With this April/May issue, we are celebrating our fourth anniversary of Virginia Craft Beer Magazine. We’re using the occasion to expand our distribution to reach 80,000 people in print, and in the process turn all of these folks, their friends, family and associates into fans of the Commonwealth’s dynamic locavore culture — especially craft beer.
While our state tourism motto is “Virginia is for lovers,” you can insert so many great things into the slogan and have it ring true — Virginia is for craft beer lovers, surfing lovers, BBQ lovers, mountain biking lovers, bluegrass lovers, corn hole lovers. It’s a beautiful thing this state of ours.
A great way to taste many of these “made in Virginia” products and experience the diverse array of outdoor activities is by attending some of the hundreds of festivals and events occurring this spring and summer throughout the Commonwealth.
Each April, we devote a significant amount of space in this magazine to an extensive region-by-region list of the many warm season festivals. We compile the list as a resource guide so our readers can make plans to enjoy the weather, explore both their own backyard as well as cities, towns, and in-the-middle-of-nowhere fields from Arlington to Roanoke, C-Ville and Danville to Winchester and Williamsburg, while experiencing great craft beer from Virginia in the company of likeminded strangers and friends.
As you read this issue cover to cover, you’ll notice advertisements throughout. I hope you’ll make a point of supporting these breweries, festivals, restaurants, and other businesses because without their support we could not do the good work of promoting the craft breweries of Virginia. Let them know you appreciate their support of the overall good of Virginia beer culture.
Be safe on the road and raise your glass high each day!
Cheers,
Jeff Maisey Publisher/Editor
Virginia Craft Beer Magazine
O’Connor Wins Big in Dublin
Compiled by Staff
O’Connor Brewing Company claimed a gold medal, three silver medals and four bronze medals in the 2018 Dublin Craft Beer Cup, a global competition, which allows craft brewers to showcase their brews to have them rated, tasted and analyzed by an expert, international panel of judges.
Craft breweries and cideries from Ireland and overseas were invited to enter their brews into the sixth annual Dublin Craft Beer and Cider Cup competitions earlier this year. Awardwinning brewers received gold, silver and bronze medals in eight different categories of beer, establishing the best examples of each. Entrants to the Dublin Craft Beer Cup are critiqued based on appearance, aroma, flavor, body, style and quality.
O’Connor Brewing Co. was awarded a gold medal for its Ibrik Imperial Turkish Coffee Stout; silver medals for El Guapo Agave IPA, Lil SIPA and Red Nun Red Ale; and bronze medals for Winter Pecan Porter, Norfolk Canyon, Great Dismal Black IPA and Odis Dry Irish Stout.
“We are honored and humbled to have won eight medals from the Dublin Craft Beer Cup this year,” said Kevin O’Connor, owner and president of O’Connor Brewing Co. “We are celebrating eight years in business this St. Patrick’s Day so it’s the best anniversary present we could imagine. All of the beers that won medals this year have always had a great local
2018 Virginia Beer Cup
following and it’s amazing to see them recognized on an International level.”
O’Connor Brewing Co. now holds a dozen medals from the global competition, including a silver medal in 2017 for its Zephyrweisse Hefeweizen. In 2014, the brewery earned a silver medal for its Red Nun Red Ale, and bronze medals for Great Dismal Black IPA and O’Connor Dry Irish Stout.
At press time, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild has tentatively set Monday, June 4 as the date for its annual Virginia Beer Cup awards program at Westrock in Richmond. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in numerous categories of beer styles. The best-of-show winners is given the coveted Virginia Beer Cup, which slightly resembles the hefty Stanley Cup of NHL fame. Last year’s Cup went to Smartmouth Brewing Company of Norfolk for its Safety Dance pilsner. The award-winning beers will be highlights of the Virginia Craft Brewers Festival in Charlottesville in August.
O’Connor Brewing Company’s 2018 Dublin Beer Cup Winners
Three Wide on Turn 4
The Richmond Raceway and Virginia Craft Brewers Guild are excited to have Virginia craft beer become a part of the NASCAR fan experience, providing them with the opportunity to taste world-class craft beer and learn more about the Commonwealth’s craft beer industry. This is the first partnership of its kind between a state craft brewers guild and an official NASCAR event to showcase local craft beer. “The Richmond region is known for its wide variety of craft breweries, and now we are able to offer them to our fans during the Toyota Spring Race Weekend,” said Richmond President Dennis Bickmeier. “This new attraction will allow fans to get a sampling of the great breweries in the Capitol City, and fans might even find a new favorite to enjoy during the iconic Richmond racing experience.”
Richmond Raceway is currently undergoing a $30 million renovation and has announced that it will be unveiling their new Party Deck at the April 21 NASCAR race. The Party Deck, which will sit in Turn 4, will not have seats, but is instead designed for fans to mingle while watching the race. The party deck will be a separate part of the facility from the rest of the grandstands, and only a party-deck ticket will allow admission. For the first time, coolers will not be allowed in that area of the facility, however, beers are available for purchase.
“Partnering with Richmond Raceway is a great opportunity to expose Virginia craft beer to NASCAR enthusiasts traveling to the Commonwealth for the Toyota Spring Race Weekend,” said Virginia Craft Brewers Guild President & CEO Brett Vassey. “The 3-Wide Virginia Craft Beer Fest will offer NASCAR fans the ultimate race experience, an opportunity to meet owners and brewers, and enjoy award-winning Virginia craft beers.”
According to Richmond Raceway’s website, 27 craft breweries from Virginia are participating, including Kindred Spirit, Wild Wolf, Parkway, Twisted Ales, Alewerks, Starr Hill, Studio Brew, Center of the Universe, Stone, South Street, Blue Mountain, The Bold Mariner, Coelacanth, Dirt Farm, and Three Notch’d.
For more information on 3-Wide Virginia Craft Beer Fest, visit www.richmondraceway.com/vacraftbreweryguild
More good news for Coelacanth
Cargill Craft Malt and White labs selected the brewery to produce a showcase beer to be served in Nashville during the 2018 Craft Brewers Conference, the national craft brewers’ association.
“We are one of only 5 Breweries from across the country invited to participate in this program – and the only Brewery from Virginia,” said Kevin Erskine. “It’s really a great honor to be invited by Cargill and White Labs – two of the pillars of the brewing industry. I think it says a lot about the perceived quality of the beer we are producing here in our little Norfolk brewery.”
Coelacanth will produce a Bavarian-style pilsner it plans to call Schones Pilsner (translates as Beautiful Pilsner) and will make use of German hops, pale malt from Cargill, and German lager yeast supply by White Labs. At a projected 5% ABV, it’ll be traditionally refreshing.
JUST RELAX ENJOY THE VIEW AND
brewNEWS / BRIEFS
Green Thumbs Up for Wild Wolf & Coelacanth
Nellysford-based Wild Wolf Brewing Company received its third award as Virginia Green Brewery of the Year at the 2018 Virginia Green Travel Star awards. The Virginia Green program recognized 35 Virginia tourism-related businesses in March for outstanding efforts to protect the environment and support green tourism in Virginia.
“We are proud to receive this award for the third year in a row,” said owner, Mary Wolf. “We work hard to be an environmentally conscious business and look forward to continuously making the world and our community a better place.”
The environmental practices at Wild Wolf Brewing Company reach every aspect of the business: from the brewery, to the restaurant, to the office spaces as well as establishing programs to involve the community. Recycling, composting, and water and energy conservation are the main focal points for sustainability practices throughout the business.
In the brewery, all of the beers that go out in package are canned using recycled aluminum, which are easier to recycle and weigh lessusing less fuel to distribute. A feeding program with a local beef farmer is in place to use the spent grain from the brewing process as feed for the cattle. In turn, Wild Wolf Brewing Company purchases the beef for their burgers. In the kitchen, scraps are used in the composting system which yields nutrient rich soil for the herb and vegetable garden. These practices, in addition
to many others, ensure that nothing goes to waste at Wild Wolf Brewing Company.
“We hope to inspire businesses to take a look at how they could be improving their own sustainability practices and we look forward to growing our programs in the future,” said Wolf.
For the second consecutive year, Norfolk’s Coelacanth Brewing was recognized for outstanding efforts to protect the environment and support green tourism in Virginia.
“We are excited and proud to be recognized by the State for our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and leave a better Virginia for our children,” says Kevin Erskine, co-owner of Coelacanth Brewing, adding, “We’re one of only three breweries in the state to be recognized – and the only brewery in Hampton Roads– so we are especially proud. As Hampton Roads’ first certified Green Brewery, we invite other breweries to join us in our commitment to reduce the environmental impacts of producing great beer.”
Savor Date
The Brewers Association has set June 1-2 as the dates for Savor: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. Participating breweries from Virginia are Parkway, Beltway, Ardent, Fair Winds, Port City, Hardywood Park, and Stone.
Mary Wolf and staff accept the Virginia Green Award
Mad Fox’s Barley Wine Fest: Celebrating Brewers With Big Skills
By Jefferson Evans
History notes that England’s venerable Bass Brewery started it all in 1903 with their Bass No. 1 Barley Wine, and while barley wines are not very prevalent in England these days, Americans have, as noted by beer writer K. Florian Klemp, taken up the mantle with an impetuous and rowdy spirit compared to the refined restraint of classic English versions. Recently, Mad Fox Brewing Company celebrated the strong, the impetuous, and the rowdy with the 8th edition of the Falls Church, Virginia brewpub’s Annual Barleywine Festival. The event featured 37 different barley wines, including multiple aged vintages such as 2014 Rogue Old Crustacean, 2013 Bear Republic Old Scoutters, 2015 Stone Old Guardian, and 2014 Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot.
The festival finds its origins in the persistence of Mad Fox investor Tom Canon, a well-known homebrewer and member of Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP), one of the MidAtlantic areas largest homebrew clubs founded in 1981. Tom was and is a dedicated fan of barley wines and helped convince Mad Fox’s CEO and Executive Brewer Bill Madden to create a wintertime event to celebrate this most warming of beer styles. While Bill notes that attendance this year might have been “a little bit soft,” and notes that such is the state of affairs in general for beer festivals these days, the Mad Fox
Annual Barleywine Fest has proven to have a loyal base of customers who love the event and attend every year. The event will be followed by a Strong Beer Tasting on April 4 hosted by Bob Tupper.
Clearly, when it comes to strong beers, the Mad Fox folks walk the walk.
Fredericksburg’s Harry’s Alehouse Voted Great American Beer Bar
Fredericksburg’s Harry’s Alehouse was selected as Virginia’s top establishment in CraftBeer.com’s Great American Beer Bars 2018 contest. Readers were asked to nominate their favorite craft beer bar in their state and fill out a survey explaining why. The site is operated by the Brewers Association, the official organization of the craft beer industry of the USA.
Harry’s Alehouse is located in a strip mall at 5737 Plank Road. Congrats!
(L-R) Andy Anderson, Woody Lee, James Wisnieski, Tom Canon, Bill Madden, and Steve Marler –note that all the gentleman pictured with Bill are talented homebrewers.
Jefferson Evans
Proud Portners Party Hearty
The Portner sisters, Catherine and Margaret, orchestrated a fun series of events to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Portner Brewhouse. March 7, the official anniversary date, saw a double beer release in the form of the “Peach Be Wheat You” peach wheat beer and a variant called “And Also Wheat You”, which includes additional peaches that had been reduced in rye whiskey.
