Edition #18 2018
Castleburg Brewery Chivalry Is Not Dead
St. George Brewing Co. Parkway Brewing Co. Brewing is for the Bees
Good Beer & Good Friends
Pints, Peaks, and Paddles Holiday Lights, Holiday Ales
EVENTS 1/2-6 Food truck - Fat BEAN TACO 1/3 Shine Runners Pub Run 1/4 CRAWFORD AND POWER (music) 1/5 Little Roger and the Cheap Thrills (music) 1/9-13 Ricks Wrap It Up 11/1 Cliff Beach (music) 11/2 Seph Custer (music) 1/16-20 Longfin Grill 1/18 Becky and the Boom Booms (music) 1/19 Perry Crawford Band 1/23-27 Ricks Wrap It Up 1/24 Jesse Ray Carter with special guests the Gold Hope Duo from New York 1/25 Rocky Top Karaoke 1/26 Omega Wolf (band)
Chaos Mountain Brewing, LLC 3135 Dillons Mill Rd. Callaway, Va. 24067 chaosmountainbrewing.com - 540.334.1600
Racks of Chaos Proud Supporter of
(Wednesdays)
Healing Strides of Virginia
For which we will be hosting a charity event this September 16th
© 2018 Chaos Mountain Brewing
CHANGE NEVER TASTED SO GOOD
• Pediatric Therapy • Children & Youth Programs • Adult Day Programs • Respite & Summer Camp • Employment Opportunities • Business Solutions
Our Mission In partnership with families, the Greater Richmond ARC creates life-fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 3600 Saunders Avenue Richmond Virginia 23227 (804) 358-1874 (804) 353-0163 fax
Info@RichmondARC.org facebook.com/RichmondARC
Home of the award-winning ARCpark!
Features
6
The St. George Brewing Company Brewing is for the Bees
By: Alex Hannagan
12
Castleburg Brewery and Taproom Chivalry Is Not Dead
By: Terri L. Jones
16
Parkway Brewing Company
Enjoying Good Beer With Good Friends
This Issue 10 Baltic Porters The Beer of Choice for Danny, Jesse and Joey By: David Wren 21 Pints, Peaks, and Paddles Holiday Lights, Holiday Ales: A Winter Waltz Through the City By: Nolan Shigley 22 Capital Ale House “Local Roots” By: Tess King
By: Steve Cook
Our Team
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 10% of all revenues. We even organize an event to benefit that group. Help us support our mission by donating $10.00 on our website to get the next 4 issues mailed to your door! matt@virginiacraftbrews.com
www.virginiacraftbrews.com
Issue #18 Winter 2018
Writers: Alex Hannagan Terri L. Jones Steve Cook David Wren Nolan Shigley Tess King Cover art Inspired by Castleburg Brewery and Taproom & The St. George Brewing Company. - Layout & Design: Tactics Branding
7044 Woodlake Commons Midlothian, Virginia 23112
Brewing is for the Bees:
Give the Gift of History Our spirits are handcrafted with local grains, fruits and age-old distilling methods. Owner and Master Distiller, Chris Prillaman carries on a tradition passed down for generations to create true-to-roots products. Twin Creeks Distillery’s peach, pear, apple and blackberry brandies make the perfect gift this holiday season.
An Oral History of St. George’s Honey Meade Lager The St. George Brewing Company, nestled on a campus outside NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, has what William Spence Jr., Director of Drinking Operations, would call “room to grow.” It wasn’t always that way. In the infancy of the craft beer movement, St. George began as a ‘brew on premises” operation. In 1998, it evolved into a brewery, just before the end of what they consider the first craft beer bubble. “Brewing is one of the best communities,” William pondered, referring to the outpouring of help that tided St. George over following a fire on Christmas Eve, 2000, that destroyed their facility in Hampton. Batches of St. George mixed into other breweries’ own wares until they could get back on their feet at the current location. The other helpful graybeards included Clipper City (now Heavy Seas in Baltimore), Old Dominion (since relocated to Delaware) and Legend Brewing. “Now though, it’s really cutthroat,” he concluded. Still, according to William, “the best friendships begin or end over a beer.” One can say the same of Honey Meade Lager, one of St. George’s most popular beers. What follows is a lightly-edited dialog among friends who became business partners, all over a pint of beer one night in the taproom.
