The Answer Brewpub

The Answer BrewpubThe Answer Brewpub
The Answer BrewpubThe Answer Brewpub
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

6008 W Broad St
Richmond, Virginia, 23230-2222
United States

(804) 282-1248 | map
theanswerbrewpub.com

The entrance to this brewpub is in the rear off of the parking area. Don't park in front because you'll just have that much farther to walk to the back door.
BEER STATS
Average:
4.25
Beers:
643
Ratings:
2,763
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.5
Reviews:
52
Ratings:
157
pDev:
6.89%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SportsandJorts:
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Reviewed by SportsandJorts from Virginia

4.21/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
Atmosphere: a nice spacious seating area. lots of games from board games to big jenga to arcade games. they have created a nice relaxing place to hang out and have a beer.

Quality: have yet to have a bad beer from them. if you like ipa's you'll love this place as they have a wide selection of good hoppy beers. haven't tasted too many of the dark beers but the one I had was average.

Service: the service was quick and attentive. no problems and very nice.

Selection: hard to beat especially in the area. a good amount of their brews, including quite a few of cool randall options. And I haven't had to delve this deep while there but a large selection of beer from other breweries as well.

Food: Asian food options but not quite as traditional as next door at Mekong. some great options but haven't sampled too much of the menu yet.

Overall: a great addition to the beer scene in Richmond and in Virginia. hope to see their beer become more available as time goes on as they easily make some of the best ipas in the state. should be high on anyone's list who is in Richmond and wants good beer.
Nov 02, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.44 by chrisjws from California

Dec 13, 2023
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Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

4.57/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
First visit. Great building and large outside sheltered beer deck. Large bar, plenty of tables, game room. Kitchen with solid menu, but didn’t try this time (as I had just eaten at Mekong).
Staff were upbeat, friendly, excited about their pub and their brews. Very helpful to the some of our group that aren’t usually beer drinkers.
Excellent selection of their own brews with about 2 dozen guest beers on tap. Clearly a beer geek oasis… certainly for me.
Apr 29, 2023
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Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -8.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5
located on the back side of a strip mall, parking outside the entrance. there is some outdoor deck seating, then a good size bar room inside. bar to one side, plenty of seating throughout the space. Long draft list, probably two dozen beers on tap. Mostly IPAs, Fruited Sours, and Pastry Stouts, but they did have a few "traditional" style beers as well. I picked up cans of of the IPA and a dark lager. Both were good. Food menu looked good but I did not stay to eat.
Mar 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by mig100 from Texas

Mar 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.29 by benjaminsa from Vermont

Jan 29, 2021
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Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama

4.73/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Finally found my way through the doors of The Answer! Love the artwork vibe throughout, with that Super Mario centerpiece fitting perfectly in the Retro arcade game-loving folks at the Answer. Draft list was superb; I got a little of everything I’d been wanting to try from them. Can’t personally speak for the food, but will rate based on the rave reviews I’ve gotten from friends and family in the past. Definitely a spot I can’t wait to go back to!
Nov 09, 2020
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.12/5  rDev -8.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Wasn’t really a late night last night; it was just at the end to a long day so the night takes the blame (day was all like, ‘shit was good when I left, I don’t know what to tell you, man’). As such, this new morning became early afternoon. Just. Like. That. The Uber ride out rolling through residential neighborhoods was unnerving, but we arrived on the front side, and hiked around to the backside because that’s where the Answer be, and we found there to be a decent crowd. I know why my vacationing ass is here on a Thursday at 1pm, but don’t the rest of you folks work? Seriously…

Looooong straight bowling alley lane wood varnished bar with a knobby uneven cut tree trim, plank base, & wood foot box. Seating for upwards of a dozen and a half on squared wood stools. Barback holds a long row of 36 numbered non-descript handles; these are the guest taps. Glassware shelved horizontally above and vertically to both sides. A trio of scrolling boards atop listing guest taps (brewery, beer, style, origin, ABV, & pricing). A trio of 4 tap towers on the end; their own beer is being poured from elsewhere. ‘FrozAns’ (read: slushie machine) behind the bar next to the Nightingale ice cream sandwich freezer of love. Events calendar & Untapped leaders boards above; growlers and guest dead soldier bottles displayed.

Light blue walls, a laminate looking floor over concrete, & a white ceiling with a boxed wood trim. Baby track spots and the pillars wrapped with strung holiday whites. Vibrant colorful art riddled about. 2 dozen tables in rows about the room and a stage for play on the end.

And down past the bar now to back there (me, pointing). Rear space holds a few games (pinball, and a 4 player Ms. Pac Man, as if you had 3 friends, loser). Through the seating area; upwards of a dozen tables, to a small 8 seat wood ‘L’ shaped bar to the rear. 20 pool ball handled row pouring the house beers (so now I knows where they be). Some bar counter space off the bar separating here from the seating. And the brewery to the rear of the rear (which is technically the front); the tanks each named for a Star Wars character.

