Richbrau Brewing Company

Beautiful old building with sort of typical bar decor. About 5 tvs with a lot of booths and tables and a a nice bar area. 9 beers on tap an a menu that seems a little overpriced but has mostly basic pub fare with a few more expensive steaks and etc.

I had two beers, the old nick, which was mediocre at best and the oatmeal stout which was actually quite declicious. i tried two pretty different styles so i am going to assume that they make pretty good but not great or very good beers on average.

The waitress was very nice, although not too knowledgeable about beer but the food came super fast and I never wanted for anything becasue she kept up on me even though i was kind of in a corner of the bar.

I got the texas style brisket which i think you probably would have been shot for if you had served it in texas since it was pretty tough and since in texas they love handguns; but it was still ok since the sauce and mash were pretty good.

it is a little expensive and is not amazing by any means but considering what is in the area i think that it is great and worth a visit.

The opening in the Victorian era windowed front put me in a vestibule with a stairwell up to the second floor to my left and the brewpub to my right. Inside, on the second floor, a glass case full of logo items sat on the left with the m.d.s. just beyond on the left. Further left was another glass case with logo items followed by a stairwell up to a private dining area. Off to the right, up a short flight of steps, was the long, dark wood bar with two GER-style towers. The back bar was dark wood and glass with dark marble like columns. A good bit of vintage signage on the walls. An extensive upstairs with billiards, tables, English darts, and its own snack bar and lavs.

Beers: Golden Griffin (Golden Ale); Old Nick (Pale Ale); Big Nasty (Porter); Nut Brown Ale.

Seasonals: Hefeweizen and Shockoe Espresso Stout. Underwhelming. Beer was passable, but not great.

Stopped in on a Friay afternoon for a late lunch and the place wasn't too crowded. Were greeted and seated as soon as we walked in and a server was there shortly after. However, after ordering a sampler and a glass of water to drink before looking at the food menu we proceeded to wait almost 10 minutes for the drinks. The server was nice and I don't know where to place the blame, but it shouldn't take that long for a few samples of beer and a glass of water. Had an order of wings and my wife a sandwich. Food was alright; not bad, but definitely could find something better in town for lunch. Seems like it could be a good time to hang out for dinner, but I'm not dieing to go back.

Went to this place with seven other people while we were visiting for a conference in Richmond. It looked like the best bet on beerfly for the area, and I am extremely happy I chose this brewery/restaurant.

The service was good, for a while we were the only table the server was serving, and so he was prompt with getting refills and even put up with my husband's geeky questions about the beer.

The food was good, nothing superb, but the duck burrito I had was very enjoyable. My husband thought the fries with his fish and chips were "meh."

The beer was well-made, but not exceptional. There were a few beers on the list, and I was disappointed that the Maibock was not yet on tap. I had the stout instead, and it was very good.

If I were in Richmond again, I would go back, as I think everyone I went with had a good time.

I've been going to Richbrau off and on for the last 10 years. Still have a couple of their 1-liter flipt tops in the garage. They've had their ups and downs over that time period, but they appear to be on an up the last year or so.

8 beers on tap, with a very nice Belgian on cask. Had a springtime stout on nitro and an excellent IPA. They are bottling their seasonal beers, not just the main 3 they always have. Two stouts, a porter, two Belgians and an IPA move the selection into the better-than-good range.

Food was very good. My wife had a shrimp and pasta salad that she deemed very good. My BBQ chicken pizza was excellent. My oldest daughter's chicken wrap made her very happy. Their menu is not eclectic, but everything I've had has been well prepared.

So having to travel to Richmond twice amonth for work, I was excited to see a Brewery within walking distance to the hotels..

I've been there many times now, just hoping for something to change, but its not going to happen.

The beers on tap (they have maybe 5-7 styles) are nothing to write home about, and recently I asked the bar tender what style hops and what the IBU rating was for their 'Im-pale-r' IPA... The response was American and good.

Food is what you would expect from a small pub, nothing extravagant, and some of the dinners are a little overpriced.

Wish I could give this a better review, and despite the experience, I stop in there at least one night each time I'm down, just hoping...

