The Answer Brewpub - Richmond, Va (2020)

“Hey Fam, we will be closed Tomorrow, Sunday July 12 through next Sunday July 19th. We will post updates on when we will reopen.”

 

There you have it...confirmed this morning on IG. I don't know why they would not have just stated this over the weekend instead of 2 days later. This isn't something you tip toe around. Even if the test had not come back yet they should have least said something to the effect of "we have an employee who may have been exposed and are closing as a precaution until test results are received..." I have seen other breweries and businesses post nearly that exact message.
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"Hello Fam. On Saturday July 11th we learned that an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately sent all employees home and ceased brewery operations. Our management team attended a remote meeting to implement our COVID-19 exposure plan. We will be closed until Sunday July 19th to allow for a deep cleaning of the facility and for employees that were in direct contact to be tested. Those employees will not return to work until they test negative. We want to ensure everyone’s safety during these challenging times. Everyone here at The Answer appreciate’s your kindness, patience and understanding. We hope to have an update by the end of the week with information on to-go sales as well as re-opening of the Brewpub for inside service."

 

Someone on Q&A brought up an interesting point too. They were closed on Friday so maybe they were made aware of the situation at some point on Thursday, remained open that day, and it could very likely have been the employee was tested Thurs / Fri and results were known Saturday which is why they made the closure post for all week and then needed to have a pow wow on how to publicly respond which does not seem like a hard thing to just be up front. Let theories commence.....

 

My bad...wrong platform. It was someone commenting to their IG post. One of the Q&A admin chimed in to that person calling them out basically for not having compassion for the employee and wishing them a speedy recovery instead of their speculation and that they did not find out the employee tested positive until Saturday. That comment is now deleted so either the person who posted it removed it or the person who handles The Answer IG account.

I'm all about the employee recovering and The Answer watching out for their staff first and foremost but the timing of things does seem odd. It typically takes 24-72 hours to get test results and only those inside know for sure when things went down but making a post about closing on Friday for staff appreciation seems a little too convenient. Again, I understand their staff is priority but you gotta think of the public too. According to Q&A admin The Answer found out the employee was positive Saturday and had a vague post Saturday about closing the next week in which commenting was immediately turned off. If they knew of the positive results then state it Saturday and not Monday morning. I understand being cautious and not wanting to alarm anyone but you gotta think about the public too. What if someone who showed up for Thursday's release (Or earlier in the week) had been experiences symptoms themselves and is trying to pinpoint where they may have come in contact with someone. That's a lot of movement in a few days that could have been eliminated or determined as a source.

Overall, I give The Answer a pass on this since they have been so cautious previously and want to be sure every detail is done right but not knowing facts they were a little too vague in recent posts to lead me to believe that had absolutely no suspicion one of their was positive until Saturday and even then be direct with us if they did get confirmation Saturday afternoon. No all staff meeting is needed on how to respond. Just make it known. Devils Backbone had this exact same thing happen at both of their locations over the past week. Instead of being vague they were up front and posted to the public they were taking precautions and closing as they believe one of their staff at Basecamp might be infected due to symptoms they were having. The next day they got the test results (negative), posted the update and re-opened. If the employee was positive they obviously would have been closed longer but at least they handles it the right way from the start. Posted today one of their Outpost employees felt symptoms and that location is now closed down until those results are received.

 

Update post from The Answer yesterday. If I had to guess I would say open to to-go no earlier than Tues as long as all tests come back negative....
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Sup FAM. We have some GREAT NEWS!!! Our Answer Team Member who tested positive at a COVID-19 community testing event has tested NEGATIVE upon being tested a second time at Patient First. With an Abundance of Caution she will take one more additional test and we asked that all team members get tested NEGATIVE before returning to work. So far the Management Team and Brewery Staff have tested NEGATIVE. Stay tuned for more information regarding to-go beer sales as well as the official re-opening of the Brewpub. Cheers!

 

Answer related......Veil releasing the new version of Quy. As of this post (12:55pm) there seems to be about 100 tickets left according to people posting pics of their tickets on BTV.

