PASSPORT
Free Gift
Beer • Cider • Spirits • Mead • Sake • Bucha
Content
Feature Stories Farm to Flask by Elizabeth Hope Derby . . . . . . . . . 3 Core Competencies by Saheel Mehta . . . . . . . . 12 Boomtown Basics by Saheel Mehta . . . . . . . . . . 14
Passport Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Craft Beverage Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Waynesboro
Albemarle County Crozet 29 Charlottesville
250
Augusta County
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151
29
Nellysford
Scottsville Lovingston
151
Nelson County
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20
250
Colleen
Amenity Legend Serves Food
Live Music
Bring Your Own Food
Games
Tours
Happy Hour
Outdoor Seating
Food Truck
Family Friendly
Passport Participant
Dog Friendly
Craft Beverages OF THE
BLUE RIDGE
Craft Beverages of the Blue Ridge is a publication of
City Select
1140 E High St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 434-220-0020 • CitySelectUSA.com Designed by Judy Bias Copyediting by Steven Blaski & Saheel Mehta Maps by Maria Rabinky & Judy Bias
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May not be reproduced without permission. Copyright © 2019 by City Select • 9/19
Farm to Flask
by Elizabeth Hope Derby
Alex Toomy has a motto: Do it right and do it right now. “I don’t do anything half-assed,” says the cattle farmer-turned-founder of Ragged Branch Distillery. “If it’s wrong, I will tear it down and build it back.” At Ragged Branch, Toomy and his team craft straight bourbon whiskey and raise “bourbon beef ” from Black Angus cattle fed with residual mash from the distillation process. His commitment to taking no shortcuts means every ingredient is grown and processed within a 40-mile radius. Virginia, Toomy says, has everything needed to make bourbon, from the grains to the temperature fluctuations that age the whiskey in its barrels. “This is where the spirit originated,” he adds, referring to Mount Vernon, where George Washington began commercial distilling in 1797 and produced over 10,000 gallons of rye whiskey annually. Tradition lives on at Ragged Branch, which operates as its own ecosystem. Along with its partner, Pounding Branch Farm, it grows all of
FARMER TURNED DISTILLER—ALEX TOOMY. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RAGGED BRANCH DISTILLERY AND TOM DALY.
its corn, wheat and rye, which are then combined, fermented, distilled and aged into bourbon. The farms also maintain 50 to 100 head of cattle, which thrive on the high-protein mash. Ragged Branch produces three varieties of straight bourbon: Wheated, Double Oaked Wheated and the Signature bourbon. Each batch is aged over four years. The bourbon is smooth and mellow, with notes of cinnamon, caramel and smoke, depending on the variety. Visitors can sample the bourbon straight or mixed into cocktails at the distillery’s wellappointed tasting room, relaxing in leather armchairs by a fireplace, at the bar, or on the outdoor patio. The picturesque house overlooks a pastoral landscape of rolling hills, lush farmland, and the occasional cow grazing under a tree.
RAGGED BRANCH BEEF. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RAGGED BRANCH DISTILLERY AND JEN FARIELLO.
Born and raised in Virginia, Toomy grew up on a cattle farm. Throughout his career, first as a carpenter, then a developer, now a distiller, he continued to raise cattle and ride horses. “It’s a lifestyle,” he says. “I get up every morning— Christmas morning, Easter morning, every morning—and go down [to the farm]. It’s what I enjoy, and I’m proud of it.”
