14 ELATION CRAFTED BEERS, LOCAL CIDERS & EXCELLENT WINES ON TAP
FEATURING AN ELATION INSPIRED FOOD MENU & WOOD-FIRED PIZZA FROM THE BAKEHOUSE AT ELATION
Beer is the answer.
Remember that phrase made semi-famous in Virginia’s craft beer community when restauranteur An Bui of Mekong and The Answer Brewpub in Richmond used it to the smiles of patrons and passersby who eyed it on the signboard as they drove down West Broad Street?
It’s hard to say where the slogan originated. I suspect it was a humorous reference to the song title “Love Is The Answer,” penned by Todd Rundgren for his band Utopia in 1977.
The phrase came to mind again recently during the presidential election as it relates to the idea that if everyday people would just sit down “over a beer” to listen and talk with each other perhaps many of our philosophical differences wouldn’t seems as divisive.
Maybe the bitterness could best be that of the hops used to produce the glass of IPA rather than a pointed finger or angry social media diatribe. Here’s another term: breaking bread (meaning having a meal). It’s said that it’s “hard to remain enemies when you’ve broken bread together.”
I interviewed punk rock singer/spoken word performer Henry Rollins back in 2008 about a self-guided trip he took to Iran. He noted the bitterness between America and the Iranian government, but he was curious to encounter everyday Iranians to see and hear for himself if they were such hateful people.
Rollins said his cab driver invited him to have dinner at his home with family. The people were hardly enemies.
Having a beer is a less complicated means to the same end as breaking bread.
Hopefully, beer is the answer for a respectful and peaceful New Year. I’d like to think so.
Jeff Maisey Publisher/Editor Virginia Craft Beer Magazine
VA Breweries Score National Awards
By Staff
Independent craft breweries from Virginia made a good showing recently at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
Blue Mountain, Port City, Benchtop and Bear Chase each secured two medals. Starr Hill’s second medal came in the Pro-Am category with American Homebrewers Association (AHA) member Joel Miller of Glen Allen, Virginia.
This year, 273 breweries and cideries earned 326 medals. The Great American Beer Festival judge panel evaluated noteworthy brews and ciders across 102 beer categories (including 170 subcategories), five new cider categories, and the Pro-Am and Collaboration competitions.
“The Great American Beer Festival continues its commitment to recognizing exceptional beverages from across the country in the 2024 competition,” said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association. “With the addition of five new cider categories, we’re pleased to recognize the best of the best in beer and beyond.”
GOLD MEDAL
Blue Mountain Brewery
Raspberries on Acid
(Fruited Wood-and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer)
Port City Brewing Company
Port City Porter (Robust Porter)
Starr Hill Brewery
Hey Girl, Hey! (American Fruit Beer)
Sweetwater Tavern Centreville
Crazy Jackass Ale (Rye Beer)
SILVER MEDAL
Bear Chase Brewing Company
Buttons the Bear (Oatmeal Stout)
Benchtop Brewing Company
Pilsners Are Lagers (Kellerbier or Zwickelbier)
South Street Brewery
Barrel Aged Imperial Stan’s Pony (Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer)
Pouring For NC
Independent craft brewers in Virginia have answered the call to help those in neighboring North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.
One initiative, Pouring For Neighbors, was a collaborative effort to brew a 9.8% ABV Belgian-style Strong Ale described as having “complex notes of orange and citrus with hints of banana, bubble gum, spice, floral hops and subtle sweetness from Belgian candy sugar.”
Proceeds from beer sales at participating breweries are being donated to the recovery effort in western NC. Among the many collaborators from Virginia are Apocalypse Ale Works, Iron Pipe Alewerks, Fine Creek Brewing Co., Patch Brewing, Big Ugly Brewing Co., Northern Neck Brewing, and 1700 Brewing Company.
BRONZE MEDAL
Bear Chase Brewing
Baltic Porter (Strong Porter)
Benchtop Brewing
Trash Pandamonium (Strong Red Ale)
Blue Mountain Barrel House
Wild Pear (Contemporary Gose)
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Richmond Lager
(Contemporary American-Style Lager)
Port City Brewing
Rauchbier (Smoke Beer)
Starr Hill RVA /Joel Miller
South of Helles (Pro-Am)
New Brewery Alert
Belmont Farms Brewery opened in Culpeper in November.
At press time, Coastal Fermentory was days away from opening its second location in Newport News. The Uptown location is across from the airport entrance.
