Scott’s Addition is the hailed craft-beer-lover's paradise when you're hankering for a taste of Richmond breweries.
Once a sort of industrial zombie wasteland, it's now the City of Richmond’s fastest-growing neighborhood, home to an eclectic mix of apartments, homes, shops, restaurants, and, of course, breweries.
Why Scott’s Addition?
The area’s designation as a National Historic District in 2005 jump-started the revitalization of Scott’s Addition by making restoration projects there eligible for tax credits. As soon as 1,500 residential units were commissioned in 2011, Michael Isley began plans to set up Scott’s Addition’s first craft brewery, Isley Brewing Company, which would later inspire and ignite other Richmond breweries. In 2012, Senate Bill 604 passed and really shook things up. That was the bill allowing breweries to serve beer without selling food, and it’s considered the reason why there’s been a state-wide industry boom. The state has seen a 500 percent growth increase in breweries/cideries since then. (Have you noticed how many breweries have popped up in your area?) Isley Brewing Company opened its doors on October 23, 2013, as the first of Richmond breweries to land in Scott’s Addition. Today there are seven breweries, two cideries, a meadery, and a distillery -- all within easy walking distance of each other!The Breweries
ISLEY BREWING COMPANY 1715 Summit Ave. We recommend: Plain Jane Blueberry"Our goal here at Isley is to embrace the talents of our professional brewer with the passion commonly found in home brewing to create a true crafted beer. Our intent is to think outside the box every time and push limits while not following the path that others tend to follow." [gallery type="rectangular" ids="6557,6561"]VÄSEN BREWING COMPANY 3331 Moore St. We recommend: Smoked Blood Peach Sour
"Väsen beers combine the experimental spirit that defines American craft beer with the rustic and funky flavors of Belgian farmhouse and sour ales. We’ve developed a distinctive brewing process that produces balanced, sessionable beers that are perfect for long days outside. Our barrel-aging program lets us flood Richmond with the funkiest of farmhouse ales, complemented by a variety of Saisons, wheat beers, and pale ales."[caption id="attachment_6558" align="aligncenter" width="733"]
Courtesy, Vasen Brewing Company, Facebook[/caption]
THE VEIL BREWING COMPANY
1301 Roseneath Rd.
We recommend: Red Bugatti
"Welcome to The Veil Brewing Co. We are a craft brewery located in the Scott's Addition neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. We focus on hop forward beers, high gravity and barrel aging, lagers, wild ales, and spontaneous fermentation. We are dedicated to quality and strive to provide a unique experience through our beers and our tasting room."[caption id="attachment_6560" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
The Veil Brewing Company, Facebook[/caption]
HARDYWOOD PARK CRAFT BREWERY
2408-2410 Ownby Ln.
We recommend: Empress Evelyn
"Hardywood’s mission is to brew with purpose. This charge comes alive in our thoughtfully innovative recipes, our commitment to using local ingredients, and our obsession over quality. Our beers range in style from traditional to experimental, but there’s a story behind each one."[caption id="attachment_6559" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Courtesy Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Facebook[/caption]
CASTLEBURG BREWERY AND TAPROOM
1626 Ownby Ln.
We recommend: Murderhole Mango DIPA
"We are interested in making 'honest' beer. In a sort of self-imposed Reinheitsgebot, we are 'going back to the roots of beer so that our beer tastes like what you’d expect beer to taste like.' With a focus on the old styles and getting away from modern fads, we continue to research older recipes."[caption id="attachment_6562" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Courtesy Castleburg Brewery, Facebook[/caption]
ARDENT CRAFT ALES
3200 W. Leigh St.
We recommend: Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey Ginger
"Ardent Craft Ales is a brewery, taproom, and beer garden in the Scott's Addition neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. We began as a co-op in a Richmond garage, a space where we sought to create innovative beers and introduce others to historic brewing methods and beer styles. As a production brewery, our mission remains the same: to produce and celebrate exceptional and ambitious beers with the ever-growing craft beer community."[caption id="attachment_6556" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Courtesy Ardent Craft Ales, Facebook[/caption]
THREE NOTCH’D BREWING COMPANY RVA COLLAB HOUSE
2930-B W. Broad St.
We recommend: Minuteman IPA
"Located in the fermentation-centric neighborhood of Scott’s Addition, the RVA Collab House features beers brewed hand-in-hand with local restaurants, homebrewers, nonprofits, musicians, artists, businesses, and more on our 3.5 barrel brew system."[caption id="attachment_6564" align="aligncenter" width="720"]
Courtesy Three Notch'd RVA Collab House, Facebook[/caption]
Have you been to any of these Richmond breweries? Do you have a favorite brewery OR brew? Tell a friend in the comments!