The next day featured the first Portner Brewhouse beer dinner hosted by Margaret and Head Brewer Greg Maddrey and pairing four courses paired with four of the Portner beers – the fourth course being a dessert course pairing Bavarian cream filled berliners dusted with powdered sugar and served with wild berry puree for dipping and paired with Portner Porter aged with coconut. March 9 was a Friday night double feature including the return of the popular Buck-A-Shuck oysters and a firkin of the Eastern Born IPA dry-hopped with Citra hops. And last but not least, the weekend of March 10-11, brought a Half-Toberfest party featuring German classics and liter stein fills marking the half-way point to one of the year’s biggest beer parties.
Catherine happily said, “We are incredibly proud of our team that makes all of this possible everyday and a constant joy to share a piece of history with the local community in Alexandria,” and also indicated with a certain amount of relief that the beer dinner had come off with hardly a hiccup. As pictures on Facebook and elsewhere show, the joint was jumpin’ on Saturday night, with everyone looking forward to seeing what the second year brings for the Portner Brewhouse.
Blue Gray Show
For those of us who love beer and all things beer related, 2017 saw us lose one of the true believers of our hobby with the passing of Rayner Johnson. One of Ray’s signature accomplishments was the establishment of the Blue Gray Breweriana Show, one of the premier East Coast breweriana shows, with a history going back to 1980. To say pulling off the 2018 Blue Gray Show in the absence of the Godfather of Breweriana was difficult would be the understatement of understatements but some special people came together and made it happen. Our heroes are Larry Handy, a cool hand from Pennsylvania with experience running breweriana shows; Matt Johnson, Ray’s younger son and proud breweriana enthusiast; and Jim Zillian, President of the Capital City Chapter of the BCCA (Brewery Collectibles Club of America). It wasn’t easy, and it was probably the only show that was limited to just room to room trading, but still, it happened and Ray would have been proud.
One part of the Blue Gray Show we know Ray would have really missed was the traditional Friday night beer tasting, this version including over 150 different beers. We miss you Ray, and think about you every day. Prost!
A special cask to help celebrate Portner’s one-year anniversary.
Photo courtesy Catherine Portner
STONE’S ON A ROLL IN RICHMOND
Snowballing growth in two years
By Annie Tobey
Stone Brewing has long been one of craft beer’s legends. Started by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the California brewery became known for its hoppy beers and approachable but edgy persona. The founders shared a passion for quality beer and the craft beer revolution, and a disdain for the tyranny of fizzy-yellow-beer makers. When the legendary brewery announced it was looking for an East Coast production facility, dozens of cities fought for the prize, including several in Virginia. In 2014, Richmond was declared the winner.
In March 2016, Stone Brewing - Richmond opened its tasting room, initially serving California-brewed beers, with Richmond-brewed beers flowing soon thereafter. Barely two years later, the location continues to grow, with only the promised Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens still dangling like the proverbial carrot in front of our eager eyes.
BY THE NUMBERS
Four beers filled Richmond fermenters in 2016: Stone IPA, Stone Ruination Double IPA, Stone Delicious IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale.
Since then, the brewery has added two fermenters to the original 16, two brite tanks to the original four (with room for more of each) and a canning line, and it’s adding a second shift of brewing employees. Richmond now pumps out all of Stone’s year-round beers, ensuring fresher beer up and down the
East Coast, as well as special releases, seasonals and Enjoy By IPA. (Not sure where your beer came from? Look on the can or bottle to find out where it was born!) As of the end of February 2018, Stone Brewing - Richmond had brewed nearly 150,000 barrels of beer.
Stone CEO Dominic Engels says, “[The Richmond location] has exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t be more pleased … We really feel the benefit of being there and being part of the community.” The beers are now distributed in all 50 states, with Virginia and North Carolina as the fastest-growing states.
“We placed a big bet on Richmond, and Richmond placed a big bet on Stone, but we’re seeing commercial success as a result of being there … emanating up and down the Eastern Seaboard.”
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Not everyone in Richmond was happy to see Stone roll in. Fulton neighbors were nervous; restaurateurs and other Richmond residents resented the special deals offered by city officials; and some local beer fans were skeptical that a top-ten U.S. craft brewery wouldn’t squelch the hometown breweries.
But despite the renown of a well-known Stone beer named Arrogant Bastard, that’s not the way Stone rolls.
From the beginning, Stone established an advisory council to solicit community input. “We have worked closely with representatives of the Greater Fulton neighborhood” and have
Stone’s new RVA growler is popular with consumers
supported neighborhood organizations, Engels says. “We’re seeing additional development in the area following our own, and we’re confident that this growth will be a positive change.”
In a 2017 video, cofounder Greg Koch said, “We had this shared vision with the stakeholders of the community and the government to come in and revitalize the area and bring new life.” He pointed out projects along the nearby James River to improve roads and public access, including the Virginia Capital Trail, and Stone’s goal to revitalize the 1937 building that was targeted to house the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens.
More visible community engagement was Stone’s Throw Down in RVA on Brown’s Island. Besides serving beer and entertaining guests with music and vendors, the festival raised money for James River Association, Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Neighborhood Resource Center and Venture Richmond. Other smaller but significant events include the Run to the River 8k benefit and a fundraiser to aid Puerto Rico’s hurricane victims.
Stone has also partnered with Virginia Commonwealth University on VCU’s Craft Beer Certification Program and engaged local vendors for services like natural weed control (think RVA Goats), landscaping and recycling.
Of the restaurants, Engels says, “We feel there is a market for all of the area’s excellent and diverse restaurants working together to continue to elevate the Richmond experience.”
In support of other Richmond breweries, Stone employees frequently visit other tasting rooms, especially during special events.
“We’ve always tried to draw the widest circle possible,” Engels says of Stone. “We want to create a community of brewers … We don’t view things as cutthroat competition [of winners and losers]. It’s just fundamentally not how we operate.” He cites Stone’s heritage as a distributor, building many craft brands besides their own.
In fact, the business’s history demonstrates the “us vs. them” mentality in one way only: independent craft breweries vs. the big guys.
On a more practical level, Stone’s Richmond brewers collaborate with other local brewers and businesses on one-off beers, fundraising initiatives and technical support.
“It’s our goal to overachieve to really make something special for the community here in Richmond and also the larger craft brewing community,” said Koch.
AND INTO THE FUTURE
Richmonders who travel the Shockoe Bottom, Fulton and Rocketts Landing areas have undoubtedly noticed the construction around the former Intermediate Terminal warehouse on Wharf Street, site of the future Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. Fans might have seen the 2017 video of Greg Koch giving a guided tour of the building. In the ensuing months, plans have changed.
“We are in process of re-doing the design,” says Engels. “We thought we were going to be able to use the building, but we’re actually going to have to demo the building and do sort of a greenfield design … Structurally it just wasn’t sound enough to build what we wanted to build.”
They’re close to finalizing the design, he says, and hopes they won’t have to demolish the entire building. “We love historical stuff. We’ll definitely keep something of the building and integrate it into the new idea in some way.”
Engels says they’re projecting and hoping for a mid-2019 opening.
brewNEWS / NATO
Lafayette Lager
Top NATO General collaborates with Bold Mariner on symbolic beer
By Jeff Maisey
NATO Supreme Allied Commander
Transformation, French Five-Star General Denis Mercier joined Norfolk’s The Bold Mariner Brewing Company’s Michael Stacks and John O’Reilly in brewing Lafayette Lager.
The French-style lager will debut at the Norfolk NATO Festival on Saturday, April 28 in Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk.
The Bold Mariner brew team was able to locate French Strisselspalt Hop Pellets in order to produce an authentic French lager similar to Kronenbourg’s 1664. A very mild hop with hoppy, black currant character, Strisselspalt Hops are one of the few varieties from France, essential in the production of classic Belgian and French ales. The hop variety is almost exclusively grown around the Strasbourg area of the Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, on the French/German border.
“We’re using 100 percent pilsner malts and 100 percent Strisselspalt, for a really floral, citrusy aroma,” said O’Reilly, Bold Mariner’s head brewer. “It’s going to be 5.1% ABV and about 25 IBUs, so on the low end of bitterness but with a lot of hop characteristics for a really easy-drinking lager.”
The beer underwent a 2-week primary fermentation, then lagered for two weeks before being filtered and packaged.
The beer is being symbolically named Lafayette Lager in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette (a hero of both the French
and American Revolutions) as well as for General Mercier, who resides in the Lafayette House on the Lafayette River in Norfolk.
General Mercier assumed the role of Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) of NATO only headquarters outside of Belgium. He leads a staff comprised of National Liaison Representatives and support teams from all 29 NATO member nations as well as representatives from partner nations such as Sweden and Finland. The mission of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation headquarters in Norfolk is to plan for future conflicts, train staff, and determine potential threats ranging from cyber security to hybrid warfare.
In 1979, Mercier began his military career by joining the French Air Force Academy. He qualified as a fighter pilot in 1983, flying Mirage F1C and 2000C aircraft. His career highlights include commanding the 1/12 Cambresis Squadron (a founding unit of NATO’s Tiger Association), participating in Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and numerous combined joint task force efforts at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. From 2004-08, he was assigned to the French Air Force headquarters in Paris, where he became Chief of Staff for budget and performance. In addition to commanding the French Air Force Academy in Salon-de-Provence,
he served as a senior military advisor at NATO ministerial meetings and NATO summits, and worked on Operation Unified Protector over Libya.
For General Mercier, collaborating on a French-style beer with American brewers was a special opportunity to demonstrate his appreciation of the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
“Marquis de Lafayette is really the symbol of the friendship that exists between United States of America and France,” Mercier said. “He worked closely with George Washington and was a major player for independence, which makes France the oldest ally of the United States. The symbol of the French Revolution was La Bastille. Only one piece of this prison is still remaining today, and it is the key to the main door. Marquis de Lafayette had this key brought to George Washington and this key is still at Mount Vernon.”
General Mercier noted the great contributions of American soldiers during Work War I and II in liberating the French people from Germany.
“Our two countries have continued to fight for the same values,” he said. “Brewing this lager, again, is about friendship between NATO — under my command — and the city of Norfolk. I am very appreciative of this highly symbolic event. I am very excited to taste this beer.”
NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, French General Denis Mercier (pictured right) takes in the aroma of Strisselspalt Hop Pellets as Bold Mariner owner Michael Stacks and unidentifiable French soldier look on
MUG SHOTS
brewers shave-a-thon Smartmouth, Virginia Beach
Wild Wolf Brewing Company Virginia Green Travel Alliance
brick & mortar suffolk
Starr Paddy’s Day Starr Hill, Crozet
Off the Cuff
For the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve or in this case, her favorite beer on her wrist, this handmade cuff is the perfect accessory to your ou�it as you are out and about this Spring going to fes�vals and brewery hopping. This par�cular cuff is made from Starr Hill Brewery cans. Other styles available. $14 each.
These talented Virginians are getting their craft on in celebration of the beer lover in all of us!
Hopped Up
You’ll be the envy of your hop loving friends with these custom made earrings. The wood earrings are laser etched and feature a hop design. They are available in cherry wood, walnut, or birch with stainless steel posts/backs. $8 each.
These handmade earrings are another great accessory for the beer loving girl! The beerings are made from beer caps, adorned with glass beads (select blue or red), and hung on silver French hoops. Custom orders available. $8 each.
Making connections vital to diversity, African-American brewer finds he is not alone
By Lee Graves
Early in his brewing career, Leon Harris felt somewhat like a stranger in a friendly land. He’d been embraced by other brewers, but there was no kinship of color in his professional circle.
“I had never personally met another African-American person in the brewing industry. I thought I was an outcast, like the only person doing this kind of thing,” Harris said.
Customers even occasionally created awkward moments. “They came up to me … and would ask for the brewer. I would say, ‘I’m one of the brewers.’ And they’d be, like, ‘You’re one of the brewers?’”