AHA member Joel Miller accepts his award in the Pro-Am category with Starr Hill Brewery. Photo courtesy of Brewers Association.
MUG SHOTS
757 Battle of the Beers
hop n hog block party, culpeper
A Legendary Brewery Turns 30
By Wade Reynolds
This is not the 30th anniversary article anyone anticipated nor wanted. The iconic Legend Brewing Company, first opened in 1994, has turned 30 this year. Unlike past anniversaries sporting significant numbers, this has been a year of downsizing, and future plans seem questionable at best.
Following the vision of owner Tom Martin, Legend ushered Richmond into the modern world of craft beer when it opened in 1994. With only six craft breweries up and running throughout the entire state, Richmond was more than ready. Offering only limited space at the bar and a single table in a microscopic tap room, Legend weighed in as one of the smallest craft breweries in the country with a legal capacity of under twenty customers. Old timers will tell you it was a capacity that was never adhered to and almost always exceeded, often in multiples.
Legend originally offered four beers brewed on a tenbarrel system. The lager, pilsner and porter are all good, but it was the Legend Brown Ale that created the most buzz. One beer writer called it “the beer that built Richmond’s craft scene”, and throughout Legend’s 30 year run this flagship beer has accounted for over 60 percent of all Legend sales on its own.
Functioning for all practical purposes as Richmond’s only real craft brewery, Legend continued to grow over the next 20 years. In 1998 it expanded into a larger taproom one floor up in the same building, but it was the 1997 opening of the adjacent deck overlooking the James River that had heads turning. Overnight it became one of the places to be in Richmond, and not only because of the excellent beer. Its view of downtown Richmond, just across the river, was and remains arguably the best public viewpoint in the city at which one can sit and drink.
As the popularity of Legend grew, the brewery expanded to a 30-barrel system in 2004 which remains its current capacity. In 2009, a bottling line was purchased and installed, and for the first time, 12-ounce Legend bottles were distributed and offered to the public. They continue to be a significant presence on local retailers’ shelves today. Another milestone was reached in 2012 when Legend bought the property at 321 West 7th Street after renting for 18 years. All of this led to an optimistic 20th birthday
celebration in 2014 capped by a one-time brewing of Legend 20th Anniversary Imperial Brown Ale, an extremely tasty wallop of a beer coming in with an alcohol content of over 8 percent. Yet even as the brewery celebrated an extremely successful 20-year run, some of the elements of its decline were already in place.
When Hardywood Park Craft Brewery opened on the other side of town in 2011, there was no immediate threat to Legend. Richmond was obviously big enough for more than one craft brewery, and Legend was the alreadywell-established big brother. In the supportive style that usually defines the craft beer community, the new kid on the block was welcomed by all. But, when thengovernor Bob McDonnell arrived at the new Hardywood to sign House Bill 359 and Senate Bill 604 in May of 2012, the landscape of craft beer in Richmond, as well as all of Virginia, changed forever. Essentially, the new legislation gave brewers the same latitude that wineries in Virginia have always had; specifically, the right to sell their own products for consumption on site without having to sell a certain percentage in food. Without the burden of having to open a restaurant as well as a brewery, the number of craft breweries in the state more than doubled from 42 in 2012 to almost 90 in mid 2014. By September of 2017, there were 213 operating breweries in the state, with 30 more announced in planning. Even with loyal customer support, Legend has felt the result of this growth. As the number of craft breweries in the Richmond area expanded to over 30, beer drinkers now had multiple options to choose from. Legend, once the only game in town, now finds itself in competition with a myriad of other local destinations.
Legend Brown Ale was once a familiar choice at restaurants/bars across Virginia. Not so much anymore.
Fast forward to the current situation, a year of what Operations Manager Dave Gott referred to as “restructuring”. At the end of 2023, Legend announced that beginning January 1 of this year their tap room would no longer be offering full restaurant services. The beer is still flowing, and you can still get food, but there are no staff to seat you and no waiters or waitresses for table service. Customers can order from a more limited menu of food choices from the bar. This is perhaps the most visible outward sign of the current downsizing. 2024 is also the first year, other than during Covid, that Legend has not thrown an annual party. Owner Tom Martin noted that while in the past the brewery either broke even or made a modest profit on its past anniversary parties, putting them on requires money up front that Legend does not have to spare in its current situation.
