Issue #9
Wake up to
COFFEEHOUSE STOUT Percolated perfection. The coffeehouse has long been a place to gather, discuss, philosophize, contemplate, and enjoy good friends and delicious coffee. Put all of that in a bottle and you’ve got our Coffeehouse Stout. Our take on a milk stout is infused with 30 lbs of cold-brewed Guatemala Antigua coffee resulting in a smooth, roasty brew that is perfect for cooler weather.
Choose Good Taste. alewerks.com
Today, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys) is diagnosed with autism. The Autism Society Central Virginia (ASCV) is the local voice and resource of the autism community in education, advocacy, services and
What the Autism Society Central Virginia (ASCV) has meant to one family - By, Sandra Harris, Mom My husband and I were stunned after our son’s diagnosis. We didn’t know anything about autism. Our only frame of reference was a movie that we had seen years earlier called Rain Man. The doctor was not helpful and didn’t give us any information regarding therapies or what we could do to help our son. Maybe he didn’t have access to that information, or maybe he thought we wouldn’t hear anything else because we were still in a state of shock. He did give us the phone number for the Autism Society Central VA (ASCV). Family and friends tried to encourage us, but no one knew how to help us. When I made that phone call to the ASCV, it felt like someone had thrown me a lifeline. Finally, I had someone, another parent just like me, who understood what I was going through. Coming home from a meeting with the ASCV, I felt empowered. The speakers were knowledgeable and gave me valuable information that taught me how to understand and help my child. The ASCV wants to change the way you view people with autism; to see ability instead of disability, to see a person instead of a label, to see an opportunity instead of
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support. This non-profit organization is committed to meaningful participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, at any age and at any stage. The mission of the ASCV is to improve the lives of ALL affected by autism by maximizing the self- sufficiency, independence and quality of life for individuals living with autism. Gifts and donations to the ASCV help support autism education, awareness, social opportunities, scholarships, advocacy, and
a challenge, to see strength instead of weakness and to see the value of each person, no matter what their level of ability may be. The ASCV provides informative monthly meetings, a monthly newsletter, websites and resources, sends emails alerting members to important information, sponsors trainings and seminars and provides information about other resources in the area. Families can learn about medical issues, educational rights, government policy, insurance regulations and so much more. It’s the one place you can find everything you need to navigate the complex world of autism. They help parents learn to advocate for their children, teach individuals to advocate for themselves and give teachers and other professionals the tools needed to teach and work with individuals with autism. Advocacy is about educating yourself, so you can make the right decisions for your child. The ASCV can help you no matter where you are on your journey. You could be a parent with a newly diagnosed child or an adult with ASD looking for job opportunities. The ASCV can answer your questions and give you helpful information that will help you continue your journey.
info@ascv.org
(804) 257-0192
most importantly, enable the organization to assist individuals with autism and their families here in Central Virginia. The funds raised here stay here! Contact the Autism Society Central Virginia at info@ ascv.org, 804-257-0192, or check out the resources on their website at:
www.ascv.org
Next door to Capital Ale House
Features
8 Artisans Wine and Homebrew Brewing Relationships
All Your Homebrewing Supplies in the Village of Midlothian
This Issue
by: James Bernard
12
Wild Wolf Brewing Company
A True Farm Brewery
by: Kimberly Rhodes, Photos by: Mary Wolf
16
Legend Brewery
Still The Legend in Craft Beers.
by: Steve Cook
19
Capital Ale House
Updates & News
By: Audrey Finney and Linzy Browne
4 The Autism Society Central Virginia (ASCV) 6 Sensational Virginia Stout by: Alstair Reece 14 Watermark Design by Steve Cook 22 Escutcheon Brewing by: Kyle Kersey
Our Team
We Supply Equipment & Ingredients to : Homebrewers Breweries Wineries Restaurants and other companies
We Offer : Big and Small Scale Equipment, Ingredients by Bulk, Pound, or Ounce, Beer, Wine, and Cheesemaking Kits Plus More . . .