Evidently this place has been around forever, and you'd probably be able to tell from looknig around the cavernous, brick warehouse-style brew-restaurant. (I love these kidns of palces)
A fire in the fireplace and lazy Saturday afternoon patrons filtering in and our set a good mood as we sat down to try some beers. First my complaints: 1) tours of the brewery are only Tuesday nights? and only by apointment. Ouch. 2) The food I was hoping to orer (pretzels, the perfect beer accomanyment) was out. Beyond that, the beer selction was decent, but not great. The raspberry wheat was excellent and made from fresh raspberrys (I asked a waitress who was very knowledgable). Overall a great place to visit and a good source of local and history and good brews.

Visited on a business trip to VA. It is in a great neighborhood in Richmond on a cobblestone street. This place is big and comfortable. I think there are pool tables upstairs although I did not go up. Not too crowded on a Friday night. The service was ok. It seemed like they were all college kids and somewhat disinterested. The beer kept coming, so that's good. The selection is ok. There were maybe 6-7 drafts and one cask. I had the Porter which was not great. I followed that with the cask ale which was a Bitter I think. It was quite nice and tasted fresh. My colleague had the Pumpkin which I did not love. The food seemed a little all over the place (some pub, some fancy and out of place). I had a burger which was good. I also had onion rings which were good too. All in all, the place is an average brew pub. I wish I had gone to the Capital instead though.

I know a few of the bartenders/waitstaff of Richbrau and vistit from time to time to pay my respects.

The beer is just okay. They do keep a fair amount of drafts around and rotate on the regular. None of them really stand out, the Big Nasty Porter being the best in my opinion.

Not usually crowded, but i usually go in after 10pm or so, which leaves me clueless about the other times. Sundays they have $2pints, which aint too bad. Inside the brewpub is beautiful. It is in one of those old-rehabbed brick warehouses that Richmond loves so much. Lotsa space, 4 different areas upstairs, pool-tables, nice area downstairs too.

They also own the place next door, the Taphouse Grille (not to be confused with the one on Robinson ST.) The Taphouse has good food at decent prices, and a more relaxed date-like atmophere.

If you pick your times well, Richbrau can be fun and economical, but is average at best.

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I had the sampler, which is the best deal to try out the beers and still be able to walk out :) The place is a little upper crust like, and their food prices are a little high ($10+ per plate). I took my two younger kids (4 & 6), and they liked seeing the brew equipment, and no one seemed to mind them. I was able to purchase a pint glass, and they have their beers on tap and in the bottle so you can take some to go. I think they also fill growlers.
Nice atmosphere, and I would probably go back if I travel through Richmond again.
The only thing I didn't like was finding a parking spot, but that is typical for that area.

I figured it's about time I did some beerfly reviews now that I've been in Richmond awhile. So here goes....

Ahhh Richbrau... the first bar I ever went to in Richmond (stopped for a cask IPA while looking at apartments downtown). Regardless... I thought the atmoshpere was quite nice then... very pubby. However, that was downstairs, and that was mid-day. Since that day I have been to Richbrau late-night, and the atmosphere was quite different. The upstairs is split into four rooms... 1) Pool-room with tvs... 2) Pool-room with bar... 3) Another pool-room... 4) Dance club.

Pool is good fun.... it is unfortunate that you can't even hear yourself think over Dance Club 2k7 blasting hip hop in your ear.
I hear this place used to be much different, but as it is now, any time after dinner is just obnoxious.

The quality of the brews is good... seems like they keep their tap lines clean... I haven't ever had a beer I thought had gone a bit stale. All in all, pretty decent.... no complaints.

The service is good downstairs... upstairs it is a bit hit or miss. To be honest, it's not the bartenders fault... its 2 bartenders vs. 500 people trying to get a drink... not good odds. There are some waitresses that come around and ask for your order. It's hard to get their attention initially, but once you get your first drink from them, they come back frequently.

The selection is pretty mediocre. They usually have 6 or 7 brews on tap if I remember correctly: Golden Ale, Porter, and Pale Ale are always on tap... then they usually have three seasonals... right now it's a Light Lager (blech), Hefe, and an IPA.
I haven't ever had a beer here I thought was "good" per se... not saying I found them disgusting... I think they're just catering to the masses instead of trying to make great beer.

The food here is quite delicious, actually. Also quite expensive, with entrees running from $17 to $25. That said, you can opt for the burger or a chicken breast sammich for $8... both of which are pretty good.

They have some good happy hour specials here, but all in all, it's pretty middle of the road price-wise. To sum it all up: there are much MUCH better bars to go to, both for the beer and the atmosphere.