Even with loyal support from many regular customers, having to deal with the exponential competition resulting from a flooded market has been tough on the brewery. “If you used to come here four times a week, but now you go to four different places, that’s the answer,” according to Gott when asked about the current drop in sales. “It’s really that simple.” The exploding Virginia beer scene has created extended competition in another area as well. Martin mentioned that in the past getting a tap in a restaurant or bar often meant it was one of maybe four choices. While Legend continues to have a significant tap presence in the Richmond area and beyond, many establishments today feature 12 or more taps, many of them craft beers. With consumers having
Then-Governor Bob McDonnell attended a ceremony at Legend Brewing Company.
brewNEWS
so many choices, Legend, like all other breweries, gets a smaller piece of the pie.
“We used to get a lot of business from downtown,” Martin said. “It’s a quick ride over the bridge. Lawyers and office workers would come over. Companies would stage midday events with 10-20 people, and then they’d stay for a few beers afterward. But now, many of those buildings are only one-third full. With so many people working from home these days, it’s been a huge drop in sales.” Martin also noted a recent change in drinking and social patterns. While many older patrons don’t, or can’t, drink as much beer as they used to, younger generations do not seem to go out as much and have shifted to cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. “The whole dynamic of socializing, which included drinking beer, has changed,” Martin suggested. And while it may be easy to attribute these factors to the lingering effects of Covid, that doesn’t do anything to help solve the problem.
As a result of these developments, Legend announced earlier this year that it has put the property up for sale, causing speculation about the future of the brewery. Several possible outcomes are foreseeable. Ideally, the status quo continues as it is, business picks up, and Legend continues its successful run on into the future without having to sell. In a next-best-case scenario, a buyer would allow Legend to continue its current operations while leasing the property. What was once an almost insignificant parcel of land in an almost-forgotten section of town has become a much more valued property in view of the massive development in this neighborhood on the south bank of the James River. But
while the expected profit would conceivably bring in enough money to stabilize the brewery’s finances, prospective buyers would in all probability view the property as most valuable as a site to build high rise apartments like the array of structures being thrown up all around, including one adjacent to Legend’s parking lot on a previously wooded lot. Other possibilities for the brewery include selling the property and moving the brewery to another site or selling the property and leasing the Legend brand out, a practice resembling but not quite the same as contract brewing. And yes, there is the possibility that if none of these variations work out in a viable way, the brewery could close.
But, this is not a brewery on its last legs (or kegs), at least not for now. Rather, it is a brewery in serious transition; “restructuring” if you will. During the 12 years since Virginia’s craft beer explosion, many breweries in the Richmond area and beyond have opened and closed. A flooded, more competitive beer market has made it a tougher, more complicated environment in which to survive for Legend as well as for other breweries in Richmond, in Virginia, and beyond. Yet as of this writing, the brewery is merely weeks away from celebrating its 31st birthday. The message that both Gott and Martin send is this: “Yes, we’re still alive, open and pouring. If you want to support the oldest continually operating craft brewery in Virginia, come out and visit us.” The Legend deck is still the best place in Richmond to sit and drink a beer. And don’t forget— Legend six packs, and cases, make excellent Christmas gifts. ‘Tis the season…
(L-R) Dave Gott, then-City of Portsmouth
Mayor John Rowe, Tom Martin enjoy a celebration moment when Legend Brewing Depot opened on the Elizabeth River.
'tis the
Saison
By Chris Cook
From mouth-puckering sours to hearty stouts, crisp lagers and mind-melting barleywines – and the carefully curated flights that contain all of the above – craft beer is meant to be fun. But not all beer styles are created equal, and some are inherently more fun to explore (and brew) than others.
Topping the list may be a style whose background and boundaries are cloudier than the murkiest of milkshake IPAs and whose examples, from brewery to brewery, are nearly as diverse as the craft beer landscape itself.
That style is the saison, and outside of IPAs, craft consumers would be hard-pressed to find a beer on the market today with so much room for interpretation. Given the saison’s loosely defined foundations, which range from fruity to spicy, light to dark, and sessionable to sippable, it provides a perfect canvas for brewers
to experiment. In fact, versatility and experimentation have been hallmarks of saisons since their origins, which date back to 19th century Belgian farmlands.
Those first saisons were brewed to satiate farm laborers without
There’s so much you can do with it
– Curtis Shupe, 36°Fifty Brewing
inebriating them and as a result were typically quaffable, low-alcohol beers. They were made from ingredients grown on the farms on which they were brewed or sourced from others nearby, which also produced
examples that varied wildly from farm to farm and region to region.