6 VACB Edition 18
Left to Right - Andy W., William Spence Jr, and Scott Batten. Editorial By: Alex Hannagan
Andy Westrich, Master Apiarist: “I was just a customer when William found out I was a beekeeper. One night he says, “Hey, let’s stick a hive back there!” Andy Rathmann, Brewmaster: “I like what other brewmasters are trying, but I can only drink half of a glass. It needs balance.” William: “We want our beers to live right in front of that beer-inspired ‘good idea’ line that gets people in trouble, too.” Bill Spence, Owner and Founder: “We go for drinkability, not off-the-wall taste. There are people
Peach Brandy available at VA ABC stores. Pear, apple & blackberry available at our Distillery Store & Tasting Room.* 8551 Henry Road | Henry, VA 24102
The History of Franklin County in a Bottle.
*Our distillery store is closing on 12/31/18. Look for our new store & tasting room in 2019.
twincreeksdistillery.com
Plans that are tailored to fit the craft brew industry.
Kim Rice
Nationwide
400A Southlake Blvd. N. Chesterfield, VA 23236 ricek13@nationwide.com VirginiaCraftBrewInsurance.com
DAYS I L O H Y P P Department HA rest Volunteer Fire e old Fo
1257 Burnbridge Rd. Forest, VA
ks, Located in th Apocalypse Ale Wor
NEW Releases THIS Season Bro Head Fred Quad, Revival Pale Ale with Rye, Pecan Barrmageddon, and Winter Snack Imperial Stout will be coming out the end of October.
TEMPTATIO
Y N T H U RS D A
d sday Night infuse ur Th y er ev er be y e w specialt od will be availabl We introduce a ne fo rt fo m co n ga ll.” As always ve in town! through a “Randa bbit, the best food Ra ed ck Ja s nd ie from our fr L AS T C A L L T
RIVIA!
:00PM, hosted by -9 0 :0 8 om fr t gh ery Wednesday ni beer! We have Trivia ev e over an ice cold dg le ow kn ur yo Come test Jenna and Ryan.
ENDOFBADBEER.COM
HOU RS : 0PM H U 4 :0 0 -9 :0 T M P 0 :0 -9 4 :0 0 -6 :0 0 P M :0 0 P M W E D M S U N 1: 0 0 P 0 0 1: -1 T u es 4 :0 0 -9 0 :0 0 0 P M S AT 12 Rd. Forest, VA. F R I 4 :0 0 -1 1: 1257 Burnbridge n! fu e th in in jo y and Come visit us toda © 2018 Apocalypse Ale Works, llc.
Your Neighborhood Beer and Wine Store . . . St. George Continued who just throw in the kitchen sink.” Westrich: “So, I said I don’t care what we make as long as it ends in ‘Lager’. It’s more non-traditional and complex to do a honey lager.” Rathmann: “We make lagers because the brewmaster likes to drink them.” William: “It ended up being Scott [Batten, the Assistant Brewer’s] recipe.” Westrich: “There hasn’t been any real experimentation, but we’ve done three batches.”