I committed a sin the night I visited this brewpub. I could not drink. It will probably be a while before I get back to Richmond but I wanted to say a few words about Richbrau because I enjoyed the atmosphere greatly. The service was good and the food was also good. I love that area Richmond other than all the modern looking banks. It is a wonderful area full of great shops and restaurants. Back to Richbrau! Everyone that did drink said the beer was not the best but definitely noteworthy. There was plenty to do while you waited for your food. I love a bar with darts and pool. It was a little expensive but overall not bad.

This is a big place, restraunt, brew pub, bar, dance club. It's got a lot going on and thats not a bad thing. They do have a dress code though, the one that hit me was no hats allowed. So strict if i put it on id get kicked out or so i was told. There is also a cover. I've tried a few of their beers and i liked them. They are better than macros, but not the best ive tried. This place is divided into sections, with pool tables and darts, a bar area, a restraunt area. and a dance floor. The staff does a decent job of coming around to those ppl playing pool to get them beers, and whatever else they might want. I would say this place is a bit pricey, and it is. But its also a classy, fun place to go and do whatever.

I found myself here on a Sunday afternoon in August. Nice neighborhood right in or just off downtown. Brick storefront with large pane windows. The entrance leads into a two-story high room with the bar perched on an elevated platform to the right. The ceiling is heavy timber, while the boothes are dark wood, while the tables have silver metal tops. The carpet is bluish gray. There is a fireplace in the far left corner under a huge deer head. Go up five stairs on the right to get to the bar and some additional seating. The walls are white wood and brick. The dining room is to the right of this first room. It has tablecloths and an interesting refrigerated wall with beers on the shelves. Modern rock was followed by bluegrass on the sound system. The place was far from full, but there was a steady trickle of patrons of all ages (strollers to walking sticks).

The day I visited, they offered eight of their own beers on tap, including one featured on cask as well as on a regular tap. All of the beers came out way too cold, forcing me to hug my first one for quite a while and order the others well in advance. The service was friendly, but painfully slow. What do they do when they are busy??? The prices were - um - healthy. Overall, though, a good American brewpub experience.

Finally I just went Richbrau after two years of living in Richmond. And I enjoyed the experience. Shockoe Slip is a nice place to visit, and most of the establishments are pretty swank without being outright in that sense. I was only in the pub room and sat in a booth. A step above is the bar, which is a cool touch also. Lots of wood interior and all of it's extremely nice. This is a huge place also, and there's a game room type setting too if you want to also go that route.

The service was slow and pretty lacking, and I was disappointed with that. But maybe it was just the luck of the draw today. The usual stuff for food is on the menu, and it was pretty tasty. Nothing fabulous, but better than "bar food" and lots of nice microbrews to go with whatever you order.

I got the Wit and the Big Gnarly, and both I enjoyed a lot. It was funny because the server said "Have you ever had a barley wine?" And of course I said yes, but I can imagine how many people go ahead and order it and don't like it because they don't know what's coming.

Overall it was a good experience, and I'd go again. I'm a big fan of the beers (and both brewers were around, putting kegs in coolers, talking to patrons, etc) and they had a bunch on tap, around 7 or 8 total. If you're in Richmond and you're looking for some craft brews, check this out.

Having been to many other fine brewpubs in other states, as well as my own native Virginia, I had high hopes for Richbrau. Sadly, I must say that I was quite disappointed, especially in the beer.

My wife and I asked for the beer sampler and it was well presented in a wodden carriage the beers in smallish tulip-shaped pilsner glasses. None of the beers were impressive; most were bland. The seasonal offering, a Belgian Wit, was the most flavorful beer we tasted. The pale ale was wimpy, even by English pale ale standards. The Porter was more like a bown ale. The stout had a creaminess to it but that quickly gave way to the same watery quality the other beers had.

Too bad; the physical space is a wonderfully rustic converted old brewery. I hope the brew staff can convert their beers into something more memorable.

stopped at brewpub on my way to Williamsburg. Arrived at 3pm on Sunday afternoon and establishment was almost empty. We were quickly seated and the waiter (Keith) soon arrived to take our drink order. I selected the sampler tray and made my five selections. They were served promptly and our food order was taken. Keith returned several times to ask how I liked the beers and I explained my likes and dislkes, The food was served in a timely manner and was excellent. I was really impressed with with the quality of service and the ine quality and quantity of food. (My wife took half her sandwich along to emnjoy the next day). A first class establishment.

