Virginia Beach - beers

The tread here from this summer has some good info . http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/va-beach-craft-beer.301719/

The best stores are Grape and Gourmet , Total Wine , Whole Foods and Mix it Up . A few things out now are Alewerks BBPorter , Bells 30th and there might be some BA Narwal left . Smartmouth started canning Notch 9 IIPA so that should be around .

 

Reaver Beach - Hoptopus is an awesome DIPA and available year round. Distributed in 16oz cans (4pk). The brewery is located in Va Beach. They also have a strong sour game and release a lot of 750s.

Alewerks is in Williamsburg and has a lot of good stuff. Their stuff is available in Va Beach. Their Pumpkin Ale is probably the state's best pumpkin beer. Also Cafe Royale by them is great and fresh bottles were just released this past weekend. Jubilee as well.

There's a lot of good local stuff really! Any specific style you lean to this time of year? Agree with the Smartmouth Notch 9 DIPA too. The brewery recently started distribution where I am in Central Va and I really enjoyed that one.

 

Forgot about the Alewerks Pumpkin Ale . It's one of the best . Saturday they are releasing the new BA Imperial Pumpkin . Tap room only and very limited . I can't make it but someone in our tasting group is getting some . Looking forward to it .

 

Alewerks bombers and Reaver Beach IPAs. Can't go wrong with either of those.

 

(points up) Agrees with all the above. Still looking around for any Smartmouth Notch 9 and Cowcatcher Milk Stout in the can.

 

It's been several weeks since Smartmouth announced those coming out in cans but I do not think they have hit distro yet. Once would think the announcement would have been made soon before the cans actually hit but I guess that's not the case. Hop to see it soon though.

 

I always go here when looking at another state's distro - not perfect but incredibly helpful: http://seekabrew.com/distro/compare.html

National standouts that jump out at me we get in VA that NE doesn't - Avery, Ballast Point, Bells, Brooklyn, Dogfish Head, Firestone Walker, Maine, Perennial, Sixpoint and The Bruery.

As far as the state, we have some great things going on like most states. I think it really depends what you're looking for. BB stuff - Hardywood and Alewerks have the best "limited" offerings as others have noted - BB porter and Cafe Royale are out now. I like Blue Mountain Barrel House's Dark Hollow - best readily available BA stout from VA, imho.

I haven't seen them yet either but now that Notch 9 is canned it'll edge out Hoptopus for my favorite readily available VA DIPA.

I agree with this - just want to qualify that that I feel like Alewerks DIPAs in bottles have a pretty short shelf life. I feel like Secret Admirer on shelves now is well past its prime. Again, just my opinion, but I'd keep an eye on bottle dates for their IPAs. Reaver's Hoptopus in cans holds up crazy well imo.