I am heading to Roanoke next week for work and I have 1 night free. Can anybody recommend a good place to grab a beer? I am staying by the airport with no car. So something that's a reasonable cab ride would be appreciated. A brewery or a resteraunt with a good beer list.
I live in Roanoke...thanks for an easy question Blue 5 Restaurant. Done and done. Located downtown so a quick cab ride from the airport. Best tap and bottle list in the area. Best atmosphere. Best food. http://www.blue5restaurant.com/craft-beers-on-tap.asp Hit me up if you have any other questions!
Thanks for the advice. My first 2 nights there I will be pretty close to there. Staying a the Hotel Roanoke so maybe I can get over there earlier. Any good local beers I should try?
I'll second that. My company has an office in Roanoke and that's where they usually take me for a good selection of beer. I like the downtown area there and hope they continue to develop it with more establishments like Blue 5.
Hmmm... I know Blue 5 has bottles of Three Brothers Resolute for sale (at retail price of most bottle shops) and I feel like that one is worth picking up. If you can get to a bottle shop, Parkway Brewings Ravens Roost Baltic Porter, Hardywood bottles, Lickinghole Creek bottles, and Sunken City's Red Clay IPA is okay. Oh and ask for Chaz when you go in. He's the beer guy there and loves to chat beer. Tell him Brock sent you and he might even hook you up. He MAY even have a bottle of Three Brothers Resolute hidden away somewhere that you can buy
Not from Roanoke but if you have the chance to drink or buy a bottle or Resolute I highly suggest it.
I would advise against Sunken City as an example of what the area produces. It is a pedestrian brewery at best, and my last (very last) 6-pack of Red Clay was half poured down the drain. Blue 5 is the locals' pride and joy, as happens when adventurousness gives way to ease of navigation. If you don't want to go to the place that everyone (and your smartphone) defaults to, try Lucky on the Market (surprising selection, great barkeeps and phenomenal food. plus it's in your area), or take a 10 minute trip to Salem and visit Parkway Brewing itself--food trucks and live entertainment.
If I go to Lucky's I'm certainly skipping the beer menu and ordering one of their specialty liquor drinks. Hand's down the best in the area. Their food is definitely top notch.
One more thing. Lucky is about two blocks away from Blue 5 and not on the market. It's on Kirk Ave which literally runs right to Blue 5. It's easy to get to either location.
Big Lick Brewing Company is also 1 block from Blue 5. They are opening this week and tasting room hours are Thurs/Fri 4:00-9:00pm and Sat 1:00-9:00pm. Super small batch stuff - 2 barrel system, and some 1/2 barrel also. They have a "This Time" IPA that is always going to be changing - first 12 gallon batch was really nice combo of 2-row and crystal 80 hopped with citra and galaxy. The others on tap were a DIPA, coconut porter, brown ale, dark saison, and cream ale. Lucky`s beer selection has really gone down in the past year or so, but the food and spirits are the best you`ll get in Roanoke.
Yup, Blue five is your best bet. You can walk down to Jack Browns Joint, It's a few blocks away and has a great selection but It's REALLY a small place and I'm a bit put out with them at this time cause when I was in there last time specifically for a Ballast Point Sculpin, they were out! Imagine the nerve.... I also like a lot of the Devil's Backbone offerings, I just wish Apocalypse Ale works was bottling now. They are great too.