William: “Water, yeast, grain are all the same –“ Westrich: “It does change every year because of the honey. Of course with pollen, but also the color and any floral notes are all dependent on the weather.” William: “We need 275-300 pounds, just for a 25 BBL batch. What’s the math?” Westrich: “One bee can make a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey.” William: “So it takes 2.8 million bees to do that.” Westrich: “We’re going to install a hive monitoring system with its own dedicated server. It’ll help monitor the bees’ activity, the hive’s temperature – the overall health of the colony.” William: “Checking on the bees is like exploratory surgery each time you go to the doctor.” Westrich: “Without that system, a visual inspection
sets the colony back a full day, when they’re only producing honey about 75 days out of the year.” William: “That one day is like two years out of a bee’s life just to repair that damage.” Westrich: “The Eastern Agricultural Society, the largest group in the United States, met here and was jealous we could drink a beer and work!” William: “Part of being a community, it’s not just about the product. We’re also educating the community about protecting bees.” Westrich: “We have beekeeping classes that bring 2030 people each month.” William: “We also transferred two hives last summer, and we’ve helped [Langley Air Force Base].” Westrich: “That was me!” William: “Just Google ‘F-22’ bees.” Bill: “With this beer, it’s not like you’re sitting here sucking on a bottle of honey.” William: “You can take some home and do 10-12.” Westrich: “What?” William: “Over a weekend!” Bill: “It doesn’t burn you out.” William: “We sell pitchers of this. Excellent drinkability.” Rathmann: “A pitcher to share!” Bill: “And it satisfies more than one person.” William: “We’re not striving to turn over tables. Come for an evening and talk.” Westrich: “You can have 10-15 kids running around getting into the toys.” William: “Check out the label. That is actually a backlit picture of one of the honey frames before we took the honey out of it.” Westrich: “You always know you’ve arrived when you get your signature on a beer label!”
A Selection of Over 600 Beers and 300 Wines Monday - Thursday .... 11 - 8 Friday & Saturday ..... 11 - 9 Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 5
804-320-HOPS (4677)
LOCATED IN THE STONY POINT SHOPPING CENTER (Not the Fashion Park)
16 Craft Beer Taps for Growler Fills • Special Order Kegs • Weekly Tastings. The St. George Brewing Company 204 Challenger Way, Hampton, Virginia www.stgbeer.com (757) 865-7781
Bottleworks Beer & Wine 3078 Stony Point Rd., Richmond, VA 23235 bottleworksrva@gmail.comEdition 18 VACB 9
Baltic Porters: The Beer of Choice for Danny, Jesse and Joey by: David Wren
David Wren is a Certified Cicerone (R) in Richmond, VA with a serious passion for great beer. When he is not drinking beer, he works as a Human Resources and Operations Consultant with a local firm. He can be reached at dhwren@ gmail.com or 804-477-5481. Have you ever loved a TV show, not because you connected with one particular character, but because you just really liked how they balanced each other? There’s beauty, drama and excitement in the way seemingly conflicting characters can interact. Growing up, for me, that show was Full House. Most are probably familiar with the show about a father, who after his wife passes, has his stand-up comic friend and night-life-loving brother-in-law move in to help him raise his three daughters. It was a huge hit because of the rich relationships that formed from the seemingly opposing characters. It was a testament to the idea that something can be greater than the sum of its parts. For me, the same idea holds true for Baltic Porters. Baltic Porters are an interesting
10 VACB Edition 18
style because they blend the memorable characteristics of three other beer styles to create one superb beverage. If a Doppelbock, Barleywine and Stout had a baby, it would be a Baltic Porter. Thus, if you think along the lines of Full House, and mix the straightforward and strict roastiness of a stout (Danny Tanner) with the fun-loving sweetness of a Doppelbock (Uncle Joey) and the cool, dark, mysteriousness of a Barleywine (Uncle Jesse), you’d find that the flavor of a Baltic Porter was a nice mixture of the three. Baltic Porters are a remnant from 18th century Europe, when trade routes and colonies meant power and royalty enjoyed strong beers. During this era, England was renowned worldwide for their prowess in brewing stout and porter ale. In expanding their influence and trade routes, they began shipping stronger than- normal porters to the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, among other northern ports. They brewed stronger porters to ship north just as they brewed stronger pale ales to ship to India (India Pale Ales). The stronger brew was meant to enable the beer to stay fresh during its long trip to its end destination. However, the stronger flavor became popular on its own and thus the Baltic Porter was born. Baltic Porters are dark in color, ranging from deep red to pitch black and exhibit moderate to high sweetness. Flavors can vary dramatically from one to the next, but can include notes of coffee, toffee, chocolate, raisin, rum or port wine and dark fruits. They are typically higher in alcohol as well, clocking in between 5.5-9.5% ABV.
Beers to Try Parkway Brewing Raven’s Roost
Pours dark black like the raven it is named for. If Edgar Allan Poe had this beer in his hand, his poetry might not have been so morose.
Devil’s Backbone Danzig
Named for the Polish city on the Baltic Coast, this powerful brew deservedly took home the bronze medal at the World Beer Cup in 2018.