Creative Director: Matt Goodwyn
Virginia Craft Brews is a quarterly, grassroots publication celebrating Central Virginia’s craft beer innovators, small business and non-profit organizations. We support a specific non-profit each issue with ad space, cover logo and 5% of all ad sales. matt@virginiacraftbrews.com www.virginiacraftbrews.com Issue #9 Fall/Winter 2015
© 2015 Artisans Wine & Homebrew
Writers: Alistair Reece James Bernard Kimberly Rhodes Steve Cook Audrey Finney Linzy Browne Kyle Kersey
artisanswineandhomebrew.com Layout & Design: Tactics Branding Cover Photo: Stan Sweeney
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13829 Village Place Drive, Midlothian, VA 23114
ushpuppies H
Beer Batter
Recipe
Sensational Virginia Stout by: Alistair Reece If you ever had the misfortune of being a customer when I worked in the Starr Hill tasting room, or otherwise depending on your worldly view, you will likely have heard my story about my first legal beer. The concept of ‘legal’ beer is very important here, because growing up in the Outer Hebrides, pretty much everyone drank long before his or her eighteenth birthday. Sometimes, it was a glass of wine with food when being civilized with parents, other times it was cans of cider at a house party, but more often than not though, it was drinking cans of Tennent’s lager in the village bus stop on a Friday night because there was nothing else to do. That first legal beer is kind of etched in my memory. The first time I stood at a bar to order alcohol, I had a three way choice. I could carry on drinking mass produced lager like my mates, I could drink the old man’s preferred tipple of Newcastle Brown Ale or I could stand out as an aspiring urban aesthete and drink Guinness. A pint of the black stuff was duly ordered, and thus began a love affair which to this day, just shy of turning 40,
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has never dimmed. Not so much a love affair with Guinness per se, but with dark beer in general, and stout in particular. If I were ever to be forced into choosing a single beer style to drink for the rest of my waking days on this planet, stout would be the one. I love the stuff. Dry, sweet, milk, oatmeal, foreign extra, or imperial, there is not a single stout style that I will turn my nose up at, and still to this day when faced with the massed ranks of boring, pale ales of an India persuasion, that solitary Guinness tap can be a beacon of light in my world. Thankfully, there are breweries in Virginia, and in particular in the central bit where I live, that know how to make stout, and how to make it well. Let’s start in Crozet… As I mentioned in the opening line, I used to work in the Starr Hill tasting room, and to my mind Starr Hill brews the best regularly available dry Irish stout in the United States, let alone just Virginia. The first pint of Dark Starr I had was like that scene in Ratatouille, where Anton Ego is transported to his childhood by
Special Thanks to Shauna at the “Olive Oil Taproom” for her father, Jim’s, Recipe.
Ingredients:
2 cups yellow hush puppy cornmeal (House Autry has been around a long time and works beautifully.) 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 tsp. sea salt 2 eggs, lightly beaten 3/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 can or bottle of beer (porter or stout for the deep rich maltiness) 1 onion, finely chopped 2 (med) jalapenos deseeded & deveined 1/2 teaspoon red cayenne powder 1/2 cup of aged cheddar cheese My dad, Jim, always put in a little sugar, but here we are adding in 1 tsp. of our Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. Canola oil for immersion and frying Our Butter Infused olive oil for devouring these little beauties.
Directions:
Makes 6-8 ervings S
In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk the egg, milk, beer, jalapeno, cheddar and onion; add to dry ingredients just until combined. Set to the side. The batter will rise greatly because of the yeast in the beer. It will need to rise and then settle for a few minutes before handling. In an electric skillet, heat oil to 365°. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls into oil. Fry 2 to 2-1/2 minutes, or until golden brown. Roll each hush puppy as it browns since we aren’t deep fat frying. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm with our Butter infused olive oil.
The
Olive Oil Taproom At the Shoppes at Bellgrade and in Short Pump
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Staying in Central Virginia, though changing style and ramping up the booze factor a touch, Charlottesville’s Three Notch’d produce my current favorite stout in the US, a 5.5% abv oatmeal stout called Oats McGoats. Yes, it has all the classic roastiness that you expect from a stout, along with coffee and chocolate, but the oatmeal adds a delightful velvety body that helps the beer slip down with inordinate ease. There will be many a weekend this winter spent in front of the wood fire with a growler of Oats being gradually tipped into one of my imperial pint glasses, as I stoke a warming inner glow.
Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Aged Balsamic Vinegars
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W W W. T H E O L I V E O I L T A P R O O M . C O M
In Short Pump at Ste. 607 200 Towne Center W. Blvd. (Behind Ethan Allen near Rt.288)
804-360-7929
the food he is eating. With none of the silly marketing driven nonsense, which is the nitro pour (if your tradition only goes back to the 60s), then I feel sorry for you. Dark Starr is redolent of the classic coffee and chocolate flavors of a great stout. With a clean, firm bitterness in the finish, and only 4.2% abv, this is a stout for long sessions. It really is no surprise that it is the most awarded dry Irish stout in America, and it is a beer, that if it were ever to disappear from their Starr Hill lineup, would be cause for mass wailing and gnashing of teeth in my world.
At the Shoppes at Bellgrade 11400 W. Huguenot Rd. Ste. 116 Midlothian, VA 23113
804-897-6464
Heading away from Charlottesville down I-64 toward Richmond brings you to Goochland County, which is where you will find Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, the Commonwealth’s original farm brewery. Now, if you know me, or read my blog, Fuggled.net, I hope you are sitting down, because I am about to recommend a beer that is so far from what I usually drink that you could be in for a severe case of cognitive dissonance. Enlightened Despot is an 11.3% abv
Imperial Stout, brewed with a grist of 10 different malts, hopped to a healthy 78 IBUs with American hops, and then aged for 100 days in 15 year old Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve barrels, and it is quite simply a magnificent beer. “Magnificent,” I say. Balanced, seductive and superb, with a well-matured cheddar cheese, this beer is a real rarity in my world, a big, barrel aged beer that is actually worth drinking.
