Tag Archives: Lost Rhino Brewing

Weekly Virginia Craft Beer Events (March 8th to March 14th)

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So for the past two weeks I’ve been encouraging you to  contribute to Redbeard Brewing’s Kickstarter project.  They set an ambitious goal to raise $25,000 towards their taproom.  Well they didn’t make it.
So they went back and reexamined their need and have launched a new Kickstarter Project.  This time it’s $4,000 and you only have 10 days (well now 9 days) to meet that obligation.  Check it out and help out if you can.

Travel Channel recently released an article on the Top 7 Beer Destinations.  In the list they put locations like Asheville, NC,  Los Angeles, CA & Toronto, Canada.  Well they also listed the entire state of Virginia.  Check out the article.

Hey Richmond!  You remember that place Extra Billy’s Barbecue?  Honestly, I always felt they were very underrated for the beer they made.  When people talked of Richmond’s growing brew scene they some how got left off that list.  Well they are working to change that.  They hired a new brewer by the name Brandon Tolbert.  I’ve been fortunate to call him friend and enjoy some of his home brew.  Well they just started to pump out their first new brew (American Pale Ale) with more to come.  If you are out in the southside stop by for a beer or even dinner.  You won’t be disappointed.  *NOTE: Their beers are only available at the Southside location at 1110 Alverser Drive Midlothian, Va. 23113.  Also be sure to follow them on Facebook.

Finally, if you are not a fan of the Mekong Restaurant fan page then you’ve been missing out on photos of their expansion.  I believe tonight they will debut their expanded tap list.
rExpanded taplist at Mekong

So with that let’s get into our updates:
Fri Mar 8th:
It’s Friday and that means Firkin Friday at Hardywood Park.  Today Ellen Butcher with Tarrant’s Cafe put together an unique pin of Imperial IPA with Thai Chile peppers, cilantro and fresh pineapple.  Music will be provided Hannah Marie and the Bearded Ladies.  Fun starts at 4pm.   They also appear to have a pin available at Tarrant’s Cafe as well.
Lost Rhino Brewing has begun to show up in Richmond.  So to help you make this a fun release, Local Suds has put together a Lost Rhino/Local Suds pub crawl.  It starts at 5pm at Capital Ale House Downtown and make it’s way to Station 2, The Camel and Baja Bean Co.
Bilbo Baggins in Alexandria is having a Goose Island Tasting.  It is a prepaid event and requires a reservation.  Starts at 7pm.

Sat Mar 9th:
The Caroline Rotary Club and Grapes of Taste & Wine Gourmet are putting together Caroline Rotary Wine & Beer Festival.  Starts at 11am.  Tickets are $25 at the gate and $20.  Contact them at (804) 448-8008 to get your tickets.  All proceeds support the rotary club scholarship fund.
Capital Ale House Downtown is hosting the Brewbies: Celebrating Women in Beer.  The Brewbies discussion panel will talk about their experiences in the industry along with their passion for craft beer.  Starts at 7pm.  Tickets are still on sale online or at the three Richmond Locations.

Mon Mar 11th:
O’Banks Cafe & Grill along with Center of the Universe Brewing have teamed together for a   Pilot the Flight starting at 6:30pm.  COTU will have 8 different summer seasonal pilot brews to go along with 4 trial appetizers from O’Banks.  You’ll be given scorecards to help choose the next seasonal beer and appetizer. Cost is $20 with money being raised for The Autism Grant.
Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax is hosting a aHOPeclipse Now beer Dinner starting at 7pm.  Reservations needed.

Wed Mar 13th:
Dogfish Head Alehouse Falls Church is hosting a aHOPeclipse Now beer Dinner starting at 7pm.  Reservations are needed.

Thur Mar 14th:
Thursday is Beer School Thursday at Whole Foods Virginia Beach.  Starts at 6:30pm
The Wine Seller in Williamsburg is having a Smartmouth Brewing Tap Takeover starting at 4pm.
Whole Foods Short Pump is having a Center of the Unvierse Beer & Cheese pairing starting  at 5pm.  Reservations/Tickets can be purchased at customer service.  Cost is $15 per person.
Belmont House of Smoke is having a Notch 9 release Party.  Notch 9 is the new Double IPA by Smartmouth Brewing.

….And this ends this week’s event updates. Be sure to follow me on Twitter

for the latest and greatest event updates.