**This is picked up / purchased from Veil not The Answer**

**THIS IS AN RVA (AND IN PERSON) ONLY RELEASE**⠀
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Quy is an Imperial Stout brewed in the loving memory of our friend Quy Phuoc Pham. If you’re part of the Richmond beer community you’ve felt Quy’s friendship and impact. He was a pillar of the Richmond beer community and we honor his legacy with one of his most beloved styles of beers. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Quy’s family - his wife Suong and his two children My and Vy. This iteration of Quy is aged in Laird’s apple brandy barrels for 26 months then conditioned on Vietnamese coffee, Ugandan vanilla, and triple barrel-aged maple syrup. Exploding with flavors of moist coffee cake, tiramisu, and refined brandy. 13% ABV. ⠀
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Special release guidelines for this beer:⠀
*Please Read* ⠀
Tickets to purchase a Quy 500ml (and large format) bottle are available for pickup (in person only) in Richmond starting now (today 7/20 at 9am). These tickets are free and have a date in which you can return to the brewery to purchase your bottle of Quy. A valid I.D. is required for both ticket and bottle pickup. No proxies. Please do not show up to buy Quy any time other than the date on your ticket. Your ticket will have a date ranging from 7/21/20 - 7/25/20. ⠀
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This is all in an effort to keep lines down. Friendly reminder: face masks are required when waiting in line at The Veil. Please practice social distancing. ⠀
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*Tickets are non-transferable and we will not be accommodating any other pick-up day than what is designated on your ticket. If that day passed you will forfeit your chance to purchase a bottle. No exceptions.* Thank you! ⠀
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Approx. 250x 500ml bottles for sale⠀
$65+tax each ⠀
1x pp limit. ⠀
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Extremely limited large format bottles will also available first come first served via tickets: ⠀
1x 1.5L - $100.00+tax*⠀⠀
1x 3L - $200.00+tax*⠀⠀
*1x large format bottle per person. You can not buy both large-format bottles but you can buy a large-format and 1x 500ml bottle. ⠀
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**THIS IS A RVA ONLY RELEASE**⠀

 

Confirmed yesterday on Q&A open back up for to go sales today, July 21. In-line preorders go live at 2pm. Pickup b/w 3-7.

 

Pre-Order tonight beginning at 8pm EST, pickup between 4pm - 7pm tomorrow, 7/24 (Friday), at the main entrance (back of buidling)
https://theanswer.beer/
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Black Is Beautiful - This 10% abv Imperial Stout featuring Maple Syrup, New Guinea Vanilla Beans, cacao nibs, a touch of Cinnamon, @roanokecoffee RND locally roasted coffee, and shimmering edible gold glitter

Limit 2 4-packs per person.

***This will be the last release in which we allow proxies or out of state purchases through our online store. ***

We Do Not Ship

 

Summer Showers, "Our 6.5% pillowy soft and citrusy IPA", also just announced for pre-sale tonight

 

Answer threw a curve ball dropping a Gold (w/ Gold Glitter) and Black (w/o Gold Glitter) Edition. Guess that’s one way to get people to go for the 2pp max. Don’t know when it sold out but logged in at 8:05 and they were long gone. Wonder if it was 2/pp per edition or 2 total regardless of the combination......

 

BIB glass still available. https://iamcmbryant.com/collections/malarkey/products/misplaced-hate-makes-disgrace-to-races-black-is-beautiful-collab-glass

 

The Answer opens back up for on-site enjoyment Tues. July 28th.

Mon: CLOSED
Tues-Fri: 4pm - Midnight
Sat & Sun: Noon - Midnight

 

Heads up for you out-of-state folks. Posted on Q&A last night and caused quite the back and forth. Online ordering is essentially done anyway since they have re-opened for in person. The only exception is Thursday night pre-sale can ordering for Friday pickup. From what I read through on comments it has to do with the website they use for online ordering and not being able to charge the 5.3% VA state sales tax which, now that they are opened back up for on premise, causes some issues. If you're from out of state and you want cans then only way to get them going forward is showing up in person hoping they still have them or do some FT / ISO in groups.
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PSA:
- NO MORE PROXIES for Thursday night pre-sales.
- Purchaser MUST LIVE IN VIRGINIA and MUST PICK-UP cans IN PERSON on Friday between 4-7PM [EST]
- When picking up your order, your [EDITED] NAME on ID MUST MATCH BILLING INFO from the purchase.

Thanks for your patience as The Answer Transitions into this new phase of re-opening.

 

2 cans and the glass up for pre-order until 3pm today. Must pick up between 4pm-7pm TODAY. If 4-packs do not sell out through pre-order they will be available in person when doors open at 4pm.
https://theanswer.beer/
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Heh Heh Heh Hrr Rrr Heh Heh Heh Heh Huh Rakau! Ha Hrr DIPA (TDH):
Batch 3 of our New Zealand Rakau DIPA, Heh Heh Heh Hrr Rrr Heh Heh Heh Heh Huh Rakau! Ha Hrr gets turned up with our excessive Triple Dry Hop treatment ! This baby is a stonefruit with huge peach and apricot flavors!
$16.00 / LIMIT 2 (4-Packs) Per Person

You Put Your Wheat in There (TDH):
This baby starts with huge body from its wheat heavy grain bill and jumps out of the can with intense candied citrus aroma . Oh! and the coolest part...You can put your wheat in there!
$16.00 / LIMIT 2 (4-Packs) Per Person

8-Bit Hop Chalice (GREEN): 17oz
This sophisticated stemmed glass boasts the best characteristics of both the tulip and the snifter styles. Its wide bowl allows room for swirling, while its tapered mouth captures and enhances aromas for an amazing nose. Its thin rim directs each sip to the proper location on your palate. A finely crafted vessel for use with a variety of beer styles. Suitable for chugging dank IPA's all day.
$20/each