Richmond makes great craft beer — in fact, USA TODAY’s 10Best ranked the River City the No. 5 best beer city in the US in 2024. Local brewers are constantly tapping their creative juices to drum up crafty collaborations, standout recipes, and fun names for their frothy masterpieces.
We’d like to raise a glass to five Richmond-centric brews with names that draw inspiration from our city’s history, communities, and culture.
Richmond Lager, Hardywood
The name of this award-winning brew gets straight to the point — and we respect that.
Style + flavor: This clean, crisp 5% ABV lager is brewed with Virginia-grown + Virginia-malted two-row barley. It features Centennial, Saaz, and a touch of citrusy Cascade hops, plus a subtle, graham-like aroma.
Psychic Horse IPA, Richbrau Brewing Co.
The neigh-me of this beer and its can art refers to Lady Wonder, the so-called prophetic horse born in Richmond in 1924. Lady Wonder was taught to communicate using children’s blocks with letters of the alphabet. In 1952, the “psychic horse” was credited with helping police crack a missing child case. Fun fact: This beer won a silver medal in the 2023 US Open Beer Championship.
Style + flavor: This 6.8% ABV hazy IPA features Citra hops. It has notes of citrus, tangerine, and pineapple and low bitterness.
Totally Pine West Coast IPA, Three Notch’d
An East Coast/West Coast collab for the ages, Totally Pine is brewed in partnership with Bend, Oregon’s Dechutes Brewery. As more and more West Coasters move to the River City, Totally Pine is here to sooth any homesickness while reminding them that Richmond the best beer city in the country.
Style + flavor: This hoppy, refreshing, 7.8% ABV ale is said to capture “the essence of the Pacific Northwest.”
Wahoowa Pale Ale, Starr Hill Brewery
We can just hear the Hoos chanting now. Starr Hill Brewery partnered with UVA to create this beer “with UVA specifically in mind” — navy and orange colors on the packaging and all.
Style + flavor: This 5.1% ABV, hop-forward pale ale features fruity aromas and flavors, plus a smooth finish from Pale and Vienna malts.
Edgar Imperial Stout, Richbrau Brewing
This brew name-drops iconic writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe, who published his novel, “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,” while living in Richmond in 1838. The beer’s can art pays homage to the eerie tale that takes place at sea. Fun fact: This beer won silver in the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup.
Style + flavor: This rich, 9% ABV stout uses locally roasted coffee in its brewing process and features flavors of dark chocolate, ganache, and strawberry.
Cheers to you, River City.
