RVANews

The past, present, and future of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Josh Epperson — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:00:54 +0000

A visit to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery is, in essence, a visit to a local shrine for Richmond beer lovers. The guys at Hardywood embody all things beautiful in the world of craft beers: locally sourced, environmentally conscious, engaged in the community, and above all, high quality brewing practices. It’s a truly delicious experience.

In a recent visit, the story of Hardywood – past, present, and future – came to light through four unique tastings.

— ∮∮∮ —

Hardywood Singel

Fresh, original, full flavored

From the moment you walk into the Hardywood brewery you’re struck by the newness of their operation. Having opened only six months ago, the space is still in transformation: various tools are scattered about, hand carved taps lay on a bar that’s under construction, and pallets for a recent shipment lay piled by the loading dock. Yet, the time and energy Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh have dedicated to their business is clearly evident in what pours from their taps. It’s this dedication that has fostered their confidence to be a risk-taking and innovative operation. Bucking the trend of most craft breweries, Hardywood shot from the gate with a Belgium blend that wasn’t a sure bet. In a climate where IPAs and Pale Ales seem to guarantee a brewery’s early success, Hardywood’s signature Belgium was a bold move. Yet, the popularity of their pilot brew proves their innovative approach is not just a fluke of start-up luck, but, indeed, the key to their success.

The guys at Hardywood are excited. They are excited to be here in Richmond, and they are excited to push the limits of where their business is headed. However, this excitement is not the naive high of an adolescent. The excitement at Hardywood is tempered by experience, and their innovative approach is born from knowledge not arrogance.

— ∮∮∮ —

Belgium Starter (The Blank Slate)

Hearty, solid, great tasting

The level of experience with which the owners of Hardywood come to their business is impressive to say the least. After nearly a decade of working in the business of distribution for craft beer wholesalers, Eric harbors an amazing savvy for their niche market. With three generations of brewers behind him, Patrick might as well have a bit of stout running through his veins. Both, however, have been home brewing for nearly ten years and have developed a sophisticated taste for craft brew.

Unlike your more smash and grab entrepreneurs, Eric and Patrick’s approach seems to be ripped out of a ‘How to Start a Business’ book from a grad school econ class. Taking the time to lay a proper foundation has been a long road for the guys at Hardywood, yet the road has not wearied them in the least. The foundation they laid was not so they could simply sit back and watch the cash roll in; no, if anything the real engagement has only just begun.

— ∮∮∮ —

Hardywood Mocha Belgique

Earthy, locally sourced, soft finish

At Hardywood, the Richmond community is an essential part of the business. For Eric and Patrick, the people they serve don’t just matter as customers, but as neighbors and fellow citizens. It is for these reasons that they have taken such an energetic approach to community involvement.

The impact a business can have on its community can, indeed, be great. Knowing this, Eric and Patrick have taken extensive steps to ensure their impact is as positive as possible. For starters, all energy consumed at the brewery is sourced from 100% sustainable energy sources – 99% wind power, 1% other renewable energy – via the Dominion Green Power program. Additionally, the guys at Hardywood source a majority of their hops, wheat, and barley locally; even the wood for all their new taps and coasters are sourced from the city.

Already the guys have made a big step towards community engagement with The Community Hopping Project, in which locals grow their own root stocks for hops, donate them to the brewery, and collectively brew a community batch. As the business moves forward--and new bills are likely to become law--Hardywood sees the brewery becoming a hub for those interested in the process of creating craft beer and those just looking for a good time. With visions of food carts occupying spots in their lot and bands entertaining their guests, the guys at Hardywood are looking ever forward.

— ∮∮∮ —

Bourbon Barrel (Forthcoming reserve series)

Exciting, strong, smooth

Hardywood’s future looks bright. In only six months their team of just two has grown to eight. With the success of their tasting room, they’ve had the opportunity to get to know their customers, and the public has gotten to know them. Looking towards the summer, the Hardywood boys hope to build out their bar and serve glasses of all their beers in the comfort of the brewery. With an eye to the future and new experiments in the works, Hardywood is sure to become a destination for all beer lovers here in RVA.