However, there were commonalities among those rustic, farmhouse ales, which led to the original definition of the saison style we know today. Among those were low alcohol content in the 2-3% range, high attenuation, lighter color, grainy flavor and yeastdriven characteristics like spiciness or fruitiness. Once the saison drew more commercial appeal in the 20th century, brewers began to increase the alcohol content, delved into the darker range of the SRM color scale, and even experimented with adding non-traditional ingredients like fruit and spices, and souring agents like lactobacillus and brettanomyces.
As a result, those loosely-defined origins have evolved into one of the most diverse styles in the craft beer mainstream today. The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) criteria for saisons allows for alcohol content continued
from 3.5% to 9.5%, IBUs from 20-35 and coloring from pale to dark brown. Flavor and aroma can range from fruity to spicy, grainy, hoppy and even sour and funky. They should also be highly carbonated, giving them a spritzy or effervescent character.
“It’s like a playground,” said Curtis Shupe, owner and head brewer at 36°Fifty Brewing in Marion, Virginia. “There’s so much you can do with it, so many ways you can interpret it. You can do fruit additions, you can do spices, a lot of places are barrel-aging it. It’s one of my favorite styles to brew for that reason.”
36°Fifty keeps a traditional saison on tap as one of its flagships, letting a Belgian-style yeast throw out a mix of fruity and spicy aromas. But don’t mistake traditional for simple – Shupe allows the yeast room to work at higher temperatures than
typical ale strains, which makes each batch unique and retains some of the unpredictability that defined the earliest version of the style.
“You get a lot of fruity aromas with it,” he said. “You can go higher in temperature and get clove notes and that traditional peppery saison spiciness to it.”
But where 36°Fifty allows traditional aspects of its flagship saison to take center stage, others are willing to push the already loosely-defined boundaries of the style.
Nathan Bailey at Great Valley Farm Brewery in Natural Bridge, Virginia, has produced a number of awardwinning saisons that showcase that range. Their examples have earned multiple first-place medals at the Virginia Beer Cup, including mixed fermentation in 2024 (Dark Saison), fruit beer in 2019 (Peach Farmhouse Ale),
and spice, herb or vegetable beer in 2017 (Lemongrass Basil Saison).
“It’s such an open and varied style,” Bailey said. “We do everything from low alcohol to high alcohol, light to dark. We’ve done some hoppy variations of it. We do a lemongrass basil saison. For a lot of our other saisons, we use grapes in the production of the beer – white grape juice or we’ve also added whole.”
Also a vineyard and winery located on 26 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bailey and his team grow many of the ingredients used in their saisons, including the aforementioned grapes, lemongrass and basil. In their most recent examples, they used Gruner Veltliner grapes to impart a white grape, apple and pear character to their Gruner Saison, and Cabernet Franc grapes to add cherry, raspberry and blackberry notes to the Dark Saison.
But for all the experimentation that Bailey and his team do with the style, he highlights yeast as the saison’s defining ingredient.
“The yeast is what makes a saison,” he said. “I think it’s just that the yeast can be used in so many different variations. It’s hard to explain, but it just works so well with different malts. You can make one that’s very low alcohol in the four to five percent alcohol range, but then our Dark Saison actually ended up being 10 percent.”
Using saison as the base style for experimentation is also a tactic employed regularly at Richmond’s Väsen Brewing Company, one of Virginia’s most prolific producers of Belgian farmhouse and sour ales. For brewer Stefan McFayden, however, there are a few non-negotiables for any example of the style.
“There are a few hard lines for me in terms of things that must be present in a saison,” McFayden said. “It must be very dry, if not absolutely bone dry, from high attenuation. From a sensory standpoint, high carbonation and effervescence is pretty essential. Another would be a substantial ester or phenolic character, which you get from whatever particular strain of yeast you’re using.”
Those strains – many of which are derived from the regions where saison originated and where Väsen cofounders Joey Darragh and Tony Giordano visited before opening the brewery – are a study in versatility. More wellknown examples include the Belgian DuPont strain and the French saison strain, but others include Norwegian kveiks, Lithuanian farmhouse, and even blends of two or more. A single strain can throw off black pepper phenolics at one temperature and stone fruit esters at another, let alone the added complexity they may produce when combined.
“It’s just such a diverse style,” McFayden said. “There’s so many neat things you can do with it to show what these yeast are capable of and also to apply more traditional or modern approaches to it.”
