RVA Beer Explorer
RVA Beer Explorer

GO DO THIS
6th Annual St Patty’O Crawl w/ Bands, Bagpipes & Green Beverages – Southern Railway Taphouse, Saturday
And so it begins, the shilling of Irish culture for drunken amusement.ย They’re trying to justify the use of St. Patty but they’ve never been more wrong and if you’re drinking green beverages you’re doing it seriously wrong. I’m well aware that my criticism will not prevent hundreds from showing up and having a good time.
It’s our 6th Annual St. Patty ‘O Party (we know it’s PADDY but it’s on our PATIO so that’s how we’ll spell it!) hosted by Melissa Chase & Jack from 103.7 Play and this year we’ve teamed up with ShipLock Brewing as well! If you’ve been before you already know it’s THE place to get lucky! This year we’ve got LIVE performances by The Austin Ferguson Band & DJ Ty Street from Va. Beach, plus East of Blue Ridge & Zack Artis, with our very own DJ Jay Woods mixing it up inside all day!
$1 GREEN CRAFT BEVERAGE SPECIALS STARTING AT 12:00PM at SHIPLOCK!
It’s FREE to get in all day so mark your calendar and come where the beer and the luck are plentiful!
Cap Trail Clean-Up & Celebration – Stone Brewing, Saturday
The special on beer is only for the first round but you really aren’t doing it for the beer you’re doing it for Mother Nature,ย so get out there and help clean-up the human’s mess.
LINK TO SIGNUP: https://goo.gl/forms/GpUp1EYP1BRY2Tr73
We’re back for another Cap Trail Clean-up! This time we will be assigning miles to volunteer groups to make sure we clean as much of the Trail as possible! Supplies and snacks will be provided by VCTF. We will have four starting locations for our teams:
-Great Shiplock Park: Richmond, VA
-Four Mile Creek Trailhead: Henrico, VA
-Indian Fields Tavern: Charles City County, VA
-Jamestown Settlement Trailhead: James City County, VACleanup: 12pm-2pm
After Parties: 2pm-4pmWe will have two after party locations at Stone Brewing in Richmond and Billsburg Brewery in Williamsburg with special discounts for volunteers.
Billsburg Brewery
Food: Creekside Catering and Matchsticks BBQ
$1 off the $7 regularly priced pintsStone Brewing
Food: Haulin’ Balls
$5 pints on Stone core beer selection**the special prices are for the first round only
Southpaw Battle Coalition – Champion Brewing, Saturday
Southpaw Battle Coalition is Virginia’s premier emcee battle league. Until this moment I didn’t know that Virginia had a premier emcee battle league. Now you have an opportunity to check it ou this weekend.
Southpaw Battle Coalition takes over Champion Brewing Co. for the first time! w/ a return of old and the emergence of new talent, as Breeze The Poet returns against Habeeb. Henny L.O. faces off against J Morr. Robalu vs Jordan Bailey. Chance Fischer vs Face and King Fizzle vs Toiryan. It’s going to be crazy! Have some beers, Hear some bars! Have a great time in a great environment!
St. Patty’s Day Celebration – Kindred Spirit Brewing, Sunday
Again with the Patty but this time no justification. I will however still support any event with bagpipes.
The luck of the Irish is at Kindred Spirit Brewing. Put on your green and skip, hop, leap or run on over. Smok-N-Pigz will be cooking up all the favorites starting at 1pm. Damian Allen will take the stage at 2pm. Special Guest appearance by Justin Ingram playing the bagpipes.
St. Paddy’s Day with Cafe Rustika – Final Gravity, Sunday
See, that’s not so hard, St. Paddy.
Cafe Rustika returns to Final Gravity for Saint Patrick’s Day! Head chef, Sam George – who has perfected the German fare – can also bring the Irish game like no other. He will be onsite in the tasting room delivering authentic style Reubens and bangers & mash to accompany your Irish Goodbye Foreign Stout. Every ingredient is handmade at the restaurant and will be a gaelic experience you won’t want to miss!
