Virginia Craft Scene

yeah, 3 Brothers doesn't distribute out of the state and with their recent dist expansion to NoVA RVAs allotment got even smaller...

 

@ncaudle - can you tell me a bit more about the Venus Flytrap DIPA you mentioned? Was it bottled or just available on draft? I've never even heard of that one or Original Gravity, so I'm just really interested and you seem like you definitely know what's up with the RVA scene. Side note - is Kong Krush brewed in RVA?

I'm just pissed that Williamsburg AleWerks didn't really get going until right when I got done with school there.

 

Venus Flytrap was draft/growler only at Isley and maybe 1 other place (like Whole Foods or Brew; not sure on that part).
Original Gravity is a hombrew supply shop that opened in the northside of RVA about 2 years ago. they had been talking about getting a larger space and just announced last week they got zoning permission for a brewery at the larger space they're moving to. I'm unscientifically guessing that will be running spring/summer 2015?

all of the Mekong/Answer collabs (Kong Krush, Street Cred, Good Morning Mekong, etc) were brewed at the brewery that collaborated; Kong Krush at Extra Billys (while Brandon was still there - I think there was a more recent batch made at another brewery but I don't know if Brandon did it at Extra Billys with the new guy or at a different brewery), Street Cred at Triple Crossing, Good Morning Mekong at Cigar City, etc

 

Awesome, thanks for the info!

I knew Kong Krush was a collab, but didn't know who with. Most folks I've spoken to seem to regard that one as the best ever VA-brewed hoppy beer, so it intrigued me when you said that about the Venus Flytrap. I haven't had either, but Extra Billy's IPA's are pretty darn good. It's also interesting that their guy left to go brew at the Answer, I didn't know that either.

Someone send @Mipper an Atramentous, he is a Duke Dog for god sake!

 

yeah, Kong Krush was on tap regularly at Mekong for a while plus a few other places so lots of people had it.
Venus Flytrap was a small batch that, outside of 1 or 2 kegs, never left Isley so far fewer people had a chance to try it. it was ridiculously sticky and dank

 

Perhaps he's a wealthy entrepreneur and might like the Shenandoah Valley and easy access to Nova- well, really everything but Tidewater, Va. I love Richmond and Charlottesville, having spent a good deal of my youth in both cities. The history in Richmond alone- no matter beer- is worth checking out. Cheers.

 

I'm pretty sure Devil's Backbone is right there by the area where Lockn is held, so you should be able to hit that one up pretty easily OP.

 

Charlottesville is a great place and deserves a look. I'm a Carolinian, but if I had to chose a place to live in Virginia it would be down to Richmond, Charlottesville, and (the sleeper), Lynchburg. Good luck.

 

Don't sleep on Loudoun County, over the next few years...

 

Warrenton is a cool place for sure.

 

Maybe (though not imo), but it's not in Loudoun County.

 

Sorry , it's been a while. I have friends in both and did truly mix it up. Fauquier County is a bit closer, no? Anyway, the area has blown up with growth and my old trips up 29 are fewer than before. Lots of my classmates at Richmond were from all around the area. I would expect that DC's expansion into Northern Virginia has both good and bad? Traffic sucks. Cheers, sorry for a rare geographical f/u. Oh, I was being just a bit sarcastic about Warrenton.

 

A couple of my friends and I bottle share once a week and this topic comes up a lot. I live in NOVA and there are breweries around but up here there's not that go to one. Virginia has a lot of up and coming breweries like 3 Brothers,Hardywood,Lickinghole,Adroit Theory,Crooked Run,Heritage etc etc. If you get lucky you can hit Barnhouse Brewery in Leesburg on the one weekend the are open a month ( yes one weekend). I also have a World of Beer near me that gets a decent amount of stuff. I've started going to Adroit Theory more and more since they are trying new things. This weekend they are tapping a Ramen Noodle IPA. It does sound like it's not going to work, but its something new. Also I go to Baltimore a fair amount for Max's Taphouse,The Brewer's Art and Of Love and Regret (Stillwater's home bar). I see Va being a force in breweries with Green Flash coming and hopefully Stone down the line. But right now we aren't there yet.

 

I would go with one of these 3 in no particular order. I also like Charlottesville but if it were me I would rather live in Richmond and visit Charlottesville occasionally since it is only 1 hour away.

Richmond-My brother lives here and really likes it. Good beer scene. Cost of living is good. Lots of locally owned businesses which means unique restaurants and bars. You can get from one end of the city to the other easily but need a car. City living with a more laid back attitude.

Leesburg-Beer scene is getting big in this area. A lot of smaller breweries opening because rent is affordable. About an hour from DC. If you wanted to live in the northern part of VA but not deal with as much traffic this would be a good place. Kind of country/farm feeling to it but still close to everything you need. A lot of wineries in this area also.

Arlington-Highest cost of living by far because of the convenience to DC. Traffic sucks. But if you live in the right place you will be able to walk to all sorts of restaurants and bars. Easy metro train access and a few stops away from DC. You wont see any breweries in this area because rent is high but there are a bunch of good beer spots. Since it is close to DC and bars like Church key you will have access to beers that will not make it to the other places on the list. Also you are 1 hour from Baltimore. Less than 2 hours from Richmond. 2 1/2 hours from Philly.

 

I'm always jealous when my friend in my home town of VA Beach says he's at Whole Foods and can get Growler fills of any beer for $14.

 

Warrenton (which is decidedly NOT in Loudoun County) actually is pretty cool but it doesn't present its best side to people casually passing through. You have to get to know the girl a little, and she you, before she loosens up.

Which is a good thing, keeps out the riffraff while preserving the cool stuff for folks willing to explore a little bit away from the main drag. (I grew up about 6 miles away, in the valley between Pignut Mountain and Pond Mountain. Miss it every day. New local brewery is named after the road I grew up on, but not located particularly close to it).

I think if I ever get my farm brewery it might be in northwestern Hanover County though. Close enough to, but far enough away from, Richmond, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg.

 

Seems a little high. A 72 ounce six pack usually goes for $10 or $11, so you're talking about less beer (64 oz) for more $$.

Here at my NoVA Whole Foods, I can get a 64 oz growler for $9 or $10.

 

Agreed, I don't get growler fills out here to often for that very reason. I think maybe the price I'm thinking of was for Expedition Stout or something that we don't see out here. I think it was also the concept that one could walk into a place like that and have access to growler fills from many different breweries that impressed me.