Port City Baltic Porter
Available only on draft at Port City, this beer is worth the trip. Notes of chocolate, toffee and even port wine make this one not to miss.
Beer and Food Pairing Baltic Porters are uniquely perfect companions to food because while they bring diverse flavor points, they don’t overpower food flavors like doppelbocks and stouts have a penchant for doing. They can be enjoyed with any big flavored foods, but find a home with smoked meats, venison and aged cheeses. Save some for dessert, as well! They pair well with chocolate or pecan pie and cheesecake.
THE DOPPLER EFFECT GOLD MEDAL - IPA
RETROGRADE SILVER MEDAL - SESSION IPA
2018 Virginia Craft Beer Cup
The Doppler Effect was also ranked 12th out of 324 in a nationwide blind taste test by “Paste Magazine”.
FINAL GRAVITY BREWING CO.
6118
Lakeside
Ave.
Richmond
VA
804-264-4808 © 2018 Final Gravity Brewing Co.
Chivalry Is Not Dead at Castleburg Brewery and Taproom
before. They had Richmond Beer Trail cards, and Castleburg was their last stamp. Rhonda and Karl gladly unlocked the doors, stamped their cards, awarded them their Beer Trail hats, and poured beers for them – on the house, no less!
about what you like and what you don’t like,” explains Karl. Then you’re welcome to sample a few brews to ensure you select the perfect one.
“I don’t know if that would’ve happened anywhere else,” says Rhonda, not boastfully, but from personal experience. Longtime customers of RVA craft breweries, Rhonda and Karl appreciate it when they’re made to feel at home at breweries they patronize. Remembering their names scores bonus points with them. “That’s the reason we go back and become loyal customers,” she notes. “It goes a long way!”
Castleburg’s beers are a little more distinctive and not as focused on trends.
Karl, Rhonda and the Team
The name “Castleburg,” and its logo, call to mind knights and parapets, and all things medieval. However, after being served a “Flight of the Round Table” and hanging out at Castleburg Brewery and Taproom for a while, I think the medieval term that most aptly describes the atmosphere here is “chivalrous,” no, not the archaic connotation of male gallantry (although that may be true too), but rather the more timeless meaning of courtesy
12 VACB Edition 18
By: Terri L. Jones
and generosity. In fact, Castleburg’s owner and head brewer, Karl Homburg, says he and his staff pride themselves on their friendliness and personal touch. Rhonda Groves, taproom manager and Karl’s life partner, tells the story of a couple who recently stopped by the brewery on a slow Sunday, right at closing time. The couple was from Minnesota, and the man had run the Richmond Marathon the day
So, when they opened Castleburg Brewery and Taproom, right down the street from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s original location on Ownby Lane, in the summer of 2016, they made sure to give their own customers that same warm welcome and friendly service. If you’re a member of their Knights of Malta mug club, you may even find your mug waiting on the bar when you walk through the door.
Running the gauntlet Finding a beer that you really love requires some experimentation, but not as much as brewing that beer. A good example is Castleburg’s Black Knight brew, a favorite of the owner and quite a few of his customers. This Black India Pale Ale actually took Karl two to three years of trial and error to perfect.
Their beer tenders not only treat their regular customers like old friends, but they’re also eager to help new customers choose a beer they love. To point you in the right direction, “They’ll ask you questions
“It started as a kit and I took that kit and tweaked it a little bit, and from there, kept tweaking it until I got it to where I liked it,” Karl recalls. “It took seven or eight iterations to get it to that point.”
