RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

 

Right along Main Street in downtown Richmond, CAPITAL ALEHOUSE may be the city’s best beer pub. With franchised Virginia locations in Innsbrook, Midlothian, Fredericksburg and Harrisonburg, the statewide chain does a great job promoting a host of exceptional newfangled indigenous brews. 

 

Entering thru the brown wood-paneled front door to a narrow bar space on a snowy February ’13 evening, the crowded public house clearly deserves some credit for expanding the horizon of young beer-centric Virginians. Thirty taps plus two coolers filled with handcrafted beer provide a wide stylistic variety for any and all beer enthusiasts.

 

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Capital Alehouse not only serves some of the best Virginia-made beers, but also hosts many local musicians in its right side Music Hall. In the main area, several booths oppose the elongated 40-seat walnut bar (which utilizes two ice rails to keep frosty mugs cold). Downstairs, a gameroom with 16 taps and 2 casks keeps sports-minded patrons busy. 

 

I had the Capital Cobb Salad (with big chunks of ham and chicken and a side of bleu cheese) to go alongside five pints of previously untried brews while seated at the front corner of the bar. Cool Blues music played continuously in the background while I conversed with Frank, whose band the Lost Satellites, recently played here. Several people nearby recommended Prince Edward Mussels as well as the specialty burgers and sandwiches.

 

For openers, the moderate-bodied fare, including Devil’s Backbone Vienna Lager, Wild Wolf Hunny Blond and Wild Wolf Alpha Pale Ale, proved highly sessionable, if not completely special.

 

Better were the rich bourbon barreled ales, such as the oak-charred, berry-soured, chocolate-fudged Blue Mountain Dark Hollow Imperial Stout and dark-roasted coffee-fronted Williamsburg Alewerks Bourbon Porter (full reviews at Beer Index).