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When you think of the great beer cities, a few always make the list like Asheville, Grand Rapids, Denver, and Portland (either one, pick a coast). Richmond, VA might not one you’ve considered road-tripping to, but you should. RVA is a killer beer town.
As we prepare to travel to Montana for the 2019 Beer Now Conference (formerly the Beer Bloggers & Writers Conference), I can’t get my mind off last year’s visit to Richmond. The Beer Now Conference is a great way to explore the beer scene in the host cities and at the pre and post conference events. Last year’s conference was in Suburban Washington, DC, and we headed south to Richmond on Sunday morning as the main conference wrapped up. Visiting RVA for the post-conference excursion was the highlight of the long weekend.
My first exposure to the thriving beer community in Richmond was when I met Juliana and Meghan from Visit Richmond at the inaugural Beer Marketing and Tourism Conference in 2017. It was apparent they loved their city, and they told me how craft beer was flourishing there. When the Beer Now conference announced the 2018 post-conference in Richmond, we booked it immediately.
Richmond is a gorgeous city, nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with the James River cutting through the center of town. There are ample opportunities for paddling, hiking, or cycling around town. And then there’s the beer.
Richmond hit the collective beer radar when Stone announced that it would build it’s East Coast brewery. It’s a must-see. If you never been to one of the massive craft brewers like Sierra Nevada or Stone, you’ll be amazed at the size of the place. It’s not your neighborhood brewery crammed into 5,000 square feet. While you’re there, ask about the Fear Movie Lions spot on the floor. They even named a beer after it.
Check out the Richmond Beer Trail to discovery over 30 breweries in the area. We didn’t have time to hit them all; hopefully, you will. Besides Stone, we enjoyed beers at Triple Crossing (Fulton), Ardent, Vasen, and The Veil. The we had dinner at The Answer Brewpub, a wild mix of creative craft beers and Vietnamese inspired dishes. It was delicious.
If you’re looking for a beautiful place for a beer-get-away, Richmond is in driving distance for a lot of people, and if you’re further away, several airlines fly there. You’ll love the town, and the beer scene will impress you. Holler at the great folks at Visit Richmond and they’ll help you plan your trip.
Cheers!