My commute takes me (via I-95) about 200 yards from this place every day, twice a day. A single exit, two right turns, a parking spot and then you're there. A quaint, yet surprisingly large place. Richbrau has one boiling tank and six fermentation tanks so they keep the beers fresh and moving right along. Each week they feature a different cask-conditioned beer. At least one of their lines is nitro.

They have three standard offerings, a porter, blonde ale, and a pale ale. The other taps rotate between seasonals. Samplers of five 5 oz. glasses are available for a little over $5. Growlers and bombers are available to go.

This joint has character. Lots of wooden joists and beams, barrels and paneling and great people. The bartenders will talk beer with you, and the servers are attentive and nice. This is a must stop when in Richmond. Legend Brewing is about one mile south just over the James River and as others have pointed out, the downtown Capital Ale House is just a few blocks down Main Street. For Richmond, this is about as close to beer heaven as you can get.

Interesting looking place when you first walk in with rocks and beams exposed in the bar area it has an older feel to it. I didn’t go in the dining area but went up stairs, which seemed fairly packed for a Thursday night. There were pool tables, darts and a dancing area. They seem to cover all bases with this place whether you just want to come and drink at the bar or dance a bit. The menu looked pretty solid all around with plenty of different choices, the appetizer and meal I got were great. There were six beers available at the time their 3 regular and an Oktoberfest, a hefeweizen and a cask ale. The beers I had were pretty good with the Big Nasty Porter being the standout. Service was a bit slow at times but decent overall. Definitely a place I will come back to.

Richbrau is located on Cary once the street turns to cobbles. It is a fairly dark but interesting building with exposed beams and multiple seating levels. The atmosphere was pretty good and no smoke made it into the non-smoking areas. The service was good and fairly prompt. They had 7 drafts at our visit, but I only had time and reserve enough left to have one pint. The food was a bit pricey on the main items so we went for some rings and chili which was a very good choice. I'd certainly drop back in again!

Visited after the BA Richmond event.

Went here for lunch as it was just a block from our hotel.. I had been there before but it was pre BA. Its a rather large space, with a large bar to the left and seating to the right. The beer selection seems limited to what they brew which at the time was 7 offerings. I had the "Real Ale" which was their IPA on cask. It was tasty and definitly a nice cask pour. My wife had the Hefe- which was average. The food was good and the Cask Ale paired well with the Fish and Chips. Service was a bit below average. It wasnt that busy but the waitress commited 3 cardinal sins. She forgot who ordered what ( only 2 of us) She was talking on her cell phone when we needed refills. And the worst of all and something I hate.. When she brought change for the bill- she brought a 10 dollar bill back. This meant i had to ask for change again. I mean come one your not getting a 10 dollar tip on a 20 dollar lunch tab.. Oh well. I will go back as it is a pleasent enough place and the beer while not being earth shattering is good,

Finally got to Richbrau today with OFS. This was much better than I expected; I'd been avoiding the place because the fact that there's a dance club upstairs planted visions of drunken college kids overrunning the establishment. Not the case. At least, not the case tonight at 6:30.

The dining/pub area was surprisingly empty for 6:30 on a Friday night. I overheard some people trying to get a table get told that they had all been reserved, so that explained that, though the bar was still plenty roomy.

The only negative aspect was that there was only one bartender and as a result the service was fairly lethargic. With servers standing around for 5 minutes at a time not doing too much, you'd think maybe they'd add someone to the bar.

I'll definitely be headed back to Richbrau in the future. The cask Oatmeal Stout was absolutely delicious, and while the board said it was $4.25, my bill said it was $2.94. Can't beat that.