Whether sitting beside the fireplace, around a fire pit, or in the den just watching TV, as the nights lengthen and the delicate grip of Jack Frost envelopes us, reach for a glass of something dark, roasty and comforting. Served at the appropriate temperature of around 50°F, any of the stout family will do the trick of bringing a real sense of comfort, and eventually joy, to winter drinking. As the barman said to me some 22 years ago, handing me that first pint of Guinness, with the knowing look of a seasoned professional drinker welcoming a newbie to adulthood...slàinte mhath!!
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Brewing Relationships at Artisans Wine and Homebrew . . . There are a lot of questions when it comes to homebrewing. “What should I brew?” is typically one of the first. Now that you know a style you want to try, you are left with more questions, like whether you will brew from a kit, do an all grain batch or something in between. Will you add flavorings, and if so, will it be extracts, or will you try to put something in the secondary? Should you use a secondary or bottle condition? Do you bottle or just keg it? After awhile, it can become overwhelming, especially if you are left on your own seeking answers for all of these questions. Sure, you can go online and find some homebrewing forum where people will answer your questions. But who wants to type it all out, only to sit and wait for a response, in the hopes that your questions don’t get buried amongst all of the other people sitting at home looking for answers? Instead, go to a local homebrewing store, such as Artisans Wine & Homebrew, where you would have the pleasure of meeting the Allens. Cathy and Arthur have been making beer and wine for years, and took their expresso stout to the Dominion Cup. They share a love for the craft of homebrewing, as well as a love for the customers who walk through their door.
by: James Bernard of the Virginia Beer Blog
homebrewer, they carry over 80 different grains, and sell by the ounce, pound or in bulk. If IPAs are your thing, Artisans has a large assortment of hops, “everything from Admiral to Zythos”, as described by Cathy Allen. You’ll find their shelves stocked with a variety of beer kits for the beginner to intermediate beer maker. They can also pull together recipes for the advanced brewer from their stock of fresh grain, hops and both dry and liquid yeasts, including local favorite RVA Yeast Labs. In addition to ingredients, Artisans sells kegs, fittings, CO2 tanks, regulators, kettles, burners and starter equipment kits. Winemakers will love the great selection of wine kits, fruit bases and additives. It’s the largest in the Richmond and tri-cities area. For the foodies, Artisans offers soda and cheesemaking supplies, and has become a local hub for sauerkraut makers, as a growing number of people have sought them out for equipment to use to make their own German favorite. As Cathy states, “It’s our culinary hobby store.” Cathy says that their main focus and passion is forging relationships and making sure that they are meeting the needs of their customers, as well as helping them develop their skills, “We have the best customers in the world!” In their mission to help homebrewers, Artisans has become a local participant in the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) events such as Big Brew in May of last year, where brewers get together to brew and share a simultaneous toast across the nation.
Perfect Pub Setting
Amazing opportunity to Lease Restaurant that would be Ideal for Central Virginia’s newest Brewery/Pub.
Commercial Kitchen w/ Stove, Hood, etc.
Historic Building w/ Store Front, 6100 + sq. ft.
Enclosed Courtyard, Storage Loft, Studio Apt.
Public Water/Sewer, Natural Gas, Off St. Parking
212 N. Main St. Gordonsville, VA. Just 20 miles NE of Charlottesville & 65 miles NW of Richmond.
Artisans Wine & Homebrew has only been open for a year, but in that short amount of time, has created a loyal following. Customers love the store’s cleanliness and the wide range of products available. For the
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UNTAPPED POTENTIAL Fantastic Location!!!
Continued . . .
Cindy Joskowiak (434) 906-0274 www.PremierVirginiaProperties.com
The Winter Forecast at Legend is Cold and White. Our Winter White is a traditional Belgian Wit brewed with just the right amount of spiciness for a cold winter evening. Winter White from Legend Brewing Company. Try it at our Pub or ask for it on draft in all of your favorite restaurants and bars. Also available in six packs and twelve packs. Craft your Legacy this winter with Legend Winter White. Legend Brewing Co. A Virginia Original www.legendbrewing.com Also join us on Facebook and Twitter
Recently, they partnered with neighboring Capital Ale House, Midlothian, and local homebrew club M.A.S.H. (Mentoring Advanced Standards of Homebrewing) to host an AHA “Learn to Homebrew Day”, which generated a lot of interest and provided much information to the community.