Väsen puts that versatility on full display every summer during their “Saison Month” when they release a new version of the style every week. This year, that yielded their American Saison, which is a dry-hopped example highlighted by aromas of lemon and bubblegum and flavors of pear, pink peppercorn and graham cracker malt. Comparatively, they also produced the Yuzu Farmhouse Ale made with a Lithuanian farmhouse yeast that turned out chamomile and orange citrus.
“I think when people see saison, they mistakenly think of pretty much one type of beer, whereas ‘farmhouse’ can still mean many different things to many different people,” McFayden said.
While the original regionally-driven “terroir” aspects of saisons have long faded away, diversity remains one of the defining characteristics of the style. What one brewery labels a saison may be drastically different than the next, and discerning those subtleties from one pint to another is part of the fun for craft beer drinkers. That should come as no surprise: Saisons are a playground, after all.
Winter & Christmas Brews
As the temperatures finally start to cool and the holiday season begins, you’ll notice a change in craft beer at retail stores, some restaurants with knowledgeable staff, and at brewery tasting rooms. In other words, it’s on to winter seasonals and Christmas beers.
Most winter beers/ales are dark hued styles such as stouts, porters, and bocks reflective of those from the Old World — England, Germany, and Austria.
Strong ales can be lighter in color but feature a higher alcohol content to “warm” the consumer. You’ll see Belgian versions in grocery stores and Total Wine locations packaged in gift format that sometimes include glassware.
Specific Christmas beers tend to include flavorful spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and cardamon for an unmistakable unique taste.
Internationally speaking, some of our favorites include De Dolle Brouwers’ Stille Nacht, Einstock
Icelandic Winter Ale, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, N’ice Chouffe Winter Beer, Delirium Noel Christmas Ale, and Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale.
We’ve compiled several brewed-in-Virginia beers of the season fresh on the market for your consideration.
Enjoy responsibly and — wink, wink — they make great holiday gifts.
Compiled by Staff
Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Christmas Ale
Alewerks Brewing Company, Williamsburg, VA
“Savor the taste of the holidays with this annually-released brew full of spices including cinnamon, clove, ginger, vanilla, orange peel, nutmeg and allspice. This is what Christmas tastes like,” said Michael Claar, Alewerks’ operations director. The beer is 8% ABV.
Winter Warmer
Old Bust Head Brewery, Vint Hill Farms, VA
As Robin Mason describes: “A classic British style dark ale, spiced for winter! Dark malts lend a toasted bread flavor with hints of toffee, chocolate, coffee, and brown sugar. Ginger adds a pleasant zing, while the cinnamon and plum additions impart warmth and dark fruit character.”
Christmas at Midnight
Midnight Brewery, Rockville, VA
We just knew a brewery named Midnight would have a holiday brew. This 7 % ABV ale is a fan-favorite each Christmas — and Christmas in July — and is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. It has a nice dark amber hue.
Namur the Merrier
Caiseal Beer & Spirits Company, Hampton, VA
Head brewer Todd Emr provides this description of Namur the Merrier, the Belgian-style Quad that won a 2024 World Beer Cup Gold Medal: A big, bold Belgian-style strong ale, this beer is meant to be savored on cold evenings. Dark fruit and raisin characters shine from the use of Belgian Special B malt. 11% ABV.
winter brews
Cacao Nib Stout
Skyline Brewing, Washington, VA
First, the brewery is located on Christmas Tree Lane. Second, the description is irresistible: “Dark tropical stout with a big smooth chocolatey feel.” We love some chocolate at Christmas!
Mobjack Black
Gloucester Brewing Company, Gloucester, VA
Mike from Gloucester Brewing Co., share this: “Mobjack Black is our schwarzbier, brewed utilizing both traditional German hops and roasted malts for hints of coffee and chocolate. A dark colored beer having a lighter body than stouts or porters, relies on hops for bittering instead of the malt, this brew will have a dry finish that is sure to please a wide variety of palates. The beer took 2nd Place, 2020 Va Craft Beer Festival (Black Lager category).”
The Carrack: Spiced Chocolate Stout
Tradition Brewing Co., Newport News, VA
Perfectly described and a joy to read: “Designed to be tough enough to brave the high seas and also large enough to transport valuable herbs and spices from the ends of the earth, carracks are purposeful and strong. Just like this stout! A blend of cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, and chocolate, paired with deeply rich malts, results in a deliciously decadent stout ready to warm you up during these short, dark days of winter.” It’s 7.2% ABV and full of flavor.