Virginia Craft Beer Events for Sept 7th – Sept 12th

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The fall season is now here.  I think people have taken to finally accept the Harvest Ales and Pumpkin Ales.  Honestly, I am not sure what the difference is between a couple of weeks makes (remember many of these same people were calling foul just a few ago).  Maybe it’s because we are after the Labor Weekend people’s mind set is now focused on the fall.   Who knows, all I know I love me some Pumpkin beers (like Alewerks Pumpkin Ale)
Sept also means more festivals including the most famous of them all…Oktoberfest!  If you check out the later part of Sept on the event calendar.  It’s already filling up with Oktoberfests and even regular beer fests.  I still have many more to get in the event calendar.   So keep checking back.

So with that let’s get into our updates:
Fri Sept 7th:
Capital Ale House Midlothian is continuing the Oktoberfest Warm Up.
So we’ll start this off with Firkin Friday at Hardywood Park.  This week will feature a firkin put together by “Capt” Greg “Growler King” Shelf, the beer master over at Whole Food ShortPump.  Starts at 4pm.
Tuscarora Mills is having a First Friday Celebration – on the Deck at South Street Under! starting at 5:30pm.  They will have food, beer and music available for you to enjoy.
It’s the first Friday and that means Capital Ale House is having their Ales of te Crypt.  All locations, except Harrisonburg, will be bringing out aging kegs to be tapped.  Click the link to see who is tapping what.

Sat Sept 8th:
Capital Ale House Midlothian is continuing the Oktoberfest Warm Up.
Steve McKenna from ”Drinking Made Easy” is having a Richmond Brewery Crawl.  Here’s your chance to hang out with Zane Lamprey’s official Stunt Drinker Steve McKenna and well get McKennad yourself.  Check the link for details on getting your tickets.
Rustico Restaurant Ballston is having their monthly Beer Academy.  This month it’s focus will be Hops.  Contact them for availability.
Hardywood Park is hosting a release party for thier newest creation, RVA IPA!  Starting at 2pm you can come by the brewery to get a glass, growler or bottle of this true RVA beer.  They used hops grown by local folks to dry hop.  I missed last years batch so I’m excited by this one.    Starts at 2 unil 8pm.  Music by the New Belgiums and their will be a few Food Carts/Trucks on hand for food.
If this isn’t enough TJ’s Restaurnt is reopenign after their remodel for a charity event.  Come by for the Charity Oyster Festival to Benefit Oyster Recovery Partnership.   They’ll be featuring a tap takeover from Flying Dog, lot’s of great oyster specials and a silent auction!   Starts at 4pm.

Sun Sept 9th:
So who doesn’t like food and beer?  Ahh, but can you handle food, beer and more Greg “The Growler King”?  Whole Foods is having a Food Truck Festival from 12 until 6pm.  They will have food and a beer garden all set up for you enjoy.

Tues Sept 11th:
Lost Rhino Co is having a Fundrasing event at their brewery. It’s the Fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  They will have a band, games and 25% of food sales will go towards raising money to find a cure.   Runs from 4-9pm
It starts now!!  The 43 hours of Sour at The Birch.  Starting a 5pm and going for 43 hours, they will some incredible selections on draft and cask..  The list in impressive.  Check the link for details.
Sedona Taphouse is having a Wild Wolf Brewing Tap Takeover.  Come by starting at 5pm to enjoy some Wild Wolf Brewing Beers and meet Danny and Josh.

Wed Sept 12th:
Tuscarora Mills is having a Lost Rhino and Port City Beer Dinner.  Starts at 7pm and seats are very limited Check the link for menu, contact details and price.

….And this ends this week’s event updates. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for the latest and greatest event updates.

 

Virginia Craft Beer Events for July 27th and Aug 2nd

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Oh wow!  Is it hot!  That’s alright, we’ve been fortunate enough to have some great session-able and refreshing beers to come out lately, including Hardywood Park’s Virginia Strawberry and Slammin’ Sam’s Lager.  Of course, Hardywood will be coming out with Virginia Blackberry here in the near future as well.

If you haven’t heard or maybe you forgot, August is Virginia Craft Beer Month.  This past Wed. The Virginia Tourism Corp put on a nice kick off party at Legend Brewing Co.  If you haven’t heard they have an interactive map of the current opened breweries to help you plan out your next brewery visit.  There are also many planned events all over the state.  I will be working this weekend to get those events in and marked appropriately.