Things changed while he was serving an internship at The District Chophouse & Brewery under head brewer Barrett Lauer. Harris was reading Beer Advocate magazine during a break in brewing and saw a photograph of Kevin Blodger, coowner and head brewer at Baltimore’s Union Craft Brewing. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said about seeing another AfricanAmerican brewer.
Lauer arranged for Harris and Blodger to meet at the Chophouse. “I went over to him—I’m not really a shy person around other people, but I was sweating bullets,” Harris said. “This was a guy I not only looked up to, but I also aspired to be like.”
Making such connections is one way the craft beer industry is working to increase diversity. The Brewers Association in Colorado announced at last year’s Craft Brewers Conference the creation of a diversity committee, headed by Scott Metzger, founder of Freetail Brewing in San Antonio, Texas; Blodger is a member. This February—coinciding with Black History Month—USA Today quoted Blodger and others in an article titled “Craft brewers seek to involve more African Americans.” The story noted: “More blacks are imbibing craft beer. African Americans made up 12 percent of weekly craft beer drinkers in 2016, up from 10 percent the year before.”
As an African American brewer, Leon Harris is a pioneer in Virginia. Lee Graves
For Harris—who served stints as an assistant at Capitol City Brewing Co. in Arlington and as head brewer at Heroic Aleworks in Woodbridge (now closed) before becoming assistant brewer at Caboose Brewing Co. in Vienna—it’s more about making great beer than breaking color barriers. Like many in the business, he started as a homebrewer after discovering the world of flavorful beer while in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Holland. Drinking Grölsch opened the door to flavorful beer; attending the Oktoberfest in Munich opened a whole new world.
“So I ordered a beer kit and had it shipped overseas— borrowed all the pots and pans and all that kind of stuff—and I did it right there in the kitchen of my little one-bedroom apartment. It was pretty terrible at first, even though I followed the directions,” he said, laughing.
When back in the States, he squeezed in time for the internship at the Chophouse. Then came a paying job at Capitol City working with Kristi Griner, who became a mentor. When the position of head brewer at Heroic Aleworks came on Harris’ radar in 2016, he consulted Griner. “She told me, ‘Go for it!’ If she had told me anything but that, I would’ve stayed at Cap City.
“At Heroic, when I first got in there, I didn’t really know what to expect. We were still literally in the construction phase of building a brewery. I could’ve waited until we opened the doors, but I really wanted to get that experience of learning how to run a brewery, literally from the ground up,” Harris said. One of his favorite styles to brew was a Märzen called Murdock the Merciless, named after his 1-year-old son Murdock.
Now, Harris is using that construction experience to help Caboose launch a second location in a 6,000-squarefoot former warehouse on Lee Highway in Merrifield. The brewpub, expected to open later this year, will include a restaurant with 160 seats, a 3,240-square-foot tasting room and an outdoor beer garden.
These days, Harris doesn’t feel so isolated as an AfricanAmerican in an industry dominated by white males. “As things have progressed in my career, I’ve found there are a lot more African-American people working in the industry. I talk to these guys often; we kind of take some secrets from each other about our brews. And we want to come together for one big collaboration brew.”
He is frequently approached by friends and others interested in pursuing a career in brewing. “I encourage them to go for it, whether they’re African American, white or whatever the case may be,” he said. “I think the craft beer scene, in today’s society, is open to everybody.”
Lee Graves is a beer writer, author and co-host with Jay Burnham of the RVA Beer Show on WRIR 97.3 FM Independent Radio. Leon Harris was a guest on the Feb. 23, 2018, broadcast, available at www.leegraves.com. available at www.leegraves.com.
Sponsored
A Conversation with Melissa Romano of Lake Anne Brew House
By Jeff Maisey
At its best, life is what you make it.
A fine example of this philosophy put into practice is Melissa Romano. Together with husband, Jason, the Romanos turned a love of beer into a family-owned business in the tight-knit community of Reston.
Melissa worked as an architect. Jason as a security specialist for a government contractor. Both loved craft beer and often made weekend trips to explore regional breweries. They kept waiting for a craft brewery to pop up in Reston, and when one never did, they launched a Kickstarter effort, in 2015, to help raise funds to do their own.
As you will read in my interview with Melissa below, the Romanos have an inspiring story to tell.
Melissa Romano is an architect and co-owner/operator of Lake Anne Brew House
In just two short years, Lake Anne Brew House has won five medals at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild Cup competition. More importantly, though, they are fulfilling their dream of operating a small, nano brewery that allows Jason to maintain his day job while brewing at night and experimenting with recipes designed only to satisfy the tastes of patrons who live close enough to walk to the brewery. They are the local brewery of Reston.
To add to the uniqueness of its compact size, the decor is ultra modern and retro at the same time. This is where Melissa came in.
Can you share with us your decision to design and furnish the taproom with Mid-Century Modern decor?
We’re in a unique situation here at Lake Anne Brew House as we’re situated in a mixed use residential zone that is the historic village center of the planned community of Reston. So this little village center was built in the early ‘60s and is Brutalist design, which is big, blocky, concrete, Mid-Century
Modern design. It’ll always remain this way. Some people dislike this style of architecture and think it’s austere and cold, but I personally happen to love it. It’s a true modern design.
I live in the Lake Anne area and grew up here. I just love the Architecture and the history of Lake Anne Plaza.
Reston was designed to be a live, work, play community. It was always very important to me to have the “work” part of that trifecta to pay homage to what Reston was supposed to be so we built our brewery in this unique space.
The Mid-Century Modern part of our interior just goes hand-in-hand with the architecture of the buildings we’re in. That was important to me as a designer to make sure we were sympathetic to this architecture.
Designing the taproom was just a joy for me. I had lots of architecture and design work in my career past and to have free reign to do it for yourself was really fun — to pick all the furnishings and hand-select things that I felt were period specific and appropriate for this space was fun.
Your husband, Jason, was a home brewer before you two opened the brewery together, but I’m wondering what your entry into the world of beer might have been. Can you share?
Jason and I met 20-plus years ago. On our very first date, I invited him to meet me at a brewery, the original Bardo Rodeo in Arlington, Virginia, which was one of the only craft breweries in the mid’90s.
We’ve always sought out breweries while traveling. He started home brewing in college and continued for all these years. There were no craft breweries or great pubs close to home that we could walk to here in Reston, so one day we looked at each other and said, “Maybe we should just do it.” We could open a brewery.
Jason is an information security specialist, electrical engineer and government contractor and I’m an architect. It certainly wasn’t anything we had in our career background to run a food and beverage establishment, but we just decided to take that jump and see if we could make it work.
I knew Jason brewed great beer. And, I thought I could probably design and run a taproom. That’s what we did.
Do either of you still maintain your “day jobs” or have you committed 100% of your time to the brewery?
I’m pretty much committed 100% of the time now to our family — we still have three relatively young children — and to running not only the brew house but our new bakery — Nordic Knot — which I’m co-owner in. It’s a craft pretzel bakery. Those are my full-time jobs now, but Jason still stays employed with General Dynamics as well as brewmaster here at the brew house.
We’re open four days a week. It is a really nice rhythm to be in. We can tailor the brewing we do to what our crowd of regulars are looking for. We can take suggestions and brew on our two-barrel system. We’re able to brew specifically for what our customers want. We enjoy that flexibility and freedom.
We love this business model and we are feeling successful with it. That’s not to say we wouldn’t consider replicating the same product in another location.
What’s really important to us is the community connection we have with this little brewery. We have 1,500 households that can walk to us. Those are our regulars. What’s important to
Many breweries have sought to expand in size while others have spun-off satellite locations. Are you and Jason content to operate as a nano brewery, to be the local, neighborhood brewery of the walkable Reston community?
What’s really fantastic about having just a small, nano craft brewery and taproom is we don’t have to concern ourselves with the issues of distribution, mass scale production and the challenges that go along with that. We have a really tight, small staff here that helps this little brewery run like clockwork and we’re incredibly indebted to them. We can manage it on our own. We produce enough beer. We brew two days a week.
couple of breweries and had piloted a recipe. Our assistant brewer, Tracy Converse, had written the recipe, but because of the holidays we delayed it until spring.
Right about that time, the regional chapter of Pink Boots was reorganizing and breaking into smaller, more manageable chapters under the lead of Allison Lange from Old Ox Brewery.
Bridgette Turner, from Solace Brewing Company, said we should brew the recipe for International Women’s Day and make it the Pink Boots collaboration for 2018. So Bridgette really just took the reigns and ran with it. Allison, as the chapter leader, helped pull everything together and get the contracts written. We ended up with 15 breweries signing the contract. More than 15 showed up on brew day.
Bridgette hosted at Solace. She’s an amazing brewer but also a great educator. We had some from all parts of the industry. I was there as an owner and taproom manager; Tracey as a brewer. Any woman in the industry was welcomed to participate and that made it really fun because it gave some of us that don’t work in the brew kitchen an opportunity to pour the grains, push the buttons, get our boots dirty and do the fun stuff to actually brew this beer.
When and where will the Pink Boots collaboration beer be available to the public?
us is to stay hyper-local. We would consider creating another hyper-local nano brewery in another location to replicate this business model rather than expanding production and turning into a big production brewery.
We certainly get the beer travelers that seek us out because they’re taking ale trails and finding breweries like we used to do — and still try to when we have the time.
You recently participated in a collaboration brew as part of the Pink Boots Society chapter in Northern Virginia. How’d that go?
It was a fun experience. We had initiated a collaboration brew last fall with a
The beer is a grisette. We call it the 15 Shades of Grisette for the 15 breweries represented. It will be tapped on April 13 at a special event at Old Ox that Allison will host. Then, on Saturday the 14th, we will tap it at all our individual breweries and will go out for distribution on that day.
Mid-Century Modern decor makes for a stylish tasting room at Lake Anne Brew House
Honoring
Old World Charm and Excellence
By Jefferson Evans and Chuck Triplett
Nothing is plumb and square here,” Black Hoof Brewing Company owner Bill Haase said, a bit ruefully, looking around and sounding like a very patient father talking about a bright, energetic, mischievous child who makes sure his life is never boring. But there is a lot of love in his voice, too, and pride — pride that he accomplished a goal dear to his heart; namely to bring a bit of German brewery and beer
hall culture, atmosphere and quality to Leesburg, Virginia. For this son of a father whose family immigrated to America from the Berlin area just before World War I, the accomplishment is meaningful on multiple levels.
Two events dovetailed nicely to help bring Black Hoof into existence. One was an extended trip with his wife, Nikki, to Germany, with a side trip to Salzburg, Austria and the famous Augustiner Brau. The trip stretched from Munich to Bamberg (where he and his wife stayed at Brauerei Fassla) and Cologne to Dusseldorf. Bill fell in love with the traditional German beer styles and the attractive character of the braustuben and biergartens.
Second, after hearing it said more than once, “Oh, your beer is so good, you should enter some competitions,” Bill finally decided to pull the trigger and entered a märzen into the 2014 American Homebrewers Annual Competition and won a medal. That beer, Full Quiver, is in essentially the same form and remains a staple of Black Hoof Brewing Company.
There are real reasons that new breweries often end up in industrial parks or strip malls, but Bill really wanted to find an option closer to the German model where beer establishments are located at the hearts of neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities. Now that is all good and well but it meant the reality of limited options if Bill was going to locate
The fellow with the beard is Black Hoof owner and head brewer Bill Haase.
a brewery in the heart of Leesburg.
Born in Dearborn, Michigan, having served our country for 12 years in the Marine Corps, earned a degree in Environmental Engineering from North Carolina State University, and married his lovely wife Nikki, Bill moved to Leesburg in 2006 where he and Nikki started a family and developed some deep roots in the community.
