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August is Virginia Craft Beer Month and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate all of the great brews of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Get in on the excitement!
Here are eight ways to have a hoppy good time this month and beyond.
1. Go for a Pub Run or Pub Climb
Fleet Feet Sports Roanoke offers a standing Tuesday evening pub run at 6 p.m. Runners and joggers meet at Wasena City Tap Room for a choice of a 3- or 5-mile run. If you’d rather not run, try the climbing wall next door at River Rock Climbing from 7 to 10 p.m. for only $10 on the first Tuesday of every month. Afterward, drink and food specials are available at the Tap Room. Cheers to staying active!
2. "Beer Brewing 101" with the Roanoke Craft Beer Tour
For those who know nothing of brewing beer or would like to get a behind-the-scenes experience, check out the Roanoke Craft Beer Tour. Offered Friday nights and Saturday evenings, the affordably priced tour chauffeurs you and your crew for a 4.5-hour craft beer excursion. At least four beers are offered for tasting at each of the three stops, plus tours, water, snacks, and a can’t-be-beat Texas Tavern cheeseburger are included.
3. Check out Virginia's Blue Ridge Cheers Trail
The breweries in the region are part of Virginia's Blue Ridge Cheers Trail - a showcase of our local craft beverage scene. Download our Cheers Trail Passport and check in at various locations to receive special offers and discounts. Learn more >
4. Bikes & Beer
Our region is popular for all types of cycling. Get out on two wheels for The Famous Tuesday Night Beer Ride through the mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway and through Downtown Roanoke. The ride ends with drinks at a downtown restaurant. Those looking for something a little more tame will love an adult Big Wheel rented from UnderDog Bikes. Take that puppy for a spin along the Roanoke River Greenway to reach Wasena City Tap Room, where a big gulp from your choice of 31 beers and a great dinner await.
5. Steal a Pint
Try a great beer and take home a souvenir, too, with “Steal the Pint” nights.
- August 3 at Jack Brown’s – Chaos Mountain
- August 11 at Jack Brown’s - Old Bust Head
- August 30 at Jack Brown's - Abita
- Every Wednesday night at Wasena City Tap Room, a different brewery is represented with a “tap takeover” and sometimes you can “steal the pint,” too.
6. Fill Up a Growler
If you already know your favorite area brewery or craft beer, head on over to their place to fill your growler. Easy access to some of those and others are also easily obtained at Barrel Chest Wine & Beer on Electric Road. Barrel Chest also has some of its own tasty brews on tap!
7. Brew Your Own Beer
Just a mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke is Southern Hills Homebrew Supply. Nestled into an unassuming log cabin, Southern Hills is a key provider of all things wine and beer for the home brewer, including Virginia grown ingredients.
8. Attend a Beer Festival
There’s nowhere else to be on August 13 than West Downtown Roanoke where Microfestivus takes over and lets the good stuff flow. Called the Mid-Atlantic’s Premier Craft Beer Festival, Microfestivus is taking things up a notch this year with their new happenin’ location, an air conditioned VIP space at Blue 5, and rare, limited-release beers.
Cheers to Virginia Craft Beer! Learn more about the craft beer culture of Virginia's Blue Ridge by checking out the complete list of Breweries.
