While home in Virginia for the holiday season, I was excited to learn that Richmond has experienced nothing short of a brewing explosion with the opening of three new breweries: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in downtown Richmond, Center of the Universe Brewing Company in Ashland, and Midnight Brewery in Goochland County. All three have opened up in the past two years – all welcome additions to neighborhoods that have embraced the opportunity to enjoy small-batch craft beer locally. I met my goal of visiting all three (and what a delicious goal it was) and I was truly impressed with the time, effort, and craftsmanship involved in producing these Virginia brews.

My first trip was inspired by a mission that I unfortunately did not complete: to find Hardywood Brewery’s newest concoction – a bourbon barrel-aged version of their now-famous Gingerbread Stout. For those who haven’t heard, their Gingerbread Stout has received all kinds of amazing accolades and has been difficult to come by since BeerAdvocate gave it a score of 100, saying that “it tastes like freagin’ Christmas in a bottle.” But the bourbon version apparently sold out very quickly so I didn’t get the chance to snag one. Fortunately, my family was kind enough to stock up on the original Gingerbread Stout on a previous visit – and it’s a good thing, since it was completely sold out by the time I arrived home and wasn’t even available to taste at the brewery.

Since opening their doors in early October 2011, Hardywood has experienced the kind of instant success that many breweries only dream of. From the sold-out grand opening to the long lines often wrapping around the building when a new beer is released, Hardywood is often filled to the brim with beer lovers and former-residents-turned-tourists like me who have been sucked in by the hype. Owners Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh both have backgrounds in beer, which has probably helped their meteoric rise – both worked in the New York beer distribution industry for years and were avid homebrewers. Patrick also studied brewing at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and relocated to Munich, Germany for practical brewing training at the renowned Doemens Academy.

If the owners’ credentials aren’t impressive enough, then their growing brew house and commanding location between the Diamond and the Fan in the heart of an historic German brewing district should definitely drop some jaws. Combine that with the fact that they bottle exclusively in 750 ml. corked bottles, which makes every unique brew feel like a one-of-a-kind rare find (which in many cases, they still are).

Even with no Gingerbread Stout, the taps were full of delicious, full-bodied beer during my visit, including an unusual offering – a bourbon barrel-aged dry-hopped Imperial IPA conditioned on Virginia Tulip Poplar Wood felled by Hurricane Irene called Bourbon Hoplar. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect having never tried the style, but it was shockingly smooth and mellow for a Double IPA. For its barrel-aging, the brewery sticks to sourcing local bourbon barrels from A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, VA.

Another stand-out for me (as a dark beer fanatic) was their Russian Imperial Stout, offered two ways – as it was originally intended, and a sweetened version infused with strawberries via a randall. Other offerings during my visit included their year-round Singel, a Belgian abbey-style blonde, and a Dry Irish Stout.

The brewery was alive and buzzing during my visit on a Wednesday evening. Luckily, they understand and are prepared for the demand – the brewery is equipped with two stations dispensing brews for guests’ convenience, one right as you enter (priorities – check!) and one in the main seating area. Indoor picnic tables surrounded by bourbon barrels give visitors a cozy environment in which to walk around and enjoy the libations. It’s a beautiful sight – they even made a Christmas “keg” tree to add some holiday cheer to the space.

After I left, things got crazy all over again with Hardywood’s most recently released brew, their Sidamo Coffee Stout, which blends their Russian Imperial Stout with locally roasted Ethiopia Sidamo coffee from Lamplighter Roasting Company. I’ll be lucky if I can convince my parents to get in line again for that one.

It was clear during my short visit that Hardywood’s creativity has secured its position as one of Richmond’s most inventive craft breweries – and I’m excited to see what they’ll have on tap the next time I’m in town!