Yes..... I took a short break from the brewery visits after the cross country trip. I appreciate the few shots taken at me about did you give up on the quest. No problem I deserve some abuse and payback. I used the time to get some family things done and I needed to work on reducing my personal beer inventory (drink).
So........the Quest is back in full swing for the Holidays.
Hardywood Park Brewery in Richmond, Va, brews one of the best Gingerbread Stouts (in My Opinion and this blog that is the only one that counts). They also Bourbon Barrel age the Gingerbread Stout (GBS) and it is even more elusive to obtain than GBS. So when my son and a few of his friends asked me to travel to Hardywood Brewery for the release of Bourbon Barrel GBS, well the quest went to Richmond. So we started in Northern Virginia, visiting two new breweries and re-visiting our friends at Adroit Theory Brewery. Then it was up early Saturday for the drive to Richmond.
So........the Quest is back in full swing for the Holidays.
Hardywood Park Brewery in Richmond, Va, brews one of the best Gingerbread Stouts (in My Opinion and this blog that is the only one that counts). They also Bourbon Barrel age the Gingerbread Stout (GBS) and it is even more elusive to obtain than GBS. So when my son and a few of his friends asked me to travel to Hardywood Brewery for the release of Bourbon Barrel GBS, well the quest went to Richmond. So we started in Northern Virginia, visiting two new breweries and re-visiting our friends at Adroit Theory Brewery. Then it was up early Saturday for the drive to Richmond.
- OLD 690 Brewery- billed as the first "farm Brewery" in the state of Virginia, located near Purcellville. They plan to grow and use local hops and other local ingredients. They have a very large tasting area and space to hold events. The bar is large and the decor is rustic holding to the country farm image. The next door neighbor is not happy with the brewery, so I enjoyed the Bitter Neighbor IPA, Anger Neighbor Ale and the BLack Widow Breeder Dbl IPA. Yes the neighbor is rumored to breed black widow spiders and release them on the brewery. No Fear the beer is a good antivenom.
- Hardywood Park Brewery- We were up at the crack of dawn and on our way....well sort of, we pulled out of Ashburn at 7:10 AM. With Jeff's Formula ! driving skills, we navigated the Beltway and the famed I-95 corridor to Richmond. With expert navigation, we skirted the Annual Christmas parade and arrived at the brewery around 9:40 AM. Approximately 200 plus beer lovers had already staked their position in line. Standing in a cold drizzle ( happy that the restrooms were open) the line built behind us with another 300- 400 beer lovers. Finally the 11:00 AM hour arrived and the release of the Bourbon Barrel GBS (BBGBS) began. To our delight we were able purchase a glass of the BBGBS and oh yes the dark brown liquid, with that nice bourbon warming made the line move faster. After purchasing our limit of two bombers of the BBGBS (we were also able to purchase bottles of GBS), we moved to the tasting rooms and enjoyed a glass of GBS, Great Return and Hardywood Pils. It was time to find a few more Richmond breweries before heading north.
- Strangeways Brewery- located in a small strip plaza ( note do not park in a spot in front of the the pottery supply store, the Mad potter does not like that, even though he has no business and the parking spots are not marked) we ordered our brews in a small tasting area found a small table. Then we noticed there was another tasting room in the back in front of the brew works. The back tasting room is where all the good beer was. So do not stop at the front, go around to the back. We enjoyed the Wampus Cat Triple IPA, Albino Monkey White,Vatos Muertos and many other good brews.
- Isley Brewing- not far from Hardywood located by the railroad tracks, this neat brick building brewery fits the character of old Richmond. They highly promote their Choosy Mother Peanut Butter Porter, you better like peanuts and sweat beer . I really enjoyed the Tall, Dark and Hopsome dbl black IPA and the This ain't Kentucky Bourbon BBL Oatmeal Porter.
- Rusty Beaver Brewery- yes that is the name,in the town of Ruther Glen, this small brewery can be found in a shopping plaza not far off of I-95. The graphic designs and labeling of the beer is worth the stop. Be sure to try Smashed Bastard and Buck Tooth IPA. You just got to love the creativity these craft brewers have. Well that ends another successful chapter of the Beer Quest we may be heading to the home of Country Music next.