Local NOVA Beers

If you are looking for something local, Port City would be the easiest local beer to find bottled. Total Wine in Springfiield or Fairfax would have these in stock. I believe you can get them at local grocery stores as well. I live in Burke, so let me know if there is something in particular that you are looking for, maybe I can point you in the right direction.

 

Lost Rhino has been releasing some supposedly decent sours lately (I personally haven't tried any of them)

 

The Lost Rhino peach sour is really good. I've only seen it for sale in the Total Wine in Chantilly, and its $16 a bottle, but I've probably bought 4 bottles of it I like it so much. Otherwise I would say grab a 6 pack of Lickinghole Creek Magic Beaver.

 

Honestly I'd poo-poo Magic beaver in favor of the Lost Rhino sour. You can also get it at TW in Mclean. It's absolutely stellar. One of the best sours I've ever had. Obviously, GBS and its variants are great but those are most likely non-existent now. Hardywood The Great Return is a really good IPA and if you're craving pumpkin, Lickinghole Creek's Punkin Ain't Easy (Pumpkin spiced saison) is still around at a few spots and awesome. You can also still find some BCBS if you ask. I've seen it my last few trips around the area, today included. Enjoy the trip to VA!

 

You can do a search on Total Wine's website for Virginia beer. See if anything looks interesting to you. Is there a style you especially like?

 

Ill second of third or fourth how awesome that Lost Rhino sour is, I only bought 3 bottles and 2 are being sent out to trade partners. I wish I had more of it.

 

Ill Fifth that awesome Lost rhino Sour. Had it New years Day and my brother in law raved about it. If you find Port City Maniacal DIPA on draft somewhere check that out too.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25818/145776/

that is the peach sour. it'll be a challenge to find but if you see it, get it!

Hardywood does make other decent beers. I like Hoplar and the Bourbon DIPA they have and that may be available to you. their Pils is nice too but I'm not sure its bottled

Williamsburg Alewerks. If you find café royale or Bourbon barrel porter or Bitter valentine go for them! Lovers greed is a nice wild ale from them also. Again all may be hard to get right now though.

Three Brothers hoptimization IPA is OK, there porter is nice for sure though (Elementary porter), Drift if fresh is very nice.

Port City Monumental IPA is decent, porter is nice. But the DIPA Maniacal (only draft I think ) is very good.

 

You might try the Yard House at Springfield Town Center. http://www.yardhouse.com/VA/springfield-restaurant/ They look to have a large beer selection, and look pretty family friendly.

 

You could always get a growler filled at Mad Fox in Falls Church. Not sure what they have on tap right now, but Orange Whip is good. Most of their stuff is solid.

 

Live in the Burke/W.Springfield/FFX Station area. For dinner, check out **** & Bowl in Occoquan. Really good Belgian food and beer in a quaint setting. Not far in Lorton is Forge Brew Works, worth a stop to pick up a growler. Also, I would head out to the Whole Foods in FFX for the best selection in the area. The West Springfield location is decent but small. Total Wine in Springfield is a solid choice as well to pick up a few things. Look for stuff from 3 Brothers, Licking Hole Creek, Wild Wolf, Hardywood, Lost Rhino, Sunken City, Apocalypse Ale Works, Alewerks and of course Port City. Lots of good stuff brewing in Va..

 

I have to say Crooked Run in Leesburg is awesome. It is really small, but I love the local feel to it. Only 4 or 5 beers usually on tap. Then Fireworks is right next door and they always have a great beer selection.

 

Piggybacking on this thread, as a friend of mine and I were looking for a somewhat nearby VA brewery to visit this weekend.

We've been to Adroit Theory, Port City, Lost Rhino, Old Bust Head, Mad Fox and all the DC-proper ones. I've put Crooked Run down, but what other breweries within an hour drive from DC (don't have time to go further) should be at the top of the list? Old Ox seems promising (?)

 

Corcoran in Purcellville is one to consider if you have been to all those.

 

Crooked Run is REALLY small, its more like a homebrewer who sells his beer. Not saying anything bad about the operation or the beer, just want you to know what it is before you drive all the way to Leesburg to visit a brewery.

 

Not NOVA breweries, but both DuClaw in Bowie, MD and Jailbreak in Laurel, MD are less than an hour from DC. Also Baying Hound in Rockville, MD (very small and decent beers, no food).

 

Forge Brew Works in Lorton, right off 95 at the Newington exit is a decent place to visit. Usually 8-10 beers on tap. Pretty cool industrial setting. Worth a visit.