Plenty to Celebrate in Aug. for Virginia Craft Beer Month

The Travel Channel has named Virginia as one of the nation’s top seven beer destinations. National media Beer Advocate and CraftBeer.com have recognized Richmond’s growth, publishing articles this year highlighting our breweries and restaurants offering top shelf beers.

Local breweries are expanding distribution, attending national festivals and getting high marks on their brews.

“The growth of the craft beer scene in Virginia and in RVA especially has been amazing,” said David Hunter, founder of Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries on Facebook, which has grown to 3,700 members in 18 months.

Besides the rising number of Richmond breweries, “I've also noticed the increase in Virginia craft beer selections at local restaurants and tap houses. I was having dinner recently at Tazza Kitchen in Short Pump and the waiter actually greeted us by asking ‘What Virginia beers may I serve you this evening?’” Hunter learned that Tazza staff visited the brewery to better know the product. “Kudos to them!” he added.

It just so happens that Aug. 7 is also National IPA Day (or Aug. 1, depending upon whose calendar you use), so drink a Virginia IPA and do double duty.

Always eager to help us celebrate, distributors, breweries and restaurants have created a menu of events to help us toast Virginia breweries.

At Ardent Craft Ales, said Jen Eberline, “The team will be participating in a number of off-site events and we are hosting a bunch of gatherings in the taproom, too. Kevin has several beers aging in bourbon barrels that we will release through the month, and do some other fun brews along the way.”

“Every Friday in Aug.,” said Legend Brewing marketing director Ashley Simard, “we will release a limited or barrel-aged beer and offer free brewery tours at 4 p.m.”

“Each Saturday in Aug. we will be doing a special pin,” said Trae Cairns of Midnight Brewing, plus a tap takeover with the new De Fles Winkel bottle shop on Aug. 14 and a collaboration release on Aug. 21 at Station 2. “Hardywood and I will be releasing the Banana Pancake collaboration beer in a pin,” Cairns said.

At Triple Crossing Brewing, said co-owner Adam Worcester, “We have several beer releases planned for the month, but they are secret right now. Also,” he added, “be on the lookout for our first bottled beer, sold only out of the tasting room and extremely limited.”

Richmond Breweries United kicks off the month with a launch event on Aug. 2 at The Cask Café, featuring one beer from each of the 11 RVA breweries and the official release of the Richmond Beer Trail Map.

On Aug. 17, the 3rd Annual Brew-B-Q Festival will be held at the 17th Street Farmers Market. All 11 Richmond craft breweries and more than 20 barbecue restaurants will participate.

Sour beer fans will appreciate The Funky Virginian on Aug. 24 at Mekong, featuring wild, funky Virginia brews and The Big PayBack.

On Aug. 28, Strangeways Brewing is collaborating with Mekong and The Answer Brewpub to present Fruits of Our Labor. The event will feature the co-release of two new Strangeways beers, Still Life With Peaches Saison and Eternal Youth Bière d'Abricot, plus a special list of other beers, collaborations and Curiosities infusions, including An’s version of a peach Überlin Berliner Weiss.

Several area restaurants are honoring Virginia breweries throughout the month, delivering specials on Virginia beers, tap invasions and tap takeovers: Capital Ale House, Conch Republic, Max’s on Broad (focusing on Belgian-style Virginia beers), Southern Railway Taphouse, Tobacco Company, On the Rox, Keagan’s, Tazza Kitchen and Weezie’s Kitchen. The Cask Café features a different Virginia brewery each week of the month – Triple Crossing Brewing, Champion Brewing, AleWerks Brewing and Ardent Craft Ales.

“We’ll certainly share all of the events that we know about at our partner locations,” explained David Al-Attiyah, directing beer lovers to his website, Trinkin.com. “Those events will be located in our event section, The Buzz!”