Toomy’s love of farm life led him to start the distillery. The idea was formed one night during the economic downturn of 2008. “Me and all my buddies were builder types, developer types, and we had nothing to do, so one of the guys said, ‘Why don’t we make moonshine up in the holler?’” he recalls. It was a casual suggestion, tossed out during happy hour in the horse barn as the group sat in the tack room drinking whiskey, but it stuck. “I didn’t want to go back to the development game. I’d been rich as hell, poor as hell, rich as—and I was sick of it.” There was just one problem. “I knew nothing about making [whiskey]. Zero. Knew how to drink it.” Watching The History Channel one night, Toomy saw an episode of “Modern Marvels” featuring Dave Pickerell, the master distiller at Maker’s Mark, who came to be known as the “founding father” of craft distilling. Toomy decided to give him a call. “I said, ‘Do you know anybody that could help us make bourbon in Virginia?’ And he goes, ‘I just retired from Maker’s Mark. I’d love to come help you.’” In 2009, Pickerell arrived to teach Toomy and his friends, Chris Sarpy and Russell
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ABOVE: RAGGED BRANCH VIEW. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RAGGED BRANCH DISTILLERY AND ASHLEY COX. BELOW: A SELECTION OF RAGGED BRANCH DRINKS. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RAGGED BRANCH DISTILLERY AND JEN FARIELLO.
Nance, how to produce straight bourbon whiskey. It took years for the trio of colleagues to acquire enough land and equipment to make production a success, but in 2014, Ragged Branch Distillery became fully operational. Four years later, its first batch of bourbon rolled out. “I told my partners from the start, ‘I have friends in high places and I have friends in low places. I’m a carpenter, and I want all my friends to be able to enjoy it and pay for it.’” Now, in addition to its local fans, Ragged Branch bourbon is a favorite at Louisiana State University. The widespread appeal of Ragged Branch bourbon points to the value of maintaining high standards while making authentic Virginia bourbon. “The terroir of the Piedmont gives this a better flavor than Kentucky whiskey,” Toomy says. “That Midwest corn and crop? That has no heart. It’s the Piedmont, the Virginia crop that has heart.” Ragged Branch Distillery, located at 1015 Taylors Gap Road in Charlottesville, is open Thursdays through Sundays, 12–6pm (extended to 7pm on Fridays & Saturdays during Spring & Summers) for bourbon tastings and beef purchases. For more information, visit raggedbranch.com.
Basic City Beer Co.
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1010 E Main Street Waynesboro, VA 22980 basiccitybeer .com | 540-943-1010 Tue–Fri 3–10pm, Sat noon–10pm, Sun noon–8pm
Basic City Beer Co. housed in the reclaimed Virginia Metalcrafters building, provides a contemporary, industrial but polished context for guests to savor our unique craft beer while viewing the brewing process through glass windows. Enjoy delicious beer-infused cuisine from Hops Kitchen Tuesday— Sunday. Live music “concert hall” on Saturday evenings.
Blue Mountain Barrel House 2
495 Cooperative Way Arrington, Virginia 22922 bluemountainbrewery .com | 434-263-4002 Sun–Thu noon–8pm, Fri–Sat noon–9pm
Enjoy a tasting flight or grab a pint and relax, take a complimentary tour to learn about our special brewing process, then fill up your growler or purchase our six-packs or cases to-go. Food truck Fridays and Saturdays, April 1st– October 31st. 4
A few facts about
Virginia Hard Cider
ADAMS
Blue Mountain Brewery and Restaurant 3
9519 Critzers Shop Road Afton, VA 22920 bluemountainbrewery .com 540-456-8020 Mon–Sat 11am–10pm, Sun 11am–9pm (Hours subject to change in fall & winter)
Virginia’s first countryside brewery, hop farm, tasting room and restaurant. Serving ten hand crafted brews on draft every day paired with a local food menu. Buy our beer by the glass or purchase a six-pack or growler to go. Kegs available too.
Blue Ridge Bucha
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1809 East Main Street Waynesboro, VA 22980 blueridgebucha .com | 540-221-6500 Mon–Tue closed, Wed–Sun noon–7pm
Our brewery is one of only a handful of full-service kombucha taprooms on the East Coast. We offer a variety of handcrafted, Certified Organic flavors on tap with an outdoor seating area, WiFi and local eats on weekends. We hope you will come enjoy a delicious tasting flight, glass or growler to go!
Decipher Brewing
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1740 Broadway Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 facebook .com/decipherbrewing 434-995-5777 Tue–Wed 3–9pm, Thu 3–10pm, Fri 2–11pm, Sat noon–11pm, Sun noon–8pm
A passion for the art of beer we strive to showcase what beer was meant to be. Run by four veterans, come and experience the fun world of cryptology and how we tie it into our beer. From puzzles, darts, to yard games, we offer a unique interactive experience.
