Heading to Richmond

The most common/popular answers, if you're staying in RVA proper, will be:
The Answer/Mekong
Ardent
Strangeways

Enjoy your trip!

 

The Answer, I would go there over Hardywood or anywhere else if I could only go to one place. Ardent is also cool, and if its a nice day hit up Legend and sit on the portch for one of the best views in the city.

 

Triple Crossing! Best IPAs in the DC/MD/VA area.

 

The Triple Crossing IPAs are good, but I think The Answer's are better.

 

Nectar and Knife was amazing last weekend. At the same time, the Larceny series is also fantastic. You can't go wrong either way. If you've got to jam food and good beer in one place, Answer probably takes the cake. But the website trinkin has great resources for food+craft beer places

 

Mekong

 

You can't go wrong at Answer/Mekong. If it's breweries you're looking for: Hardywood is nice, Strangeways is, well, strange and if you like IPAs I'd say ride all the way downtown and visit Triple Crossing.

 

If you do go to Hardywood, Isley Brewing is a very short distance away. Choosy Mother (peanut butter porter) is probably what they're best known for, and they may have Stunt Dubbel (pumpkin dubbel) on when you get there. Black IPA (Tall Dark and Hopsome) is great as well.

 

I echo much of what has already been said. Triple Crossing & The Answer have the best IPAs in RVA. Mekong & The Answer share the same building and ownership. They also have completely different (and big) tap lists. Isley & Ardent are right around the block from one another. Strangeways is your place if you like sours. Legend has the best view of the RVA skyline and pretty solid beer. They also are one of the few breweries that will be open before 4pm during the week. I believe Strangeways is the only other one (opens at Noon) I know of. If you are looking for some bottles/cans to take back to PA with you just let us know what part of RVA you will be around and we can share those as well.

 

how I would prioritize them

Answer / Mekong
Triple crossing
Strangeways
Hardywood
Ardent

 

Just to get an historical view of the beer scene, pick up a copy of "Richmond Beer". Good read

http://www.amazon.com/Richmond-Beer-History-Brewing-American/dp/1626194645

 

All of the above 100%. Also check out Jack Brown's in cary town- good burger/bar joint. You need to go to Legend Brewery though. Its the grand dad of the the craft brew scene in RVA... i mean you cant go wrong with a Legend Brown Ale. If anything pick yourself up a good six pack and go to Belle Isle.

 

Do yourself a favor and skip strange ways. Went there one time on the advice of many and was throughly disappointed by the beer and the staff. Super pricey bottles to take home and some rude ass staff wearing bandanas like someone on surviver. Mekongs/hardywood/tripple crossing is the way to go. Also check out corks and kegs if you have time. Awesome store owner and has a really good selection.

 

for the criticisms (some deserved) Strangeways gets, they are easily the most interesting brewery in VA.
there is usually like 2-3 variants of every brew on tap so there is almost always something new you haven't had before, even if you're a regular.

 

I'll be in Richmond Labor day weekend Fri-Mon with a 12 bottle shipper of FL Whalez (3-sons, Cycle, Wakefield, Buddha)....ill be drinking and eating around town all weekend with my buddy Kyle....hit me up if anyone wants to share some awesome beers! Cheers!

 

Instead you should drive 3 more hours north and stop up into my neck of VA woods and share some of those FL Whalez

 

Or you could drive 3 hours south.........

 

That ain't happening. NoVA boys (@Iamjeff6) start getting twitchy if they get as far south in the Commonwealth as I-66. It's got the same effect as those invisible fences have on dogs ...

(sorta ... mostly)

 

I used to drive to RVA every other weekend for about a year. Ive served my timed traveling down 95.