They have 10 house beers up. Plus… 2 ‘Andalls’ (randallized Impy Stouts, described on their website as “thick/fudgy/syrupy/flavorful stouts”), 9 ‘Jooses’ (someone else’s Berliners & Goses with fruit juice/puree randallized), and 3 ‘FrozAns’ (“slushy versions of your favorite Joose!”). For. Fuck’s. Sake. Lest we not forget the 3 dozen+ guest taps. Nearly 1/3 of them are fun imports (Fruh Kolsch, Schneider Aventinus Eisbock, Mahr’s Brau Helles, BFM Abbaye de St Bon-Chien), and a half dozen of the remaining craft options are state of Virginia offerings.

I did a sampler of 4 house beers on the sane side avoiding the Andalls, Joose, & FrozAns for $12 (Caught a Humble, Kettle; Sour with pink salt & plum puree. 4.2%, plummy as plum does; Boomerang Potential, Session IPA, 5.1%, citrus, pleasant; Corporate Headquarters, Impy IPA, 8%, murky, dank, tropical fruit; Property Theft, Nitro Brown Ale with coffee & toasted coconut, 6%, medium bodied, dry, nice roast), and then had a Captain Lawrence Rosso E Marrone and a Fruh Kolsch, which scored a high yum factor. I let the unusual suspects drink the Jooses while I looked on.

We hung at the bar a while, true. Lots of Fleetwood Mac this Thursday bringing the goods. Yes, they have food here, no, we did not partake, as we’ll be getting our snack on at Mekong when we swing around to the front side not soon enough. I liked the house beers that I drank, but you can keep all the showy shit. I’ve denounced the Randall as scurge of the earth since the time I first saw one in the early oughts and still stand by it. Make a good beer. Don’t hide your beer behind ‘stuff’. Sorry, that’s how I feel about it. And get off my lawn! Again, stayed with the sane beers, and I liked what I had. Something for everybody, I suppose?
Jan 27, 2020
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Reviewed by roan22 from New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.75
Large Brewpub with trendy beer styles plus guest taps and food. Vibe is okay, not a lot of bar seats and wait for a table is very long. Not as crowded on a Sunday for a 2nd visit and there are many empty tables, yet a 20 min. wait. Food is mediocre compared to Mekong side, lesson learned. I liked the Fancy AF (lol) and the Uncle Baby Billy (lol), both are pale ales. I don't like fruited sour smoothies or milkshake IPA's (sorry) but everyone else does and it was hilarious to me how everyone was taking pictures of their flights. I bought some amazing glasses that they serve water in. The service was great.
Nov 13, 2019
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Reviewed by deleted_user_1111368 from Delaware

3.89/5  rDev -13.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday. We originally wanted to sit on the deck, but changed our minds and grabbed a 4 seater. Beertender was quick to grab us our beer, but seemed to be a little pre-occupied. The Answer had 10-12 of their own brews, plus another 18 or more guest beers. The beers were tasty.
We shared 4 different appetizer/snacks. Everything was decent, except the wing wings. They had an off-putting aroma (old grease(?) mixed with sweet and sour was not a good combo). We didn't hang long.. it was time to move on.
Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.34 by MikeM75 from Virginia

Sep 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.61 by Zach423 from Massachusetts

Aug 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.75 by jkrug5 from Maryland

Jun 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by JonB25 from Delaware

Jun 20, 2019
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Reviewed by Slack from Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Service can be hit or miss depending on how busy they are so keep that in mind.

Food is great however Mekong is much better.

Tons of options to try between in house and the other 20 taps lines. If you can't find something you like, try the slushee, low abv (3.5%) and very approachable.

Vibe is funky. A mix of various restaurants spaces - new and old, eclectic styles, and clean bathrooms (according to the Mrs.)
Jun 01, 2019
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Reviewed by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

4.87/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Approachable beers for the initiated. Guest taps allow amazing alternative options... for a brewery. Wait staff was very attentive and ready to assist with mapping out the area to try alternative RVA options. Great experience and really great beer!
May 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by chippo33 from Vermont

May 12, 2019
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Reviewed by Beejay from Virginia

3.28/5  rDev -27.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | food: 5
A cool joint, awesome food, and great beer. My main beef was from an interaction today trying to get a growler fill. I was told by the staff that the screw top growler I brought was unable to be filled. So I made the same selection and went with the crowler, and extra $1.50 for that. After services were rendered the employee told me I could fill my growler with any of the guest taps, just not their brewery. This is infuriating. Why would there be a difference. Why would you treat the taps differently? Why would you tell me I can't fill a growler, then post purchase tell me I can fill it, just not with the beer I wanted? When I told them that was a silly rule they tried to pass it off as a screw top growler wouldn't hold the carbonation. Well I'm drinking their Crowler, and it's fucking undercarbonated. If you have a growler policy, that's fine, I get it, I've been there as the guy getting a growler filled, and the guy filling the growler. But don't make a rule then apply it to only half of the taps, without any clarification until after purchase. That's some bullshit.