CASTLEBURG BREWERY WHERE BEER IS KING Follow us on Facebook for the latest beer releases & events
1626 Ownby Lane - Richmond, VA Not defined by Scott’s Addition
castleburgbrewery.com
. . . Castleburg Continued Rhonda likens the process to cooking: “A chef may have Grandma’s recipe that they’ve been making forever and decide that they can do it better. That’s what he (Karl) was doing – taking recipes and making them different.” The result of all this experimentation is traditional-style beers. With a name like Karl Homburg, you might assume traditional German beers, but Karl says his heritage (his grandmother migrated from Germany) really hasn’t had an impact on his brewing style. Castleburg’s beers are simply good, solid brews without many extra ingredients like fruits or flavorings. Even when Karl and his assistant brewer, Josh Starliper, add something like Vermont maple syrup or star anise, that additional flavor is understated and secondary to the foundational flavor of the beer itself.
features 2 headliners and as many as 12 up-and-coming comedians, who compete for extra time on stage. Some of the comics are homegrown, but others come from as far away as D.C. and Virginia Beach. A popular event at the brewery, Game of Jokes, generally packs the house.
“Castleburg’s beers are little more distinctive and not as focused on trends,” notes regular Ashley Scruggs, whose favorite is Black Knight, followed by the mOatmeal Stout. The joust of the brewmasters While Castleburg is still young, the brewery has already established itself in the eyes of craft beer experts – and not just the ones enjoying a brew in the taproom! Karl won numerous homebrewing awards when he was still making beer on his stovetop, and since becoming a professional brewer, he’s continued to wow the judges at the Virginia Craft Beer Cup. In the brewery’s first year in business, my personal favorite, Bishop’s Brown (Brown Ale) won a Silver medal. Then in 2017, Castleburg’s Cream Ale landed a Gold, and the Court Jester (Porter) a Bronze. Most recently, the Queen’s Garde (Bier de Garde) won a Bronze medal in 2018.
Finding a beer that you really love requires some experimentation, but not as much as brewing that beer. Being able to note these awards on the board over the bar gives Castleburg, which is also the smallest brewery in the city of Richmond, legitimacy with beer lovers and its brewmaster cred with his peers. Troubadours, jesters and sages Since opening, Castleburg has expanded into the space next door and has grown from about 50 seats to 120, including a stage and a quality sound system. With this extra space, the brewery hosts bands two to three nights a week; Books & Brews, a monthly book club led by Mandy Huff; and weekly trivia competitions, led by Erin Barclay. In fact, Castleburg ranked second for trivia in Style Weekly’s 2018 “Best of Richmond” issue. Once a month, Castleburg also holds an open mic comedy night called Game of Jokes. Hosted by Mike Engle, the show
Customers have also chosen Castleburg as the setting for their business happy hours, birthday parties, reunions and many other gatherings. When you throw a party here, you have access to not only great beer but also whatever entertainment is scheduled – at no cost for the space. In addition, you’re welcome to bring in your own food or enjoy the six varieties of panini sandwiches served at the brewery. The only caveat is the space must remain open to the public. Knights of the square table While there’s no shortage of medieval allusions at Castleburg – even their brewing tanks are named “Lancelot,” “Guinevere” and “Arthur” – you won’t find any damsels in distress or even round tables for that matter (except for the clever round trays used to serve flights of beer). You will, however, find a warm, congenial atmosphere in this castle to meet up with friends, talk about the dragons you’ve slain that day, and maybe even find your own holy grail of beer.
Castleburg Brewery and Taproom
1626 Ownby Lane, Richmond, VA #stormthecastle • castleburgbrewery.com
THIRD STREET BREWING COMPANY 312 WEST THIRD STREET FARMVILLE, VA 23901
All roads lead to Third Street! Your (other) Home for the Holidays
More than 8 beers on tap • Outdoor and indoor games • Live music and food trucks on Friday and Saturday night Operating Hours: Wednesday 3:00pm - 10:00pm • Thursday, Friday and Saturday 3:00pm - Midnight • Sunday 1:00pm - 8:00pm
THIRDSTBREWING.COM - 434-315-0471
© 2018 Third Street Brewing Co.
local musicians were there from the start, adding to a community of outdoor enthusiasts, music lovers, and beer drinkers like Salem or the Valley had never seen before.” “Keno and I first decided we wanted to start a brewery back around 2010,” she said. Lezlie’s career was in real estate development at the time and, if you recall, that was not the best time to be in real estate. “After the crash of 2008,” she said, “We knew it was time to move on.” But why a brewery? “We had watched craft beer trends and had friends in the industry in Colorado that had been thriving since the 90s,” Lezlie continued. “We saw those trends starting to get a foothold in the east. We decided a brewery was the way to go, as there was no craft beer scene in the Roanoke Valley at all - Roanoke Railhouse (a brewery that has since closed) was the only game in town.” In order to learn the business, Keno took a job at the Railhouse where he met brewer, Ryan Worthington.
