There is no lack of great breweries in Richmond…
The Richmond region is home to more than 30 craft breweries, distilleries and cideries and hundreds of restaurants serving locally made beer and cider on tap.
In fact, Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, has had a long love affair with craft beer. This region’s history has been intertwined with beer culture going back more than 150 years. Richmond was even the first place where beer was sold in a can back in 1935!
It hasn’t all been easily sailing though. There have been many booms and busts during Richmond’s history, but currently the city is in a massive craft beer boom.
Navigation
The Top 12 Breweries in Richmond, Virginia
Quench your thirst in Virginia’s capital, and see why Vinepair named Richmond the #1 beer destination in the world for 2018.
With more than 30 craft breweries and more on the way, it’s easy to see why the Wall Street Journal said Richmond “is home to one of the region’s fastest growing beer scenes.”
The Answer Brewpub
Owned by Mekong and located right next door to the world-famous beer bar, The Answer Brewpub, opened in 2014 as a way for Mekong founder, An Bui to take his passion for craft beer a step further. The Answer features over 56 taps and a wonderful stage area for live music. The taproom has an old-school retro video game vibe and includes a couple of old arcade games throughout.
Ardent Craft Ales
Located in Scott’s Addition, Ardent Craft Ales prides themselves on having unique brews, knowledgeable staff, and a gorgeous dog-friendly beer garden. The brewery began as a co-op, operating out of Richmond garage, where the founders sought out to create innovative beers and introduce historical styles to the Richmond market. Along with a delicious, and usually unexpected, tap list, this Richmond brewery also features a menu of locally-source, small-plate cuisine.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Hardywood Park officially began its mission to brew with purpose in late 2011 as one of only two craft breweries in the city of Richmond. The original brewhouse and taproom was a vacant warehouse discovered in a long-forgotten neighborhood known nearly a century prior as Richmond’s German Brewing District. They now operate a 20-barrel brewhouse and taproom in the original location, as well as a 60-barrel brewhouse and destination brewery in the West Creek area of Richmond, right on the border of Goochland County. I love them for their seasonal Gingerbread Stout as well as their insanely delicious, classic Richmond Lager.
Final Gravity Brewing Co.
Final Gravity is a Richmond nanobrewery that offers 12-18 fresh craft beers on tap. Along with an impressive lineup on their menu, the taproom features arcade games and a dog-friendly patio. Oh, and if you’re looking to peruse homebrewing, head next door to their shop, Original Gravity, for all your brewing supplies.
Isley Brewing Company
Isley Brewing opened in 2013 and was one of the first breweries in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood. To this day, founding brewer, Josh Stamps, is still brewing up award-winning beers with his “artisan” approach to brewing. If you visit the taproom, make sure to get yourself a pour of their award-winning (locally beloved) peanut butter porter: Choosy Mother!
Legend Brewing Company
Legend Brewing is a down-to-earth pub offering a German-influenced food menu & its own brews, plus a huge deck with perfect views of the downtown skyline. It was one of the first breweries in Richmond and still continues to be a favorite spot for locals and beer travelers alike.
Main Line Brewery
Main Line Brewery in Richmond prides itself on offering an ever-evolving selection of craft beer (and now hard seltzers) that they curate with a packed calendar of live entertainment. Located along the Richmond Railway, this brewery was founded by childhood besties, Sterling Roberts and Gary McDowell. Their hard work is the culmination of a shared dream to create a space for their friends and family, along with all of their neighbors to gather and share a local beer together.
Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop (have not been)
Starr Hill was originally founded in 1999 in a music hall in the nearby city of Charlottesville. There are five locations across the state of Virginia, but their newest location in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood is quite unique. Working with a custom 10-barrel brewing system, Starr Hill also features five American white oak foeders and serves as the brewery’s first location dedicated to producing wild ales.
Stone Brewing Co.
As with most popular beer cities, it isn’t long before the big guys start showing up. Stone Brewing is regularly one of the top ten largest beer producers in the world, and they choose Richmond as the location for their first East Coast brewing and distribution center. Opened in 2016, their Richmond location features a bistro and taproom with a long list of all those amazing Stone beers.
Triple Crossing Brewing Company
Triple Crossing Brewing got their name from the historic landmark that’s in the heart of Richmond. It is believed that this spot is the only spot in North America where three Class 1 railroads cross at the same spot at different levels. The brewery itself offers a rotating lineup of hop forward IPAs and traditional English porters and stouts, as well as everything in between. Today,there are two locations in Richmond, and both offer Neapolitan-style, thin-crust pizzas as well as outdoor, dog-friendly seating.
The Veil Brewing Company
The Veil Brewery in Scott’s Addition focusing on hop-forward ales, high gravity barrel aging, and spontaneous fermentation. It was named one of the “most-hyped breweries in America right now” by Gear Patrol in 2019. And for good reason too… The brewery in Scott’s Addition focuses on hop-forward ales, high gravity barrel aging, and spontaneous fermentation. You’ll always find something new, delicious, and very interesting (or experimental a better word?) at their taproom.
Väsen Brewing Company
At Väsen Brewing, they’re all about creating something greater than yourself which comes through in the beers they brew. They’ve developed a distinctive brewing process where they produce balanced and sessionable beers. And with their barrel-aging program, you can also expect to find tons of funky farmhouse ales and saisons when you visit their taproom in Scott’s Addition.
Bonus Stop: Mekong Restaurant
Richmond is home to MEKONG Vietnamese Restaurant, one of the top beer bars in the country! Along with some of the most delicious Vietnamese food you’ll ever get to taste on the East Coast, Mekong has 50+ taps and 200+ bottles of amazing beer from all around the world. This Richmond beer bar (located next door to Answer Brewpub) is a CANNOT miss when you’re in the area!
Now it’s your turn! Time to start planning your beercation to Richmond, Virginia!
Use these images below to save this Guide to Richmond Breweries to your Pinterest.