WASHINGTON
JEFFERSON
In colonial America, hard cider was the popular daily drink of choice—especially with early presidents like John Adams, George Washington and noted wine connoisseur, Thomas Jefferson. At Monticello, Jupiter Evans and fellow enslaved people cultivated eighteen varieties of apples (planted between 1769 and 1814) for Jefferson, third U.S. president, Virginia’s second governor and pioneer pomologist. Jefferson prized over two cultivars for cider production: Hewe’s Crab and Taliaferro. While Hewe’s Crab has made a comeback in recent years, the Taliaferro has unfortunately disappeared from cultivation. Hewe’s Crabapple Increasing urbanization during the Industrial Revolution, changing tastes influenced by a growing beer-drinking immigrant population and the rising temperance movement led to a decline in fermented cider production and consumption in America. In the 1920s, Prohibition dealt the final blow. Unlike beer, cider is fermented like wine. However, one of the biggest differences between hard cider and wine—or apples and grapes—is that apples must be ground before pressing. The entire apple is ground to a pulp called pomace and the juice is then fermented. Today, over 30 different apple varieties are grown specifically for cider production Unloading apples for cider production in throughout Covesville (located 15 miles south of Virginia Charlottesville). W. E. Burgess postcard circa 1910. and cider makers are continuously seeking to revive more.
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Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows 7 37
200 Mosbys Run Roseland, VA 22967 dbbrewingcompany .com | 434-361-1001 Sun–Thu 11:30am–9pm, Fri & Sat 11:30am–10pm
Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, cigars, and Devils Backbone Distilling Co. at Basecamp. The Summit serves breakfast and craft coffee daily from 7am–noon. Our Brewpub is open daily for lunch and dinner. Check our website for hours of The Shanty, Distillery Lounge, Oak Grill and Outdoor Bar.
North American Sake Brewery 34
Ragged Branch Distillery
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522 2nd Street SE Charlottesville, VA 22902 pourmeone .com | 434-767-8105 Tue–Fri 5pm–10pm, Sat noon–10pm, Sun 1–7pm
1015 Taylors Gap Rd Charlottesville, VA 22903 sbdistillery .com | 434-244-2600 Spring & Summer: Thu & Sun noon–6pm, Fri & Sat noon-7pm Fall & Winter: Thu–Sun noon–6pm
The North American Sake Brewery & Restaurant is Virginia’s first & only sake producer. Conveniently located near downtown Charlottesville, they offer tasting flights of cold, fresh craft sake and fun flavor infusions. Nominated for Best New Restaurant, their delicious dishes pair perfectly with their sake. Free brewery tours are given daily.
Ragged Branch Distillery is dedicated to crafting the finest, authentic Virginia Straight Bourbon. Our commitment to patience, excellence, and time-honored tradition is reflected in the smooth, full flavor of our bourbon. The distillery is open daily for beef and bottle sales.
Seven Arrows Brewing Company
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2508 Jefferson Highway #1 Waynesboro, VA 22980 sevenarrowsbrewing .com | 540-221-6968 Sun–Tues 11am–9pm, Wed–Thu 11am–10pm, Fri–Sat 11am–11pm
Follow your compass to Seven Arrows Brewery where we serve up to 12 different, high-quality craft beers in our laidback taproom. Enjoy a pint and relax with food from our kitchen, play indoor cornhole, or soak up some sunshine on our deck. Friendly service, good brews and vibes await you!
Pro Re Nata Brewery
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6135 Rockfish Gap Turnpike Crozet, VA 22932 prnbrewery .com | 434-823-4878 Mon & Wed 3–10pm, Thu 11am–10pm, Fri & Sat 11am–11pm, Sun 11am–10pm
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Pro Re Nata - Latin, “as needed.” Enjoy Pro Re Nata Brewery’s hand-crafted ales and lagers, one of the world’s oldest elixirs, “as needed.” Set at the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Pro Re Nata Brewery is a perfect spot to take in the spectacular views. Twelve craft beers on tap, beer-centric craft food, live music, trivia night, karaoke . . . there’s always something going on.