Richbrau is a hip brewpub in a cool part of town (but it's nowhere near as artsy as Uptown!). It's located in a cavernous old building that's served many functions over the years, and it shows! The exposed bricks and wooden beams give it a very organic feel, and lend well to it's 'dark and moody' atmosphere. There are 4 seperate areas including the small section by the bar and the larger upstairs; but the busiest area is in the center dining room by the small Pub brewing system. Comfortable booths and white tableclothes on the 2 and 4 tops add to the charm; and the service is good (although not always informed about the beer). The bar itself is elevated at the same level as the main dining room but seems a little bit higher due to its smaller size. It's well run (although it could be a bit cleaner - bathrooms!), and I've always enjoyed myself there. The food is fairly well-varied, and priced reasonably. Soft pretzels and nachos make great bar treats; while their BBQ Chicken or Shrimp and Andoule Sausages pizzas make for a more complete meal. And the beers are very good to boot! From the novice to the beer afficianado... there's something there for you! And since it's only a few blocks from the Capitol Ale House, it's a must see during even a short visit to town! Take-out beers are available as well ($3.50 for 22 oz'ers/$6.50 for growler refills). Well worth trying!

My wife enjoy occasionally going to this place for lunch on a Saturday. There is usually no large crowds at this time, so the service is pretty good. We usually just split the beer sampler, as we enjoy comparing the various styles. The food is very good and covers a pretty good range. While I think that Legend brews a better beer, Richbrau beer is still good and they have a much better food menu than Legend. Also, the location is much better. There is NOTHING to do around the Legend location, while Richbrau is smack dab in the middle of Shockoe Slip, with plenty to do and see before or after going to Richbrau.

I've been to Richbrau several times (pre-Beer Advocate) and fellow BA member AKSmokedPorter and I descended upon this establishment as part of a combined beer trade & last hurrah before I become a parent.

Situated on historic Cary Street in "The Slip" (Shockoe Slip to you dang tourists), Richbrau is quite a nice little place to eat and quaff some locally-brewed beers. Lots of large windows line the front, with some of the brewing tanks visible. Two floors to this establishment, with the upstairs being the billiards, darts, and dacning section. Downstairs offers the bar and traditional restaurant seating. Atmosphere is good, with the architecture having a very "warehouse"-like flavor to it. Lots of old posters on the wall from "Home Brewing Company" in Richmond. Dark-paneled wood floors, bar, and booths add warmth. Large stuffed moose mounted on the wall in the corner (with an eyepatch?). Background music was pretty cool, too ("Sweet Georgia Brown" on the fiddle followed by some Ella Fitzgerald...). They had 6 of their brews available from the tap (Golden Griffon Ale, Old Nick Pale Ale, Big Nasty Porter, Raspberry Wheat, India Pale Ale, and Shockoe Espresso Stout).

Food was decent. Typical pub fare...lots of fried appetizers, sandwiches, and some tasty dinner menu items. Service was good. Our waiter didn't offer any suggestions (spying our beer-reviewing papers, he probably knew we had a clue), but the service was quick and efficient.

Small selection of Richbaru items for purchase: T-shirts, hats, etc. Nothing special.

Most, if not all of their beers are available "To Go". Including the Espresso Stout and Hefeweizen (seasonals). Multi-sized kegs and growlers are available, too.

Prices are pretty typical ($4.25 for pints) and the food prices are decent as well.

Overall, the beers aren't anything amazing (notable exception: the Shockoe Epsresso Stout is very, very good), but certainly offer a nice change-of-pace from typical restaurant offerings in the area. With its charming atmosphere, good menu selection, and different beer choices, Richbrau is worth a visit when in Richmond.

Seems like a pretty big place, but we ate around the bar which seem a little more private. Pretty nice and clean inside wasn’t to busy when we went in the early dinner hours.

Service was good, she let me borrow a pen and make tasting notes on their paper beer menus to take home. She checked on us regularly and made suggestions of what was good. Food was pretty good, chicken wings were a tasty appetizer, and me and my wife enjoyed our meals. Decent selection and reasonable pricing.

There was a good mix of about 6 beers on tap, sampler offered 5 beers. Their Big Nasty Porter and Espresso Stout were my favorites. They also had bottles to take home, as well as bottles of root beer (which was pretty good as well). Overall a decent stop.

First time for a drinking trek to Richmond; along with old "Bro" Artied2. Located in an old, downtown Richmond building, Richbrau has lots of brick, dark paneling, and big dark beams. Great atmosphere. Has a real "homey" pub atmosphere to it. Plenty of tables and booths, too. I believe they had about 5 of their biers on tap; the 3 I sampled were all well-made. Very tasty Bratwurst, too! Hats and T-shirts are available, and they have a large fridge to buy growlers and/or bombers. Great place!

overall: 4.2
atmosphere: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

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