“Scott’s Addition” is a 40 block district at the west end of Richmond, Virginia and is one of the most popular brewery centers on the east coast. The area was named “Scott’s Addition” because it was a section of the 600-acre property inherited in 1818 by U.S Army General Winfield Scott according to Wikipedia. Residential development began in 1890. later, driven by the coming of the railroad, Scott’s Addition became a hub for industrial development in the 1920’s. Around that time the area acquired the official name “Scott’s Addition” because its addition to the city’s electrical grid.
After over 50 years of industrial activity in the area, starting in the 1990’s Scott’s Addition began to add residences to the array of local factories and garages. A new diverse, gentrifying area of the city was growing.
Just some of the great places to visit in Scott’s Addition
Then in 2012 Virginia changed its alcohol regulations, ending Prohibition-era restrictions like requiring cooked food on site at all beer taprooms. By early 2015, Scott’s Addition had rapidly transformed into the a center of breweries, tap rooms, distilleries, meaderies and condo’s. Capitalizing on new tax credits, developers began converting abandoned brick warehouses into lofts and apartments. The construction boom and the beer focused nightlife transformed the neighborhood into one of Richmond’s fastest-growing millennial and young professional hotspots.
By 2018 the “Vine Pair” beverages blog named Scott’s Addition the worlds top beer destination, just when craft beer was peaking in popularity nationwide. When I visited eight years later, I was still truly impressed by the diversity and easy accessibility of an array of really good craft beer – I visited 9 breweries all within walking distance (and I think there were a few more I didn’t even get to). A notable and interesting characteristic of the area was the sheer diversity of the breweries that were so easy to experience.
Meet Bill and Otis at the SetBreak (in the Black Heath Meadery)
Srangeways indeed in Scott’s Addition
At one end of the spectrum is the tiny brewery called “SetBreak” which was located inside the “Black Heath Meadery”. Manager/Owner Bill Cavendar (who opened the Meadery in 2015) is happy to greet you as you walk into the small but bright bar area in the old storefront on Altamont Street. (His doberman “Otis” also greets you – “My little pony”, Bill called Otis). He told me that adding the brewery was originally done to bring in craft beer fans to try his mead – which actually worked. Eventually his original brewers left to start their own thing, so he recruited a local ex-Hardywood and Ardent Ale brewer to help him create SetBreak. They offer mixed flights of mead and craft beer – but you have to be mindful that the alcohol content of the smooth and flavorful honey-based mead is typically 15 – 20% ABV.
Other larger craft beer only spots nearby include “Strangeways Brewing”, a sprawling low ceilinged industrial spot that was comfortably dark and cool as I struggled through the 99 degree day. Offering a dizzying array of IPA’s, sours and lagers the barkeep was happy to give me some beer and some water for replenishment. Their Helles lager hit the spot.
Many great selections at Ardent
Just a block away was “Ardent Craft Ales” who has been in the same location for 12 years, proudly brewing quality beer on-site. They are what I would consider more of a “classic” traditional craft brewery that is both interesting and familiar – with great beer in most of the traditional and some newer craft styles. One brew listed on the chalk board was a collaboration with the now defunct Stone Brewery. “It’s been on for a while” the barkeep told me as he described the 10% coffee-laced barrel aged barleywine. We commiserated on the sad demise of Stone, “But they did sell themselves” the barkeep correctly pointed out. My preference was the tasty “Duke of Richmond” dry hopped noble pils, and the “X” IPA a solid *slightly hazy” hoppy ale clocking in at 7%.
For those who want something a little different than a strictly craft beer scene, just a couple of blocks up on Broad Street are “Three Notch’d Brewery and Craft Kitchen” which leans into food served in a modern, clean spacious facility. Their food was very good, complimenting their fresh beer. Just a block further up Broad is “Bingo Beer” which is an arcade with video games, pinball and ski-ball wrapped around a brewery. I sipped a nice Czech lager there, but passed on the games, I knew that any self respecting 10 year old would crush me. Where’s “Daytona” when you need it?
