17 Must-Try Seasonal Beers to Sip on This Fall & Winter
You’re reaching for your flannels instead of flowy tops, which means it’s finally time to post up at a brewery with friends for the afternoon and sip on all the seasonal beers you can find. If you’re unfamiliar with Richmond’s fall beer lineup or you’re just looking to try something a little different, we’ve got you covered with our list of the best seasonal beers in RVA.
Image Source: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Gingerbread Stout
It’s a Richmond holiday staple for a reason. This imperial milk stout is brewed with locally sourced baby ginger and wildflower honey for a rich and creamy beer with just the right amount of spice.
Farmhouse Pumpkin
If you think all pumpkin beers are sweet, Hardywood’s Farmhouse Pumpkin is here to set the record straight. It’s a Wallonian-style saison brewed with local sugar pie pumpkins, fresh ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice for a lighter, earthier take on the usual pumpkin beer.
Pappy’s Pumpkin Pie
Hardywood takes its Farmhouse Pumpkin and turns the dial way up to create their Pappy’s Pumpkin Pie. They combine extra cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice with vanilla bean, toasted coconut, and lactose for a sweeter, creamier beer that really does taste like pie in a glass.
Locations: 2410 Ownby Ln (Scott’s Addition) and 820 Sanctuary Trail Dr (Tuckahoe)
Image Source: Legend Brewing Co
Legend Brewing Co
Winter White
This Belgian-style witbier keeps things light with orange peel, coriander, and fruity notes of banana and pear. It’s a good pick for when you want something that tastes seasonal but not holiday.
Chai-Spiced Brown Ale
Legend added locally roasted coffee beans and chai tea spices to its beloved Brown Ale to create this seasonal take on a classic. Full of caramel, toasted nut, and molasses notes, this beer is especially good once the weather cools down.
Location: 321 W 17th St (Manchester)
Image Source: Ardent Craft Ales
Ardent Craft Ales
Sweet Potato & Sage Saison
It’s no secret pumpkin gets all the attention this time of year, so how about trying sweet potato instead? This farmhouse-style saison from Ardent has an earthy, herbal flavor that tastes distinctly fall without relying on the usual pumpkin pie flavor profile.
Festbier
Ardent’s traditional German-style lager is smooth and malt-forward with a little sweetness, and a crisp finish to keep it from feeling too heavy. Grab one while it’s still drinking beers on the patio.
Location: 3200 W Leigh St (Scott’s Addition)
Image Source: The Veil Brewing Co
The Veil Brewing Co
Deathless
Caramel, toasted malt, biscuit, and hops give this traditional Märzen all the cozy fall flavors. It’s crisp, balanced, and practically made for the ‘ber months.
Dull Fangs
This one’s a bit of a throwback. Dull Fangs, a seasonal hazy IPA with a hint of grapefruit, was included in The Veil’s original mixed four-pack when they opened back in 2016.
Locations: 1509B Belleville St (Scott’s Addition) and 4910 Forest Hill Ave (Forest Hill)
Image Source: The Richmond Experience
Starr Hill Brewery
Wicked Harvest
Starr Hill isn’t holding back the pumpkin beer punches with this one. Its Wicked Harvest beer has an ABV of 8% and goes all in on flavor with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
Festie
This beer has been part of Starr Hill’s fall lineup since 2007, and it’s picked up medals at the Great American Beer Festival and Virginia Craft Brewers Cup during that time. Its smooth, malty flavor is also an easy introduction to Oktoberfest-style beer if you usually stick to lagers.
Christmas Ale
Once you’re ready to make the leap from fall into winter, start with Christmas Ale from Starr Hill. This seasonal ale has a rich malt base with notes of orange peel and warming spices, giving it plenty of holiday flavor without venturing into Christmas cookie territory.
Snow Blind
Keep this rich, dark German-style doppelbock on hand for the first snow day in Richmond. An ABV of 7.7% and notes of caramel and lightly toasted flavors make it the perfect beverage for a cozy night in.
Holiday Road
Consider this eggnog in beer form. This 9.4% ABV imperial cream ale combines vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg with a creamy sweetness inspired by the classic holiday drink everyone knows and some people love.
Location: 3406 W Leigh St (Scott’s Addition)
Image Source: Alewerks
Alewerks
Pumpkin
If you’re looking for the quintessential pumpkin beer, Alewerks pretty much nailed it. Real pumpkin gives this ale a rich, slightly sweet base, while cinnamon, nutmeg, and warming spices bring all the fall flavor without overpowering the beer itself. It’s smooth, balanced, and just pumpkin-y enough.
Location: 189B Ewell Rd (Williamsburg)
Image Source: Strangeways Brewing
Strangeways Brewing
Rot in Hell Pumpkin Sour
We wouldn’t expect anything less than an unconventional take on a pumpkin beer from Strangeways. The spot combines charred pumpkins and beer fermented with saison yeast before aging it in oak barrels for nearly a year. Cinnamon, ginger, and clove finish it off, resulting in a pumpkin beer that’s tart, funky, and unlike pretty much anything else.
Location: 3110 W Leigh St (Scott’s Addition)
Image Source: Väsen Brewing Company
Väsen Brewing Company
Festbier
This beer has all the best flavors of the season from fresh-baked bread and toasted biscuit to honey and floral hops. With an ABV of 5.3% and a crisp finish, it’s also an easy drink to sip on all fall long.
Locations: 3331 W Moore St (Scott’s Addition) and 5047 Forest Hill Ave Ste A (Forest Hill)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A born and bred Richmonder, Christine’s love of RVA runs deep. So does her love of words. She’s wanted to be a writer since she was 8 years old, leading her to earn a degree in Communication Studies from Roanoke College. Since then she’s edited and contributed to a handful of local and national publications. When she’s not working on her next article, you can find her taking walks throughout the city with her fiancé and their adorable rescue pitty Rosie. You can also find her on Instagram @christinewinder where she posts way too many photos of her cats.
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