RTD profile of Ardent Craft Ales

Ardent Craft Ales, 3200 W. Leigh St. is scheduled to open June 13.

May 22, 2014; 8:47 AM • by Richard Hayes

Not that long ago Legend Brewing was the only place to get a local beer but over the past 3 years that has changed dramatically. I don’t think RVA can ever have too many breweries and it’s a good thing I think that way because another one, Ardent Craft Ales (3200 W. Leigh Street) is getting set to open mid-June.

You can read the full RTD article to get the background of how this brewery came to be but if you’re like me you read an article about a brewery to find out about the beer. Here you go.

The brews produced in Ardent’s 15-barrel system, however, were ready for tasting. O’Leary, head brewer and a veteran of Cambridge Brewing Co. in Massachusetts, gave a handful of curious adventurers tastes of four beers: the Saison, a refreshing version of the farmhouse style with spicy hints from the yeast; the Virginia Common, crisp yet fruity in the tradition of hybrid steam brewing; Honey Ginger Ale, sweet yet not cloying; and Ardent IPA, a wonderfully balanced ale with a fragrant, piney nose and sufficient malt to complement the hops.

Flavorful, yes. And these beers represent a shared passion for historical styles. The name of the brewery comes from their pre-Prohibition research, where the phrase “ardent spirits” kept popping up.

Image: Ardent Craft Ales