RVA Beer Explorer Weekly Picks

GO DO THIS

Learn How to Brew! with Tony Ammendolia – Final Gravity, Wednesday (second date 1/17)

If you want to learn about brewing your own beer you’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of a home brewer than Tony. He’s turned his love of home brewing into a mini-beer empire in Lakeside with the brewery Final Gravity and the brewing supply shop Original Gravity.

Love beer? Make your own! Learn How to Homebrew with Owner and Head Brewer, Tony Ammendolia. He’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get you started in extract brewing and answer all your questions along the way. Only $25 for the class BUT if you buy a Homebrew and Ingredient kit and John Palmer’s book, “How To Brew”, the night of the class – we’ll put your $25 towards your purchase. Want to give someone the incredible gift of brewing? You can also get the class for FREE if you purchase the kits and the book before the class. What a great gift for the holidays! Tickets are available at Final Gravity.

Lobo Marino, OwlRare, Justin Golden – Champion RVA, Thursday

Champion didn’t start in RVA but their RVA location is embracing the RVA music scene. Their weekly series begins for the second year this Thursday.

Science Pub in Ashland – Center of the Universe, Sunday

Science Pub is the brilliant combination of scientific experts, beer, and curious common folk. On Sunday the science will be happening at Center of the Universe which somehow is very fitting. You can register here, but that won’t guarantee you a seat, those are on a first-come, first-serve basis so get there early.

Photo: Science Pub at Triple Crossing

Chill out with other curious minds and absorb something in an atmosphere where no science background is expected.

It’s going to be a fun night! We’ll hear from two early career researchers who recently won their University’s Three-Minute-Thesis contests.

Rachel Davies, a PhD Candidate at VCU, will talk about using medicinal chemistry to make and study street drugs called Bath Salts.

And Dr. Diana Dinescu of UVA will discuss using twin studies to explore the relationship between motherhood and mental health.

The program will begin at 6:00 pm and will wrap around 7:30 pm.

Game Night  & Free Arcade Games – Strangeways, Monday

Board game night is something that nearly every brewery is hosting. I attend the one at Triple Crossing (Foushee) on Tuesday nights. This one is a new, to me, that includes free open play on the video games that Strangeways has in the back bar. So if you don’t have friends to play Dominion with you can least play video golf.

BEER NEWS

Locally produced Stone brew packs global ingredients, global impact – RTD

The local paper takes a look at Stone’s dark stout Xocoveza.  A fascinating look at a beer with a long reach.

Ingredients include vanilla from Madagascar, coffee from Brazil, pasilla peppers from Mexico and cinnamon from Sri Lanka, says Lizzie Younkin, public relations manager for Stone. Additionally, “we use German Perle and English East Kent Golding hops. The dark-roasted malts and roasted barley are English,” she says.

Brewery roundup 2017: Another boozy year for Richmond – Richmond BizSense.com

A nice wrap-up of the year in breweries in RVA. They did miss the most important trend in breweries, pinball machines. Strangeways was the first, but now you can chase the silver ball at Center of the Universe, Final Gravity, and Champion.

Legend Brewing closed for a bit – Facebook

Every year in January Legend shuts down for a deep clean. They announced on Facebook, that time is upon us again.

Castleburg leaving the castle for a bar near you – Facebook

The brewery that is often described as the little brewery near Hardywood had big news to share yesterday. You’ll soon be able to try out their tasty beverages at your local.

Happy New Year everyone! 2017 was a great year, but we’re really looking forward to 2018 and what it has to offer. In addition to our expansion, we are thrilled to announce that we have signed with Virginia Craft Distribution Company. So the next time your eating at your favorite restaurant or enjoying a visit at your neighborhood bar, ask for a Castleburg brew. Cheers.

DRINK THIS

Circle of Wolves Release – The Veil Brewing Co., Tuesday

Photo: The Veil Brewing Co.

Circle of Wolves is our beloved English barleywine that we created with intentions of spending extended periods of time in barrels. Clocking in at 12.8%, this batch spent 20 months in a mix of Heaven Hill and Four Roses Bourbon barrels. It then spent another 1.5 months in the bottle. Full bodied with beautiful notes of raisins, dark fruits, honey, Bourbon, and maple syrup. We genuinely believe that bourbon barrel aged Circle of Wolves is one of the most elegant beers we’ve released and we are beyond pleased to share this one with you. The second vintage of this beer will not be released for over 12-18 months, so grab this one while you can. There will be limited draft available of this on Tuesday also. Approx 1000x 500ml bottles will be available on Tuesday. $18+tax each. 2x bottles per person limit. *LIMITS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

One More Rep DIPA w/ Crunch Fitness Release – Three Notch’d Collab House, Thursday

Join us every Thursday for a new release and Pint Specials. Also new to 2018 Trivia Night RVA has moved to Thursday Night’s at 7pm. Try a new beer, get your team together and compete for glory. Check out this week’s release:

“One More Rep” DIPA
ABV: 8.6%
IBU: 25
Collaboration w/ Crunch Fitness

“One More Rep” is a collaboration with Crunch Fitness RVA, with four locations across Richmond, one right here in Scott’s Addition! Crunch has a “No Judgements” philosophy, meaning there’s room for everyone, regardless of shape, size, age, race, gender or fitness level. It also means they encourage you to enjoy what you like outside of the gym, like a pint of great beer! One More Rep is a low bitterness DIPA, emphasizing the juicy, citrus and tropical flavors of Falconer’s Flight, Citra and Mosaic hops. A variety of light malts provides a smooth mouthfeel and glowing orange color. This one packs a punch!

Illuminati, Triangles and Icarus 3 Can Release – Triple Crossing, Friday

No details yet on this release but it’s a pair of DIPA and an IPA coming out from Triple Crossing so it’s got to be good. The Facebook event has the location as Fulton but I’d assume that these will be available at both spots.

Empress Evelyn Imperial IPA Release – Hardywood, Friday

Originally brewed as a part of our Brewer & Artist Series, Evelyn returns as Empress Evelyn in this imperial interpretation by Hardywood lead brewer, Kevin Storm, crowed with new label artwork by Mike Baker. Long live the Empress Evelyn! 8.9% ABV

BEERSTAGRAM