When looking for a brewery location, three or four spaces were considered before Bill found the right space; a cantankerous pre-Civil War building built of bricks made from sand that appeared likely to crumble if stressed too much and which had experienced a fire that left it gutted and without drywall. Old, amazingly heavy, steam heat radiators had to be cut out and removed.
Still it came together after a year of hard work, and in June 2017, Black Hoof Brewing Company opened for business.
Bill and assistant brewer Brandon Flanigan brewed threemonths-worth of beer in about two weeks’ time; doing so on a three-barrel system with three six-barrel fermenters for lagers (they generally double batch lagers) and four three-barrel fermenters for ales. A reverse osmosis system is utilized to strip the water as clean as possible as the town’s water is quite hard and stripping the water allows for the brewery to rebuild the water profile in a manner that helps in brewing German lagers, an important consideration given that a hard water profile can make brewing a good example of, for example, a pilsner very problematic. The first batch brewed was a blonde ale, in part because it is a style that does not hide flaws and Bill and Brandon were keen to identify any flaws in their system and their brewing workflow. Such test batches are often
dumped but that first beer turned out great and was soon on tap. The first lager brewed was a maibock.
Bill, his brewery, and his beard are balls-to-the-walls German (a phrase appropriately borrowed from the German heavy metal band Accept), and evident in every detail, from the antlers on the wall to the correct glassware for all the beers, to the German-made krugs provided to mug club members (which stands at 99 members presently). The majority of beers will generally be German styles, including seasonals, joined regularly by their single IPA, Falcon’s Prey, and at least two English style beers such as an Oatmeal Stout and a Nut Brown Ale. Where the German style beers are concerned, Bill and Brandon loyally follow the Reinheitsgebot. Not many American breweries are designed as primarily lager breweries, and as such Black Hoof joins a proud group of breweries that strive to combine Old World tradition and excellence with New World vibrancy and energy.
Bill is considering expansion plans that could theoretically result in Black Hoof moving out of the present space and into a production facility on the outskirts of Leesburg, but nothing is definitive, other than a desire to achieve some sort of expansion within the next three years. Maybe then, there would be some sort of barrel-aging program, and he does like the ideal of occasionally having a firkin of beer on the bar. For now…these folks will be brewing to style, and you’ll like it — a lot. The folks at Black Hoof are a fun, gregarious bunch in the heart of a fun, gregarious town, and will treat you right. Just don’t tug on Bill’s beard. Ok, ok, you can tug on it a little, just don’t go crazy.
Jamestown Discovers a New World with Billsburg Brewery
By Jeff Maisey
The next time you take the family and out-of-town guests to the historic Jamestown Settlement to board the wooden replica ships Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery, you’ll be within a stone’s throw of a commodity the English colonists could have only dreamed of — a brewery.
On May 14, 1607, those pioneering English colonists chose Jamestown Island as their first settlement in America, and 410 years later — in 2017 — Dave and Kristin Baum staked claim to a 10-acre parcel of land just yards away to open Billsburg Brewery.
Billsburg, ironically, is James City County’s first-ever craft brewery, and yet it is within Williamsburg city limits. Fellow Williamsburg brewery neighbors Alewerks, Brass Canon and Virginia Beer Company are located in York County.
Billsburg Brewery is highly visible from the Jamestown Settlement parking lot. The tasting room building is positioned on a slight hill overlooking the county marina and scenic waterway. It’s interior is reminiscent of a boathouse with wooden oars and the side of a small boat artistically serving as the backboard for the taps behind the bar. Credit Kristin, an architect, for the design.
Dave Baum likens the complex to a mini Devils Backbone. Billsburg, a destination brewery, has a crowd-pleasing lineup of beers including Cribbage in the Square (Pilsner), Fly Away (IPA), Foggy Hollow (NE IPA), Planet 4 (Red Ale), Special K (Reduced Gluten Kolsch), Invisible Light (Schwarzbier), Betty Wit, Ghost Wind (Stout) and Belfast City Whisky Barrel Irish Cream Ale.
I recently visited the brewery and sat down with Dave to learn more. Here’s an excerpt from our chat.
Jamestown Settlement is a national treasure and major tourism draw as part of the Historic Triangle. How did their foundation view the prospects of a craft brewery operating within such close proximity?
An outdoor deck and tent provide ample space for good weather days. An outdoor amphitheater will soon be under construction and operational in mid-summer for seasonal concert series. The production brewery — a 10-barrel brew house — is in a separate building.
There was not much concern. Everyone embraced what we were doing. From a county’s point of view, I think they recognized the need for a commerce hub too be situated in this area. For a long time, Jamestown was just a spoke in the wheel of Williamsburg. Now they’re looking at it as a hub. When we look at everything around us — not just the Settlement — we have the Jamestown Island, Colonial Parkway, and Capital Trail, so at some point it became a logical decision for everybody to say, “Let’s embrace what we’re building out here.”
Dave Baum pours a pilsner
What is Billsburg’s strategy in terms of the beers you are producing? Are you targeting history tourists and therefore more approachable beers or will you push for the more experimental brews?
We do a bit of both. It’s funny. We were misquoted before we opened up as only wanting to make authentic German lagers. So, our brewmaster was quite surprised when he read that in the paper.
But our philosophy has always been to make approachable beers for everybody. Let’s understand 12 months out of the year, the neighborhoods around us do give us the support we need. So we want to make beers for them; nothing too crazy or off-the-wall. We will make a few experimental beers along the way.
We have a rotating lager tap handle, a rotating IPA, and then five mainstays and three playground taps to work with.
In your first four months of business, what have been your top three most popular in the taproom?
Number one is Fly Away IPA. Number two has been our James City Export Lager. Then number three is either our Ghost Wind Stout or Planet 4 Red Ale.
What are your plans for packaging and distribution beyond the taproom?
Right now, we are only on-site and in kegs, but we are looking to go into distribution before we secure a packaging line. Really, what we’re trying to do is stay local to the Williamsburg market and try to get into some of the festivals this summer.
The tasting room’s deck has a relaxing, scenic view of the Jamestown Yacht Basin. What feedback have you received from first-time visitors?
We’ve been very lucky to get this whole spot. The community has really come in at a time where this was an under developed area. The county had abandoned some of the development in this area.
It’s a beautiful setting, and now that we are out here the community has drawn the attention to the county to invest more money. We’re working closely with the county and the state to invest more money down here and revitalize this area.
Yes, but hopefully not too much development, right? A Chick-fil-A would ruin the serenity.
Everybody has embraced the idea that anything that happens down here is very much local. At the marina, we’re talking about reinvesting in the bulkheads and things like that. Turning this area into something it could be.
This Historic Triangle region receives a crunch of tourists and bus tours during the summer months. A brewery experience is a great add-on attraction. How are you preparing for this obvious potential boost in sales?
Yeah, we’re excited. We know this environment is an outdoor venue. We are very much seasonal based and know we have to be ready for the summertime.
We opened October 27, 2017, so we’re only four months into it. Opening weekend we probably saw 2,500 people come through this place.
We anticipate staffing up and making sure nobody has to wait for beers and enjoying themselves. It’s all about the experience on the water.
Route 522
Winchester Ciderworks
Winchester
Back in the day you could “get your kicks on Route 66,” but now you can have an equally enjoyable time popping the top off this traditional cider finished with blackcurrant juice on Route 522. Made with fruit grown right in the capital of of apple country, this is a new favorite cider for us. It’s not overly sweet, and that’s a plus. Delicious to the last drop. Kudos to Englishman Stephen Schuurman, Winchester Ciderworks’ cider maker.
Shark Tears Gose
Pleasure House Brewing Company
Virginia Beach
A shark fin may not be a welcomed sight while sunning yourself on the sandy beach, however, when a friend pulls one of these 32-ounce cans out of the cooler it is time for refreshment. Shark Tears Gose is a nicely tart variety making use of coriander, rhubarb, and interestingly enough, sea salt. Yep, as it turns out a local boater who frequents the brewery delivers sea water to be boiled down for its briny appeal. It’s sour, not will not make you pucker. 4.8% ABV and 7 IBUs.
Yak Meets
Wolf
Wild Wolf Brewing Company Nellysford
Wild Wolf Brewing Company has done something that has never been done previously! They have brewed a beer here in the U.S. with their Tibetan friends, who were here as part of an educational exchange program with UVA. They used Tibetan barley and Tibetan water to create this easy drinking pale ale. As East meets West, the result is refreshing and delicious and after a few, you’ll be lulled into a peaceful state.
Village Green Double IPA
Pale Fire Brewing Co. Harrisonburg
Ben Trumbo, Head Brewer, at Pale Fire Brewing Co. creates a unique and intensely hopped double IPA using six hop varieties creating an array of aromas ranging from passion fruit, peach, and pineapple to grapefruit and lemon zest. Then, English Maris Otter is added to balance out the hop aromas. The result is a well-balanced, award-winning Double IPA. At the Virginia Beer Cup, Village Green won Second Place in the Strong American Ale category in 2017 and Second Place in the Double IPA category in 2016.
Tropical Vacay
Starr Hill Brewery
Crozet
Crozet’s Starr Hill Brewery has a refreshing new golden ale that is both light and clean, making use of honey malt and oats for a slight sweetness that’ll put a smile on your face. The beer is called Front Row and is just 4.9%ABV. When you just want a damn beer to kickoff the weekend, this is it. Bring on summer.
Ballad Brewing Danville
Even though this beer is described as a winter IPA, we are already dreaming of our tropical vacation while sipping this juicy IPA poolside. It features hints of tropical citrus, pineapple, and mango hop flavors. It is only available in 750ml bottles. So, stock up and now and start your tropical vacay!
7.1% ABV
Appalachia
Oktobrewfest
Sat., Oct. 6, 3-10pm
Featuring local and regional craft beer, cider, and wine, a homebrew competition, food vendors, crafters, artisans, and games and activities for kids.
Main Street, Tazwell 276.988.5091
tazewellchamber.com ttownoktobrewfest.com
Blue Ridge Highlands
New River Brewfest
Sat., April 14, 12-6pm
Enjoy Virginia beer, food, games, & live music. Proceeds benefit the Virginia Construction Industry Educational Foundation.
Tickets: $27.50
Nesselrod Bed & Breakfast 7535 Lee Highway, Radford 540.731.4970
newriverbrewfest.com
Brews & Bands
Sat., May 19, 1-6pm
Sample nearly two dozen craft beers while cheering on your favorite local band as they compete for our “Band of the Year.” Withers Park
300 North 4th Street, Wythevlle 276.228.6855
wythe-arts.org
Bushels & Barrels: Local Food, Wine & Beer Festival
Fri. & Sat., June 15 & 16
A celebration of all things great and local in Southwest Virginia! Beer, wine, food, local artisans, and music.
A community celebration featuring beer garden, live music, dancing, & fun activities for all ages. 118 S. Main Street, Blacksburg downtownblacksburg.com
Beer Festival at Virginia Tech
Sat., June 23, noon-5pm
Enjoy live entertainment and different beers from local, regional, and national breweries. Holtzman Alumni Center 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg 540-231-6285 alumni.vt.edu/beerfestival
09.22/blacksburg
festival guide 2018 know good beer festival
05.12/charlottesville
FloydFest 18 Wild
Wed.-Sun., July 25-29
5 days of music, magic, mountains, outdoor adventure, vibrant and varied vendors, quality brews, food, healing arts, workshops, children’s activities, and more.