VISIT OUR MOBILE SITE. • Info & Hours • GPS Directions
BRCraftBev.com
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MASHING
The cooked grain and malted barley are added to warm water, which converts into a liquid known as mash.
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favorite
craft
beverages
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your
and get rewarded! Grab yourself a serving
at participating craft beverage businesses and ask to have
your passport stamped. On your sixth stamp, exchange your completed passport to an employee to redeem logoed
glassware. Share your journey with us by using the hashtag #BlueRidgeCraftBev on social media. Enjoy responsibly!
Tell us where you are from: City, State, Zip Code
FERMENTING
The mash is added to a fermentation tank, along with yeast. The yeast converts the sugar to alcohol. After three or four days, the resulting liquid is about 10% alcohol and is known as distiller’s beer, or wash.
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DISTILLING
The wash is heated to the point where the alcohol turns to vapor, but the water remains liquid. The alcohol is then collected in a second container. This process is repeated to produce “high wine” or “new whiskey.”
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Various grains are ground and cooked. Barley is malted, a process of soaking the barley and spreading it for about three weeks—which allows it to sprout— then gently dried with heat.
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PASSPORT PROGRAM
The Process of Whiskey Making
AGING
Water is added to the high wine, which is aged in wooden barrels, usually made from charred white oak. Here the whiskey ages at least two or three years, and some are aged up to ten or fifteen years.
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BOTTLING
The resulting whiskey is stored in glass bottles, which do not react with the whiskey’s flavor.
You must be at least 21 years old to participate; only one stamp per person per visit is permitted. Rules subject to change without notice. Exchange this completed passport by December 31, 2020. Additional terms and conditions can be found at brcraftbev.com.
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Craft Beveages Passport participants are denoted with a star on the map.
BEER 1.
Basic City Beer Co.
2. Blue Mountain Barrel House 3. Blue Mountain Brewery and Restaurant 16
4. Brewing Tree Beer Company 5. Champion Brewing Company
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7. Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows 8. Hardywood Pilot Brewery & Taproom
340
254
6. Decipher Brewing
250 64
810
Waynesboro
14 28
9. Iron Pipe Alewerks
Crozet
99 107
10. James River Brewery 12. Random Row Brewing Co.
3
13. Reason Beer
22
114
637
40
29
Nellysford
17. Starr Hill Brewery
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18. Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve
27 31
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37 7
19. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery 20. Wild Wolf Brewing Company - Cville
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21. Wild Wolf Brewing Company - Nellysford
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24. Wood Ridge Farm Brewery
64
25
151
16. Stable Craft Brewing
23. Willow Spring Brewery
118
39 38
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15. South Street Brewery
22. WildManDan Brewery
250
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250
11. Pro Re Nata Brewery
14. Seven Arrows Brewing Company
240
30
26
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32
Lovingston
151
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29
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of the
Blue Ridge
BRCRaftBev.Com SPECIALTY 25. Albemarle CiderWorks 26. Blue Ridge Bucha 27. Blue Toad Hard Cider Cidery at High View Farm 28. Blue Toad Hard Cider Cider House 9
Orange
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23
601 20
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31. Bold Rock Hard Cider 32. Bryant’s Cider
Charlottesville
33. Castle Hill Cider ER MC INT IR
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36. Skjald Meadworks
Downtown E HI GH
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37. Devils Backbone Distilling Co. 38. Monte Piccolo Farm and Distillery
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39. Ragged Branch Distillery 40. Silverback Distillery 41. Spirit Lab Distilleries