Starr Hill has still got it!
There are some bigger named Virginia breweries in Scott’s Addition as well – notably “Starr Hill”, “The Veil” and “Hardywood Park”. Starr Hill offered a rooftop bar location in a rehabbed brick industrial building, with a huge downstairs seating area serving beer and food. I used to enjoy their “Northern Lights IPA” back when they were distributing to the north eastern area of the US, and it is still good. Their west coast IPA “WAHOOWA” (a UVA reference) was a favorite, but they also offered a diverse mix of sours, N/A Beers, wheat beers, mocktails, cocktails, ciders and even wine.
The Veil has been a favorite of craft brew aficionados for 10 years now, with their “Master Shredder” IPA distributed and available up and down the east coast. Their new Scott’s Addition indoor/outdoor taproom opened in 2023, a few blocks from the original brewery location and features a stuffed bear (a real one) as well as imaginative neon and other eclectic decor. They cohabitate with “Remedy Burgers” who offer some pretty am
Wild times and wonderful beer at the Veil
azing burgers, for those looking to sop up some of that great Veil beer. I initially opted for Veil’s lighter side with “Numb” a nice naturally carbonated 4.4% lager, then eased into “Jewel” their 6.5% crisp non-hazy west coast IPA. Their most popular style, virtually a cult classic, is “Whiteferrari” a 8% DIPA- but so, so easy to drink. I seriously considered getting the “My other car is a whiteferrari” T-shirt. This is a must visit for all beer appreciators.
Hardywood Park is pretty well known Va brewery which has been turning out great beers since it’s inception in 2011 – one of the O.G. breweries in Richmond. Their delicious “Great Return” American IPA was first brewed in 2013, and supported the reintroduction of the Atlantic sturgeon to the James River. It’s still a great beer, and Hardywood still donates a portion of their proceeds to support conservation efforts. They now offer a 3.9% session IPA called “River On” which was really one of the best lower alcohol beers I’ve had. They also feature artisan pizza baked at the taproom, which was really delicious. And, their brewery was only a 10 minute walk from the “Richmond Flying Squirrels” AA baseball park – what could be better on a summer night?
Vasen an imaginative, beautiful brewery
To wrap up this “travelogue of Scott’s Addition Beer” I end up with Vasen Brewing Company. Väsen is a Swedish word that reflects the owner’s Scandinavian heritage and is defined more or less as “one’s inner essence”. According to their website: “Our beer is a medium through which we express ourselves and our appreciation for our environment.” Their building is a beautiful, bright, airy sprawling facility with tables, couches and bar seating. Plants and wall art reflect a cool, but sophisticated vibe. They lean into environmental responsibility – openly focused on sustainability.
The hot June afternoon I visited, everyone was inside, families, dogs, hipsters and oldsters – all enjoying Vasen’s experimental and imaginative brews. I sampled their “Radapils” continental pilsner, poured via side pull tap, of course. It was pleasantly clean but flavorful. They offered 4 different sour “gose” styles including orange and pineapple and two straight sours (raspberry and margarita). But beer traditionalist me was happily enjoying their naturally fermented lagers. These included their crisp but satisfying “Third Drop Pilsner” at 4.6% – a perfect finale for a hot day beer crawl though Scotts Addition.
Nowadays people are looking for variety, new experiences and diverse flavors along with their “adult beverages”. That is right in the wheelhouse of Richmond’s “Scott’s Addition” neighborhood. Whether you like mead or mocktails, sours or sprits and even ciders and good “old fashioned craft beer” Scott’s Addition is a great place to go. (And, of course, the City of Richmond also has a lot to offer – from their Civil War History Museum to minor league baseball, it’s a fun beer-centered place to visit.)
Take me out to a ball game at Scott’s Addition