FloydFest
Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway 894 Rock Castle Gorge, Floyd floydfest.com
10th Anniversary Blacksburg Brew Do
Sat., Sept. 22, noon-5pm
Enjoy beer from over 40 local, Mid-Atlantic, and national craft breweries, local food, live music, home brew demonstrations, and Homebrew Competition.
VT Corporate Research Center 1600 Innovation Drive, Blacksburg blacksburgbrewdo.com
Central Virginia
Tom Tom Founders Festival
Mon-Sun, April 9-15
A week of concerts, talks, competitions, and public art that connects hundreds of innovators, visionaries, and artists.
Downtown Mall
101 E. Main Street, Charlottesville tomtomfest.com
Downtown Chili Showdown & BrewHaHa
Sun., April 15, 11:30am-3pm
Featuring homegrown cooks and professional chefs competing for crowd favorite and judges’ choice awards. Plus, Red Show Cville will host the 4th annual BrewHaHa and supply lots of local beers.
Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charlottesville.
Main Street Arena on the Downtown Mall Charlottesville redshoecville.com
Thomas Jefferson Craft Beer Tasting at Poplar Forest
Sat., April 14, 11am-5pm
Discover new brews from local and regional craft breweries and cideries and enjoy local food and live music, and shop for works by local artisans.
Tickets: VIP: $125ea or $225 per couple
20 tastings: $30 in advance; $35 at the door
10 tastings: $25 at the door
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest 1542 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest poplarforest.org
3-Wide Fan Hospitality Virginia Craft Beer Fest
Sat.,, April 21
NASCAR fans can get a taste of Virginia breweries prior to the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. With your ticket to the race, you will receive unlimited 4oz. tastings of craft beers from participating breweries.
Old Dominion Building Richmond Raceway
600 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond 866.455.7223 richmondraceway.com
VIRGINIA ARTS FEST IVAL
APRIL 26-28, 7:30 PM
APRIL 29, 2:30 PM SCOPE ARENA, NORFOLK
TICKETS: $20, $35, $45, STUDENTS UNDER 25, 50% OFF $55, $100 (NO DISCOUNTS) FREE PRE-SHOW EVENTS EVERY DAY! CRAFT BEERS & FOOD FOR SALE! More than 1,000 performers from around the world IN ONE
TICKETS: VAFEST.ORG , CALL 757-282-2822 OR
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2018 2:00-6:00 PM TOWN POINT PARK DOWNTOWN NORFOLK WATERFRONT
TICKETS: TASTERS (21+) $30 EARLY BIRD, $35 MAY 1, $40 DAY OF; NON-TASTERS (13+) $20 (NO DISCOUNTS)
Co-presented with
festival guide 2018
BBQ & Brews Fire Fest
Sat., May 5, noon-5pm
4th annual charity BBQ competition & VA craft beer festival featuring BBQ and craft beer samples and live music. Proceeds benefit Relay for Life and Forest Volunteer Fire Department.
Presale wristbands: $25; VIP: $50 Apocalypse Ale Works 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest lynchburgvaeats.com
Spring Invitational: Virginia Cider Jam
Sat., April 28, 12-9pm
Berry ciders are the theme of this year’s festival. Sample eight Blue Bee berry infused ciders and six guest ciders and enjoy live music by The Midnight Ukulele, food trucks, and workshops. Blue Bee Cider
1320 Summit Avenue, Richmond
804.231.0280 bluebeecider.com
Wonder City Beer Festival
Sat., April 28, 12-6pm
Enjoy tasting 30+ craft brews, 15+ local & regional breweries, live music by Magnolia and Zack Artis, shopping arts & crafts vendors, food trucks and more!
Enjoy live music, food trucks, lawn games, and samples of some of Virginia’s finest beverages from local breweries, cideries, and wineries.
1700 Hampton Street, Richmond
804.358.7166 maymont.org
Taste of Virginia
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, May 4-20
Enjoy a culinary journey through the Commonwealth featuring recipes inspired by the various regions of Virginia, local craft beer, and live music plus the thrills of the rides and coasters.
Kings Dominion 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell kingsdominion.com
Know Good Beer Festival
Sat., May 12, 2-6pm
Enjoy a great selection of craft beer, ciders, and bourbons plus food trucks, live music, local food vendors, and local artists. A portion of the proceeds benefit Red Shoe Cville and Charlottesville Ronald McDonald House.
IX Art Park
963 2nd Street SE, Charlottesville knowgoodbeer.com
virginia craft brewers fest
08.18/charlottesville
Virginia Hops & Barley Festival
Sat., May 12, 1-8pm
Enjoy food, fun, beer, wine, and great bands all to support charity!
Westchester Commons 15786 WC Main Street, Midlothian www.vabeerfest.com
Punk in Drublic Craft Beer & Music Festival
Sat., May 12
Taste more than 100 different craft beers. Live music by NOFX, Bad Religion, The Interrupters, Mad Caddies, The Last Gang and more.
Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center 2401 W. Leigh Street, Richmond punkindrublicfest.com
festival guide 2018
IPA JamBEERee at Star Hill
Sat., June 9, 12pm
A unique craft beer experience celebrating Virginia-brewed India Pale Ales. Featuring more than a dozen IPAs brewed by Starr Hill in collaboration with several Virginia breweries. Plus enjoy live music by Lord Nelson, food trucks, and games. Proceeds benefit a local charity.
Starr Hill Brewery & Tap Room
5391 Three Notch’d Road, Crozet starrhill.com
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
Sat., aug. 11, 12-6pm (VIP) or 2-6pm (GA)
60 Beers 40 Bourbons, tasty BBQ, and live music.
Richmond Raceway Complex
600 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond beerandbourbon.com/virginia/show-info
Virginia Craft Brewers Festival
Sat., Aug., 18, 2-8pm (VIP entry at 1pm)
Virginia’s largest craft beer festival returns to Charlottesville with approximately 100 Virginia breweries serving close to 250 different beers, live music, food trucks and more! Hosted by Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery and the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
IX Art Park, Charlottesville vacraftbrewersfest.com
LOCKN’ Music Festival
Thurs.-Sun., August 23-26
4-day music & camping festival with an emphasis on world class music, locally sourced food, & sustainability.
Oak Ridge Farm 2300 Oak Ridge Road, Arrington locknfestival.com
Off the Rails Beer Festival
Sat., Sept. 29, 1-7pm
Craft beer, food trucks, and music. Proceeds benefit the Hanover Arts & Activities Center. Tickets: $15
500 South Center Street, Ashland hanoverarts.org
The Festy Experience
Fri.-Sun., Oct. 5-7,
Showcasing great music, craft beer, and the outdoor experience.
Featuring craft beer tastings at some of the finest breweries and restaurants in Virginia plus music and food trucks! Check-in at O’Connor Brewing Co. 11am-12pm. Proceeds benefit UDT-Seal Association. golocalvirginia.com
Smithfield Wine & Brew Fest
Sat., April 14, 11am-5pm
Featuring Virginia wine and breweries, culinary delights, retail vendors, live entertainment. Hosted by Smithfield Rotary Club. Windsor Park Castle 301 Jericho Road, Smithfield smithfieldwinebrewfest.com
Tides Inn Spring Festival
Sat., April 14, 11am-5pm
Featuring live music from the Bobby Blackhat Band with Tom Euler, also Chris Stanley, delicious food, Virginia wines, craft beer tastings, artisans, and much more!
Tickets: $35
Tides Inn
480 King Carter Drive, Irvington 804.438.5000 tidesinn.com
Williamsburg Taste Festival
Thurs. & Fri., April 19 & 20, 5:30-9:30pm; Sat., April 21, 10am-10pm; Sun., April 22, 11am-4pm
A celebration of the food traditions of our nation. Featuring mouthwatering cuisine, cooking demonstration, evening dine-around events, craft beverage experiences highlighting all things Virginia. Williamsburg 800-368-6511 visitwilliamsburg.com
Revolutionary Beer Fest
Sat., April 21, 1-6pm
Featuring unlimited samples of 28 beers from 14 breweries, food trucks, vendors, live music, unique auction items, and more!
Proceeds benefit Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation.
Tickets: $30 and up
Khedive Shrine Center
645 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake 757.482.4480
gbbattlefield.org
&
6TH ANNUAL
SUNDAY, MAY 6
Featuring over 50 craft beers, a brewery cask-off, live music, beer talks and food trucks - all in the unique setting of The Mariners' Museum outdoor courtyards!
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
Participating breweries:
New Belgium, Alewerks, St. George, Billsburg, Bold Rock, Goose Island, O'Connor, Starr Hill, Smartmouth, Heavy Seas, Legend, Devils Backbone, Brothers, Golden Road, Oozlefinch, Bell's, Center of the Universe, Tradition & Bull Island
The Mariners’ Museum Newport News, VA Noon - 5 p.m. MarinersMuseum.org/BeerFest
and Park
York River Craft Beer Festival
Sat., April 22, 12-5pm
Featuring over 40 craft beers from more than 20 craft breweries, live music, games, and food trucks hosted at the Watermen’s Museum located on the York River.
Tickets: $35; $40 day of Waterman’s Museum 309 Water Street, Yorktown yorkriverbeerfestival.com
Shore Craft Beer Fest
Sat., April 28, 12:30-4:30pm
Local breweries, live music, food trucks, kids activities Chincoteague Fairgrounds 3913 Main Street, Chincoteague Island 757.336.0043 shorecraftbeerfest.com
Williamsburg Craft Beer Festival
Sun., April 29, noon-5pm
Presented by, The Rotary Club of Williamsburg, and YEP Williamsburg. Featuring more than 30 craft beers from at least 14 different breweries, live music by Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos, and food from Prost Food Truck and Old City Barbeque.
Proceeds benefit Avalon, Here for the Girls, Inc., Child Development Resources, and Literacy for Life. Williamsburg Community Building 401 N. Boundary Street, Williamsburg williamsburgbeerfest.com
09.08/virginia beach
757 battle of the beers
festival guide 2018
Blues, Brews, & BBQ
Sat., May 5, 12-6pm
Sample more than 25 craft beers, dig into some amazing BBQ, and listen to blues music by The Jukes and the Michael Clark Band.
Proceeds benefit the York Foundation for Public Education. $30 in advance; $35 at the door Riverwalk Landing
331 Water Street, Yorktown villageevents.org
The Mariner’s Craft Beer Festival
Sun., May 6, noon-5pm
Featuring over 50 craft beers, a brewery cask-off, live music, “Beer Talks,” and food trucks.
Mariner’s Museum
100 Museum Drive, Newport News 757.596.2222 marinersmuseum.org/beerfest
Suds & Buds
Fri., May 18, 5:30-9:30pm
Tickets include garden admission, food from area restaurants, craft beer, wine, a garden tram ride, and music by Lewis McGehee and Young Audience performers.
Proceeds benefit Norfolk Botanical Garden, the Rotary Club of Norfolk, and Young Audiences of Virginia, Inc.
The mid-Atlantic’s largest and longest running beer festival celebrates its 17th year with a diverse selection of more than 150 beers and ciders from Virginia and around the world, local food, live music, and master brewers. Co-produced by Virginia Arts Festival and Norfolk Festevents.
Town Point Park, Norfolk www.vafest.org
Common Grounds –
A Collaboration Beer Fest & Camp Night
Sat., May 19, 4-8pm
Enjoy 20+ authentic, small batch, one time only collaboration beers made by talented brewers from Virginia and around the country. Camping packages available.