Lotta Sap
Smartmouth Brewing Company, Norfolk, VA
Smartmouth’s perennial holiday favorite Lotta Sap is back! “We also have Harvesting the Past: The King’s Version —which is a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Bacon, Peanut Butter and Bacon,” shared Smartmouth PR sensation, She-Chris Neikirk.
Dark Skies
Parkway Brewing Company, Salem, VA
A new beer — Black IPA — from the 2024 Virginia Craft Beer Cup champion brewer, Mike Penzinger. Here’s how he describes it: “Medium bodied and brightly hopped with an alluring ruby-black color. Bittersweet dark chocolate leads to a zesty citrus peel and pine finish.”
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout
COVA Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA
Craftsmanship and collaboration — with Tarnished Truth
Distilling Company — result in a super rich stout benefiting from the oak barrels lined inside with the effects of straight bourbon with a noticeable malt and vanilla profile. It’s a big beer at 10.5% ABV. Available in December.
Dark Rye
Ardent Craft Ales, Richmond, VA
Rye and chocolate malts are key in the 9.8% ABV full-bodied, roasted malt American imperial stout.
Russian Imperial Stout
St. George Brewing Company, Hampton, VA
The official description reads: “Impenetrably dark beer with complex flavors of rich, dark chocolate and coffee. Notes of raisin and plum on the finish.”
Our take: This is an exceptional tradition heavy duty stout and a core specialty brew. Low bitterness and plenty of warmth at 9% ABV.
Hoe Hoe Hoe Fresh Hop IPA
Dirt Farm Brewing, Blumont, VA
Described by the brewery as a “fresh hopped IPA, made using Centennial, Cascade, and Chinook hops grown here on the farm. The fresh hops in this beer, give it bright citrus and pine flavors.” The beer is available on tap in the tasting room and to-go in 4-pack cans.
Dark Journey Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter
Big Ugly Brewing, Chesapeake, VA
Big Ugly released its BIG seasonal at the brewery taproom with several variants. This is a great opportunity to do a flight and taste the difference between each before settling down outside next to the fire for a full pint.
Siberian Surrender
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, Fredericksburg, VA
This brewery is big on the holidays as evidenced in its 24-pack Advent Calendar box and limited edition bottled 4-packs of barrel-aged imperial ales.
Brewers Chuck Arnold and Thomas Faller shared some details on Siberian Surrender: “It’s a smooth dark-roast Russian imperial stout with deep ruby malt flavor that builds with each sip. The malt sweetness carries the combination of bourbon from Bowman Distillery and delicate complex flavors from barrel aging to perfection.” 10.4% ABV.
Haagen Dog Ice Cream Stout
Wasserhund Brewing Company, Virginia Beach, VA
Leave it to a German-themed brewery to create something unique for the early winter season, this 8.3% ABV stout gets its body from the inclusion of lactose with the addition of vanilla beans resulting in a surprisingly authentic chocolate malted stout. Leave the licking to the dogs, and sip slowly with an after smile.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Adroit Theory,
Purcellville, VA
This super spicy version of their What Evil Lurks Creme Stout caught our attention with this description: “This is a mashup of something everyone loves; decadent hot chocolate + Mexican peppers + spice. Our jet-black, chocolatey imperial stout, combined with Dutch-processed cocoa, sweet cream, and spices. It may not be a hot beverage, but we think you’ll enjoy it this winter all the same.”
The beer literally pours like chocolate milk.
Stout of Bounds
Afterglow Brewing, Norfolk, VA
Owner/brewer Josh Evans is proud of this 6.9% ABV chocolate stout: “This stout pours with a deep, dark brown hue, almost black, and a rich, frothy tan head,” he shared. “The aroma immediately greets you with a bouquet of earthy and piney notes adding a slight hint of spice. The hops also contribute a gentle herbal and floral character that complements the beer’s robust malty backbone. On the palate, the chocolate takes center stage with layers of dark cocoa, roasted malt, and a touch of coffee bitterness. The hop combination weaves through with earthy, woody, and slightly spicy undertones, ensuring that the sweetness of the chocolate is balanced by a pleasant bitterness. The finish is smooth and velvety, with a lingering cocoa flavor and a mild, earthy hop bitterness. This Chocolate Stout showcases a complex and harmonious blend of hops and malt, making it a perfect choice for stout lovers who enjoy a bit of hop complexity.”
Dark Hollow
Blue Mountain Barrelhouse, Arrington, VA
Lee Graves, beer historian and the author of many a book about beer brewed in Virginia shared this: “Blue Mountain Brewing Company’s Dark Hollow imperial stout is one of my favorites. Taylor Smack is a master at barrel-aging, and this beer’s complex layers of vanilla notes from the oak bourbon barrel aging — combined with coffee and chocolate from the malts and its silky texture —make it a wintertime delight.”