Enjoying Good Beer with Good Friends at Parkway Brewing Co.
By: Steve Cook
“You really need to come in and hang out,” Lezlie said. “This place is like Cheers.” She was right. Even though no one knew my name, the Parkway tasting room offered an exceptionally pleasant experience. There’s something about snow and beer that tends to open channels of communication. Strangers become fast friends. I hung out at the bar in order to learn more about the brews offered. The regulars were more than happy to tell me how much they enjoyed Parkway’s refreshing lineup of brews. On a scale of one to ten, Parkway gets an eleven when it comes to ambience and friendly customer service. Interestingly, I learned later when I spoke with Lezlie Snyder, one of the brewery’s owners, that such ambience was not what she or her husband Mike, better known as “Keno,” anticipated when they, along with a few friends and investors, opened the brewery back in 2013. “When we began at Parkway, we envisioned a manufacturing
16 VACB Edition 18
plant that might have a few folks drop in to taste the beer and possibly grab a growler if we were lucky,” Lezlie said. “That was quickly flipped on its head!” It’s only logical that the Snyders didn’t know exactly what to expect when Parkway opened its doors. Theirs was the first brewery/taproom in the area. Lezlie elaborated on those “early days” of just six years ago. “We served our first brew in the taproom at the end of January 2013, and when we added live music, people just flooded in. Keno was very hands-on, greeting every customer and talking beer to anyone who entered the building. The
If you enjoy good beers in pleasant, fun surroundings, then put Parkway Brewing on your list of must-visit breweries.
“Ryan is an amazing person and brewer, and he had a scientist’s brain and an artist’s palette,” Lezlie said. “Creating wonderful brews was just natural for him almost instinctive. Keno recognized Ryan’s talent and ambition, and knew they would need to forge their own path to make the quality and styles of beers they
MILLENNIALS... Walking Around Like They Rent the Place
Let’s Change the Stereotype!
. . . Parkway Continued wanted to showcase in the Valley.” Ryan became Parkway’s first brewmaster. As luck would have it, Ryan’s wife Jessica is a talented artist and proved to be instrumental in branding the brewery’s new products. “Jess was great at taking my ideas as creative director and translating
enjoyed this tasty Chocolate Orange Stout myself during my visit. Its rich, slightly sweet taste offers a delightful hint of orange. Perhaps my favorite beer among those I sampled is Parkway’s flagship beer, Get Bent Mountain IPA. At 7.2 ABV, this is not exactly a session beer, but it is a very drinkable, well-balanced IPA with a good, slightly citrus, hop flavor. I would highly recommend their Majestic Mullet as a gateway beer to anyone who is just beginning to acquaint oneself with craft beers. I thoroughly enjoyed my sampling of this kolsch style beer. If you enjoy good beers in pleasant, fun surroundings, then put Parkway Brewing on your list of must-visit breweries. Lezlie described the Parkway experience well, saying, “We have a varied and extremely loyal customer base, comprised of Salem residents, outdoor enthusiasts, beer geeks, and travelers off the Interstate looking for a quick stop. It’s a laid back place with a DIY atmosphere. In addition to making sure that a good time and a good beer is had by all, the folks at Parkway are very supportive of the community and are involved in many fundraising events. As Lezlie explained, “Building community is what we’re about!”
