What's good in Richmond, VA?

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by Fklingensmith, Oct 5, 2015.

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  1. Fklingensmith

    Fklingensmith Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2014 Maine

    I'm headed down to Richmond, VA for a work trip next week and wanted to know if there was anything I should keep my eyes out for. I'm not going to be picky on style with such little time down there.

    Thanks!
     
  2. beernuts

    beernuts Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2014 Virginia

    Richmond is a great beer town, you'll have lots of options. Do a quick search in this forum, there have been plenty of threads on it. Enjoy!
     
  3. Fklingensmith

    Fklingensmith Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2014 Maine

    Thanks! I had searched quickly but wasn't finding any recent posts mostly from 2012 & 2013. Guess i'll dig into this forum some more.
     
  4. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Mekong / The Answer Brewpub should be on your list of stops if you can make it. Both in the same building on West Broad St. The Answer and Triple Crossing have probably the best IPAs in RVA. Strangeways is also an interesting place with lots of interesting beers. Their newest right now is their seasonal "Gourd of Thunder" Imperial Pumpkin Porter and is nlooked forward to my many every year. That released a couple weeks ago and they released their 1st variant this past weekend with 2 more coming up over the next 2 weekends. These are in bottles and can be found at bottle shops in RVA. What part of RVA will you be in? That may help direct a little more.
     
    #4 TomCat11, Oct 5, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2015
  5. montman

    montman Maven (1,444) Mar 10, 2009 Virginia
    Trader

    Defintely find your way to the Answer, you can eat dinner there if that makes it easier. I like Hardywood but I'd guess most of thier stuff out now you can just get at a good bottlshop. As mentioned Strangeways/Triple Crossing/Ardent are all pretty good imo, but it sort of depends on where you will be.
     
  6. Fklingensmith

    Fklingensmith Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2014 Maine

    Thanks everyone! I will have to see how far I am from these places.
     
  7. brentk56

    brentk56 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,099) May 13, 2004 North Carolina
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    https://trinkin.com/ is your friend. It is widely used in Richmond and can help you find beers both on tap and in bottle shops.
     
  8. ncaudle

    ncaudle Initiate (0) May 28, 2010 Virginia

    Final Gravity finally opened a few weeks ago and some of their beers are fantastic (their Station 5 red is probably the only red I've ever liked outside of Surly Furious)
     
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  9. Cobratrooper

    Cobratrooper Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2014 Virginia

    Great beer was my favorite when I visited. Easily best Red in VA.
     
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  10. SwillBilly

    SwillBilly Savant (1,180) Feb 4, 2004 Virginia

    Another really good source for info is the FB group Fans of Virginia Craft Beer. Did a weekend in RVA this summer. You really can't go wrong. Good beer can be found all over the city. The majority of breweries tend to be just north of downtown. Mekong/Answer, Strangeways, Ardent, Isley, Hardywood. Downtown we hit up Triple Crossing and Legend. Also hit up Capital Ale House and Southern Railway Taphouse. RVA has a lot going on.
     
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  11. Cobratrooper

    Cobratrooper Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2014 Virginia

    Fans of VA Craft Beer may have some useful info from time to time but I wouldn't take advice on what beers to seek out from that group. They rate every local beer 4 & 5 Stars.
     
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  12. ncaudle

    ncaudle Initiate (0) May 28, 2010 Virginia

    yeah, they are horrible homers
     
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  13. cj8311

    cj8311 Pundit (849) Nov 12, 2008 Maryland

    just to add to the consensus, my priority list would be:

    1. Mekong/Answer
    2. Strangeways
    3. Triple Crossing
    4. Garden Grove
     
  14. ncaudle

    ncaudle Initiate (0) May 28, 2010 Virginia

    you out-of-staters must find something redeeming about Garden Grove that us RVAers don't... most of us think it's one of the worst breweries in the area
     
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  15. Crim122

    Crim122 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2014 North Carolina

    Blue Bee Cider.
     
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  16. Vorsprung

    Vorsprung Initiate (0) Apr 7, 2015 Virginia

    I'll chime in. Breweries:

    1. The Answer
    2. Triple Cross
    3. Lickinghole (bit of a destination)
    4. Ardent

    Bottle shops:

    1. Once Upon a vine
    2. Corks n Kegs
    3. Strawberry St Market
    4. De Fles Winkle (west end)
     
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  17. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My advice is always the same and logistically sound (from my point of view at least!) Hardywood, Strangeways, Answer / Mekong. And in either order depending on food placement (Mekong) but stick to that order because you can take back roads , or at least stay off Broad and the interstates by doing so, if you wish. These locations offer what is in my opinion, a very good snapshot of the area's finest. Not saying other places aren't worthy, just saying build from here. If time is a crunch but you want to sneak just one more place in, Center of the Universe is almost literally right off I-95 from exit 89. 15 -20 minute quick strike off the interstate to grab growlers if the spirit so moves you. If time permits and/or you have several days, a dinner at any Capital Ale House would be a decent idea. I've always enjoyed their food, plus you can have a smattering of several of the area's beers where you didn't get to visit their brewery.

    As always, my $.02, but above all else, I hope you have a great time and enjoy what we have to offer
     
  18. SwillBilly

    SwillBilly Savant (1,180) Feb 4, 2004 Virginia

    They maybe horrible homers, and I don't agree with everything they say but they do have a good pulse on what is going on around RVA. This coming from a NoVa advocate.
     
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  19. DeadWalkerAir

    DeadWalkerAir Maven (1,478) Jan 7, 2014 South Carolina

    I'd place Hardywood above the others but Mekong/Answer would be a close second. Strangeways was decent, probably worth a stop at least.
     
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