DRINK THIS
Defenestrator Release – Ardent, Thursday
Defenestrator returns! This annual collaboration brewed with our friends from The Cask Cafe is one of our favorite projects of the year. #neverstoplagering
Defenestrator is a ruby brown doppelbock with a malty aroma and mild fruity notes. The clean, full-bodied mouthfeel complements the nutty flavor with malty, bready sweetness that finishes crisp for an easy-drinking, mellow doppelbock.
8.7% ABV โข 22 IBU
Draft only + crowler/growler fills
Ancient Mariner Gose & Low Earth Orbit DIPA – Final Gravity, Friday
Hold the phones – IT’S A DOUBLE RELEASE!
Two delicious beers are hitting the taps this week:
1- Ancient Mariner Gose makes its long awaited return. Get caught by the spell of this refreshingly fruity brew with the perfect balance of tart and a tinge of saltiness. A rotating variety of exhilarating flavors including raspberry, blackberry, passionfruit, and mango will be offered (TBA). Enjoy by the glass – no Crowlers available. 4.5% ABV
2- After a heavy week, come experience a glass of Low Earth Orbit Double IPA with Apollo, Galaxy, and Citra hops. Refreshing flavors of passionfruit, grapefruit, and lime will elevate your spirit and lighten your mental load. Growler fills and Crowlers. 8% ABV
The Executioner (2019) Release – Castleburg, Friday
Back with blade in hand, The Executioner makes it’s long-awaited return to Castleburg with a new look for 2019. This year the dark, rich, chocolatey imperial porter was aged on black cherry puree and bourbon soaked oak chips for a healthy amount of time before having a ridiculous amount of cocoa nibs added. The result brings us a boozy chocolate covered dark cherry with hints of oak and subtle warming from the bourbon.
8.8% abv
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RVA Beer Explorer
RVA Beer Explorer: Burlesque, JamPacked Beer Festival, Three Notch’d Kitchen Grand Opening
Once again the weather is cooling off for the weekend. Get out there and do stuff, this stuff right here.

GO DO THIS
Pours and Pasties Burlesque & Variety Show at Strangeways (Dabney Road)
August 12th
Always a fan of burlesque and beer and I haven’t plugged this event in a while so here you go and you should go.
Burlesque Right Meow is back at Strangeways Brewing and ready to heat things up for this summer time show! This cast full of fabulous entertainers will excite and delight you all night long! Join us for a unforgettable evening of burlesque and variety while enjoying the unique and delicious craft brews of Strangeways!
This month’s spectacular performers:
Briiyana Jay
Darshe Dazzles
Francesca Lyn
Murphy Lawless
Poppy la Fae
Sally Stardust
Scarlet Starlet
With feature performer Jacqueline Boxxe from MD!
Hosted by Ego Von Hubris
***We ask that all patrons wear a mask regardless of vaccination status while not actively drinking. Disposable masks will be available***
Doors at 8:30pm, show at 9pm
Tickets are just $12 in advance, $15 at the door for general admission
**WE ARE NOW OFFERING VIP TICKETS FOR THIS SHOW!!! Do you want a guaranteed front row seat reserved for you at Pours and Pasties? VIP tickets are now available for $20! You can only get these in advance and just 10 are available so get them before they’re gone for the best seats in the house!**
Get your tickets at: https://BRMaug2022.bpt.me
JamPacked Craft Beer and Music Festival on Brown’s Island
August 13th
The website has more information when you scroll down.ย I have not heard of the bands Lettuce, Spafford, Big Something, Magic Beans, and FeelFree but perhaps you have. They have an impressive list of 39 breweries. General Admission is $25 (day of price $35, no cash at the gate) and gives you access to music all day with food & beverage for purchase. Not a lot of food options only Shakedown Eats, Goatocado, 1115 Mobile Kitchen and JiJi Frozen Custard.
The JamPacked Craft Beer and Music Festival is committed to creating a waste-free event utilizing only recyclable materials and helping to create a great local experience in the Richmond market.