Night Drop Nitro Stout
Armed Forces Brewing Company, Norfolk, VA
“Try your hand at splitting the “A” in Armed Forces Brewing Company,” reads the description provided by head brewer Dale Lazar. Only available on draft in the taproom. 5% ABV.
Evil Santa Holiday Milk Stout
Virginia Beer Company, Williamsburg, VA
VBC co-founder Robby Willey shared the following: The Virginia Beer Company’s Evil Santa Holiday Milk Stout returns starting in November! Brewed with Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, & Milk Sugar, this dark & roasty winter warmer is a spicy staple every holiday SZN. In 2024, Evil Santa will be joined by limited variants released throughout the holidays including: “Cinnamon Bun” Evil Santa (draftonly variant with Vanilla); Mexican Hot Chocolate Evil Santa (draft & canned variant with Vanilla, Hot Peppers, & Cacao Nibs); Double Evil Santa (draft & canned Imperial variant aged in Bourbon Barrels); and “Coconut Diamond” Evil Santa (draft-only variant with Toasted Coconut & Vanilla).
Gingerbread Red
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Richmond, VA
Last, but certainly not least, we highlight Hardywood’s classic red ale baked in with those irresistible gingerbread aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger. This malty, easy to drink ale is a nice 5.4% ABV option during the heavy brew season. The Red is part of Hardywood’s popular gingerbread-themed holiday series that includes canned versions of its Kentucky Christmas Morning, a gingerbread stout aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels with locally roasted Guatemalan and Colombian coffee from Blanchard’s (12.2% ABV). There are 24 variations this year. A Gingerbread Stout Fest is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 at the West Creek location.
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
6th Annual Crozet
Winter Brews Festival Sat., Dec. 7
A celebration of dark beers and winter brews from Virginia breweries. Enjoy unlimited samples, music, food trucks, Winter Market, and more. Claudius Crozet Park crozetbeerfest.com
5th Anniversary Celebration at Starr Hill RVA Thurs.-Sun., Dec. 12-15
A weekend long celebration featuring Birthday Beer Release (12/12), Holiday Pageant (12/13), Holiday Market (12/14), Live Music (12/14), and Pints for Pups (12/15) Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop
3406 West Leigh Street, Richmond
Ornament Paint Party at Patch Sat., Dec. 21, 1-3pm
Get in the holiday spirit with Simply Flamazing’s Ornament Paint Party! Pick 2 ornaments to decorate for $25.
Patch Brewing Co. 10271 Gordon Avenue, Gordonsville
Christmas Market at Hardywood RVA Sun., Dec. 22, 12-5pm
Local artists and makers selling handmade décor, art, jewelry, apparel, and more!
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery 2410 Ownby Lane, Richmond
New Beer’s Eve at Blue Mountain Tues., Dec. 31, 2-6pm
Enjoy our festive beer and hors d’oeuvre tasting tent! Ticket includes 5oz pours of unique holiday beers with small bite pairings and a souvenir tasting glass.
Blue Mountain Brewery 9519 Critzer Shop Road, Afton
New Year’s Eve with YARN at The Foundry Tues., Dec. 31, 8pm
The ultimate NYE party with live music by YARN, amazing food, craft beer and cocktails plus champagne toast at midnight.
The Foundry at Basic City Beer Co.
1010 E. Main Street, Waynesboro
COASTAL VIRGINIA
Sips & Santa: A Brewtiful Holiday Event at Afterglow
Sat., Dec. 7, 12-6pm
A family friendly event featuring photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus, Holiday Market, multiple food trucks, Christmas music, and more.
Ring in the New Year with a Silver & Gold NYE Soiree at Big Ugly Brewing in Chesapeake. Enjoy music, great drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a champagne toast at midnight!
Artisan vendors, photos with Santa, crafts for kids and pets plus a canned food drive to benefit Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and pet food supply drive to benefit Animal Aid Society.
The St. George Brewing Company 204 Challenger Way, Hampton
Candyland Christmas Market at Tradition Sat., Dec. 14, 1-5pm
Shop last minute gifts from local vendors, family friendly activities, DIY cookie decorating, letters to Santa, Starving Artist Pottery Painting, , special beer release, live music, and more!
