing
Devils Backbone
Legend
Strangeways
Center of the Universe
Alewerks
Champion
Bells
Roanoke Valley Imports

Food Vendors:
Pennacook Peppers
Jerry’s Backyard BBQ
Mad Hatter Hot Sauce
Carriage House
Whitley Peanuts
Virginia Diner Peanuts
Plantation Peanuts
Sweet Sour and Salty Co.
Bone Doctors BBQ Sauce
Chad’s Popcorn

You can buy your ticket online here.

Southern Season
2250 Staples Mill Rd
Richmond, VA 23230

Isley Brewing Company Celebrates First Birthday Today

With the pumpkin festival and Hardywood’s Third Anniversary, Scott’s Addition is obviously the place to be today Saturday October 25th.  There is always room for more, right?

Take a break from the festival and head over to Isley Brewing and relax in their spacious taproom as they throw their First Birthday Bash from noon until whenever the party ends. They will be pouring tastes of Drunkin Punkin, a bourbon aged pumpkin beer. James River Cellars and Blue Bee Cider will be joining in on the fun as special vendors.

Here is Isley’s taplist from Trinkin.com as of this morning:

Blue Hefner — Blueberry Hefeweizen
Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter
Mimomo Imperial Stout
Off The Boulevard Irish Red Ale
Rye Me A River
Scott’s Addition IPA
Sour Relationship By Blue Hefner
Tall, Dark & Hopsome Black IPA
The Bribe Porter
You Had Me At Hello Hefeweizen

Live music will start at 2pm with Chris Buerkley and The People’s Key. Sammich, BoDillaz, and River City Wood Fire Pizza will be serving food through out the day. Try your hand at answering trivia questions or take a chance on the raffle to win prizes.

If nothing else, you should go to hang out with the River City Beer Betties.

Isley Brewing Company
1715 Summit Ave
Richmond, VA 23230

All Good Things Come In Threes. Hardywood’s Third Anniversary Party Is Saturday

Hardywood 3rd annivIt 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!

image

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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/ucLxPuTa7I/

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.

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