Three Notch’d Brewing RVA GRAND OPENING
August 12-14th
I stopped by the new restauranty side of Three Notch’d last week. It was solid. Nothing blew me away but definitely worth checking out and I’ll be back. The Pretzel Bites which I didn’t order, looked tasty are on special so it’s probably worth it just for that.
It’s finally here… our kitchen and FULL SERVICE BAR is finally open and ready for you! Come join us for our Grand Opening weekend!
WEEKEND SPECIALS:
$5 Pretzel Bites
$8 Bowmanโs Whiskey Smash
$5 Beer Specials
FREE goodie bags for kids ft. coloring pages and more!
BEER NEWS
You might say trouble is bubbling up.
Carbon dioxide shortage brewing up trouble for breweries in central Virginia – NBC12
Gott said his bill for CO2 was more than he usually pays due to a shortage in carbon dioxide.
โGasoline Fees, of course, fuel fees and the surcharges for the disruption of the CO2 supply was $743,โ Gott said.
He said the disruption was due to one of the larger CO2 providers in the country running into a contamination issue last month.
Gott said now his supplier has to drive hundreds of miles for an ingredient that goes into what you drink and helps push your beer through the production process.
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RVA Beer Explorer
RVA Beer Explorer: 804 Day, Alex Fest, Forever Summer Fest, Hop Harvest Fest
The end of summer is on the horizon take advantage of every beer minute.

GO DO THIS
804 DAY – Celebrate RVA @ Buskey Cider!
August 4th
Happy 804 Day I hope Fixie Claus brings you a PBR and a knit cap. Yes, a cider event but there will be beer as well.
Celebrate RVA on #804Day! On Thursday, August 4th, aka 8/04 Day, Buskey Cider will be throwing the 6th Annual event, celebrating all that is Richmond!
๐ซ๐๐ซLIMITED RELEASE CIDER: We’ll be releasing a special batch of 804 Day Buskey Triple Berry Cider in collaboration with Agriberry! Made with blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Available on draft only for a limited time.
๐ FOOD: Snag some delicious local barbecue from our friends at 191 Smokery. 5pm-8:30.
๐บ LOCAL BEERS: Enjoy 804 Day with pints of cider and select beers from around the 804 in the cidery to celebrate. Available from 5pm on.
>> Steam Bell Beerworks (Midlothian) – Extra Plenty Cucumber Gose
>> Vรคsen Brewing Company (Scott’s Addition, RVA) – Hefeweizen
>> Center of the Universe (Ashland) – Brewski Lager
๐จ ART: Create and take home your own 804 Day design! Materials provided.
Forever Summer Fest by Veil Brewing at ChildSavers 200 North 22nd Street
August 6th
Veil beers are great but if you go to the festival you might want to concentrate on non-RVA beers of which there are a ton.
We are beyond excited to welcome back Forever Summer Festival 2022!
After a long three-year break, we welcome you back to join us and our friends at ChildSavers, our annual local beneficiary for this annual charitable event.
All proceeds for this event will go to ChildSavers. For the kids. Visit www.childsavers.org for more information on this wonderful organization.
Forever Summer is an intimate festival that we bring to you where you can relax and enjoy great beer in one of the best overlooks our city has to offer. This event will be broken up into two sessions, A + B&C. There will be 175 tickets sold per each session. Everyone attendee will have the ability to taste each beer if desired.
Forever Summer Fest tickets are live! ๐๐บ๐บ๐ธ๐ธ
https://www.eventbrite.com/…/forever-summer-festival…
What is included in ticket price:
๐ธ1x Forever Summer event tasting glass
๐บ1x 3 oz. taste of each beer
๐ธA festival map/menu card
๐บSpecial bottle of Starve: Exhibit E for take home only. The only way to receive this bottle is by attending Forever Summer.
LINE ๐
Angry Chair, Cloudwater, Evil Twin, Other Half, Three Floyds, 3 Sons, Two Tides, Fidens, Root and Branch, American Solera, Bellwoods, Bissell Brothers, Bottle Logic, Cantillon, Cycle, de Garde, Fonta Flora, Half Acre, Hudson Valley, Jester King, J. Wakefield, Monkish, Ocelot, Oxbow, Pen Druid, Sante Adairius, Side Project, Drie Fonteinen, Suarez Family, The Answer, Trillium + MORE!
