Stepping Out in Virginia For Richmond Beer Week

After a morning of watching other people run 26.2 miles in the Richmond Marathon, it was time to take a nap and then head over to the Taste the Local West Broad Village Festival. This Richmond Beer Week event was held in the once bucolic, now shopping mall-ified Short Pump, Virginia (a quick, 15 mile drive west of Richmond). West Broad Village provided a quaint green space for such an occasion, with access to conveniences and comforts like Whole Foods and fro-yo shops.

Now on to what you really want to hear about — the beer! Several of Richmond’s big hitters were there, but it was definitely a celebration of all things Virginia Beer (and Cider!). One item of note, today was the debut of Center of the Universe Brewing Company! So that’s where we started and we really enjoyed this new Ashland upstart. The Kolsch displayed the signature light, crispness with a slight bitterness and Ray Ray’s Pale was a well-balanced and clean pale ale.

O’Connor Brewing Company of Norfolk was there so we tried El Guapo IPA, with a great sweetness from the agave, floral in aroma and taste. Next was Great Dismal Black IPA a nice 7.5% ABV weighing in at 65 IBUs, but not hoppy, more of a stronger roasted malt flavor, but still light. Midnight Brewery from Goochland brought Rockville Red and

Not My Job Brown Ale with its caramel-syrupy sweetness. Hardywood Park Craft Brewery from the host city of Richmond showed off their Saison Rustica. At 3.9% ABV it was very bubbly (champagne like), sour and spicy!

Other breweries at the event included Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, VA), Brass Cannon Brewing (Toano, VA), Bull & Bones Brewing (Blacksburg, VA), Devils Backbone Brewing Company (Lexington, VA), Legend Brewing (Richmond, VA), and Roanoke Railhouse Brewing (Roanoke, VA). Things are continuing to look up for the local Virginia beer scene. Thirteen new breweries are in planning all over the Old Dominion! George Washington would be so proud! Cheers!

Photo credits: Casey Gwinn