We’ve always liked to tip one back in River City. The golden nectar of the Gods is just too darn good to us here. Hell, when Benedict Arnold practically burned down the entire freakin’ town in 1778, we just kept on drinking. Brewed in small batches at that time, local entrepreneurs and longtime tipplers continued to crank out beer, and as a result created timeless recipes that are still guzzled today.

Sure, over the years Richmond has hit its share of bumps in the road, with a rotating crop of local breweries opening and closing. Though not technically brewed within the city’s limits, a new ale under the label of Olde Richmond Beer Co. is making a stand in 2007. Best of all, this new concoction draws its strength from the older style of brewing made popular during the early days of River City.

In spring of this year the first batch was released from our boys at St. George Brewery, located in Hampton. Labeled as “Batch No. 4,” “Batch No. 9,” and “Batch No. 11,” these new kids on the block can now be found at specialty brew shops dotting Richmond’s landscape, along with Kroger’s supermarket. Emerging from the pack is the fine #11, an aggressively hopped India Pale Ale (IPA) served up in a double deuce.“You’ve got American style IPA, and you’ve got English style… but this is what we’re calling Virginia style India Pale Ale, giving it the best of both worlds,” says Conor Halfpenny, sales manager for the Olde Richmond Beer Company label.

Balanced and full bodied, Olde Richmond Beer No. 11 is catching on in the land of its namesake, as Richmonders are increasingly slurping this elixir down as the word of its goodness spreads. “It’s really taking off, and it’s doing wonders all around,” reports Halfpenny. “From C-ville to Richmond it’s doing well… and Hampton Roads residents are just annihilating the kegs,” he chuckles.

Mike Blevins, of Specialty Beverage, a leading distributor in the Commonwealth, agrees that Olde Richmond’s Virginia style IPA hybrid brewed in small batches is paying off. “Across the board IPA is probably the biggest beer style at the moment, as far as microbrews go at least…they’re just bigger, stronger, and hoppier,” explains Blevins. “There’s a certain segment of the IPA buying public that wants something that will take the enamel off your teeth. Richmond No. 11 is not like this though; it’s a good example of an aggressively hopped IPA without going to extremes.”

And it’s not just the IPA that has boozers all abuzz, as the other Richmond brews in the lineup are receiving their own fanfare, especially batch No. 4. With its frothy, sticky tan, head held high, this fine adult beverage represents a solid choice if you like brown ales. Mahogany with a pleasant ruby hue, this bad boy has chocolate notes and a slight nuttiness. Equally tasty is No. 9 (soon to undergo a name change), an American style amber ale, which rounds out Olde Richmond Beer Company’s growing beer brand.

Fielding an increasing wave of phone calls from Richmonders at his digs at St. George Brewery in Hampton, Halfpenny concludes, “Olde Richmond beer is being crushed in Richmond right now.”

http://www.stgeorgebrewingco.com

Check River City Cellars in Carytown, Strawberry St. Market in the Fan, as well as Kroger. Cheers.

so i have to ask, where can i buy this beer?

-tom