**Designated driver tickets are available at the door for $10. DDโs will receive a different color wrist band and any sampling from the festival while wearing this wrist band is grounds for removal from the festival.**
Alex Fest at Center of the Universe Brewing
August 6th
Cool cars, motorcycles, music and beer. Sounds like a pretty nice Saturday.
Get your engines ready! We’ve got live music, fast cars, and cold drinks right here at Center of the Universe! Alex Fest is bringing an awesome car and bike show to our lot. That, PLUS live music from some of our favorite bands PLUS food from Legendary Provisions food truck! You don’t want to miss this!
Band lineup…
Eric Tipton: 2-3
Crowded Minds: 3:30-4:30
Satellites and Friends: 5-6:30
Guntown (Alex Tribute band): 7-8
Hop Harvest Festival at Hardywood (Ownby Lane)
August 7th
I’ve always liked the long running tradition of Hardywood using local’s hops in a beer. Sunday is the day to turn your home hopwork in to Hardywood.
Join us for a celebration of the hop!
๐ข Bring in your homegrown hop vines for use in this year’s batch of RVA IPA and get a $5 Hardywood gift card
๐ข Pick fresh hops off the vine
๐ข Listen to tunes from Toad Head, Sincerely Iris, and Justin Trawick and the Common Good
๐ข Enjoy something delicious from the Hardywood Pizza Kitchen
*Original art from Tyler Thomas*
BEER NEWS
Bye-bye Legend Deck View
Plan for 13 and 17-story apartment towers could block iconic view of Richmond skyline – CBS 6
That view could soon change with the building of a new high-rise apartment.
Avery Hall Investors, a development company based in New York, has plans to build River’s Edge II, an apartment complex set to include more than 500 units, at 301 West Sixth Street.
Plans include one 13-story tower and one 17-story tower.
These plans differ from the original building plans that were proposed back in 2019, which were then approved by Richmond City Council in June of 2020. Those plans called for an 11-story tower with up to 350 units.
It’s not a done deal but we’ll see or not see in the future.
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RVA Beer Explorer
RVA Beer Explorer: Beer Bourbon BBQ, Gingerbread Stout, Summer Can Crush, Comedy
The weather is supposed not be so hot this weekend so you’ll be sweaty when outside instead full drenched with major swamp-ass.

GO DO THIS
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival – The Meadow Event Park
July 30th,
I’ve never been to this festival but I’m a super big fan of two of these things. Not a big fan of the way I-95 has been on weekends lately so attend at your own risk.
RICHMONDโs BIGGEST, BADDEST, BONE-IN, BBQ Fest is Back For More!!! This 13th Annual affair offers up all those pleasures that true Southerners live by โ Beer, Bourbon, Barbecue, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts! Itโs a great day of beer sippinโ, bourbon tastinโ, music listeninโ, cigar smokinโ, and barbecue eatinโ. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE-TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon.
– ALL NEW LOCATION! Farm Bureau Center at The Meadow Event Park โ Same Location as the State Fair of Virginia!
– Each Guest Receives a Souvenir Glass to enjoy All You Care To Taste Beer and Bourbon Tastings as you stroll from table to table.
– BBQ Galore! Enjoy the great barbeque selection from our vendors onsite โ pulled pork from whole hogs, ribs, brisket, chickens, sausages and all the fixinsโ you can imagine. Weโll keep the portions heavy and the prices low.
– The SHRINE OF SWINE is back! Enjoy whole hogs during each session. Pork worship at its finest!
– GAME IT: The Cochon Carnival is loaded with fun activities and games to keep everyone challenged. Connect four, giant jenga, cornhole, and so much more…
– Enjoy Seminars in the Tasting Theater with Master Distillers, Brewmasters, and Pit Masters From the Deep South.
– DANCE: Listen To Live Rock & Blues Music on The Main Stage.
– SHOP: Browse brewerania, hot sauces, and BBQ accessories.
