I have friends visiting from Denmark, and they are devout beer lovers and connoisseurs¦I made the mistake of letting them loose in the colorful wine and beer section at the selection at the Forest Lakes Harris Teeter. Unsupervised they managed to decide on several questionable sampler boxes of local VA beer. Most of which later was open, tasted and disapprovingly poured down the drain.
So now I enlist you; aficionados of all things local, to help me create a guided tour of the best beer in town (Microbrews/tap/bottles). Let my friends appreciate that we too can make marvelous beer. And OY I hope you didn’t make other plans, cause you are coming with us.
Thank you for your kind consideration 
and participation.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tagged as: Bars, Charlottesville, Questions
If you want to just get some fine, fine beers for enjoying in the confines of your home (or other BYOB establishment), I recommend paying a visit to the downtown Market Street Wine Shop, and ask to talk to “the beer guy”. He will set you up with the best of the best, as guided by you and your friends’ preferences. If you buy a case or more, you get a discount.
South Street.
When we going? Tomorrow night?
That’s kinda a losing proposition for people from Denmark
This will be a fun thread! I love the Belgian beers, so Leffe, Chimay, and Carlsberg are pretty much what I hope to stock my fridge in heaven with. (Beer’s not a vice, right?
Locally, you can go to South Street and get a (what are those large jugs called?! It’s killing me!), and I think Satan’s Pony is just a trophy beer with a kick to it!
T’nite OY
Are there any other microbreweries than South Street? Is Starr Hill the only Big brewery in town?….(I know they only have tours on Saturdays…)
Lilith, Chimay, Carlsberg (from Denmark)…Ohh you know your beer!
Two - you may take them to Court Square Tavern. They have a very impressive beer selection and you don’t have to do it at home.
Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton opened October 23. Taylor Smack, the awesome brewer that was at South Street now has his own digs. Great fun! We went last weekend. Cozy, good food, beautiful scenery….can’t miss. Otherwise, speak to Matt Brown at Wine Warehouse if you want to stick close to home, he’s the only beer guru in town as far as I’m concerned.
“Growler” is the term you’re seeking, Lilith. The Hopfest at South Street, if it is still being poured, is a nice, pleasantly bitter ale (62 I.B.U., methinks). I’ve never been to Ludwig’s; but wouldn’t they have some good Oktoberfest taps right now?
For the retail experience, Samuel Adams brews an Imperial Pilsner that is complex, rich and full-bodied. The total antithesis of typical American industrial pilsners. About $10/4 pk, but worth it (Market Street Wineshop, Harris-Teeter).
Taylor Smack’s (former Brewmeister at South Street) Blue Mountain Brewery just opened two weeks ago in Afton. I haven’t had a chance to go yet, but I hear it’s brewtastic. They have food and local wine too.
http://www.bluemountainbrewery.com/index.asp
truethat Mintyfresh- The Imperial Pilsner by Sam Adams is to die! Husband and I did a head to head with Sam Adams Pils and Dogfish Head Golden Shower(which has never done us wrong). Sam Adams won in a landslide! Couldn’t believe it!
I second Thor’s nomination of Court Square Tavern, though there’s not as much beer as was there before the fire.
my friday nights are spoken for….
I’ll try not to take that personally OY.
don’t - meeting my old AOL boss. Haven’t seen him in a year
TOMORROW!!! We’ll take the danes on a beer drinking festival, and never have to leave south street. They have a bourbon stout on cask now that is amazing
Can’t really hop on the South Street bandwagon. Their beers always taste watery and bland to me. Tupper’s is brewed in Virginia. Legend Brewery in Richmond is solid. (And if you go to Richmond, Capital Ale House has an impressive array of beers, though they’re not a brewery.)
But really, if they like beer, resign them to the fact that they’re best off going to Michael’s Bistro and drinking delicious beers from non-Virginia climes.
Oh dear. My husband and I are considering a move from Pittsburgh to Cville, so I have been lurking, hoping to get an inside scoop, but this particular one does not leave me hopeful! You mean you guys don’t have anything like the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium?
Okay, yeah, it was rated the best belgian beer pub in the United States, lol! You mean, we can’t just lift it up and move it to Cville? Tell the Denmark contingent to come to Pgh. And for the record, you can’t beat Bornem XX, Piraat, or Maredsous on draft.
Don’t worry Jenee - Stanley’s on crack, South Street makes some wonderful beer.
Starr Hill is another local brewery that makes some fine brew.
That said, if you wanted to move down here and start s Sharp Edge South, you’d likely have many customers…
Well, we have a lot of good places with micros on tap, don’t get us wrong. Between 3 breweries, high end restaurants, fancy beer shops, you should absolutely be able to find some high end beer of your liking.
Stanley, has the service at Michael’s improved recently? Last two times I went there the bartenders were more interested in smoking their cigarettes or having something to eat than taking my drink orders. But I do think they have a nice selection of draught beers.
Jenee, Charlottesville does not have a beer emporium of the magnitude you describe. I’ve never even heard of the beers you named, but then I’m from the Pacific Northwest and always drank locally. My impression is that we’re getting better here at recognizing and providing good beers, but it’s a work in progress.