BOURBON GBS BOTTLE AND DRAFT RELEASE
RELEASE: - DEC. 5, 2015
RELEASE DATE: DEC. 12, 2015 RELEASE: DEC. 19, 2015
RELEASE: - DEC. 19, 2015
TA P RO O M H O U R S
WED-FRI 4-9PM | SAT 2-9PM | SUN 12-6PM •
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When it comes to their neighborhood, Cathy and Arthur see their store as a way to give back and help the community through initiatives such as Hops for Honor, where a proceed of all hops sales every May will go to the local Wounded Warrior Project Richmond Fisher House to help military families in need. As a U.S. Navy veteran, Arthur strongly supports America’s service men and women. Artisans Wine and Homebrew has aided multiple local breweries and businesses with equipment as well as supplies. One of the most interesting to this date was ordering a manual grape crusher de-stemmer for a vineyard. They have taught a class on grains to some Ladies of Lager members who were taking entry level Cicerone training. Cathy and Arthur helped MoJo of 96.1 The Planet through his first homebrew kit, which he talks about on the radio, sharing the excitement of his first brew with fans. As customers walk through the door, they are greeted with a smile and questions about how they are doing, how their last brew went, if that tip to clear the beer worked and so on. Customers come in excited to visit and share their experiences with Cathy and Arthur, who are always overjoyed to hear all the stories. They have extended hours on Thursdays and Fridays to accommodate people who leave work at 5:00, so that they too, can get their supplies before the
weekend. Artisans Wine & Homebrew are dedicated exclusively to homebrewing and homebrewers, and build solid relationships with their customers, since that is a big part of the craft beer culture. What good is brewing a beer if you don’t have anyone to share it with? Artisans Wine & Homebrew is located at 13829 Village Place Drive in Midlothian, Virginia 23114. They can be reached by email at: CathyAllen@ArtisansWineandHomebrew. com, online at ArtisansWineandHomebrew.com or by phone at (804) 379-1110. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter. Written by James Bernard of the Virginia Beer Blog. Virginiabeerblog.com, also on Instagram, twitter and facebook. James@ Virginiabeerblog.com
Hickory Smoked Barbecue and Hand Crafted Beers. • • • • •
Pork BBQ and Ribs Brisket and Burnt Ends Smoked Chicken Smoked Sausage Prime Rib & Steaks
• Christmas Parties • Banquet Room • Full On and Off Site Catering
On-Site Brewery at our Midlothian Location 5-Taps featuring our own beers, plus seven guest taps
Midlothian • 1110 Alverser Drive • (804) 379-8727
Broad Street • 5205 W. Broad St • (804) 282-3949
Wild Wolf Brewing Company
A True Farm Brewery - by: Kimberly Rhodes, Photos by: Mary Wolf seasonal vegetable and herb gardens that he cultivates on the back acreage of the brewery. Danny has also established a composting system for Wild Wolf that he uses to create rich soil, packed with the nutrients needed to maintain these glorious gardens. He uses recycled food scraps from the kitchen, cardboard from incoming packages Wild Wolf receives, leaves that have fallen on the grounds of the property and chicken manure from the hop yard to create his compost. In addition to growing vegetables and herbs for the restaurant, he has planted mushroom logs and fruit trees on the property.
Farm Brewery: a tract of land with a brewery, on which crops and livestock are raised and sourced for livelihood. In the heart of the small quaint town of Nellysford, Virginia, lies a true farm brewery - Wild Wolf Brewing Company. When you first arrive at Wild Wolf, you will notice their 400-hill Cascade hop yard with an assorted farmyard mix; roosters, chickens and ducks, oh my! You may even hear a rooster crow, while perched at the top of the chicken coop. These farmyard friends maintain the hop yard by keeping the weeds down, aiding in fertilization and eating pests, resulting in a pesticidefree hop yard. Wild Wolf Brewing Company’s Brewmaster, Danny Wolf, has an extensive background in horticulture and an ever-growing interest in agriculture. His green thumb is evident with the
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Wild Wolf is also farm friendly. All of the grain that is left over from the brewing process is donated to a local farmer and used as supplemental feed for the cattle. This spent grain has many uses; it is used as feed for the hop yard chickens and it is used in Wild Wolf’s bakery. The onsite bakery uses the grain to make bread, pancakes and their latest creation - Lady Luna’s Brewer’s Dog Biscuits. As well as being farm friendly, Wild Wolf is also dog friendly. You can dine with your canine companion in the outdoor Biergarten (Weather Permitting). Wild Wolf is proud to be a Farm-to-Fork restaurant. Beef, pork, poultry, fish and produce are sourced from local farmers within a 30-mile radius. Wild Wolf isn’t messing around. They source WHOLE farm animals - using the “nose -to-tail” philosophy of utilizing the entire animal. Wild Wolf’s Executive Chef, Chris Jack,
Continued . . .
Beer is your art. Label design is ours.