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42. Virginia Distillery Company
20 795 627
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43. Vitae Spirits Distillery
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35. Potter's Craft Cider
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34. North American Sake Brewery
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30. Bold Rock Cellar at Chiles Peach Orchard
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29. Bold Rock Cellar at Carter Mountain Orchard
See page 7
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Getting To Know Your Beer
Hops Gauge not hoppy
ABV — Average alcohol by volume range Hoppiness — rates bitterness due to hops Maltiness — rates basic malt flavor (malt grains are present in most beers and vary widely)
Lagers
Lagers are made using a bottom-fermenting yeast that ferments at a temperature of 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Lagers tend to be lighter in flavor, color, and taste best if they are chilled to about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The lighter their body, the lower the serving temperature. Pilsner Straw Colored | Highly Carbonated | Low in Alcohol | 4.5-5.5% ABV
Oktoberfest Full-bodied | Dark Brown | Usually Available in October | 4.0-7.0% ABV
Bock Sweet and Dark | Widely Ranging Flavors | 5.5-7.5 ABV
Dunkel Dark Amber | Smooth Flavors | Coffee Like Taste | 4.0-6.0% ABV
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very hoppy
Malt Gauge not malty
very malty
Ales
Ales are made using a top-fermenting yeast that ferments at a higher temperature than lager yeast. This typically results in a beer with more flavor and aroma. Ales range from bitter to sweet and vary greatly in their alcohol content. Drink ales at a temperature of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit to allow their full flavor to emerge. Wheat Pale | Highly Carbonated | Fruity | 4.0-7.0% ABV
Pale Ale Malty and Hoppy | Fruity Aromas | 4.0-7.0% ABV
Indian Pale Ale (IPA) Extremely Bitter | Amber Colored | 5.5-7.5% ABV
Amber Ale Sweet from Excess Malt | Amber Color | 4.0-7.0% ABV
Irish Ale Deep Red Color | Malty | Sweet Flavored 4.0-6.0% ABV
Porter Dark and Heavy | Burnt Flavor | 4.0-7.5% ABV
Stout Roasted Not Malted | Sweet | Caramel Aromas | 4.0-7.0% ABV
Silverback Distillery
Starr Hill Brewery
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9374 Rockfish Valley Highway Afton, VA 22920 sbdistillery .com | 540-456-7070 Mon–Thu noon–5pm, Fri noon–6pm, Sat noon–7pm, Sun noon–6pm
Silverback Distillery produces award-winning ultra-premium vodka, gin, bourbon, rye whiskey and honey rye whiskey. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and bracketed by the Rockfish River; Silverback Distillery produces distinct and flavorful spirits through a perfect mix of Virginia grains, pure water and American craftsmanship. Tours on Saturdays at 1pm.
South Street Brewery
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5391 Three Notch’d Road Crozet, VA 22932 starrhill .com | 434-823-5671 Mon–Thu 3pm–9pm, Fri noon–9pm, Sat 11am–9pm, Sun noon–8pm
Born in a Charlottesville music hall in 1999, Starr Hill Brewery is an independent, regional craft brewery now nestled among the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in Crozet. The unique Starr Hill Tap Room features 24 rotating worldclass beers on a state-of-the-art draft system, a stage for live music, board games and local food trucks on the patio.
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106 South Street W Charlottesville, VA 22902 southstreetbrewery .com | 434-293-6550 Sun–Thu 11am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11am–12pm
Steps away from the Downtown Mall, visit Charlottesville’s longest-running brewery and pub! Enjoy South Street originals that helped shape the Central Virginia beer scene. Locally sourced food options reflect our belief that Charlottesville is the best place on Earth to live, drink and eat! Daily food and drink specials.
Virginia Distillery Company
What is Kombucha?
Kombucha is fermented tea.
It has been consumed since around 220 B.C.
Some people add fruit or fruit juice for extra flavor.
It is made from sugar and oolong, green, black or white tea. Kombucha is packed with B vitamins and antioxidants.
The fermentation process creates what's called a SCOBY, a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that helps protect the mixture from bad bacteria.