Every other time I've been here for food or beer the experience and service have been excellent. Great food, great really interesting beers, excellent service, but man this growler fill burns me up, and while we are on it, individually crowler's don't need individual plastic bags.

Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?
Mar 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.88 by needMIbeer from Virginia

Mar 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.79 by Matt23 from Virginia

Feb 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by Gkruszewski from New York

Feb 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.91 by CreightonSM from New York

Jan 27, 2019
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Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden

4.53/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
The Answer is located a bit out of the way in the back of Mekong in a strip mall sort of place outside Richmond.

Big, open place with a long bar and plenty of tables and a little to go area to the left. Vibe is laid back and happy. All the bartenders are quick, friendly and know their stuff.

Selection is enormous, with a number of taps devoted to in house beers, and a huge list of guests. Easy to find something you want, really hard to choose. Most styles are represented, at least on the guest taps, everything from kvass to massive stouts were on when I was here. Everything is available in smaller pours, that are still big enough to really get a correct opinion of the beer.

Food is a scaled down version of the Mekong menu, so really good Vietnamese food, once again plenty of choice, and very tasty.

Overall, this really is a beer Mekka, and any beer nerd would be missing out by not making the trip here if you're in the area.
Dec 31, 2018
 
Rated: 4.61 by james24 from Virginia

Nov 09, 2018
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Reviewed by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev -8.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
An interesting place. Pretty large, a stage, a back bar, random couches, really nice bathrooms! Almost like they bought a building and tried to fill it up with whatever and have it look like it was planned and made sense.
Beers, I mean others beers pummeled with juice were pretty awesome. Service was fine.
Overall, quite interesting...I'll leave it at that.
Oct 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.86 by hughesm12 from Massachusetts

Oct 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.56 by grahuba from Connecticut

Oct 14, 2018
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Reviewed by drds89 from Virginia

5/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
No other place like this. He has really gotten into the glassware game with Black Ninja Designs. My wife and I drove 2 hrs, got in late about 9PM, ordered appetitzer, entrees, flight and asked about glassware. Our server said it had been sold the day before and limited to a certain number in line. But she would ask the owner. He came out and greeted us, and made an exception since we had traveled and were noobs.
Oct 09, 2018
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Reviewed by bl00 from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev -1.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75
If The Answer did not have its reputation, it would be one of those "where am I and what did I get myself into" spots. Its located in the back of a shopping center, not super clearly marked at night time. Once inside, the vibe is welcoming overall though a bit disorganized visually. Quality of space feels decent. The service was quick and beers were superb (though sweet). Prices were very reasonable considering. I would have loved to spend more time here. Didn't get a chance to sample food, though ate at Mekong prior (highly recommend). Disappointingly, take away options are very limited. I'll gladly return any time I am in the area.
Oct 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.59 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Aug 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by metter98 from New York

Aug 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.65 by Yeeuh from Virginia

Aug 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.05 by brocktune from Virginia

Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Jul 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4.26 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania

Jul 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by NotAlcoholicJustAHobby from Vermont

Jun 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

May 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by heddar33 from Pennsylvania

Apr 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Mar 29, 2018
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Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I think the funky entrance situation has probably been pretty well covered, so let's just say this is a shockingly big space once you get inside, with plenty of different seating options, an abundance of gaming and social enhancers, and an embarrassment of unique beer and food riches.

Regardless of your views or knowledge of most of the Andall beers, you have to admit they have a huge selection of beers with a wide variety of flavors. The styles themselves might not be widely varied, but flavors span the gamut. This place is a novice beer geek factory, pumping out new fans of beer by introducing them to tons of easily approachable beer treatments, to a stupidly absurd degree.

Service is fine and the atmosphere is fun and includes a few TVs playing local or national sports, but, in my experience, the food is the centerpiece of any visit. The Vietnamese dishes here are absolutely delicious and spot on. They really know what they are doing, and do it at a high level, with quick to your table Vietnamese treats from small bite street food to larger and more elevated dishes. The goofy, super fruity and juicy Gose and Berliner treatments pair very well with this cuisine, so it's really not as out of place as you'd think.
Mar 14, 2018
The Answer Brewpub in Richmond, VA
Brewery rating: 4.25 out of 5 with 2763 ratings