Earlier this year it was a new cidery, now, it’s Devil’s Backbone Brewery Company, a new brewery which will rest just below the Wintergreen Ski resort.  It now joins, South Street, Star Hill and Blue Mountain in the first Virginia attempts to create a Beer Trail aka Path of Liver Destruction.

But have no fear my friends, the beer should be good.  It won’t initially be available in bottles, so you’ll have to make the trek out to Wintergreen to taste the year-round offerings:  Helles, Vienna amber, hefe and American IPA.  Now, the question is, is that trip worth the drive for you cVillains? I’m sure the tourists will make it, but it’s going to be a tough decision to drive past Blue Mountain on Path of Liver Destruction.  Maybe it’s healthier that way?

[via NewsVirginian]

Popularity: 17% [?]

From a birdie…

Outback Lodge had its liquor license suspended the first of the month.  As a result at least one show was moved to another venue.  In many cases the shows went on, but without beer sales what are you really doing  but losing your ass?  As word spread that there was no beer at Outback, people starting bringing beer and drinking in the parking lot (rumor).

Well it finally came around that Outback was given a deadline to renew there license or risk losing it altogether and having to re-apply.  The deadline was Wednesday, August 13 I believe.  The problem was that Outback supposedly had no one was willing to help them out.  So in desperation, the day before the ABC was prepared to pull the Outback liquor license, the owner bought a lottery ticket AND won $100,000.  (still unconfirmed).

That’s the story.  Outback has music and to my knowledge beer as well, although I haven’t been in to check.  But shows go on.  Sound like a movie plot or something.

Popularity: 16% [?]

I tend to be skeptical of negative reviews—be they reviews of restaurants, CDs, movies, or whatever. It’s just easier to rant than it is to rave. A good bit of this difficulty lies, I think, in the desire not to sound overly earnest, since praise can certainly quite easily slip into maudlin sap.

And, given the choice between maudlin sap and the vitriol of many a negative review, I’d demure on the choice, preferring instead the subtlety of a brick slamming into my head.

Having said that, bad reviews are inevitable. And ’round these parts, the most frequent species is negative restaurant reviews… »Read More

Popularity: 60% [?]

It’s like your standard FFA, but if you lick it, it tastes of liberty and fireworks. And beer. Okay, mostly of beer.

Stay classy today, cVillains. And a hearty huzzah to all.

Popularity: 76% [?]

It seems our little local beer shop is expanding. Hopefully this means it is doing well. Beer Run brought food and tastings into the mix since their opening. Although we have yet to review Beer Run’s food, we cannot say we have had a bad beer there. We are also fans of the outdoor seating, which comes in handy on a nice summer evening.

Want more?

Beer Run has expanded their menu and is now taking on BRUNCH. We will be sure to get back to you with a review on the regular menu items and brunch. If you have tried don’t forget to speak up! Check out a sample brunch menu below.

Better than brunch! Beer Run is now DELIVERING beer, wine, and food. Yes, alcohol delivery. It almost feels like Christmas. They do have a $25.00 minimum for delivery and you are required to set up an account with them.  How on earth are they allowed to do this? No idea.

Check out Beer Run’s web site and Sample Brunch Menu:

Beer Run Brunch Menu

Popularity: 43% [?]

I was just reading an article in the WSJ about bars shrinking their beer output by some rather nefarious means…smaller glasses, more foam, etc…While I don’t do as much social drinking as I used to (damn kids) I know there’s more than a few folks on cVillain who would want to be on the lookout for skimping at our local watering holes. Of course, I do know that a few bars I used to frequent didn’t offer the wide array of brews the taphandles would lead you to believe they did (ever wonder why that Bud Light tastes a lot like Natty?). But at least you were getting a full 16 0z. of stale pisswater.

Have any of the other villains, both bartenders and bar lovers, seen this happening around town? Besides thinning margins it seems breweries around the country are facing a shortage of hops, which means we have to drink as much at South Street on Tuesdays as we can. Watch this video to learn more:
»Read More

Popularity: 81% [?]

Sometimes commenter dijonbray and I stopped into the new Guadalajara on the way home from Pantops tonight. Apparently they opened up shop on Sunday. We sat at the bar, munching chips and swilling delicious beer, while dijon waited for his food to-go. Business was quite brisk, and they seemed to be handling it quite well.  Nicely done, folks.