@JENNETTSELLSRVA WWW.JENNETTPULLEY.COM
804-858-9000
15871 City View Dr, St 120, Midlothian VA 23113 All offices are independently owned and operated.
Jennett Pulley 804.920.9009 jennett@jennettpulley.com
Ryan Kirton-Davis 804.356.5322 r yan@jennettpulley.com
them into the exact visual imagery I had in my head,” Lezlie explained. “Her paper cut artworks formed the basis of our branding and were instantly recognizable as ‘Parkway.’” At the end of 2015, the Worthington’s returned to their Tennessee roots and Mike Pensinger, joined the team as the new brewmaster. “Mike brought great recipes that have resulted in our Christmas seasonal, A Moment On The Lips,” said Lezlie. I had
Parkway Brewing
739 Kessler Mill Road Exit 141 on I-81, SALEM, VA 540-404-9810 • parkwaybrewing.com
CustomCollection The ERIE
Mon 2pm - 9pm Tue 2pm - 9pm Wed 2pm - 9pm Thur 2pm - 9pm Fri 2pm - 10pm Sat 12pm - 10pm Sun 12pm - 8pm
®
Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries Program
561 Valley Street Scottsville, VA 24590 434-286-7837 www.jrbrewery.com info@jrbrewery.com
Award Winning Beers Monday Mug Club Madness Thirsty Tuesday Community Tap Nights Bingo, Darts, Trivia Family Game Night Weekend Entertainment Hops & Hymns & More!
Coverage crafted with your needs in mind Contact me today to learn more and to get your free, no-obligation quote. Rob Heare/Andrew Heare Thurston and Heare Insurance (804) 717-8283 rheare@thurstonandheare.com www.thurstonandheare.com
For a list of Tap Takeovers and Festivals, visit www.JRBrewery.com or Check out our events page on Facebook!
Workers’ compensation not available in Ohio. ERIE life insurance and annuity products not available in New York. Erie Ins. Exchange, Erie Ins. Co., Erie Ins. Prop. & Casualty Co., Flagship City Ins. Co. and Erie Family Life Ins. Co. (Erie, PA) or Erie Ins. Co. of NY (Rochester, NY). Details at erieinsurance.com. Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See policy for details. In effect November 2018. Subject to change. Not offered in all states. DD1065 Special request ad Rev 11/18 © 2018 Erie Indemnity Company
DD1065_5.5x8.5_1118.indd 1
11/13/18 2:05 PM
Just 20 minutes South of Charlottesville in beautiful historic downtown Scottsville
RICHMOND’S ONLY MEADERY IS EXPANDING ITS FOOTPRINT
VIRGINIA
HANDMADE PEWTER Camelot Pewter is proudly made in Richmond, Virginia, since 1983. We manufacture 100% lead free pewter in a variety of items. Today we service customers across the United States, offering our handcrafted pieces in both bright and satin finishes.
camelotpewter.com © 2017 CAMELOT PEWTER
12302 Patterson Ave, Richmond, VA 23238
804-784-3770 #CAMELOTPEWTERRVA
We’re Growing Join us at the bar in Scott’s Addition - Up to sixteen meads available by the glass or flight New production facility in 2019
Perfect for the Tasting Room! C A
M
E
L
O
T
P
E
W
T
E
R
@
Y
A
H
O
BLACK HEATH MEADERY O
.
C
O
M
1313 Altamont Avenue, Richmond VA
Pints, Peaks, and Paddles
By: Nolan Shigley
Holiday Lights, Holiday Ales: A Winter Waltz Through the City Usually, I pair my pints with peaks, but a journey to the mountains was not to happen, as a thick blanket of snow covered the city and blockaded my vehicle. I suffered from cabin fever and thirst all the same. Trail shoes served as my only feasible means of transportation, but in my opinion, legs are the optional method of exploring Richmond and enjoying the local breweries, accompanied by holiday lights. Dressed in reflective layers, I left my neighborhood of Manchester at sundown, trudging through deep snow and slipping on slick ice. My efforts were well rewarded, as the view from the floodwall was more than just pleasant. The lights of the city, mirrored upon the James, were intensified by the recent Grand Illumination, while the entire skyline opened along the trail. I rounded Hull Street onto the Mayo Bridge, crossed the colorful river, passed the ice skaters at the 17th Market, and made my first stop on this holiday lights and ale tour. Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery has extended their reach by beautifully restoring a structure nestled in Shockoe
Bottom. Beyond the ideal location of brick buildings and cobblestone streets and even past the impressive portfolio of craft beers, they have one more attraction that is secret. I regretfully tell you...they have the best happy hour in RVA. For several hours each night, each pint is a mere four dollars, along with great food and incredible service. Big beers dominate and the Christmas selection, Twelfth Night, is certainly no different. A Belgian quad packs as much complexity as alcohol. Gingerbread, sage, cinnamon, cloves, mulled wine, pinecones, and maybe Santa’s musky cologne are all present. But alas, I stumbled back into the frigid evening and gingerly slogged across the city via Main Street. The second stop on the night of lights and ales was TripleCrossing. I don’t have to tell you about their popular IPA selection, so allow me to describe the insanity of their Christmas barley wine of 12% appropriately called Winter Jetlag, aged with bourbon soaked vanilla beans...goodnight. The flavors of Navidad