Holiday Travel-L Park
1075 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach commongroundsfest.com
Purchase your tickets early to recieve discounts and extra sample tickets
Early Entrance at 11a.m. Unlimited Samples Admittance to VIP Tent
Great Local Food Vendors To Fill Up On and Over 40 Craft Vendors
Over 30 different Local and Regional Breweries With Over 60 Different Beers to Sample
Family Friendly Event With Moon Bounces, Face Painting and Family Friendly Games
Proceeds Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF.org) 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. At The Lake Anna State Park
festival guide 2018
Annual Norfolk Harborfest
Fri.-Sun., June 8-10
The historic waterfront festival features the Parade of Sail, artisan foods and beverages, work boat races, unique performances, one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast, family games and activities, national and regional entertainment, and much more.
Town Point Park Waterside Drive, Norfolk
757-441-2345
festevents.org
Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival
Fri., June 22, 2-10pm, Sat, June 23, 12-10pm, Sun., June 24, 12-6pm
Experience the heart and soul of Louisiana with Cajun food, beer, live music, and Arts Market of New Orleans.
Town Point Park Waterside Drive, Norfolk
757-441-2345
festevents.org
Ocean View Brews on the Bay
Fri., July 13, 6-9:30pm
Sample a wide variety of summer beers from a selection of local, regional, national, and international breweries and enjoy live music by The Fuzz Band.
Ocean View Beach Park, Norfolk
757.441.2345
festevents.org
Whistle Belly Pub Craft Beer Festival
Sat., Aug. 4, 6-11pm
Featuring 35+ breweries, 8 non-alcohol vendors, multiple food stations, and live music. Tickets are inclusive of food and beverages. Proceeds benefit Junior Women’s Club of Williamsburg. Merchants Square Williamsburg
757.293.6478 dogstreetpub.com
Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival
Sat., Aug., 11, noon-6pm (VIP); 2-6pm (GA)
60 beers on tap, 40 bourbons, great BBQ, education seminars, and live music.
Hunt Club Farm
2388 London Bridge Road, Virginia Beach beerandbourbon.com
Neptune’s Coastal Craft Beer Festival
Sat., Aug. 25, 1-6pm
Enjoy over 65 beers, live music, food trucks, and more!
Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 day of 31st Street & Oceanfront, Virginia Beach neptunefestival.com
Busch
Gardens Bier Fest
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, Aug. 17-Sept. 3
More than 200 years of Oktoberfest traditions come to life this fall! Sample traditional German food and listen to live music. Plus, enjoy some of Virginia’s finest brews!
Busch Gardens
Williamsburg
800.343.7946
buschgardens.com
6th Annual 757 Battle of the Beers
Sat., Sept. 8, 1-6pm
Featuring every local 757 craft brewery as they battle it out to win in different beer categories. 100% of the proceeds go to local charities! Also, enjoy live music, food, and games.
Hunt Club Farm
2388 London Bridge Road, Virginia Beach
Commonwealth Coastal Classic
Sat., Sept. 15, 12-5pm
Enjoy a delicious variety of chefs’ tables, Virginia wines, spirits, crafted beers and ciders for tastings, artisan works for sale, chef demos, live music by Virginia’s Crooked Road Tour, and much more! Town Point Park
Waterside Drive, Norfolk
757-441-2345 festevents.org
Growl Fest
Sat., Sept. 15, 6-9:30pm
Tour the Zoo while enjoying your favorite brew! Local breweries, food trucks, yard games, bounce houses, and more!
The most authentic Virginia Beach Oktoberfest thrown by Wasserhund Brewing Company. 757 breweries pouring, food trucks, live music & DJ, and carnival rides.
Virginia Beach Friends School 1537 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach wasserhundbrewing.com
Virginia Beach Craft Beer Festival
Sat. & Sun., Oct. 20 & 21, 1-6pm
Over 50 craft beers from over 25 breweries. Live music. 31st Street Park, Virginia Beach beachstreetusa.com
Northern Virginia
Fredericksburg Brewfest
Sat., April 14, 11am-5pm
Featuring craft brewers from all over the region sampling some of their award-winning beers, live home brewing demonstrations, Virginia wine and whiskey, live music, and more!
Featuring cuisine from more than 60 Arlington restaurants and food trucks, live music, beer & wine garden with over 20 local breweries and wineries, BarkPark, and KidZone..
Wilson Boulevard between North Randolph Street & North Nelson Street
Arlington ballstonbid.com
Woodbridge Beer Fest
Sat., May 26, 11am-5pm
Enjoy beer, wine, food, live music, and more.
Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center
Woodbridge 703.594.7950
woodbridgebeer.com
Savor
Fri. & Sat., June 1 & 2, 7:30-11pm
Craft beer and small-plate pairings, collaboration beer, specialty food stations.
National Building Museum 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. savorcraftbeer.com
Rock the River FXBG
Sat., June 2, 7am-8pm
Combining the adventurous side of multi-sport river and foot races as well as the enjoyment of great beer, tasty food, kidfriendly activities, local art, and live music.
Old Mill Park, Fredericksburg 540.455.5605
rocktheriverfxbg.com
Workhouse
Brewfest
Sat., Aug. 4, 1-8pm
Featuring 40 Virginia craft breweries, artisan distilleries, and Virginia wineries, 12 of the region’s most popular bands, unique food trucks, lawn games, and access to see 12 art galleries and 65 artist studios.
Workhouse Arts Center 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton workhousebrewfest.org
Culpeper Block Party: Hop N Hog
sunday, Sept. 30
Downtown Culpeper 540.825.4416
culpeperdowntown.com
Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Leesburg
Sat., Sept., 29, 12-6pm (VIP); 2-6pm (GA)
60 beers on tap, 40 bourbons, great BBQ, and live music. Village at Leesburg
1602 Village Market Blvd. SE, Leesburg beerandbourbon.com
Shenandoah Valley
Rocktown Beer & Music Festival
Sat., April 21, 3-9pm
Music, food, & over 60 craft beers. Turner Pavilion & Park
One Court Square, Harrisonburg 540.432.8922 rocktownfestival.com
Of Ale and History Beer Fest
Sat., May 12, 11am-6pm
More than 60 beers, food, vendors, & live music by Cazhmiere and The Robbie Limon Band!
Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at gate
Belle Grove Plantation
336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown 540.869.2028 bellegrove.org
festival guide 2018
EPIC Fest
Sat., May 19, 11am-6pm
Live entertainment featuring five bands, food, beer, wine, vendors, home brew demonstrations, corn hole competition. Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at gate; $40 VIP
Elkton Volunteer Fire Company
414 South Eastside Highway, Elkton 540.383-6273 eltonepic.com
ValleyFest
Beer & Wine Festival
Sat., May 26, 11am-7pm
Sample regional wines and craft beer, listen to live music, enjoy delicious food, and browse the wares of crafters & artisans. Proceeds benefit the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
Featuring 40+ breweries, live entertainment, 6th annual homebrew competition and more. Proceeds benefit Gooddogz.org for pet rescue and Winchester SPCA. Old Town Winchester N. Loudon Street & West Boscawen Street Winchester hopblossom.com
Beers N’ Cheers at Valley Fourth
Wed., July 4, 5-9pm
A celebration of craft brews, local wines, and great music in the parking lot next to the Turner Pavilion. 212 South Main Street Harrisonburg 540-432-8922 downtownharrisonburg.org/valleyfourth
Shenandoah Valley Blues & Brews Festival
Sat., June 16, 2-8:30pm
Enjoy award-winning blues music, craft beer, food, and crafts. The Club at Ironwood 62 Country Club Circle, Staunton 540.324.3215
shenandoahconcerts.com
festival guide 2018
Summer Jam at Massanutten
Tues., July 3, 5-10pm
Music, beer, wine, food, and fireworks!
Massanutten Ski Area
4616 Massanutten Drive, McGaheysville
540.437.3368 massresort.com
Virginia Cider Festival
Sat., July 21,11am-5pm
Enjoy more than 15 Virginia cideries with more than 40 different hard ciders for tasting and purchase and live music.
Proceeds benefit Mercy House.
Valley Pike Farm Market
3494 Lee Highway, Weyers Cave
Food Truck Battle
Sun., Sept. 2, 11:30am-7pm
Food trucks from across the Commonwealth battle for fan favorites and grand championship. Plus, craft breweries will be entered into their own competition.
Tickets: VIP - $40; GA - $25
Augusta Expo Fisherville vafoodtruckbattle.com
Brew & Blues Fest
Sat., Sept. 22, noon-7pm.
50+ beers from breweries throughout Virginia and beyond, food vendors, live entertainment, and more!
Main & Chester Streets
Front Royal
540.635.3185 brewandblues.com
Southern Virginia
3rd Annual Brews & Bands
Sat., May 19, 1-6pm
Sample nearly two dozen craft beers while cheering on your favorite local band as they compete for our “Band of the Year.”
Presented by Wythe Arts Council.
300 North 4th Street, Wytheville
276.228.6855
wythe-arts.org
festival guide 2018
Virginia Mountains
Down by Downtown
April 19-21
Three days of music at venues throughout downtown Roanoke. Roanoke downbydowntown.com
Smith Mountain Lake Brews & Tunes Festival
Sat., May 5, 1-7pm
Featuring 40 craft beers and ciders from 20 local and regional craft breweries and cideries, over 60 crafter vendors, and live music by Goose Gossett and Barefoot West.
A unique craft beer experience celebrating Virginia-brewed India Pale Ales. Featuring more than a dozen IPAs brewed by Starr Hill in collaboration with several Virginia breweries. Plus enjoy live music, food trucks, and games.
Proceeds benefit a local charity.
Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage 6 Old Whitmore Avenue, Roanoke starrhill.com
Microfestivus
Sat., Aug. 11, 12-6pm
Featuring over 70 breweries and 180 beers, food, and live music.
West Side of Downtown Roanoke 540.224.1217
microfestivus.squaresociety.org
Legislative After Hours Mixer at Studio Brew Fri., April 6, 5:30-7:30pm
Be a champion for Agriculture and Food Access work in the Heart of Appalachia. Join us for a mixer of locals and legislators.
221 Moore Street, Bristol
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Game Night at Garden Grove Brewing
Every Monday
3445 West Cary St., Richmond
804.918.6158 • gardengrovebrewing.com
Rib Night at Wild Wolf Brewing Co. Every Monday, 5-10pm ½ rack of ribs served with beer battered fries.
2461 Rockfish Valley Hwy., Nellysford wildwolfbeer.com
Get specials on local beers on the local beer bucket offering.
852 W. Main St., Charlottesville
Trivia Night at Random Row Brewing Co. Every Sunday, 5-7pm
Hosted by Geeks Who Drink with prizes awarded to the best teams. 608 Preston Ave., Charlottesville randomrow.com
Easter Brunch Buffet at Blue Mountain Brewery
Sun., April 1, 9am-12pm
All you can eat brunch buffet. Regular menu and mimosas available. 9519 Critzer Shop Rd., Afton 540.456.8020 • bluemountainbrewery.com
Dyngus Day RVA 2018 at Castleburg Brewery & Taproom
Mon., April 2, 4-10pm
Featuring live polka music, the crowning of Miss Dyngus Day, Polish food by Richmond Sausage Company - all benefitting the Shriners Hospitals for Children
1626 Ownby Ln., Richmond castleburgbrewery.com
Cheers for Charity
Thurs., April 5, 4pm
Join Crozet Trails Crew as we kick-off our Cheers for Charity for the month of April. Raise a pint to support an organization interested in helping plan, build, and promote pedestrian and bicycle trails in and around Crozet. During the month of April, $1 from every pint sold supports Crozet Trails Crew.
Starr Hill Brewery & Tap Room
5391 Three Notch’d Road, Crozet starrhill.com
Retro Game Night at Bold Rock
Thurs., April 5, May 3, & June 7, 6:30-9pm
Featuring all your favorite retro games.
