Virginia Release Pros

Exqueeze me, and a baking powder, for barging into another region's thread, but I'm hoping for some help.

A friend is heading down to Virginia to see family at the end of October/beginning of November. I asked her to look for some Williamsburg AleWerks Cafe Royale for me. I was wondering if anyone knew if it 1) would be available at that time, 2) is widely available around the state or only in certain areas. (I apologize, but I forget where she's headed, but if it is imperative to know, I can ask if that info helps the answers given.)

Also, is there anything (and I know area may matter a helluva lot more for this question; I will ask her) else I should have her look for? I don't want to take her away from her family/make her run all over, but if there is something widely available and there at that time, I'd be happy for any recommendations from local aficionados.

Thanks in advance for any input and letting an "outsider" in your regional thread.

 

You guys are TITS for responding so quickly. Many thanks!

I put in a call and left a VM asking her about her location. I'll drop back by when I have it to help you all out. Much obliged for the help/clarificaton and not turning this bad. I know it doesn't necessarily rule these threads, but I've seen it and appreciate you guys for your help/candor.

BBS

 

Sorry for the 2 week delay, but I finally got together with my friend tonight. (Between our schedules and a comedy of errors in phone connections, it's been crazy trying to get in touch with her.) Anyway, not sure I'm going to be much more help, but this still might lead to some good answers.

I asked her where she'd be and she said "pretty much all over the state except SW VA". She said she'll be driving in from OH through the NW part of VA and going to the SE corner. And then driving up through MD to the DC area and back to VA. She said the main drags would be I-95, I-64, and SR 17. I think, within reason of her driving routes, she's willing to, time permitting, get off an exit and look/go get something for me.

So, if you have any idea, particularly about Cafe Royale, but any good beer available that I don't get here in Ohio, I'd love to hear your suggestions/opinions. Doesn't mean I'll be able to have her get it, but if it won't take a huge hunk of her time/trip, I think she'll be willing to give it a shot. Or at least listen to a suggestion.

Again, just major appreciation for your help so maybe I can make it easier for her to help me. And if I can ever return a favor, please shoot me a BM. I'm very grateful for any assistance you can give me/her.

thankyou.gif (http://img.pandawhale.com/55967-thank-you-gif-kJG3.gif)

 

He'll be here all week folks. Don't forget to tip your bartenders and waitresses.

 

I definitely have to call her back because while she was rattling off routes and such, I thought she said something like "Just past Williamsburg". So, maybe a stop at the brewery wouldn't be a trip breaker.

If not, nriech, THANK YOU for the suggestions. I will definitely let her know, especially if she can't get to the brewery.

And again, I don't want to ruin her trip by asking her to run all over creation, but if she were to, say, stop in at Charlottesville and not find Cafe Royale, are there any good "consolation prizes" that I might want/suggest for her to pick up?

Again, you SA region-folks rock! Thanks so much for the help! (And remember, if I can ever return the favor/help you in some way, feel free to shoot me a BM.)

 

^ Mucho apreciado!

 

^Absolutely agree!

That said, if it were I heading to Virginia, I would be doing just that. Seeing as how my friend is being kind enough to do it, I don't want to ask her to look for all kinds of things. However, if I have a couple of alternate names to give her, if she stops for some Cafe Royale and can't find it, maybe she can pick something else up. I feel it would be unfair to monopolize her time and ask her to look for a ton of stuff. But I also gave her my cell and told her to call if she finds something/has a question.

(And by all means, if there's a local shelf beer that you think I should try that's really good/you really enjoy, by all means, throw out the name. Only reason I picked the Cafe was because I got to try it once at a tasting and I was over the moon for it. I'd love to have a full glass to drink/try. But I'm not averse to suggestions of any sort. Good beer is good beer, no matter its whale-ishness.)

 

^Awesome! Thanks!

Beyond the Cafe Royale, I will just give her some brewery names and general dollar amounts and let her go from there. I've had just about everything from FW, a few of the Duck Head's, and a few Terrapins (though none of their special releases). But I'd like to those other breweries (or honestly anything from those other breweries I've had I wouldn't mind again.)

Good to know about the Hardywood Park. I tried their GBS and BAGBS at tastings and loved them both. Don't know about time frames, but would love to have those again, or try anything from them.

Thanks for all the great advice!

 

^ Thanks!