continue with dark fruit, toffee, caramel, and sugar. The complexity necessitates slow sipping and deep analysis of each swish along the taste buds. Needless to say, I left with a desired warmth, as I made my way in the direction of home. If you have not crossed the Tyler Potterfield Memorial Walk Bridge at night, you are absolutely missing one of the greatest delights within our city. After making my way south past historic Tredegar Ironworks, crossing the canal, and standing in awe from Brown’s Island, staring up at our sparkling city, I walked the snow-packed trail across the rushing river. Lights dotted the railing and shone upon the snowcovered path. As I made my way across, I turned and admired one of my favorite views of the city, whether day or night. The final pint and view of the evening were welcoming as I sat in my “home” brewery of Legend, just blocks from my front door. I don’t have to describe the quintessential view all Richmonders have enjoyed from the deck, but I would love to mention the holiday ale that was pouring from the cask-
conditioned pump. It had a soft, pillowy texture, with a blend of spices that perfectly conjured up memories of Christmas, with earthy flavors of pinecones and the Great Outdoors that captured hiking in the snow on a winter evening. It was a perfect finish to a strangely arduous city walk, which balanced steps with holiday calories.
Edition 18 VACB 21
“Local Roots” - By Tess King
RISING TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF DISTRIBUTING VIRGINIA’S CRAFT BEER! Serving Central Virginia Looking for brands and customers. Inquire as to our Monthly Special Promotions
www. jrbeverage.com
434-589-2798
info@jrbeverage.com
Capital Ale House continues to grow, but they always make a point to look back to local roots. One of the main local ingredients in use daily is pasture-raised, antibiotic and hormone free beef out of Lynchburg, Virginia. Suzanne Allen, a Capital Ale House staff member since 2002, states, “People have become more and more interested in buying local. When a guest comes in and asks what sets our burgers apart from others, I always tell them that our burgers are made from only pasture-raised local beef. It allows us to really connect and serve the community.” As the Capital Ale House staff continues to work closely with the community, Evan Veney, the Executive Chef in Downtown Richmond, explains, “It is pretty cool to have such a connection to local foods. As Executive Chef, I take pride in having locally sourced foods and being able to brag that we do! We were able to watch the process of getting our local beef, which really allowed us to see the impact. As a result, we have control over the quality of meat. It is always great when we can explain to guests coming in that we had a hand in the process.”
The beer buyers work around the clock with local distributors to serve new and veteran brews on tap. The staff is well diverse and knowledgeable in sharing the beer experience with guests. They achieve a high standard of education through extensive training highlighting the styles, brands, ingredients and quality of craft beer. All Cap Ale staff takes a Beer 101 course to expand their base of craft brew information. These courses allow the staff to be top notch in talking all things beer to first-time craft beer buyers and longtime veterans. This experience has led Cap Ale to become one of the best at pouring Virginia craft beer across the Commonwealth. Mary Garriques, Capital Ale House Bartender, explains, “As a Capital Ale House staff member since the beginning, the community has grown immensely and we have grown with it. We started with only serving two local breweries, but now we have exploded and expanded so much! Our team is very dedicated to local roots and we enjoy learning. As part of the community for 16 years, we have considered everyone that walks through our doors to be part of the family. You are part of the family! We look forward to many more years continuing to serve and support our community through all that we do.” I’ll cheers to that!
local
Supporting all things Only pasture-raised Virginia beef Knowledgeable staff 450 Taps
Richmond Innsbrook Midlothian Fredericksburg Harrisonburg
www.capitalalehouse.com