– and a few surprises.
Hardywood Christmas in July both locations
July 26-30th
I’ll be honest, a Gingerbread Stout when it’s 10,000 degrees outside doesn’t sound appealing to me at all. In fact there is a Gingerbread Stout sitting in my fridge right now. Don’t let my negativity prevent you from climbing aboard the gingerbread hype train.
What’s better than Christmas in July with a little GBS?
We will have a full week of select 2021 Gingerbread Stout variants on draft and specials on to-go bottles & cans. Missing some of your favorites from the holidays? Don’t wait to enjoy it!
Specials will be available at both locations while supplies lasts.
RVA | Summer Can Crush at Benchtop Brewing
July 30th
I’m not sure where they’re going to fit everybody because the taproom is small. I assume they’ll be taking over a sidestreet. I’ll let the pros worry about the logistics I’m just excited to see something happening in that part of town that’s not Basic City or Legend. Also, looks to be a good variety of beer to “crush”.
Mark your calendars for an epic summer event that will include only the most crushable cans from some of our favorite breweries, a special pop-up with Hamfish BBQ featuring a delicious menu + local vendors selling their goods!
โ๏ธ ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฝ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ทโ๏ธ
๐๏ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ | July 30
โฐ ๐ญ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐บ – ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฝ๐บ
๐ 434 Hull St, Richmond, VA๐ป๐ฑ๐ด๐ด๐
Our friends over at Reverie Distribution helped us select the crispiest and most crushable brews from some of our favorite ๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ. We’ll have plenty of ๐พ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ค ๐พ๐๐๐๐. Snag some DRINK TICKETS ($6.00 per ticket) and explore tasty brews from all over the Commonwealth + a few outsiders!
โ Cans purchased during this event are for ON-SITE consumption only!
๐บ Ardent Craft Ales (Richmond, VA) โ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ โ American Lager๐บBarrier Brewing Company (Oceanside, NY) โ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด โ American Lager
๐บ Casa Agria (Oxnard, CA) – ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ โ Japanese Rice Lager
๐บ Dutchess Ales (Wassaic, NY) – ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ โ Helles
๐บ J. Wakefield (Miami, FL) – ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐ฎ๐ธ โ Dark Lager
๐บ Masthead Brewing Company (Cleveland, OH) – ๐ข๐ป๐ถ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ โ Japanese Rice Lager
๐บ Oxbow Brewing Company (Newcastle, ME) โ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ โ Lager
๐บ Threes Brewing (Brooklyn, NY) โ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐ โ German Pilsner
๐บ Torch and Crown (NYC, NY) – ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ โ Citra American Lager
๐ฝ ๐ต๐พ๐พ๐ณ
Hamfish BBQ has crafted an insanely tasty menu he’ll share with our fans all day. This pop-up will run from 12 pm – 6 pm (or sold out).โ๏ธ ๐ ๐ด๐ฝ๐ณ๐พ๐ ๐
Plus, we’ll have a few talented local ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ selling their goods from 12 pm – 5 pm.
๐ธ Val’s Art Cavern
๐ธ Peaceful Fringe
๐ธ Rutitta
๐ธ Kate Berinhout Art
Hearst Girls & Friends Comedy Show at Strangeways (Dabney Road)
July 30th
Everyone is funnier when you’ve had a couple beers.
Hearst Girls & Friends is back…and at a new venue!
Catch this comedy showcase featuring stand up from Patrice DeVeaux and Leila Youmans, plus Special Guest Heather Joyce.
All followed by a made-up-on-the-spot improvised monoscene with guest improviser Kathryn Michael. NICE.
Hosted by the Hearst Girls (Casey Michelle Neeley, Kiersten Anna, & Amber Hendrix).
See y’all soon! xoxo
Doors at 6:30 PM // Show at 7:00 PM
$10 // tickets online or at the door
********************
Please note: Masks are optional, but full vaccination is mandatory.
BEER NEWS
Looks like the Three Notch’d RVA Collab House expansion is up and running. I haven’t been by yet. I’m looking forward to giving it a try.
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