Tradition Brewing Company 700 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Newport News
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Reaver Sat., Dec. 21, 1-6pm
We’ll have festive games all day, holiday music bingo, and themed seltzers! Plus, best dressed wins a prize!
Reaver Beach Brewing Co.
1505 Taylor Farm Road, Virginia Beach
Christmas Market at COVA Sat., Dec. 14, 10am-4pm
40+ local craft vendors, live music and food trucks, holiday scavenger hunt, holiday drinks and good tidings, and more! COVA Brewing Company 9529 Shore Drive, Norfolk
New Year’s Eve Silver & Gold Soiree at Big Ugly Tues., Dec. 31, 9pm-1am
Ring in the New Year with live DJ, 4 drink tickets, champagne toast, heavy hors d’oeuvres. $85 per ticket
Big Ugly Brewing 845 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake
Out of this Realm:
New Year’s Eve Party Tues., Dec. 31, 8pm-12:30am
Intergalactic vibes meet neon disco at our NYE Party! Live music, neon and galacticthemed drink specials, and a festive atmosphere glowing with black lights and lasers.
New Realm Brewing Co. 1209 Craft Lane, Virginia Beach
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
4 Year Anniversary Party at Lost Barrel
Thurs.-Sun., Dec. 12-15
Live music all weekend, beer release, discounts on food and specials in the store!
Lost Barrel Brewing 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg
Good Tidings Sunday at Port City Sun., Dec. 15, 12-8pm
Featuring Tidings Ale, holiday seasonal, a Holiday Maker’s Market, a best-dressed holiday contest, trivia, holiday cheer, and photos with Santa. Port City Brewing Company 3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria
Holiday Hustle at Solace Sat., Dec. 21, 6-9pm
Drink some beer, eat some food, and learn some four count hustle as we dance to our favorite holiday tunes!
Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Drive, Sterling
Holiday Market at Lost Rhino Sat., Dec. 21, 12-5pm
12+ vendors selling a variety of home-made goods and special offerings.
Lost Rhino Brewing Co. 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at 6 Bears & A Goat Sat., Dec. 21, 7-10pm
Prizes awarded for ugliest sweaters. Live music by The Cold North.
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company
1140 International Parkway, Fredericksburg
New Year’s Eve Holiday Brew Bash at Mustang Sally Tues., Dec. 31, 8:30pm-2am
A NYE Celebration for craft beer and pinball lovers! Tickets include all you can drink from 15 beers; unique barrel aged bottle shares, food from Willards BBQ Catering; unlimited pinball, and more! Mustang Sally Brewing Company
14140 Parke Long Court, Chantilly
New Year’s Eve Party at Old Bust Head Tues., Dec. 31, 12-8pm
We’ll toast the New Year early with London’s iconic celebration, live streaming Big Ben fireworks at 7pm (midnight in London). Beer for Year Raffle – receive a raffle tickets with every 160z beer purchase. Old Bust Head Brewing Company
7132 Farm Station Road, Warrenton
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Ugly Sweater Party at Hawksbill Sat., Dec. 14, 6-9pm
Ugly sweaters and the return of the Mighty Strong Christmas Mouse Belgian Strong. Hawksbill Brewing Co. 22 Zerkel Street, Luray
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Seven Arrows Sat., Dec. 14, 6pm
Receive 10% off for anyone wearing a Christmas sweater. Seven Arrows Brewing Company
2508 Jefferson Highway, Ste. 1, Waynesboro
KrampusFest at Stable Craft Sat., Dec. 21, 12-10pm
Celebrate the winter solstice with a visit from Krampus! Enjoy food specials, mulled cider, beer, wine, and handcraft sodas. Plus, photos with Krampus, Krampus Costume Contest, and live music.
Stable Craft Brewing 375 Madrid Road, Waynesboro
A Wild West NYE Celebration at Stable Craft
Tues., Dec. 31, 5pm-12:30am Ring in the New Year with a Western-Themed Dinner & Dance.
Stable Craft Brewing 375 Madrid Road, Waynesboro
SOUTHERN VIRGINIA
11th Annual Ugly Sweater
Christmas Party at 2 Witches Sat., Dec. 21, 7-10pm
Get out your tackiest sweater and join us for a celebration with live music by The Poorhouse, your favorite drinks, and plenty of holiday cheer!
2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co.
209 Trade Street, Danville
APPALACHIA
Busted Still Brewing Company
185 Homeplace Drive, Gate City
276.210.6038
Lonesome Pine Brewing Company 15 East Main Street, Lebanon