Of course, the celebrations extend throughout the state. Some of the commonwealth’s noteworthy events are the DoG Street Pub Craft Beer Festival in Williamsburg on Aug. 3, featuring Virginia breweries (http://www.dogstreetpub.com/#/craft-beer-festival/4585226927); Roanoke’s 17th annual Microfestivus (http://microfestivus.squaresociety.org) on Aug. 9; and the Craft Beer and Music Festival on the Eastern Shore (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-shores-own-craft-beer-music-festival-tickets-12008280089?aff=zvents) on Aug. 9.

The featured state event for Virginia Craft Beer Month is the 2014 Virginia Craft Brewers Fest at Devil’s Backbone Basecamp in Roseland on Aug. 23. Only Virginia breweries will be available at the event, presenting fan favorites as well as offering sneak peeks into their fall beers. This year’s Virginia Craft Brewers Cup will also be awarded during the festival.

Here’s an extended list of what’s on tap in Richmond for Aug., with updates and additions throughout the month.

• Aug. 1: First Oktoberfest release of the season at Legend Brewing. Free brewery tour at 4 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Launch of “Double Deke” black IPA at Extra Billy’s Brewery. 4-7 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Legend Brewery tastings at Corks & Kegs. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery tap invasion and sampling at Olio on Main. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Station 2’s Third Anniversary and RVA Firefighters Benefit for Muscular Dystrophy, with 12 beers from four Virginia breweries: Blue Mountain, Devil’s Backbone, Wild Wolf and Champion. 3:30 p.m.
• Aug. 1: Yippee-ki-IPA Day at Strangeways Brewing, with specials on at least six different IPAs and discounted growler fills on any IPA. 4 p.m.
• Aug. 2: Isley Brewing tap takeover, presenting Choosy Mother, a special Peanut Butter and Blueberry Jelly blend, “Blue Hefner” Blueberry Hefeweizen and others. The Bucket Trade, 6-11 p.m.
• Aug. 2: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery beer dinner at Mosaic. 7 p.m.
• Aug. 2: Not My Job Brown pin with bourbon-soaked oak chips at Midnight Brewery. 2 p.m.
• Aug. 2: Richmond Breweries United launch event, presenting one beer from each of the 11 RVA breweries and the official release of the Richmond Beer Trail Map. The Cask Café, 2 p.m.
• Aug. 2: Unseasonable Stout release at Center of the Universe, with live music from Small Town Gossip. 4 p.m.
• Aug. 3: Meet the Brewer at Extra Billy’s Brewery. 4-7 p.m.
• Aug. 4: Center of the Universe tasting at both Baker's Crust locations. 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Aug. 4: Lost Rhino tap takeover at American Taproom.
• Aug. 6: Lost Rhino tap takeover at Portrait House.
• Aug. 6: Center of the Universe Steal the Pint night at The Halligan Bar & Grill. 7 p.m.
• Aug. 7: IPA Day – Center of the Universe will release different versions of their Pocahoptas IPA, all on different yeasts.
• Aug. 7: IPA Day – Joe’s Inn on Shield’s presents Virginia IPAs. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 7: Uptown Alley features Legend Brewery. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 8: Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale release at Legend Brewing. Free brewery tour at 4 p.m.
• Aug. 8: Center of the Universe Oktoberfest/Das Boot giveaway at The Diamond. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 8: Once Upon a Vine South presents a Devil’s Backbone tasting. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 8: Taproom Beer Release Night, Volume I, tapping limited-run bourbon barrel-aged brews and more. Ardent Craft Ales, 4-10 p.m.
• Aug. 9: Crossing for a Cure at Triple Crossing Brewery, raising money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Music, food truck, raffles. Noon-10 p.m.
• Aug. 9: “From Grain to Growler” premiere and panel discussion. First public showing of the documentary on Virginia craft beer. Special beers from Lickinghole Creek, Strangeways, Hardywood Park and Starr Hill. Capital Ale House, 8-10 p.m.
