Pints and Pint-sized: Richmond breweries

A very special RVA brewery edition of Pints & Pint-sized.

September 24, 2014; 6:00 AM • by Richard Hayes

We’re changing things up a little bit here today, and instead of one review you’re going to get reviews of all the Richmond local breweries. After I’ve braved Short Pump, I’ll post another review that will cover all the breweries outside of the city including, Extra Billy’s, Rock Bottom, Rusty Beaver, Center of the Universe, and Lickinghole Creek.¹

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Legend Brewing Co.

Pint Score: ★★★★★★

We gave Legend a full review awhile back. I’m giving them another half star bump due to the recent addition of two cask-style taps that allow for their small batch beers to be served up slightly cooler than their previous on-the-counter firkins. They continue to have a nice variety, and the local competition is forcing Legend to step up their game.

Pint-sized Score: ★★★★★★

Not much has changed except they’ve added an awning that covers a large portion of the deck, so I’ve given them another half star. Highlights remain: the deck, the view, music, and a full kid’s menu.

Triple Crossing Brewing Company

Pint Score: ★★★★★

Triple Crossing has become one of my favorite breweries. I like the majority of their beers, and they only suffer from being so small that sometime their variety is lacking.

Pint-sized Score: ★★★★★

They’ve got a small deck, but the way it’s set up, your little one will either be 10 feet up in the air on a stool, which can be precarious for those that fling themselves about, or they’ll be on the ground looking at a wooden wall. Food options are limited to chips/salsa, sodas, and Red Eye cookies unless there happens to be a food truck. I have yet to figure out the food truck schedule. For older kids there’s foosball and a board game night on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Strangeways Brewing

Pint Score: ★★★★★★

The only thing preventing a perfect score is that beers can be off-putting to the less adventurous. I’m not a big sour fan, but I can’t deny that they do that style right and they have more beers than any other brewery in town. They don’t ignore your traditional styles of beer, but don’t take a friend that wants a subtle lager.

Pint-sized Score: ★★★★★

This is the first Pint-sized five star ever awarded. The reasons are fairly obvious once you list them out: monkeys, video games, candy, crazy art on the walls, and wide open spaces. There are enough snack options to satisfy a squalling child, and more often than not, a food truck is on the property on the weekends.

Ardent Craft Ales

Pint Score: ★★★★★

Ardent would get four stars if they only sold their Saison. They face the same problem as Triple Crossing in that their size prevents them from doing a large variety, but what they do is stellar and should be on any beer lover’s list of places to visit.

Pint-sized Score: ★★★★★

The outside beer garden is close to perfect for taking your child, but other than that there’s not much to offer the younger set. Ardent is brand new, and I haven’t been when there is music or a food truck so my rating might be a little tough. Food options will not appeal to kids, and the only alternative beverage available is juice boxes which often turns off the older ones.

Isley Brewing Company

Pint Score: ★★★★★

When you start looking at this list and comparing the beers it’s hard not to be impressed, and again, we have a very small brewery that is putting out great beers. They usually have a nice mix of styles so regardless of your party’s tastes everyone should be able to find something to their liking.

Pint-sized Score: ★★★★★

Live music and a few board games come in on the plus side, but you’re dealing with high stools and not much else. One thing that stuck with us last time we were there was that upon asking for water we were given room temperature water from a pitcher with no other option. Chips and salsa are available and food trucks are often available as well.

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Pint Score: ★★★★★

Often credited with jumpstarting the craft brew scene in Richmond, a debate for a separate column, Hardywood does get credit for a large line of beers with varied style and taste profiles. I think that they’re a tiny bit overrated, and it’s become fashionable to stand in line when they release a new beer or one of their more popular seasonals. I’m looking at you Gingerbread Stout.

Pint-sized Score: ★★★★★★

This rating can range wildly depending on what’s going on at Hardywood– they are, without question, the “King of the Brewery Events.” Every weekend there’s something going on be it a band, art show, or bike gathering. This can be either good or bad depending on your child’s interests. If you forget to look at the schedule and have to park a 1/2 mile away and walk only to find insane crowds, it could be a bust. If on the other hand, it turns out the little one’s uncle is in the band and there is an ice cream truck, it’s a double win. If there’s no event, the only thing for the kids is an empty bocce ball court.

September 24, 2014 6:00 AM · in Hills and Heights, Near West End News, and more 4