— ∮∮∮ —

Photos: Inside Hardywood

Ho there, reader of RSS feeds! Do you ever want to support RVANews in a real and tangible way? Or at least pay a small penance for reading ad-free content? If so, support us on Patreon for a couple bucks a month!

Organized inspiration: how Richmonders are connecting through Pinterest

Josh Epperson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:20:35 +0000

Every time we turn around it seems like there's some new social network that desperately needs our attention. Many of these new ways to share feel like the others we're familiar with, and are of questionable value at best. Yet, the platforms that rule the day also had their doubtful beginnings. Somehow sharing a stupid dream you had or what you ate for breakfast became the building blocks for Twitter's growing empire. Likewise, telling your friends where you are at any given time, as inane as it may seem, became the foundation for a still-growing Foursquare.

The notable feature of these platforms is that they seem to always transform into something beyond the original concept and affect us in ways that we don't expect. Such is the case with one of the fastest growing social sites out there: Pinterest.

Launched in early 2010, Pinterest is basically a digital pin board--like that corkboard you have in your office or kitchen. However, with Pinterest the goal is more inspiration than organization. Each user has a collection of "boards" with different themes on which they share their interests and aesthetics. Essentially, you connect with other "pinners" and mutually admire each other's collected visual content.

Sound too simple to be interesting? Think again.

As RVA proves to be ever more fashionable and crafty, it is no surprise that many Richmonders have taken to this new way to share. They'll be the first to tell you that when it comes to Pinterest there's more than meets the eye.

Becky Carey, a VCU alum, has been using Pinterest since the beginning. "I personally love Pinterest. I'm the type that is always saving pictures of things that inspire. So, its the perfect place to keep all those things organized without over running my iPhoto or desktop." When asked how her experience has changed over her pinning career, she points to another Richmonder. "I didn't so much care about the social aspect of it at first, but now I like that part too, because people like Diane O'Neal have the best taste and find things I would have never found."

In talking to Diane, a visual coordinator for Brooks Brothers, the more functional elements of the site come into view.

"I've come to consider it sort of a testimony to my personal aesthetic, which can come in handy for design-oriented, or visual work. It can be maximized with boards that are specifically focused on my work or inspiration for a specific client project. I think it's a great tool that has yet to reach it's potential."

According to the Pinterest website, its founders had a simple idea in mind: "Our goal is to connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting." Yet, as I spoke to more Richmonders, it became evident that there was a larger potential for the social network.

Jeff McDonald, a student at the award winning Brandcenter graduate program, sees it as a great consumer source. "It's really interesting to see what [classmates] pin, because I'm always surprised. I never knew that this one guy in school is really into shoes and watches, so I now go to him for advice before I buy any of that stuff."

Sarah Milston, owner of Milston Consulting and instructor at Southside Community Partners and Non-profit Learning Point, is excited about the business potential for Pinterest, specifically in the non-profit sector.

"In essence, Pinterest is poised to become an amazing tool for non-profits and small businesses to increase their reach and engage in visual storytelling. As with all social media, the world of Pinterest will evolve beyond what the creators had in mind. As more non-profits flock to it, we will see the true power to engage volunteers, citizens, and encourage fundraising."

Notably, one of Richmond's most beloved institutions, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, is having great success with using Pinterest to not only engage with the public, but to simultaneously drive tourism to Richmond. Jonah Holland, who manages the Garden's social media, describes their experience: "Originally, the Garden joined Pinterest with the thought that we'd reach women planning their wedding. What we found was so much more than that. There is a vibrant gardening community on Pinterest." She further points to the more inspiring elements of the site: "One of our gift shop managers spends time on Pinterest seeking out trends and new ideas for our Garden shop. Pinterest is full of beautiful and inspiring things."

The Garden also believes it can attract folks outside the city limits:

"I see us reaching a new audience via Pinterest. People who dream about traveling to Richmond to see Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in person after seeing it pinned. For those folks, we've also tried to add value by creating a 'Great places to visit in RVA' board so they can find out about other great things to do while they are in town visiting us."