DesignByWatermark.com (434) 295-5625
A P O CA LY PS E AL E WO R KS
Winter Snack Holiday Stout & Wrath of the Lamb Imperial Stout
BOTH BEERS 10.1% ABV 30 IBU’S
creates delectable southern-inspired dishes - Pork Belly, Pork Cheek, Beef Liver Mouse and Pickled Beef Tongue, yum! Wild Wolf has also mastered charcuterie – an age old art of preparing meats by enhancing flavors derived from preservation processes. Are you a fan of a great burger? Wild Wolf sources the beef for their burgers from the very same farm that utilizes Wild Wolf’s spent grain as supplemental feed for their cattle. Hands down, Wild Wolf burgers are the best you’ll ever experience. You can’t beat spent-grain fed, free-range cattle! At the center of the Wild Wolf Brewing Company’s core values is conservation, both in the brewery and restaurant. Wild Wolf’s restaurant is over 105 years old and is a repurposed schoolhouse. Wild Wolf uses recycling programs and energy saving measures throughout their facilities. All of the buildings feed into a state of the art water treatment plant, which includes an aerobic digester, an anaerobic waste reactor, as well as vertical flow wetlands. This enables significant conservation of water and ensures that the pristine mountain spring
water that is used in the beer stays that way. Going green is not an ancillary project for us; it is a driving force of our philosophy and operations. Wild Wolf Brewing Company is an eclectic blend of brewery meets farm. The ten-acre property features an authentic Biergarten (as mentioned earlier for your furry friends), shaded by a protective canopy of 60-year-old Siberian Elms, including a charming gazebo, large Koi pond, and working water wheel. In addition, an outdoor pavilion has been enclosed to allow for a four season dining experience. The pavilion hosts live music every weekend. Inside the restaurant, guests are treated to a rustic dining experience, including wrap-around porches that provide stunning views of the surrounding mountains and property. It is an incredibly unique destination, which should not be missed on your drive down Nelson County’s route 151. As they say at Wild Wolf, remember to “Keep it Fresh and Eat & Drink Local.”.
The Wrath of the Lamb is a rich, smooth decadent imperial stout with notes of coffee and chocolate. This beer is perfect for the cold months ahead. The Winter Snack Holiday Stout is the Wrath of the Lamb Imperial Stout dressed for the holidays. It is seasoned with orange, cinnamon, raisins and Oatmeal. It is the perfect snack for a cold blustery evening with friends.
Ask your favorite bar for Apocalypse draft selections or come visit our taphouse in scenic Forest, VA. Open Wed. thru Sun.
434-258-8761
12 57 B R U N B R I D G E R D , F O R E S T , V A 2 4 5 51
endofbadbeer.com
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www.olddominionmobilecanning.com
Watermark Design
Pouring Yourself Into Your Work And Vice Versa by: Steve Cook
Do you ever visit your favorite craft beer market just to look at the labels? It’s somewhat like going to a very cool art gallery. You may have bought a bottle mainly because you loved the label? If so, then Darcey Lacy, and the folks who do what she does, has succeeded. Lacy is the founder of Charlottesvillebased Watermark Design, a full-service graphic design company that specializes in label design. Although the company has considerable experience designing for other industries and in other mediums, a sizeable portion of their business is in label design for wine and craft beer. It’s not all work and no play. Lacy admits that she loves the beer from her clients’ breweries. “We love to design products, and for clients, that we are passionate about,” Lacy says of herself and her staff. In fact, Lacy obtained Watermark’s first beer label job due to a chance meeting with Mandi Smack (co-owner of Blue Mountain Brewery in nearby Afton), while enjoying a tasting at the Blue Mountain bar.
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It wasn’t merely a love for craft beer that motivated Lacy, who started the business in 2007, to expand into craft beers. It was also a shrewd business decision. “We were lucky to get in early, before the industry exploded,” she says. Indeed, her company continues to acquire new craft beer accounts, including Champion Brewing Company, located in
O R T I N I N T RO D U C
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downtown Charlottesville. According to Lacy, the direction in which Champion has gone with its brand is totally different from that of Blue Mountain, because each brand is a reflection of its owner. Champion has a punk/metal vibe. It’s very closely tied to music. With so many different breweries using so many different themes and logos, I started wondering just what goes into the creative process that, to one degree or
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another, is behind every label you see on the shelves. “It all starts with a kickoff meeting,” Lacy says. “We need to find out why they (the new client) are opening a brewery. Every brewery has its passion. We need to discover where their passion lies. Just as each client is different, each brand is going to be different. “We need to know,” says Lacy, “What is their
They’re award winning as well. Recently, they picked up three American Package Design awards, including one for South Street Brewery, another local client. Due, in part, to such recognition within the industry, Watermark is also designing for breweries in Texas and nationwide. “Looking to the future,” Lacy says, “we will always be a local company and respect where we came from, but we also hope to continue to grow on a national scale as well.” I had one more question for Darcey Lacy. How does it feel when you walk into a store and see a label Watermark has created? Without hesitation, she replies, “Awesome!” For more information, visit: designbywatermark.com.
aesthetic? Will it be simple and clean, or do they want something super illustrated, or something crazy and wild?” Once there is a meeting of the minds, the creative work begins, and this is where the artists at Watermark Design get to use their true artistic skills. Lacy explains, “It starts with a hand-drawn sketch and then we put it into the computer”. “The cool thing about the craft beer scene,” says Lacy, “is that the people enjoy and respect hand-drawn illustrations. Our brewers come up with very fanciful names, and then we get to do custom, involved illustrations to bring their vision to life.” The illustrations that Watermark Design is creating are not just crazy.