Bold Rock Cidery
1020 Rockfish Valley Hwy., Nellysford boldrock.com
Be Bold 4 Miler at Bold Rock
Sat., April 7, 9am-12pm
Runners receive a performance race shirt, tasting glass, post-race party with cider samples, live music, and food for purchase.
Bold Rock Cidery
1020 Rockfish Valley Hwy., Nellysford boldrock.com
Swine & Brine
Sat., April 7, 12-6pm
A celebration of craft beer and local food with a focus on oysters, pork dishes, and homemade sides, along with beer, cider, and prosecco.
Ardent Craft Ales
3200 W. Leigh Street, Richmond
Stable Craft Tasting at Wegmans Sun., April 8, 2-5pm
Sample Britchin Brown and Baldface Wegmans
100 Wegmans Way, Charlottesville
Trivia Night at Bold Rock Cider
Tues., April 10 & May 8, 6pm
Join us for trivia! Prizes will be awarded for first and second place teams!
1020 Rockfish Valley Highway, Nellysford boldrock.com
Legend Brewing Co. 24th Anniversary!
Sat., April 14, 12-7pm
Join us to celebrate 24 years of good beer and fun! Live bands on the city stage and food trucks plus beer and corn hole!
321 W. 7th Street, Richmond
Second Anniversary Celebration at The Veil Brewing Co.
Tues.-Sun., April 17-22, 4-8pm
Special beer releases each day and limited glassware and t-shirts available. Special/vintage kegs tapping on Sunday, April 22.
1301 Roseneath Rd., Richmond theveilbrewing.com
Earth Day Festival & Market at Center of the Universe
Sat., April 21, 4-7pm
Enjoy the full Farmers Market experience with an eclectic assortment of artisan vendors and growers from around the region plus live music by The Royal We RVA and food by Grandpa Eddie’s BBQ.
11293 Air Park Rd., Ashland cotubrewing.com
Dance Party at Wild Wolf Brewing Co. Thurs., April 26 & May 31, 7-9pm
Enjoy a different themed dance party each month.
2461 Rockfish Valley Hwy., Nellysford wildwolfbeer.com
Pints for Paws
Sun., April 29, 10am-5pm
Bring your dog for fun and excitement! There will be dog training events, demonstrations, dog related vendors, and more! Proceeds benefit Mahogany Ridge.
Coyote Hole Ciderworks
225 Oak Grove Drive, Mineral
Cheers for Charity Tues., May 1, 4pm
Join Red Shoe C’ville for koozie giveaways and bingo as we kick-off Cheers for Charity partnership for the month of May. Raise a pint to support this organization’s mission to engage, empower, and inspire the community to participate in philanthropic and leadership endeavors and build awareness of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. During the month of May, $1 from every pint sold supports Red Shoe C’ville.
Starr Hill Brewery & Tap Room 5391 Three Notch’d Road, Crozet starrhill.com
Stable Craft Tap Takeover at Jack Brown’s Tues., May 1, 5-9pm
Jack Brown’s Burger Joint 109 2nd Street SE, Charlottesville
Two Year Anniversary Celebration at Castleburg Brewery & Taproom Sat., May 26, 1-10:30pm
Featuring special beer releases, guest taps, live music, and food. 1626 Ownby Ln., Richmond castleburgbrewery.com
Cheers for Charity Fri., June 1, 4pm
Join The Ivy Creek Foundation as we kick-off Cheers for Charity partnership for the month of June. Raise a pint to support this organization inspiring awareness of human interaction with our environment and engage others in stewardship of our natural and cultural history. During the month of June, $1 from every pint sold supports The Ivy Creek
Join your favorite brewery’s representative as they walk you through a free sampling of new and exciting beers.
325b W. 21st St., Norfolk 757.918.9932 • bottlebox.beer
Expedition Beer Release at Bold Mariner Brewing Co.
Every Thursday
Featuring a new expedition beer each week. Plus, join us for Trivia Night! 2409 Bowdens Ferry Rd., Norfolk boldmariner.com
Trivia Night at Brass Cannon
Every Thursday, 6:30pm 5476 Mooretown Road, Williamsburg brasscannonbrewing.com
Virginia Craft Beer Thursday
Every Thursday
Enjoy local VA brewed beers for $3 a pint.
Tapped Gastropub 1550 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach
757.965.5585 • tappedgastropub.com
Trivia Night at Big Ugly
First Thursday Every Month, 6:30-8:30pm
Foundation. Starr Hill Brewery & Tap Room 5391 Three Notch’d Road, Crozet starrhill.com
COASTAL VIRGINIA
Trivia Night at Wasserhund Brewing Co.
Every Monday, 7-9pm 1805 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach 757.351.1326 • wasserhundbrewing.com
Trivia Night at Home Republic
Every Tuesday, 7pm
Featuring Smartmouth Live Trivia. 328 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach 757.226.9593 homerepublicvabeach.com
Who’s on First, I Don’t Knows at ExceptionALE Join us the first and third Tuesday of each month for our tasting series; each will feature a different brewery or style of beer.
Second Thursday Every Month, 6:30-8:30pm 1129 Boissevain Ave., Norfolk benchtopbrewing.com
Trivia Night at MoMac Brewing Co.
Third Thursday Every Month, 6:30-8:30pm 3228 Academy Avenue, Portsmouth
Trivia Night at Deadline Brewing Project
Fourth Thursday Every Month, 6:30-8:30pm 2272 W. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach
Firkin Friday at Cogans North
Every Friday
A new firkin is tapped each week. 4311 Colley Ave., Norfolk 757.627.6428 • coganspizza.com
Live Music at Alewerks Taproom Every Sunday, 2pm 189-B Ewell Rd., Williamsburg alewerks.com
Poses and Pints at O’Connor Brewing Co. Every second and fourth Sunday; 10:30-11:45am
Alicia Morris will be leading a class followed by the opportunity to have a couple of post-yoga beers at a great discount. Class is donation-based with a portion going to charity. Please arrive 15 minutes early as space is limited.
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
Tartan Day at Coelacanth Fri., April 6, 4:30-7:30pm
Celebrate Tartan Day! We will re-release limited supplies of Selfish Giant and do some fun things in the randall. Plus, wear a kilt and get a complimentary Selfish Giant.
760-A W. 22nd St., Norfolk coelacanth.com
Parkway Brewing Company hosts its annual Oyster Roast on Saturday, April 21. Bruno’s Gastropub will be serving up Rappahannock River Oysters and The Harwell Grice Band and Relacksachian will be providing the tunes.
First Saturday’s Food Fight
Sat., April 7
Featuring Taste of Asia, Thai Express, Capt’n Crabby
Commonwealth Brewing Co.
2444 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach commonwealthbrewingcompany.com
Mosquito Cabaret at Bearded Bird Brewing Co.
Sat., April 7, 8-10pm
A fantastic night filled with music, art, and tasty brews!
Bearded Bird Brewing Co.
727 Granby Street, Norfolk
National Beer Day & Session Beer Day & Zephyrweisse Release
Sat., April 7, 12-10pm
Zephyrweisse Beer Release – our take on a hefeweizen.
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
Spring Crafted at O’Connor Brewing Co.
Sat. & Sun., April 7 & 8, 12-6pm
Shop the indoor Spring Market and enjoy craft beer, food trucks, and live music all in one place!
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
Tap the Vault at Alewerks Taproom
Sat. & Sun., April 7 & 8, 12-6pm
Alewerks will be opening the beer vault and tapping rare and exciting beers all weekend.
189-B Ewell Rd., Williamsburg alewerks.com
Jazz Brunch
Sun., April 8, 12-4pm
Live jazz music and food by The Coop & Doughminion Donuts
Commonwealth Brewing Co.
2444 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach commonwealthbrewingcompany.com
Hilton Centennial Beer Release Party at Tradition Brewing Co.
Fri., April 13, 6-10pm
Tradition has brewed an Extra Special Bitter for the Hilton Village 100 tribute. It’s a traditional English Ale that was popular during the early 1900s and appropriately named “The Villager.”
2444 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach commonwealthbrewingcompany.com
Hop on the Brew Bus
Sat., April 14, 1-5pm
A brew bus tour to Smartmouth, Rip Rap, and O’Connor breweries. $40 Brew Bus pass includes: 3 pints of beer, transportation, discount vouchers, a chance to win prizes, and on-site drinking games. Proceeds benefit EVMS Autism Spectrum Disorder Program. Norfolk & Virginia Beach Eventbrite.com/e/brew-bustickets-42328261971
Quiz Night at Green Flash Mon., April 16 & May 21, 6-7:30pm
Bring your smarts for Quiz Night at the brewery and you could win some great Green Flash prizes! Arrive with a team (of 5 members or less), or find your team on the spot. Admission is free and no registration is required.
1209 Craft Lane, Virginia Beach
2018 St. Baldricks
Sat., April 21, 4-6pm
Several people will be sitting in the barber chair to be shaved to raise money for childhood cancer research.
Ocelot celebrates its third anniversary with a special Triple IPA release on Saturday, April 21 in Sterling.
Starfire Festival at O’Connor Brewing Co.
Sat., April 21, 12-10pm
A celebration of music, art, comics, & video game culture.
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
Spring Market
Sat., April 28, 12-7pm
Featuring 20 local artists & small businesses and food by Waffletina & Gastrohub
Commonwealth Brewing Co.
2444 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach commonwealthbrewingcompany.com
NYC Comedy Night at Coelacanth
Sun., April 29, 8-10pm
Produced by Herron Entertainment and featuring some of the best NYC/LA based comedians.
760-A W. 22nd St., Norfolk coelacanth.com
Beer Release at O’Connor Brewing Co. Fri., May 4, 3-10pm
Spyhop White IPA – Belgian-inspired White India Pale Ale infused with an abundance of hops.
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
Cinco de Mayo Celebration at O’Connor Brewing Co.
Sat., May 5, 12-10pm
Featuring special variants of El Guapo and introducing a new Mexican lager. Plus, music by Los Ramones and food trucks from Karnage Asada and Captain Crabby’s.
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
First Saturday’s Food Fight Sat., May 5
Featuring Get Stuffed & Hangrys Commonwealth Brewing Co.
2444 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach commonwealthbrewingcompany.com
Sir Vesa Release/Cinco de Mayo Party Sat., May 5
Smartmouth Brewing Co. & Smartmouth Pilot House
Norfolk & Virginia Beach smartmouthbrewing.com
Beer Release at O’Connor Brewing Co. Fri., May 11, 3-10pm Kilauea Bay Mango Saison – part of the Endless Saison Series 211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.com
OBC’s Ocean Friendly Beer Garden
Celebration Sat., May 12
Join OBC, Surfrider Foundation, and Norfolk Botanical Gardens for this event where you can learn about how to plant an ocean-friendly garden and enjoy a Kilauea Bay Mango Saison.
211 W. 24th St., Norfolk oconnorbrewing.co
Smartmouth Spring Street Party Sat., May 12, 12-8pm
Join us for live bands, amazing food trucks, and a wide selection of beers including several unique styles brewed at our Pilot House small-batch facility.
Live jazz music and food by The Coop & Doughminion Donuts
Commonwealth Brewing Co. 2444 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach commonwealthbrewingcompany.com
NYC Comedy Night at Alewerks Taproom
Fri., May 18 7:30-9:30pm
Produced by Herron Entertainment and featuring the best NYC/LA based comedians.