Amen! I loooove it there…will be starting there this evening, in fact.
The menu, for those who haven’t had the pleasure of going there, is a book with very thorough descriptions of each beer. If overwhelmed, the bartenders are happy to listen to what you like and recommend some things to consider.
They also have an iced stone (similar to those used at “mix in” ice cream shops) that runs the entire length of the bar so you can keep your drink cold…nice touch.
Whenever I have Germans visiting, South Street is always on the agenda. I tried Starr Hill with Germans from various sections of the country, and they all turned up their noses at Starr Hill after experiencing South Street. Now whenever the Germans are within or so two hours of Cville, they call me and ask about making another South Street visit. I am pleased to that Blue Mountain Brewery is opening, although I must admit Jacques (original brewmaster, then co-owner, now co-owner/brewmaster) is a better brewer my opinion.
Jenee:
Leaving the ‘burgh?
I hope to move back in a few years. City is slowly starting to turn it around (job-wise).
I forgot to add the Tupper and Legend beers just suffer in comparison even with Starr Hill. I have done tastings with European and Australian visitors, and they equate Tupper and Legend with the Pennsylvania beers (awful).
Hey, on a side note, is anyone else really unhappy with JP Ale? I feel like they completely changed it. Satan’s Pony is my poison of choice, but hot diggity why did they have to ruin the JP?
haven’t had the JP in a while - been focusing on the Hefe and when that goes out, the Pony.
I almost forgot… Delirium Tremens, love it. “Best beer in the world.” Can be found at Basil and the Virginian.
Anyone else been to the Boulder brewery? Beer in altitude, WOW.
SS’s Hefe is really good, but I rarely order the really wheaty ones for fear of them tasting like grilled meat. (It’s just me, yes, it’s weird.) I’ll have an Allagash every now and then though.
Those new Blue Mountain brews are the best Virginia beers I’ve ever tasted. The Classic Lager is absolutely amazing. Starr Hill is overrated. Mellow Mushroom has the largest selection on tap in the area… but it’s Mellow Mushroom… so you might wanna go during the day.
If you’re looking for stuff to buy, here’s a couple stronger beers that are either out right now, or coming soon, that I can recommend:
Brooklyn Chocolate Stout - Mild and smooth for a stout, not super heavy on the chocolate. 10.5% abv
Dogfish Raison D’etre - Dark and malty. My favorite brown beer. 8% abv.
Brooklyn Monster Ale - Brooklyn’s barleywine. May not be out until early next year, but it’s pretty awesome. If you like Belgians, you may like Barleywine. Sierra’s is out now (Bigfoot ale), but I think Brooklyn’s is tops. Should be around 12-13% abv.
Troegs Mad Elf - Dark belgian style. A little sweet. I think 11% abv.
All these should be available at Market St. wine, or Wine Warehouse. Both joints have great beer selections.
My $.02.
Dan, your response about Eppie’s was wonderful. Thank you!
In my brief 6+ years in C’ville I have found that South Street to be consistently good and Starr Hill mediocre to awful. Really.
But if you want the best selection of non-local beer, bail on HT and go to the wine shop on Hydraulic (across from K-Mart).
Here’s another vote for Court Square Tavern, and one for Capital Ale House, though I’ve been meaning to try the new brewery in Afton as well… if you go, would you be so kind as to post your (and their) impressions please? Other than that, I’d pick South Street over Starr Hill any day.
And I’m done here. See you at OXO.
in addition to the extensive beer selection, capital ale house has the hands down best late night food menu i have ever seen. quality and value. it is amazing.
OXO? Elevated surfaces?
*sniff*
Jenee, Charlottesville is an awful place to move to. It wasn’t so bad a few years ago, but everyone cool has been runoff by people with money looking for the next big thing. Try somewhere else. You will be much happier.
Yo, would you consider bringin your rig down to OXO one Friday or Saturday night? I can’t promise squat, but I can put in a good word for you… seems like they’ve had everyone else give it a spin…as for elevated surfaces, that might take a little work since there’s no ‘bolt-down’ tables…
My husband just got back from a fun afternoon drinking beer at the new Blue Mountain Brewery at Wintergreen. He said
yes not so quick is dead on…let me highlight that history for you
we actually have two races of people in charlottesville. they are (1) cool people and (2) money people. they waged war for eons. The cool people spent most of their time playing in the fields, looking for really small, old things and generally being cool.
The money people came in looking to find eternal life and infinite wealth. Naturally, they wanted to search in the same fields that the cool people played in. For generations they waged war. Due to the fact that the money people eventually found the ancient secret weapon of anti-coolness, they easily slaughtered all the cool people. Today we have no cool people in Charlottesville.
great way to add to the discussion quik (SARCASM), is blacksburg more cool?
I assume you already have or shortly will take your own advice?
I’ve lived all over for different periods of time and I think Charlottesville is a wonderful city. Of course, I may value different characteristics than “not so quick” (sic).