WWW.SOUTHSTREETBREWERY.COM 106 W SOUTH ST, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (434) 293-6550
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Legend Brewing
The Legend in Craft Beers.
by: Steve Cook
“Some people call us the father of the Richmond craft beer scene,” says David Gott, referring to Legend Brewing Company, the brewery with which he’s been affiliated since 1996. Gott’s analogy is pretty accurate. His views and insights on Legend and on the entire rapidly growing industry border are knowledgeable. We spent some time recently sitting in Legend’s popular brew pub in Richmond’s Manchester district and talking about an industry which Gott, vice-president of operations, knows very well. Anyone in the industry should welcome the input of someone who could provide such trusted fatherly advice. I don’t know about your father, but mine was cautious and thoughtful, and much less likely to act impulsively than I was. On the other hand, he also knew how to have fun and often did. That pretty much describes Legend’s and Gott’s philosophy in the craft beer scene. He’s thoughtful and observant, learning from experience. Neither he nor Legend Brewing is
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interested in being the coolest player in the game. But, at the same time, they understand the importance of keeping up-to-the-minute and recognize that while it’s still much about business, it also has to have some real satisfaction. When Gott joined Legend Brewing in 1996, he says he knew even then that craft beer had a future. Having previously spent five years
in beer sales with Howard Distributing, and having seen the interest in both imports, as well as in a couple of craft beers that were being produced and sold by a Virginia Beach-based brewery, he says, “Considering the popularity of the imports, I knew the craft beer industry had a good foundation to build on.”
At the time, however, there weren’t many brewing craft beer in this area. Regarding Tom Martin, who had launched Legend Brewing in 1993, Gott says, “I knew he was a good deal ahead of his time.” “That longevity,” Gott says, “can be somewhat a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we have the experience and knowledge. That’s a huge positive. “However,” he acknowledges, “In an industry that has expanded as rapidly as the craft beer industry. It’s easy for the new startup with new ideas to generate a lot of excitement.” While he acknowledges that the growth in the industry is amazing and has brought many new craft beer drinkers to the table, Gott recognizes that such growth can be accompanied by some problems. “Often,” he observes, “the turnover in inventory can mean that when a consumer returns to enjoy a beer he had first tasted only days previously, he may no longer find that beer on the shelf, having been replaced by something even newer.”
“There is a place for all the products,” Gott says. “Innovation will always be around. The industry needs to create new customers.” However, there is a caveat that comes with that. “If the traditional American-style beer drinker’s first exposure to craft beer is a red, sour, Belgian wheat, raspberry peanut butter beer, we’ve lost him. He may never try a craft beer again.” Gott continues: “There are some whom we affectionately call beer geeks. They will try anything with beer in it. However, we can’t lose focus on what the other 88 percent of beer drinkers like.” And what’s that? “Ultimately,” he says, “the vast majority will want to have that beer that they know they can count on.”
When asked about Legend’s philosophy when it comes to its beers, he says, “We try to stay somewhat true to traditional styles. Our Brown Ale, for example, is always going to taste like brown ale. In the long run, consistency is going to be the winner.” If you consider 22 years, and still going strong, an example of winning, then you get his point. “Some of the newer entrants in the industry,” Gott says, “in an effort to get the quick publicity, are looking for the next wild and crazy thing. Some will go for the higher IBUs, or the higher alcohol count, or the crazier label with the funnier name.” So, what’s the solution? “Many consumers are just putting their toes in the water,” Gott says. “You have to bring them in gradually.” He says that when someone new to craft beer comes in to Legend’s brew pub, the staff is trained and encouraged to ask, “What do you drink normally?” “If they drink a Heineken,” Gott says, “the last thing you’d suggest is an Imperial IPA. They won’t order a second. We would suggest a lager, or perhaps a pilsner. Eventually, if brought along gradually, they will go to the beer they couldn’t or wouldn’t drink (at first). They’ll become a real craft beer drinker at some point,” Gott says. This isn’t merely guesswork. Gott has been observing customers in the brew pub for years. “This pub is the best marketing tool we have. It lets us keep our finger on the pulse of the people.” Legend’s recently released Winter White is an example of being in tune to what consumers want. Gott says that in the past Legend’s seasonal rotation had included an Imperial Chocolate Stout,
or something equally as heavy and dark. “We realized,” he says, “that the consumer wanted a beer they could sit down in a restaurant and drink two or three, and not be too full to enjoy a meal. I know restaurants want that.” Looking back on his years in the business and reflecting on the tremendous changes in the industry, Gott says, “Some will say we’re irrelevant, that we are not new and exciting. But in the long run, when I talk to people, I’m constantly told, ‘You guys are what brought me to craft beer and you’re still the staple in my
Chocolate Chip Porter Cookies by: Kristel Poole Featuring Isley Brewing Company Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter
The secret ingredient in these killer chocolate chip cookies is a syrup made from porter, but equally as enticing is the balance between sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy. Feel free to substitute any porter or stout in this recipe, particularly those notes of vanilla, oats, chocolate or coffee. Hardywood Park’s Gingerbread Stout releases would be good here, as well. The beer syrup adds a subtle backbone you won’t find in a traditional chocolate chip cookie. They come out of the oven cooked perfectly, with a slightly crunchy outside and a chewy inside, thanks to the additions of cornstarch and bread flour. If you don’t have those on hand, you can omit the cornstarch and sub all purpose flour for the bread flour; you’ll end up with a nice, soft cookie that still tastes great. Notes: For syrup, reduce 2 cups (16 ounces) porter in a medium pot over medium-low heat until about 1/4 cup remains. Reduce heat to low. While stirring, add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla paste (or extract). Continue to stir until sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture has the consistency of syrup. This process can take an hour or more, depending on your stove and cookware, so plan ahead, but be sure to keep an eye on it so it never foams up, reaches a boil, or burns. Higher quality ingredients mean higher quality results. That’s why your neighbor can make this recipe a hundred times and still not replicate your results if he or she is using imitation vanilla extract. Don’t skimp where it counts.
