My Favorite Richmond Brewery

I was sitting around talking to my mom the other day, sipping a Hardywood Singel (the only beer she keeps her in fridge…) and I was telling her that I went to a couple of the breweries in Scott’s Addition the other day. So my mom asked, “So what is your favorite brewery in Richmond?”

I sat there and really thought about it for a minute...Hardywood, because I run a bocce league there? Veil because it’s shiny and new? Ardent because their patio is amazing? Isley because they have games? I went around and around in my head and the truth is exactly what I told her…”How on earth could I pick a favorite?” They are all perfect and special in their own way.

I love Legend’s because they were the first and they’ve been here for 22 years and they have a rockin patio and dammit if they aren’t keeping Manchester alive. They have some kickass beer and I know I can count on them to be around for the next 22 years.

I love Hardywood because they may not have been the first, but they can certainly be credited with what’s happening in Richmond right now. They started this boom and I love them for it. Also, thanks y’all for putting up with me and the 100 bocce players every Wednesday. Also please produce the Capital Trail Pale Ale year round.

I love Ardent because each beer is pretty easy to drink. I recently described their beer to someone as “pleasing.” They aren’t doing the wow factor, they are just making really nice beer. And they have a kickass patio. I always get a flight when I go there and I am never disappointed.

I’m loving Veil right now! They have awesome IPAs and a killer space. I love that their place is very open and never seems crowded when I go.

Isley is always interesting. I love to get a flight whenever I go there so I can try all their crazy beers, but ya know, commitment issues, so just a sip please. Not to mention, they have board games for you to play.

Garden Grove is pretty cool because it is right in the heart of Carytown. It’s somewhere you can just pop-in during an afternoon out. They also let you bring your dog which is always cool with me.

Triple Crossing is awesome as well. They are nestled back off Main, but totally worth looking for parking. Actually, go home and park your car and just uber so you don’t have to drive later, because they have some fantastic beers and you will want to try several.

Lickinghole has some wonderful beers as well, despite being hellishly far away. I love that they aren’t afraid to have a little fun with their beer names.

Speaking of having fun with beer names, Strangeways never disappoints with their concoctions. Leave it to them to have you drinking something named after a monkey and loving it!

Center of the Universe may be another “far away” Richmond brewery, but their Pocahoptas is worth it! Did you know they also created a beer for our own hometown baseball team called Chin Music? Read the can and you can learn why it’s called that.

So uh, I guess in summary, no, no I do not have a favorite, nor will I ever be able to choose one. I know there’s a few I still need to get to and a few still not opened, but I can honestly say with all my research that I think the moral of this story is that Richmond makes the best beer!

#Beer #craftbeer #Breweries