Also spotted on High Street: a new place poised to open called La Michoacana. Anyone got the deets on this joint? Is it to be a restaurant? A mini grocery? Somebody dish.

Popularity: 32% [?]

As someone who has dabbled in brewing my own libations in the past, I was overjoyed to hear that there was a local source for homebrewing (and winemaking) supplies coming to the Cville area. The Fermentation Trap opened recently up on 29 North (just past the Greene County line) and had a Grand Opening day on Saturday in observance of National Homebrewing Day, so EvoMan and I jumped on our two-wheeled conveyances and cruised over to check them out. Owned and operated by a couple of Greene County locals who are back in the area thanks to NGIC, the Trap is a great place for folks experienced in homebrewing and those looking to get started.

They carry several different kits for beer or wine, lots of literature on both, including recipe books on how to create copies of your favorite Macrobrews. If you don’t want to dive in with both feet right away, they also have no-cook beer and hard cider kits that require only a fementation vessel, yeast and water to get started. Each kit yields 2.5 cases of 12oz bottles after approximately 3 weeks of fermentation, and they currently have kits for a variety of styles, from Irish Stout to American Lager.

Homebrewing is a great way to learn more about beer, experiment with flavors, and become active in a community. There are two brew clubs in Charlottesville, so there’s an established group of folks to learn from (and believe me, brewers LOVE to talk about beer) and swap recipes and tips with. The Fermentation Trap is a great place to start if you want to get rolling down the road to fresh, homemade beer and wine, and the owners will be happy to bend your ear, listen to your concerns and answer your questions.

»Read More

Popularity: 23% [?]

I know, a brewery? I would think the same thing…but I go where the wind takes me this week, and everyone seemed to finish the work day at South Street’s famous Tuesday evenings, full of cheap excellent beer and worthy grub. This review will be short and snappy.

I feared South Street would break my vegetarian streak of the week (and it was only Tuesday), but the words “portobello ravioli” called my name from the menu. I didn’t even bother reading the description assuming there was nothing in this meat related. Yes, I was right. The ravioli were giant round circles cooked perfectly and filled with sautéed portobello…they were dam good. The sauce was a crème based cheese sauce topped with parmesan cheese. This dish alone made the evening a success.

I couldn’t find anything else on the menu that appealed to my inner veggie except for the veggie optioned nachos. Did I miss something else on the menu worth noshing on?

Ravioli pic on Flikr

Popularity: 30% [?]

I visited South Street last night and am still surprised that the place still gets as crowded as it does on Tuesdays. If any of you cVillains remember, South Street used to serve $2.00 pints into the wee hours. I don’t know the exact dates that this changed, but I think it was about 3 years ago (on another note, I’m getting old).

I remember the shock when we realized that South Street could no longer serve us those pleasurable libations at such awesome prices. Well, if any of you remember correctly South Street used to be THE PLACE to go on a Tuesday night. It was populated by many UVA students, of both genders, and it would get loud and crazy.

South Street used to be the serious drinkers paradise. You came there to drink beer, you scoffed at those who drank wine and you inevitably ended up with a headache. We often would show up around 9 or 10 and stay till midnight. Oh, and good luck getting to the bar. You had to have some serious skills or know a bunch of people.

Fast forward to today. $2.50 pints last until 9PM which inevitable leads to größte Wurst Partei (or Biggest Sausage Party) if my German is correct. It’s horrid. I swear there are probably 5 girls in the entire bar until 8:30 PM. Ladies, if you want to get noticed, make sure you show up before 9PM! Otherwise, I’m stuck, between a rock and a hard place. And on top of that, South Street can unpredictably be dead on Tuesday nights, leaving you in an even worse situation. Last night was like most nights, crowded after 9PM. What gives?

So, do I visit South Street for the still awesome beer specials and forgoe any eye candy, or do I miss the drink specials and go a little bit later when the crowds pick up? Ladies, why don’t you come before 9?

Bonus points for anyone that can figure out when and why South Street stopped serving $2 pints.

Don’t forget to read our beer lover’s tour of Charlottesville and check out the results of your favorite South Street beers.

[pic]

Popularity: 30% [?]