299 Eades Lane Lovingston, VA 22949 vadistillery .com | 434-285-2900 Mon–Sat 11am–6pm, Sun noon–6pm
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Virginia Distillery Company is an American Single Malt Whisky distillery located amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia. The Visitors Center is open for tours, tastings and seasonal cocktails 7 days a week. Food truck and live music on most second Saturdays. Ask for our whisky at a restaurant or Virginia ABC store near you. 11
Core Competencies by Saheel Mehta Strewn along the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and its foothills is the heart of apple country. Virginia orchards have a long, storied history for growing some of the nation’s best apples, especially for cider. In fact, visitors to Monticello requested cuttings from Thomas Jefferson’s prized trees to produce their own. Tim Edmond and Dan Potter, owners of Potter’s Craft Cider, continue the tradition of excellence in the Virginia cider craft by pushing its boundaries. The story of how they came to carve out their bubbling empire starts in disaster. Tim and Dan were college buddies who bonded over their love of homebrewing. “I remember the first beer we had brewed together was nut brown ale in a dorm kitchen,” Edmond says in laughter. After graduation, they lived close enough to each other to swap beers and discuss their dream of starting a brewery together. That vision came into focus just outside of Richmond at the historic Tuckahoe Plantation, where Dan started working and learning about responsible agriculture. The idea was to create a self-sustaining farmhouse brewery using its own hops and barley. Mother Nature had other plans. The James River crested that winter, wiping out their barley crop and dashing their hopes of a brewery.
ABOVE: TIM EDMOND AND DAN POTTER. BELOW: AN ENTICING SAMPLE OF CIDERS. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF POTTER’S CRAFT CIDER.
At the time, Henley’s Orchard in Crozet supplied Tuckahoe with apples for sweet cider. Dan, ever the homebrewer, set aside some cider to ferment. When he tasted the now hard cider, it was a moment of clarity. He called Tim and exclaimed, “This is what we should be making!”
“I would have discounted cider categorically as kind of this sweet macro beverage that I believe it to be,” says Edmond. But then he tried the cider. “It was dry; it was different. It had a lot of character; it was unlike any cider that I had had before.” The complex intensity of flavors and aromas eliminated their preconceived notions about cider. Their mantra became: What can cider be and how can we get better? Cider comes down to a fragile balance of four qualities: acidity, tannins, sugar and aroma. Potter’s Craft Cider distinguishes itself from other cideries through its commitment to the true flavor of the apple. At least four different apple varieties are pressed into their flagship cider, the effervescent Farmhouse Dry—Virginia Winesap, Albermarle Pippin, Gold Rush and a seasonal apple like the same Hewe’s Crab that Jefferson grew at Monticello. These apples are cold-fermented to preserve their volatile aromatic components. “We’re not adding any water or sugar to the fermentation—it’s just apples and yeast.” Their mission of quality, experimentation and locally sourced ingredients is embodied in their Cider Nouveau, which pays homage to the French red wine, Beaujolais nouveau. King Family Vineyards’ grape skins from petit verdot and merlot pressings combine with the apple juice in French oak barrels to create a cider that has mellow oak flavor, a crisp acidic bite and hints of strawberry. Potter’s Cider Garden is located at The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative in Charlottesville. The partnership provides “an opportunity for us to get people and eyes on the art and the programming, and kind of lifting up their mission,” Edmond says. 12
Potter’s Craft Cider continues to partner with the community as its popularity grows. Proceeds from The Haven, a Belgian Trappist style cider, go to The Haven day shelter in Charlottesville providing for the homeless. This fall they will open a tasting room in historic Neve Hall, a 100-year-old former Episcopal Church in Albemarle County. For Tim and Dan, it is another opportunity to make converts out cider skeptics and invite enthusiasts to try bold new flavors. Potter’s Craft Cider’s Cider Garden is located at 209 Monticello Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902 and is open on weekends. The Neve Hall tasting room is due to open in the fall of 2019. For more information visit potterscraftcider.com.
Vitae Spirits Distillery
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715 Henry Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 vitaespirits .com | 434-270-0317 Wed–Fri 2pm–9pm, Sat 10am–9pm, Sun noon–6pm
Vitae Spirits is a family-owned and run craft distillery in Charlottesville, Virginia that produces small-batch spirits with a focus on quality, authenticity, and hands-on artisanal values. Join us for tasting our spirits and hand-crafted cocktails, tours of the production facility, bottles sales, or for your own private event.
