Top Taps 2015

It takes more than just lots of taps to get on our top taps list. It takes a well-curated list that offers a variety of craft beers, including hard-to-find special releases. Looking for something amazing? Check out these hot spots for the best draft selections! 

Capital Ale House, Downtown & Innsbrook

  • 623 E. Main St. & 4024-A Cox Rd., CapitalAleHouse.com
  • A diverse menu from starters and salads to burgers, sandwiches and entrées, with beer-focused foods like Bavarian pretzel, mussels and wings
  • 48 downtown & 79 at Innsbrook
  • Virginia’s Blue Mountain Spooky pumpkin ale & Scotland’s Brewdog Hardcore IPA

Capital Ale House, Midlothian

  • 13831 Village Place Dr., Midlothian, CapitalAleHouse.com
  • A diverse menu from starters and salads to burgers, sandwiches and entrées, including beer-focused foods like Bavarian pretzel, mussels and wings
  • 77 taps
  • Abita Two Boots saison

The Cask Café

  • 206 S. Robinson St., TheCaskRVA.com
  • Specializing in cheese and Sausage Craft meats for pairing, served as plates or in sandwiches
  • 16 taps
  • Belgium’s Brouwerij Het Anker Gouden Carolous Cuvee van de Keizer Blauw Belgian strong dark ale

821 Café

  • 825 W. Cary St., 821CafeRVA.com
  • Meals priced to please the local college crowd with choices to satisfy the carnivore and vegetarian alike
  • 17 taps
  • The Bruery Cuivre, a 16.2% old ale brewed in the solera method to celebrate the brewery’s seventh anniversary

Southern Railway Taphouse

  • 111 Virginia St., Shockoe Slip, SRTaphouse.com
  • American menu ranging from salads, burgers and sandwiches to pasta and soak-up-the-beer entrées
  • 40 taps
  • Points Unknown, a double IPA blended with a barrel-aged Belgian-style tripel, a collaboration from Ecliptic, Wicked Weed and Stone

Mekong Restaurant

  • 6004 W. Broad St., MekongIsForBeerLovers.com
  • Vietnamese cuisine paired with a wide selection of beers, including plenty of Belgian beers
  • 52 taps, including sours, Belgians and Andalls, beers infused with creative ingredients chosen by beer guru An Bui
  • Four meads created in collaboration with Blackheath Meadery: Good Morning Meadkong, Maui Meadkong
, Mexican Meadkong and Morning Wood Meadkong

The Answer Brewpub

  • 6008 W. Broad St., TheAnswerBrewpub.com
  • Vietnamese-American fusion food, including Bahn Mi and Wake ‘n’ Bake, bacon-fried rice with eggs and pork belly that almost makes you forget the great beer selection.
  • 56 taps, including several award-winning house brews
  • Evil Twin Even More Jesus heavenly imperial stout

Sedona Taphouse

  • 15732 WC Main St., Westchester Commons, Midlothian, SedonaTaphouse.com
  • Focusing on quality foods to pair with the beers, Sedona uses certified Angus, Steaks, fresh seafood, and local and organic ingredients.
  • 50 taps
  • Rodenbach Grand Cru, a classic Belgian sour ale

Brew Bellgrade

  • 11400 W. Huguenot Rd., Midlothian
  • Sandwiches, entrées and Angus beef burgers, using local products such as Belmont Butchery sausage, Flour Garden Bakery buns and bread, and Gelati Celesti ice cream.
  • 70 taps, with more on the way
  • Orange Is the New Stout, collaboration between Virginia’s Center of the Universe and O’Connor Brewing

Brew Chester

  • 6525 Centralia Rd., Chesterfield
  • The scratch kitchen crafts certified Angus beef burgers, hand-cut fries, scratch sauces and handmade desserts, using local products such as Belmont Butchery sausage, Flour Garden Bakery buns and bread, and Gelati Celesti ice cream.  
  • 30 taps
  • On the Wings of Armageddon imperial IPA from D.C. Brau

Sergio’s Restaurant

  • 4824 Market Square Ln., Midlothian, SergiosVA.com
  • A full menu of hearty Italian cuisine using Old World recipes and the finest ingredients.
  • 24 taps
  • Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break, an 11.5% imperial stout

Commercial Taphouse

  • 111 N. Robinson St., TheAnswerBrewPub.com/commercial-taphouse-beer-list
  • Asian fusion, a Vietnamese-American mash-up of appetizers and hearty specials
  • 20 taps
  • Founders Breakfast Stout, a coffee, chocolate and oatmeal imperial stout

Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream

  • 3600 Forest Hill Ave., CrossroadsRVA.com
  • Breakfast and sandwiches at a cozy, popular neighborhood hangout with, yes, locally roasted coffee, locally made ice cream and live music.
  • 16 taps
  • BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes) Square Root 225 saison

Mellow Mushroom

  • 3012 W. Cary St., Carytown, MellowMushroom.com
  • Hand-tossed, stone-baked pizza made from fresh ingredients with toppings classic or creative – plus calzones, hoagies, salads and more. Includes vegetarian and gluten-free options
  • 40 taps, including plenty of gateway craft beers
  • Stochasticity Project HiFi + LoFi Mixtape from Stone, combining new beer with aged “stock ales”

The Bucket Trade

  • 13131 River’s Bend Blvd., TheBucketTrade.com
  • Sandwiches and cheese and meat plates featuring no-filler Boar’s Head products.
  • 16 taps
  • Southern Tier Crème Brûlée

Brux’l Café

  • 731 W. Main St., Richmond, BruxlCafe.com
  • Authentic Belgian cuisine from authentic Belgian chef and co-owners. Casual food from fresh ingredients, reminiscent of Belgian home cooking.
  • 6 taps, supplemented by about 30 bottles of stellar Belgian beers
  • Special beers in bottles as well, like the Dulle Teve 10° (Mad Bitch) by Brouwerij de Dolle Brouwers

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint

  • 5810 Grove Ave., Richmond, JackBrownsJoint.com/Richmond.html
  • Wagyu beer burgers, yep, and more burgers, plain or with wild and creative toppings, accompanied by fries, sweet potato fries or fried Oreos.
  • 8 ever-rotating drafts with frequent tap takeovers and limited-release beers
  • Stone Farking Wheaton wOOtStout, a whopping 13% ABV barrel-aged imperial stout

Growlers to Go

  • 1017 N. Boulevard & 11341 W. Broad St., Glen Allen, GrowlersToGo.org
  • State-of-the-art taps system includes real-time online review of current draft status. On the Boulevard, off-premise drafts and bottle sales only. In Glen Allen, a light-bite dining area serves on-premise, too.
  • 56 taps on the Boulevard & 70 in Glen Allen, including cider and kombucha and pleasing a variety of palates
  • England’s Wild Beer Company’s Cool As a Cucumber, a farmhouse ale with mint and cucumber, with Isley’s Choosy Mother always on tap

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