Ingredients:
refrigerator.’ When business gets tough and things get tight, that’s something that lets you go home and sleep well at night.” Not unlike many grandfathers, Gott gets a bit philosophical, reflecting on what Legend Brewing has accomplished and continues to accomplish. “We’re the oldest operating microbrewery in Virginia. We have serviced the state for 22 years. We make beer that people love to drink. We have created lots of craft beer drinkers.”
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup bread flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 3/4 cup butter, softened 1-1/4 cup brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 large egg yolk 2 tablespoons peanut butter porter syrup (see notes) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste (or extract) 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips
Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, espresso powder, cinnamon, and cornstarch. Set aside. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and egg yolk, porter syrup and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Slowly add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Place dough in refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes, or as long as two days. Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare baking sheets by fitting with parchment paper. Scoop balls of dough (about 2 tablespoons each) onto cookie sheets, leaving enough room for the cookies to spread a little during baking. Bake cookies for 12-13 minutes, or until edges just begin to turn golden brown. Immediately remove the cookies and rest on cooling racks until they reach room temperature
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Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery Virginia’s Farm Brewery
Nature’s Best • Home Grown Brewery • Hops, Barley, Herbs & Spices grown on property • Deep well water used in the brewing process • Located in beautiful Goochland County on 290 acres
Introducing
3
NEW RELEASES
Citra IPA Coconut Quad Chai Tea Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 - 7:00 p.m. Enjoy favorite brews, live music and multiple food trucks
Saturday, December 12th: Citra Fresh IPA Saturday, December 19th: Goochland Quad & Coconut Quad (Brewery Only)
Saturday, December 26th: Chai Tea Virginia Black Bear
4100 Knolls Point Dr. Goochland, VA 23063
(804) 314-4380 sean@lickingholecreek.com
www.lickingholecreek.com
Capital Ale House: Updates & News
by: Audrey Finney and Linzy Browne
the company provides so well. While they all have that familiar atmosphere, each location boasts it’s own identity. For example, the Ale House’s recently renovated Innsbrook location was closed for two weeks over the summer, reopening with Edison bulb lighting, sprawling sliding glass doors all along the back wall, opening to a new pergola and outdoor bar seating and a brand new color palette to brighten up this Glen Allen staple. It was a whole new take on “classic modern”. Most importantly, during the renovation, 36 tap lines were added, totaling our selection to 101 beers on draught and over 200 in bottles.
Widely known as “Virginia’s Beer Authority”, Capital Ale House has been pouring more Virginia craft beer than anyone else in the Commonwealth’s craft industry for thirteen years. Through serving and supporting the local economy and passion for handcrafted beverages, Capital Ale House has now grown to five restaurant locations across the state, as well as a large volunteer community outreach program called Beer Corps. With a strong passion in keeping it local, Capital Ale prides itself in working to make Richmond, as well as the surrounding areas, a better (and more beer filled) place. Serving Downtown Richmond, Glen Allen, Midlothian, Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg, the 5 Capital Ale House locations all possess that cozy charm
2015 has been quite the year for Capital Ale, coming off of a major rain-induced roof collapse in Fredericksburg, resulting in the need for major repairs (luckily, no one was hurt). The finished product, however, was a work of art. They released a brand new menu with
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culinary creations inspired by the classics of southern cuisine. With all of these changes and updates, 2016 looks like a very promising year. Capital Ale is adding to the roster some very fun and inviting events in the courtyard at the Glen Allen location, such as corn hole and other outdoor games, many more musical concerts and events at the Downtown Music Hall and exciting new plans for beer events, festivals and parties! All of the locations feature an extensive beer list, custom banquet menu options and plenty of room, which makes Capital Ale House the perfect place to host holiday parties, group dinners or business meetings and seminars. With a large and well-trained management and staff, Capital Ale provides an exceptional experience for hosts of large parties,
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all the way to the individual bar guest. They are happy to tailor each item and beer choice to your tastes and to make the beer-food adventure you embark on one that is satisfying to the last drop. Make sure to visit their website at www. capitalalehouse.com for more information on specials and events. Cheers!