Hey, not so quick, ummm.. maybe you didn’t read the commandments, but one of em says something about “thou shalt not be a complete douche bag”. Why are you sticking around?
Thor…. What are you smokin?
i dont even remember… i think it had something to do with “Time Machine”
Patience, are you hinting that maybe he didn’t spend a fun afternoon drinking beer at Afton, or did he just not have anything to say? [I guess he could have stumbled in and passed out and you’re assuming ‘hmm must have had a good time’] or did your comment just get cut off?
I didn’t see him out with another woman if that’s what you’re getting at…
LOL, Hipster. Actually, I was engaged in a battle for control of the computer, and my son silenced me by hitting the “submit” button before I’d finished my comment. My husband enjoyed the beer there very much indeed, but it’s an awfully long drive back into town.
Shit, like anything is bolted down at the cafeteria, doofus. And I would consider playing anywhere that would have me. Thing is, I dunno if the oxo crowd would dig my current rotations so much…. Im not one of those dj’s thats got 50 ‘best of’ collections in a holster ready to fulfill “Tiffany’s” late nite drunken craving to hear the Spice Girls. I come with a slight agenda, though Im far from a music nazi. I try to please, just with my own twist, you know? Anyway. I guess I haven’t spent enough time chasing lillith and nay nay around oxo to really know the crowd there, so who knows. Anything’s possible. (End threadjack.)
On topic: Ditto: Brooklyn Chocolate Stout. Lethal sweetness. But I know jack about beer.
belmontyo,
do you have a website or myspace page. I’d love to hear some of your stuff, or you could post your sched every once in a while,
dan
Dan… I try not to use this joint to self promote *too* much, besides Im pretty easy to find, every wed and friday night (like tonight in a couple hours! yikes! gotta get my disco jumpsuit on!) at escafé from 11-2. I dunno if its kosher to list links to sites and whatnot here, but I am on myspace (that’s where I post flyers). My audio contortions aren’t for everyone, but the people that like it seem to like it. Um… yeah. Whatever that means. Anyway. Dont be a stranger!
Hey ‘Yo, stopped by briefly last night to check out your show, but as it was ‘gayer than usual night’, I couldn’t stick around. Three or four girls dancing, one straight couple and thirty guys who’s eyes lit up when I approached the bar… I’m perfectly safe in my own sexuality, but don’t like having my ass ‘gang-coveted’, so I had to go… maybe wednesday? What time do the sorostitutes show up? Is table-dancing only permitted after midnight?
Yeah, it was a gayer than usual night. I have never been able to discern any sort of pattern to it. Party time at the cafeteria is kinda like shopping in a thrift store, sometime its off the hook, and sometimes there’s nothin. Depends on what you’re looking for as well. ‘Gayer than usual’ is good if you are, well, gay, yaknow? Its always good to just pop in and see if is banging to your taste. Table dancing is always allowed, but my usual instigators ((once one or two get up, the non-regulars see its ok and soon its crazy)) werent instigating. There was some, but not much. Since lillith started hanging exclusively at OXO, forming a mean girls club with nay nay, its hard to get it goin’ - spread the love yo! (i keed i keed).
And that straight couple you mentioned totally made my night. First of all the woman, who was sex on legs, gave me a *twenty* dollar tip to play *one* song. Man, I will play slayer if you drop Andrew Jackson in my cup. I’ll try to hook up the requests anyway, but I will knock myself out if that kinda cake is being slung around. Im just happy I had what she wanted. Then when I was breaking down my rig, her man came up and told me that he was an wounded iraq veteran (showed me some gnarly scars, cripes dude!) and that he hadn’t danced and had a good time since he’d been back. Said it was generally impossible to get him to dance anyway, but that night he was rockin out the whole last hour! Then he helped me load my gear! Damn. I was humbled eight ways from sideways. Just. Wow.
I have absolutely nothing constructive to add to this post. Except that I met belmont as he was setting up his shit. I also met mintyfresh tonight. Good to be meeting y’all. Everybody is cool. This site is doing somethign right. I heart booze.
Thanks, Tim
[…] My favorite post at the CVillain - It’s about beer. […]
Oh, puh-leeez. Not so Quick I stopped being cool, and more than that, WORRYING about being cool a helluva long time ago
I grew up in the area so I’m pretty familiar with all of *that* (waves hand, lol!) My hubby and I are just looking for a little space (tired of the city) and he’s got a pretty good offer. Maybe I will just have to open up Sharp Edge South……………………
Anyway, glad I found this site. You guys seem like a fun group.
[…] November 9 - TwoOFour […]
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“Those new Blue Mountain brews are the best Virginia beers I’ve ever tasted. ”
I agree, and I am VERY critical of beer.
Michael’s Bistro usually has some great draft selections (including at least one belgian, usually) and a better atmosphere than Mellow Mushroom. Didn’t see it mentioned and thought I’d throw that our there…
Matt at Wine Warehouse is an excellent help with any number of beers, and his specialties are belgians and west coast american ales. He can point you in any direction.
BEER RUN…..
http://www.beerrun.cc/events/8-4-8-tasting-thursday-jan-31
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