189-B Ewell Rd., Williamsburg alewerks.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Citizen’s Choice Randall Beer Infusion Night
Every Monday, 3-7pm
Brew Republic Bierwerks
15201 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge
Guerilla Series Release Night at Brew Republic Bierworks
Every Monday 12-10pm
The Guerrilla Series is Brew Republic’s pilot/experimental program — with a new release every Monday in the tap room. These beers are brewed in extremely small batches, so no growler fills, no keg sales, and no distribution.
15201 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge
Team Trivia at Ornery Beer Co.
Every Monday, 7:30pm Happy Hour extended to 9pm. Weekly prizes!
14389 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at O’Connor Brewing Co. in Norfolk with special variants of El Guapo, the release of a new Mexican lager, music by Los Ramones, and food from Karnage Asada and Captian Crabby’s.
Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Co.
Every Tuesday, 7-9pm
$20 includes the class and post-yoga pint. 3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria portcitybrewing.com
Local Heroes Night at Adventure Brewing
Every Tuesday, 3:30-9pm
20% off all beer, merchandise, snacks, and goods to military, police, fire, emergency, and teachers.
Adventure Brewing Company
33 Perchwood Dr., Unit 101, Stafford 540.242.8876 facebook.com/adventurebrewing/
Trivia Night at Wort Hog Brewing Company
Every Tuesday, 6-8pm 41 Beckham Street, Warrenton
Vinyl Night at Lost Rhino Brewing Co.
Every Tuesday, 6-9pm
Bring your own vinyl!
21730 Red Rum Drive, #142, Ashburn
Bingo Night at Crooked Run Brewing Co.
Every Wednesday, 7-9pm 22455 Davis Drive, Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com
Flight Night at Bad Wolf Brewing Co.
Every Wednesday
Happy Hour pricing on flights. 8420 Kao Circle, Manassas
725 E. Main Street, Purcellville bellylovebrewing.com
Firkin Friday at Fair Winds Brewing Co.
Every Friday
A new firkin is released every Friday. Food from Savory Delicatessen 7000 Newington Road, Lorton 703.372.2001 • fairwindsbrewing.com
Justin’s Flavor Infusion Night
Every Friday, 3:30-10pm
We combine off the wall ingredients with one of our beers to create a one-of-a-kind beer.
Adventure Brewing Company
33 Perchwood Dr., Unit 101, Stafford 540.242.8876 facebook.com/adventurebrewing
Live Music at Adventure Brewing Co.
Every Friday 8-10pm
33 Perchwood Dr., Unit 101, Stafford 540.242.8876 facebook.com/adventurebrewing
Live Music at Lost Rhino Retreat
Every Friday, 7-10pm 22885 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn lostrhino.com
Food Truck Saturdays at Solace Brewing Company
Every Saturday, 12-10pm 42615 Trade West Drive, Suite 100, Sterling
Open Mic Night at Brew Republic Bierwerks
Every Saturday, 7:30-10:30pm 15201 Potomac Town Place, Ste. 120, Woodbridge 703.594.7950
Live Music at Lost Rhino Brewing Co.
Every Saturday, 7-10pm 21730 Red Rum Drive, #142, Ashburn
Art Opening at Adventure Brewing North
First Sunday each month; 12-3pm
The 1st Sunday of each month, Adventure Brewing North will feature a new local artist.
33 Perchwood Dr., Unit 101, Fredericksburg adventurebrewing.com
Hangover Brunch at Lost Rhino Retreat Every Sunday, 11am-2pm 22885 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn lostrhino.com
Solace and Food on Sundays at Solace Brewing Company
Every Sunday, 12-8pm 42615 Trade West Drive, Suite 100, Sterling
Sunday Funday at Brew Republic
Every Sunday 12-10pm
Join us every Sunday for football, board games, hot and BBQ chicken wings, $5 mimosas, and of course, beer! 15201 Potomac Town Place, Ste. 120, Woodbridge 703.594.7950
Yoga at Wort Hog Brewery
Every other Sunday; 11:30am-1pm 41 Beckham Street, Warrenton 540.300.2739
Strong Beer Tasting at Mad Fox Brewing Wed., April 4, 7-10pm
Meet the brewers and brewery/brewpub owners from across the region and taste their amazing Strong Beer and Ale selections. $55 per person.
444 West Broad Street, Suite I, Falls Church madfoxbrewing.com
1st Crawfish Boil of the Season at Fairwinds Sat., April 7, 1-4pm
A $40 ticket includes All You Can Eat crawfish, potatoes, and corn. Beer sold separately.
7000 Newington Road, Suites K&L, Lorton
Brothers Craft Brewing has partnered with CrossKeys Vineyards to bring you a four course dinner paired with four wines and four beers. The event will be held Saturday, April 28 at CrossKeys in Mount Crawford.
Hops & History
Wed., April 18, 5:30-7pm
View objects from the Fredericksburg Area Museum and learn more about the organization and its upcoming events..
Red Dragon Brewery
1419 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg reddragonbrewery.com
3rd Year Anniversary Party at Ocelot Sat., April 21, 12-7pm
Featuring a Triple IPA, with each entrance ticket is guaranteed a 4 pack, plus food & special vendors.
Ocelot Brewing Company
23600 Overland Drive, Suite 180, Sterling red.vendini.com
Mile Stone Jam 2 Sat., May 5, 12-11pm
Featuring musical acts from every corner of Virginia.
View objects from the Fredericksburg Area Museum and learn more about the organization and its upcoming events.. Adventure Brewing Company North 33 Perchwood Drive, Fredericksburg adventurebrewing.com
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Team Trivia at Winchester Brew Works Every Monday, 6:30pm
Teams of 6 compete for gift certificates and prizes!
320 N. Cameron St., Winchester winchesterbrewworks.com
Randall Night at Wolfe Street Brewing
Every Tuesday
Enjoy a specialty beer we infuse using our randall!
120 W. Wolfe St., Harrisonburg wolfestreetbrewing.com
Virginia Craft on Draft Every Tuesday, 3-5pm
Enjoy all Virginia pints for $4 and all Virginia Belgians for $5. Brew Ridge Taps
11 E. Nelson St., Lexington 540.461.8012 • brewridgetaps.com
Enjoy the full Farmers Market experience with an eclectic assortment of artisan vendors and growers from around the region at the Earth Day Festival & Market at Center of the Universe on Saturday, April 21, 4-7pm.
Backs to Basic Yoga Night at Basic City Beer Co.
Every Tuesday, 6-7pm
$10 includes yoga and a pint. 1010 E. Main St., Waynesboro basiccitybeer.com
Bingo Night at Wolfe Street Brewing
Every Wednesday
Winners of each bingo round receive $15 gift cards to the tasting room.
120 W. Wolfe St., Harrisonburg wolfestreetbrewing.com
Open Mic Night at Queen City Brewing
Every Wednesday
834 Spring Hill Rd., Staunton qcbrewing.com
Live Music at Woodstock Brewhouse
Every Thursday, 6pm 123 E. Court St., Woodstock OM Brew at Seven Arrows Brewing Co.
Every Saturday, 10:30-11:30am $10 includes yoga and a beer after class.
2508 Jefferson Hwy., Waynesboro sevenarrowsbrewing.com
Cask for a Cause at Brothers Craft Brewing
Fri., April 20, 4-11pm
April’s Cask for a Cause will benefit Wild Virginia, a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to preserving wild forest ecosystems in Virginia’s National Forests.
800 N. Main Street, Harrisonburg
Hop Stringing at Stable Craft
Brewing
Sat., April 21, 8am-4pm
Learn the ups and downs of hop stringing on a commercial trellis system and the importance of farm to table beer. Work for 4 or 6 hours and get rewarded! Sign up by emailing info@ stablecraftbrewing.com.
375 Madrid Rd., Waynesboro stablecraftbrewing.com
Pints & Ponies at Stable Craft Brewing
Wed., April 25 & May 30, 6-8pm
Meet the horses of our farm up close and personal in the stables adjacent to the taproom. It’s a great way to learn about equine care and interact with horses in a controlled environment.
375 Madrid Rd., Waynesboro stablecraftbrewing.com
Run, Sweat, & Beers at Brothers Craft Brewing Fri., April 27, 5:30-8:30pm 1, 3, & 5 mile running options. Brought to you by VA Momentum. Discounted brews in the tasting room!
800 N. Main Street, Harrisonburg
Handmade Harrisonburg at Pale Fire Brewing
Sat., April 28, 1-6pm
2nd annual arts and crafts market featuring handmade goods from local creators.
217 S. Liberty Street, #105, Harrisonburg
Wine & Beer Pairing
Sat., April 28, 5:30-8:30pm
CrossKeys Vineyards and Brothers Craft Brewing partner to include both wine and beer paired perfectly with a four course dinner. Sample four wines and four beers.
CrossKeys Vineyards
6011 E. Timber Ridge Road, Mount Crawford wineweb.com
May the Horse Be with You –Party with the Stars
Fri., May 4, 4-10pm
Celebrate “The Force” dressed as your favorite Star Wars character for an out-of-thisworld costume contest.
Stable Craft Brewing
375 Madrid Rd., Waynesboro stablecraftbrewing.com
3rd Annual Kentucky Derby Birthday Bash
Sat., May 5, 12-10pm
Celebrate in Derby fashion with a hat contest, beer releases, and much more!.
375 Madrid Rd., Waynesboro stablecraftbrewing.com
Paddling Film Festival at Basic City Beer Co.
Wed., May 9, 7-9:30pm
The Best Paddling Films in the world special screening, pre-film social hour with food and area businesses and organizations to answer questions about paddling opportunities in the area.
1010 E. Main St., Waynesboro basiccitybeer.com
Bike or Run, Sweat & Beers at Brothers Craft Brewing
Fri., May 25, 5:30-8:30pm 1, 3, & 5 mile running options. Brought to you by VA Momentum. And, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition will lead a bike portion in honor of Bike Month. Discounted brews in the tasting room!
800 N. Main Street, Harrisonburg
SOUTHERN VIRGINIA
Yoga, Beer and Pizza at Ballard Brewing
Every Wednesday, 5-6pm 600 Craghead St., Danville balladbrewing.com
VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS
Body by Parkway Runner’s Club
Every Thurs., 6pm Parkway Brewing 739 Kessler Mill Road, Salem 540.483.9293 parkwaybrewing.com
Shine Runners Club Thurs., April 5, May 3, & June 7, 6pm 3 miles, 5 miles, or just walk and then socialize at the brewery.
Monthly STEM Tavern featuring a fascinating science presentation plus good beer! 523 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke smwv.org
Oyster Roast at Parkway Sat., April 21, 12pm
Bruno’s GastroTruck will be serving up Rappahannock River Oysters and there will be 2 bands, The Harwell Grice Band and Relacksachian plus great craft beer!
Parkway Brewing 739 Kessler Mill Road, Salem 540.483.9293 parkwaybrewing.com
4th Anniversary Party at Chaos Mountain Sat., May 12, 12-10pm
Gallop for the Greenways After Party Fri., May 11, 8am
Support Roanoke’s growing network of pedestrian and bicycle trails. We will host the post-race festivities including music, food, and beverages. Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage 6 Old Whitmore Avenue, Roanoke starrhill.com
MASTER BREWER
Stony Point Design/Build is seeking a creative, motivated, and experienced Master Brewer to assist with the concepting and startup of a NEW BREWPUB IN GORDONSVILLE , VA. The new establishment will be located in the historic town hall on charming main street, and will serve as an anchor destination to the burgeoning redevelopment of the historic downtown.
tibetan pale ale
We just brewed a very special beer with our Tibetan friends - something never done before - a beer brewed in the US with Tibetans using Tibetan barley and Tibetan water! 4.9% ABV | 45 IBU