• Aug. 9: Monkey’s Uncle Lemongrass Tripel release at Center of the Universe, with live music from Paulo Franco. 3 p.m.
• Aug. 9: Release party for the Creator Hoppelbock at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery.
• Aug. 9: Release party for Whiskey Bock at Strangeways Brewing.
• Aug. 9: The Haywood Grill presents a pin of Purdy Mechanic IPA with mango and Chinook hops.
• Aug. 10: Center of the Universe Tap Invasion at Hurley’s with four COTU beers – Chin Music, RVAle, Monkey’s Uncle, and Oktoberfest. 1-6 p.m.
• Aug. 12-13: Buffalo Wild Wings features Devil’s Backbone Brewing beers.
• Aug. 14: Legend tap takeover (Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale, Oktoberfest, Pilsner and Brown Ale) at American Taproom.
• Aug. 14: Midnight Brewery tap takeover at De Fles Winkel.
• Aug. 15: Bourbon Barrel Imperial Brown Ale release at Legend Brewing. Free brewery tour at 4 p.m.
• Aug. 15: Center of the Universe tasting at Corks and Kegs, 5:30 p.m.
• Aug. 15: Growler Giveaway Night at Ardent Craft Ales, stainless steel growler giveaways and merchandise. 4-10 p.m.
• Aug. 15: Legend Brewery tasting at Once Upon a Vine South. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 15: Rappahannock Restaurant presents the Virginia Farmhouse Ale to Table Night.
• Aug. 16: Release party for Estate Rosemary Saison at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery.
• Aug. 16: Pin of Granite Oatmeal Stout with honey and bourbon-soaked chips at Midnight Brewery. 2 p.m.
• Aug. 17: 3rd Annual Brew-B-Q Festival at the 17th Street Farmers Market, combining the best barbecue and the best craft beer and cider in Richmond. All 11 Richmond craft breweries and more than 20 barbecue restaurants. Noon-6 p.m.
• Aug. 19: Smartmouth tap takeover at The Bucket Trade.
• Aug. 21: Banana Pancakes release with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and Midnight Brewing at Station 2. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 22: Bourbon Barrel Golden IPA release at Legend Brewing. Free brewery tour at 4 p.m.
• Aug. 22: Taproom Beer Release Night, Volume II, tapping several new limited-release brews. Ardent Craft Ales, 4-10 p.m.
• Aug. 23: Pin of Virginia Midway with mango and orange at Midnight Brewery. 2 p.m.
• Aug. 23: Richmond Bluegrass Festival & the Return of Great Return at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, with music from Sturgeon City, River City Band, Green Boys, Long Branch Ramblers and the Hot Seats, plus unique beers and the Great Return IPA. 2 p.m.
• Aug. 24: Beer Brunch at Ardent Craft Ales, with breakfast pizzas, donuts, kegged coffee and taproom-only beer releases. Free to enter, pay as you eat and drink. Noon-3 p.m., brewery open till 6 p.m.
• Aug. 24: The Funky Virginian, featuring wild funky Virginia brews and The Big PayBack at Mekong. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 26-31: Virginia in Session, highlighting Virginia session beers at Saison Market.
• Aug. 28: Legend tasting at Libbie Market. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 28: Strangeways Brewing presents Fruits of Our Labor, at Strangeways Brewing, Mekong & The Answer Brewpub, co-release of two new Strangeways Brewing fruit beers – Still Life With Peaches Saison and Eternal Youth Bière d’Abricot – along with a special list of other beers, collaborations and Curiosities. 4 p.m.
• Aug. 29: El Jefe, collaboration beer with James River Home Brewers contest winner at Extra Billy’s Brewery.
• Aug. 29: Firkin Friday release at Legend Brewing. Free brewery tour at 4 p.m.
• Aug. 29: RVA Celebrates James Tally at Commercial Taphouse. 5 p.m.
• Aug. 30: Pin of Rockville Red with apple brandy-soaked oak chips at Midnight Brewery.
• Aug. 31: Open Brew Day at Ardent Craft Ales, as the brewers brew new beers on their trusty 15-gallon Sabco system, for chances to talk, taste and learn. Free. Noon-6 p.m.