additional info available on our website
www.BrewGastropub.com
Upcoming events
December 3 - Goose Island Tap Takeover featuring 2014 and 2015 BCBS on draft starting at 6pm @ Chesterfield December 5 - Old Bust Head Brewing Company Beer School @ 4pm featuring Gold Cup Imperial Stout and variants @ Bellgrade December 18 - Brew Bellgrade 1 Year Anniversary and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Tap Takeover featuring GBS @ Bellgrade December 19 - Terrapin Beer Co. Wake-n-Bake Off! benefiting Richmond SPCA 12pm-4pm - Ticket Info on FB and Website @ Bellgrade December 31 - Happy “brew” Year Celebration Parties @ both locations more info will be available on FB and our website!
Weekly Specials
Monday - $5 Burgers starting at 6pm (beverage purchase required) Tuesday - Kick the Keg - 1/2 Price Pints on select drafts. Wednesday - 1/2 Price Growler Fills all day. Thursday - $10 Brat and Brew Special - beer braised brat + any $6 pint Friday - Chalkboard Specials after 5pm. Saturday - Beer School at 4pm and Live Music at 7pm. Sunday - $2 off Small Plates ALL DAY (beverage purchase required) Chesterfield Meadows Shopping Center 6525 Centralia Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832
The Shoppes at Bellgrade Check Trinkin.com for the most up to date taplist! 11-10 Sun-Thurs • 11-11 Fri-Sat www.BrewGastropub.com @brewrva
804-454-0605
© 2015 BrewGastropub
11400 West Huguenot Rd, Midlothian, VA 23113
Escutcheon Brewing ~ a Bright Future in Winchester - by Kyle Kersey
WINCHESTER, VA - With its deep historical significance, home to one of George Washington’s earliest outposts and central role in the Civil War, Winchester, Virginia, is often seen by many as an older city, steeped in tradition, but somewhat dated. However, there is a real sense that the Winchester of today, 2015, is headed towards a bright and exciting future. Winchester retains its historic look and feel, but a very clear revitalization effort has been ongoing for the past 5 years. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Loudoun Street walking mall, where art & fashion boutiques meet gourmet bistros and fine dining prepared by world-class chefs. Beer, wine and spirits flow on the numerous outdoor patios and live music can be heard all around. For someone who’s been out of the country a few
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years, I have been absolutely shocked by the transformation Winchester has undergone since I left in 2012. It was upon my return a few months ago that I looked for a place where I could work my craft, craft beer, that is. What a pleasant surprise to find Winchester now boasts its first legitimate microbrewery, Escutcheon Brewing. Escutcheon is aiding in the revitalization of the area, moving into a traditionally underserved area of the town and stimulating jobs and interest. Not to
mention, those in Winchester now can call out for a LOCAL beer. What’s more, Escutcheon’s beer is world-class. Now, I’ll give you that the latter is a subjective statement, but under the guidance of Brewmaster John Hovermale, a 15-year veteran of the Siebel Institute and former employee of Harpoon and Flying Dog, Escutcheon is kicking out some top-notch nectar. John is producing from a stateof-the-art, newly constructed 15 barrel brewhouse on Winchester’s Commercial St, turning out true-to-style versions of a German Berliner Weiss, a Kolsch, a fine Vienna Lager, a perfectly balanced American Pale and India Pale, as well as a mouthwatering Stout. Escutcheon Brewing is owned by Art Major, who lives in Winchester and who is active in the community. The hope is that Escutcheon can continue to give back and be an active part of the community at large, serving as a hub for events and helping to take the edge off, in a responsible way. We’d like to invite you all to check out Escutcheon in your travels, and come by our taproom for a tasting and a tour. Escutcheon is widely distributed in DC/ MD/VA through Kysela Distributors and is available at restaurants throughout the metro area. If you don’t see us, just ask for the local brew from Winchester! With Escutcheon’s canning line coming on-line in a few short months, you will be able to find us in the grocery store, as well as on draft at your favorite Mid-Atlantic restaurants. We hope you’ll THINK LOCAL and give us a try! happy drinkin - Kyle
Kyle Kersey is a beer enthusiast, father of three sons and Virginia native. Kyle was an Owner and Founding Partner of an early-to-market Craft Beer brewery in beautiful Costa Rica and now works as VP of Sales and Marketing at Escutcheon Brewing in Winchester, VA. When he isn’t working, he’s probably having a beer in a hammock - for research purposes only.
One word can warm these Winter months
Beer Virginia’s Beer Authority
Richmond
Innsbrook
623 E. Main St 4024-A Cox Rd Richmond, VA 23219 Glen Allen, VA 23060
Midlothian
13831 Village Place Dr Midlothian, VA 23114
Fredericksburg
917 Caroline St Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Harrisonburg
41 Court Square Harrisonburg, VA 22801