Wild Wolf Brewing Company Nellysford
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2461 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, VA 22958 wildwolfbeer .com | 434-361-0088 Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm, Fri 11:30am–11pm, Sat 11am–11pm, Sun 11am–10pm
Wild Wolf Brewing Company, an award-winning brewery, features gorgeous mountain views, waterfalls, a delightful Biergarten, cornhole, big-screen TVs and a climate-controlled pavilion. The farm-to-fork restaurant features house-smoked meats and utilizes MANY local ingredients, with MANY gluten-free options.
WildManDan Brewery
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279 Avon Road Afton, VA 22920 wmdb3 .com | 434-270-0404 Mon, Wed, Thu 3–6pm, Sun 2–6pm Classes on Saturday 11:30am & 2pm (online registration required)
Virginia’s smallest production brewery. Come and enjoy small-batch craft beer featured on six taps at our 1920s barn turned brewery/taproom with a speakeasy feel. View the majestic Blue Ridge from our outdoor seating. Family owned and operated—we love sharing our knowledge via tours and tasting classes.
Wild Wolf Brewing Company Cville
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313 2nd Street SE Charlottesville, VA 22902 wildwolfbeer .com | 434-284-5220 Sun–Thu 11am–11pm, Fri & Sat 11am–midnight
Wild Wolf Brewing Company’s brand-new location features 12 taps and southern-inspired cuisine. Try the award-winning lineup of classics along with beers from the nano-brewery. Close to the Downtown Mall—come enjoy the family and dog-friendly outdoor Biergarten, spacious restaurant and five 70” TVs.
Wood Ridge Farm Brewery
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165 Old Ridge Road Lovingston, VA 22949 woodridgefarmbreweryva .com 434-422-6225 Tue–Fri 3–8pm, Sat 11am–9pm, Sun 11am–8pm
We are a family farm brewery with a “from the dirt to the glass” philosophy. We operate an on-site malting facility, cultivate wild yeast and use our own spring water. Enjoy our brews and fresh farm-to-table menu from the food truck or wood-fired pizza oven while sitting on the porch or outside tiki bar. 13
Boomtown Basics by Saheel Mehta Sandwiched in between two scenic parkways is a rising star in Virginia’s rapidly developing and competitive craft beer industry. A relative newcomer, Basic City Beer Co., helmed by Bart Lanman, has developed a shrewd business plan, a penchant for semi-historical inspiration, a legendary crew of brewers and, of course, a loyal following. Opened in 2016, Basic City was founded by the brothers Lanman: Bart, Joe and Chris. After their father died from his third recurrence ABOVE: BART LANMAN CO-OWNER OF BASIC CITY BEER CO. LEFT: ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON BREAK AT BASIC CITY BEER’S WAYNESBORO of bone cancer, Bart and Chris looked TASTING ROOM. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ROY VAN DOORN. to each other and pondered, “What would we do if tomorrow was the last day?” They resolved that whatever they would do, they must do it together. Chris, the youngest brother and a bit of a homebrewer, proposed opening a brewery in Missouri where he lived. Bart, who admits to writing himself into the business plan, convinced Chris that Virginia’s was the more established craft beer scene. After touring the state, they found a diamond in the rough on the eastern edge of Waynesboro; it would just need a lot of polishing. Basic City anchors the former industrial complex of Virginia Metalcrafters Co. which was founded in the 1890s and supplied hardware for homes and historical sites. Bart and Chris sought to reclaim as much of the building as possible, repurposing the wood, pipes and even the electrical conduit that they turned into three massive chandeliers. The high ceilings, clerestory windows and one of the largest single-pour zinc bar tops in the country contribute to what Bart calls an “industrial defunct” aesthetic that pays homage to the building’s former life. The brewery’s namesake pays respect to Basic City, one of the “lost towns” of Virginia created by the Basic City Mining Manufacturing Land Co. in hopes of becoming the “little Pittsburgh” of the Shenandoah Valley. The late-19th-century boomtown sought to thrive off The Iron Cross, where the C&O railroad crosses over the N&W rail line. Basic City was eventually absorbed into Waynesboro and today sits at another major crossing, where the Skyline Drive meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. To lure the 3 to 6 million annual parkway visitors, Bart knows, the cornerstone to any good brewery has to be the beer. He recruited craft brewing legend Jacques Landry, founder of South Street Brewing Co., out of semi-retirement to become the head brewer.