For many, the site began as a simple catalog for things to be remembered, like a digital scrapbook. Yet, Pinterest quickly became a way to connect with others, and stay inspired--a practice that further connects us with the world. As Pinterest continues to grow, we can certainly expect to see Richmond doers and makers take full advantage of its resources.

Richmond was made for Instagram

Josh Epperson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:00:19 +0000

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Instagram has had about 400 billion of them posted on their beautiful iPhone app since its inception in the fall of 2010.

For those of you who are unaware, Instagram is an iPhone-only app for photo sharing and editing. To date the app has about 15 million users posting photos. Instagram has grown immensely in its brief existence, and its popularity is not surprising: you can create some pretty fantastic imagery.

When uploading a photo to the app you are able to apply one of a range of filters. Each filter has a vintage feel to it that softens the image, brightens or darkens the edges, or changes the visual tone of the photo in one way or another. Additionally, you can bring parts of the image in and out of focus, leaving other bits with a fuzzy brilliance that just feels good. While the filters and editing capabilities are more appealing than most other photo apps, it is not just the editing that makes Instagram super popular; where the app really comes alive is in the sharing.

Certainly, the design of Instagram makes sharing superior to other photo apps, and its simplicity is a winning feature. Yet, the mere act of sharing through a photo adds a completely different energy to the experience of communicating information. And Richmonders have a lot of that information to communicate.

Richmond was made for Instagram.

RVA is a beautiful place. Not only are we a town with young, tattooed VCU students and exquisite weather in the heart of winter, but we also have some really beautiful things to see in this city. From the monuments scattered throughout town to the beautiful architecture of Church Hill or The Fan, just moving through Richmond offers us plenty of photographic fodder wherever we turn.

One of the reasons I find myself turning towards Instagram more than any other social media is its ability to connect me to my city. Most of the folks I follow are local, and through their content I can engage more fully with the community around me. When I see a delicious plate of food a friend just posted, I may learn about a new restaurant that just opened. When a group of friends snap a few pics while biking, I might be reminded of a place I love to go or one I've always been meaning to visit. Without the clutter and noise, Instagram makes it far more enjoyable to see what's going on around town from the comfort of my phone.

Creativity has always been a cornerstone of RVA, but recently the city seems to be experiencing a surge in excitement about the creative process. RVA creates, and i.e.* are good examples of how the city itself is getting involved in this movement. The thriving creative community is ever present throughout the city; everywhere you turn there's a Trask mural or a knitted light post. New galleries open up consistently, and initiatives to support the creative among us are finding success.

Here, we find yet another reason Richmond is so 'gram-able.

When you take a photo and begin to play with it on Instagram, you get an actual sense that you are creating something. The filters you apply, the focus you adjust, the finishing touches you add with a clever caption, all amount to a creative moment. The time spent crafting this photographic brilliance is far from exhaustive, but the pay off is fantastic.

What Instagram enables us to do is take brief moments in our lives, capture them beautifully, and share them with our friends. Yet, furthermore, it allows us to find these lovely little moments to step away and create something unique. Obviously, Richmond is heavy with creators, but there are a ton of us creating everyday with little contributions that add to the whole.

It might just be me, but engaging in an easy to use, quick creative act has something in it that makes my day better. In a city as beautiful as Richmond, with as much as we have to offer, that creative experience is made all the more enjoyable.

Maybe I'm just someone who likes his phone too much? Maybe Instagram is just another blip on the landscape of mobile apps? But maybe, there's some value in having these moments of creativity in such a creative town; perhaps, like Instagram, we'll continue to see growth through sharing in the creative process.

— ∮∮∮ —

Oh hey! If you love Instragram and would like to submit some of your awesome shots to our Photo of the Day feature, just tag your 'grams with #rvanews.

RVANews

The past, present, and future of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Hardywood Singel

Belgium Starter (The Blank Slate)

Hardywood Mocha Belgique

Bourbon Barrel (Forthcoming reserve series)

Related

Organized inspiration: how Richmonders are connecting through Pinterest

Richmond was made for Instagram