Beer News: Spontaneous fermentation, fitness beer, and frugal housewives
The Virginia Craft Brewers Fest, Trails and Ales, Veil Brewing Co, Drink ’n’ Draws, and a horse named Pumpkin. And a bunch of other stuff, too.
Photo by: toddwickersty
Virginia Craft Brooze
This weekend is the Virginia Craft Brewers Fest! Hosted at the heartbreakingly beautiful Devils Backbone Brewery out in the mountains, this fest is your oppourtunity to try a beer by just about every single Virginia brewery that exists. Seriously, check out this oppressively exhausting list. In addition to public tastings, they’ll pit all of these local beers against each other in the Virginia Craft Brewers Cup with winners announced at the fest.
Tickets are still available.
Nature finds a (gross) way
Robey Martin spent some time with Matt Tarpey, the owner and brewer of the forthcoming Veil Brewing Co. I’ve talked before about this guy, his ultra-serious beer credentials, his crazy plan to brew spontaneously fermented beers–which are basically buckets of wort you leave out until…they turn into alcohol? Science! Nature! Beer!
I think the thing I like most about Richmond’s growing beer scene is that each subsequent brewery has found a niche that feels comfortable for them. Every time a new one opens in a new niche, I frown and say, “Who wants to drink beers like that!” Turns out, lots of people! Not everyone wants to drink English-style beers every second of the day, which makes a lot of people crazy in my opinion, but whatever.
Carboloading
Sports Backers announced Trails and Ales, a new beer-plus-running event, of which, surprisingly, there are many! The wisdom of this event (and others), is that it’s paired with an independent, free-standing craft beer festival that you can participate in without all the annoying trail running parts. If you do want to run about through Richmond’s beautiful Southside trails before drinking your beers, you should register now before the price goes up.
So is beer food or what?
Last week, Ned Oliver asked if beer is or is not food? This week the RTD ran this anonymous editorial which is, I think, addressed to a Budweiser? It also includes the phrase “regulators gotta regulate” but misses the opportunity to make a Warren G joke.
Drink and draws are lol funny
The concept behind these Drink ‘n Draws is pretty funny–like a visual game of telephone (aka exquisite corpse), but with a couple beers thrown in to loosen things up. This coming Tuesday, August 25th, you can do your own drinking and drawing at the Answer.
VHS challenges you to a game of Old Mead
The Virginia Historical Society is back in action with their History on Tap series! This time they’ll be working with Black Heath Meadery to breweth a mead from the 1802 cookbook The Frugal Housewife.
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Elsewhere…
If you want to learn the history of beer, but don’t feel like reading a ton try this comic book instead! And, fellow nerd, while you’re at it maybe try the official beer of GenCon.
Do you really need to see your beer before you order it? #NotAllDarkBeers are heavy!
Pop-Tart beer? Frown.
Other releases, takeovers, and things
- It’s ZZQ day at Ardent!
- Bold Rock Hard Cider has released an “India Pressed Apple” cider. It’s still cider, but it’s made with three hop varieties and is dry-hopped. I am interested in this! If you’ve had it, drop me a line.
- Isley’s Stunt Dubbel drops this evening. It’s a pumpkin Dubbel inspired by Mr. Ed’s stunt double…who was named Pumpkin!
- You can bring your dogs to the Strangeways Yappy Hour this coming Wednesday. I usually go to happy hours to get away from my dogs, but to each his own.
- On Thursday, August 27th, Wild Wolf will release Saisons of Love at Babe’s Pride pre-party. Robey Martin has the details in Richmond Magazine.
‘Gram: @ardentcraftales
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Ross Catrow
Founder and publisher of RVANews.
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