I also caught word of two new breweries coming to the state.  Both are in different states of launch.  The first one is Ajax Aleworks located here in Richmond, VA.  Richmond BizSense did a nice little write up on them this past week.   The other brewery is Buffalo Mountain Brewing out in Floyd, VA.  Now these guys are actually still working on the funding and this where you can help out.  They do have a Kickstarter Page and are looking for your help.  Check out the link with a video on their plans.

So with that let’s get into our updates:
Fri July 27th:
Today is the Pint night for Midnight Brewery at Capital Ale House.  The Richmond locations will have two of their beers on tap for you enjoy plus Trae will be at the Downtown location to great people.
Blue Lab brewing is releasing the Rye Pale Ale in their tasting room.

Sat July 28th:
Blue Lab Brewing is having a brewing demonstration on their 24 gallon system.  Plus if you are one of the first to order you’ll get a few logo class.

Sun July 29th:
It’s the last Sunday of the Month, that’s means it is time for Secco’s Beer Brunch.  Dining starts at 11am and reservations are appreciated for parties of 5 or more.  Beer will be provided by Hardywood Park and Potter’s Cider.

Wed Aug 1st:
It’s the beginning of Virginia Craft Beer Month!  There are several events planned. Starting with the Blue Mountain Brewery’s Annual Community Hop Harvest.  Starting at 11AM come out and help harvest the hops.  Work 2 hours and get free lunch.
Wild Wolf Brewing is releasing two special beers to celebrate Virginia Craft Beer Month.
The Camel in Richmond is also celebrating by committing taps to Virginia Craft beer all month.  The list of some of those beers are in the link.
Mad Fox Brewing is having a Tap Takeover at Smoke & Barrel in D.C.  Starts at 5pm.
Tuscarora Mills having a Beers of Belgium Beer dinner. Some spots are left.  Follow the link for details.

Thur Aug 2nd:
Lost Rhino is celebrating hops by preparing some special releases of two IPAs.
Mekong has decided to get into the Tap takeover and is planning to offer many of the great Hardywood Park beers for the next 3 days.  The list is long and delicious.  I hope they made enough!
It’s Thursday and that means Food Truck Court…at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.   At 6pm come out and enjoy a great selection of food and beer including the newly release Virginia Strawberry

….And this ends this week’s event updates.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter for the latest and greatest event updates.

 

The Inaugural Tap into Virginia Cap Festival

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Yesterday The Virginia Craft Brewer’s Guild hosted their Inaugural Tap Into Virginia Cap Festival at the Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall location. There were two sessions which provided people with plenty of opportunities to try different casks from Viriginia breweries. On hand were thirteen different casks from ten of Virginia’s breweries.
I managed to get a ticket at the door for the second session. For the price of admission I got eight tickets plus one other to vote for my favorite ale. I also got a shaker glass that I got to keep. There were three options as to how much beer I was allowed to get depending on specific number of tickets. To me that was fine as it really made me focus on going around and getting small samples. The organizers did make it easy to purchase additional tickets for a reasonable price for those who wanted larger pours or a full glass of your favorite ber. Their was a decent size crowd and no shortage to meeting some one new or getting together with old friends.
The beer selection was, well OK most of the ales were on the hoppy side. However, for those looking for a change thier were some other great options like Mad Fox Brewing’s Wee Heavy Ale, Williamsburg Alewerk’s Choca-Latte and Hardywood Park’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Grand Cru. In fact, I believe the Bourbon Barrel Aged Grand Cru took home Voter’s Favorite of the night. Overall the night went off pretty well. Hopefully, well enough for it come back again and even bigger, because who doesn’t want more beer?? If I had to make a suggestion on some changes there two things I would change. 1. Maybe outside with more seating available. 2. Get more brewers or representation to come to both sessions. I had some really great conversations with Brian, Eric and Patrick with Hardywood Park and would have loved to talk with others if they were present.
Finaly I think many thanks go to all the people who pulled this off especially Mike Killelea who really put a lot of effort to get this off the ground and get the word out.
Also a HUGE THANKS to the breweries who sent a cask or two:
Hardywood Park Brewing
Mad Fox Brewing
Legend Brewing
Starr Hill Brewing
Williamsburg Alewerks
Lost Rhino Brewing
O’Connor Brewing
Devils Backbone Brewing
Wild Wolf Brewing
Port City Brewing