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Landry, like Bart’s father, was hugely influenced by Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, a beer that helped pioneer the craft beer movement. However, unlike West Coast IPAs, Basic City brews often leave bitterness behind in favor of juicy, citrus and floral notes to create what Bart calls “quasi-sessionable—no matter the alcohol by volume—and balanced beers.” Their two most popular beers,The 6th Lord IPA and Bask DIPA, fly off the shelves faster than they can package them. Outside of the taproom, “you are still drinking fresh beer on the market because
we just can’t keep up with the demand on it,” Bart says, calling the rapid growth and popularity “a bit of problem … a good problem.” The influx of Basic City visitors has inspired other businesses to sprout up, recreating the boomtown feel. Blue Ridge Bucha, a craft kombucha producer, and Blue Toad Hard Cider have ABOVE: A BASIC CITY FLIGHT. BELOW: entered the neighborhood. BASIC CITY BEER’S WAYNESBORO LOCATION. PHOTOGRAPHS Fly fishers from the nearby South River and hikers from the COURTESY OF ROY VAN DOORN. Appalachian Trail refuel at Basic City, where folks are allowed to camp out overnight. Hops Kitchen, a food truck located inside the brewery, caters to craft enthusiasts by creatively infusing beer into their cuisine. Locals pour in on Saturday when the brewery becomes a “concert hall” featuring area musicians. Whatever the reason for stopping by, one can enjoy the living history in the foundry-turned-brewery … and of course, a pint or two. Basic City Brewing Co. is located at 1010 East Main Street, Waynesboro, and has a second location in Richmond at 212 West 6th Street. For hours and information visit basiccitybeer.com and hops-kitchen.com.
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topshelftransportation .com | 434-295-9462 Use Online Savings Code to save 10%: CraftBrew Bring your thirst and we will take care of the rest giving you a Top Shelf Experience! Our Craft Beverage Tour Guides take pride in providing you with carefree, smooth and an effortless experience. We provide 5+ hours of a private customized tour, with a variety of options for the day to custom build a brewery tour or combo tour (adding an Apple Cider House for a well rounded touring experience). We pick you up and drop you off wherever you are staying. Providing service for the Charlottesville, Wintergreen, Massanutten, Powhatan, Richmond, Southern Va and surrounding areas. Tell us what you want & we will make it happen!
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What's On Tap: Craft Beverage Events Know Good Beer & Music Festival MAY IX Art Park | Charlottesville, VA knowgoodbeer.com
Cider Fest
AUGUST Castle Hill Cider | Keswick, VA castlehillcider.com
Virginia Chili, Blues n’ Brews Festival SEPTEMBER Lumos Plaza | Waynesboro, VA virginiachili.com
Hoover Ridge Hops Fest
SEPTEMBER Hoover Ridge Park | Madison, VA hooverridge.com
DONKTOBERFEST At Bold Rock
OCTOBER Bold Rock Nellysford Cidery | Nellysford, VA boldrock.com
Best of Virginia Chili Cookoff, Brewfest and Cornhole Tournament OCTOBER Orange County Fairground | Orange, VA orangevachamber.com
Virginia Cider Week
NOVEMBER Events held all over the state ciderweekva.com
Virginia Craft Spirits Roadshow: Charlottesville NOVEMBER IX Art Park | Charlottesville, VA virginiaspirits.org
Tomtoberfest
NOVEMBER IX Art Park | Charlottesville, VA tomtomfest.com Please Drink Responsibly & Know Your Limit
PASSPORT Free Gift