Ardent Announces Seasonal Lineup

25 Sep 2014 --- Ardent Craft Ales announced the release of its line-up of new and fall beers and a series of seasonal events. Beginning in early October, a new core beer, Virginia Common, and a fall brew, Sweet Potato and Sage Autumn Ale, will be available in the Ardent taproom and on draft at Richmond-area restaurants, bars and businesses.

The Virginia Common is an ale-lager hybrid that is deep brown-colored and light-bodied with a 5.3% ABV. This beer is one of Ardent’s oldest recipes and one that they refined for years during their time as a homebrewing co-op in Church Hill. This is also their fourth year brewing the Sweet Potato and Sage, a farmhouse-style beer with a 6.4% ABV and savory autumn palette created by the warmth of the sage and earthiness of the sweet potatoes. In addition, Ardent has brewed a batch of “The One” Pumpkin Ale which will have limited release in the taproom and at local events Hogtober and Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival. This is a classic spiced ale made with local roasted pumpkins and gourds, and has an ABV of 8.7%.

To help kick-off this lineup of new and fall beers, Ardent will host or participate in the following local events during the next month:
- OCTO Night: On Wednesday, October 1 starting at 4 p.m., Ardent Craft Ales will host a fall beer release party at the brewery and celebrate a full tap line for the first time ever. On this evening, eight beers will be on draft including the Virginia Common, Sweet Potato and Sage Autumn Ale, and Pumpkin Ale, all available for the first time at OCTO Night. In addition, Ardent will be serving the last of the season’s Honey Ginger, a limited batch of Bourbon Barrel-Aged Honey Ginger, as well as our IPA, Saison, and American Mild. Growler fills will be available for all beers except the Bourbon Honey Ginger. Event is free to enter. Pay as you go for tastings or full pours.
- Beer Dinner Presented by Heritage & Ardent Craft Ales: On Monday, September 29 Ardent will partner with Heritage to host our first beer dinner which will include guest chefs Brittany Anderson of Metzger Bar & Butchery, Dylan Fultineer of Rappahannock, Mel Oza of Curry Craft, and Dale Reitzer of Acacia. The five-course meal will showcase fall ingredients and incorporate raw materials from the brewery including a variety of wort, hops and malt. Each chef was able to taste all of Ardent’s beers in advance and have crafted a course with their chosen beer’s characteristics and flavors in mind. Ardent’s Honey Ginger, Saison, IPA, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Honey Ginger, and the new Virginia Common will be the featured beers throughout the meal. Dinner will take place at Heritage Restaurant at 1627 West Main Street in Richmond and is $65 per person, tax and gratuity excluded. Seatings are available at 6, 6:30 and 8 p.m. and reservations can be made by calling 804-353-4060.
- Hogtober at Libby Hill Park: On Saturday, October 4, Ardent Craft Ales is proud to be the headlining beer sponsor for this annual fall beer, barbecue and music festival. Hosted in Ardent’s former neighborhood, the team is excited to return to Church Hill and have an opportunity to share new beer with the community who supported their homebrewing co-op for many years. Ardent will have seven brews on offer at the festival: Virginia Common, Sweet Potato and Sage Autumn Ale, Pumpkin Ale, Saison, IPA, Honey Ginger, and an exclusive subtly smoked Rauchbier made in collaboration with Chris Davis from Alamo BBQ. Hogtober will be held at Libby Hill Park from 12 to 7 p.m. and entry is free with beverage and food tickets available. More information is available at hogtober.com.
- Halloween at Ardent Craft Ales: Ardent’s first Halloween celebration will take place on Friday, October 31, beginning at 4 p.m. in the taproom. As soon as the sun goes down, we will begin an all-night screening of frightful film classics including Nosferatu, Metropolitan, and Evil Dead. Surprise brews and popcorn will be available and costumes are encouraged. Those with the best get-ups will have frosty froth added to their beer. Free to enter. Pay as you go for tasters or full pours.

In addition to the fall beer releases and events, Ardent recently installed two new 30 bbl fermentation tanks and a 60 bbl bright tank. The additional tanks increase the brewery’s capacity by 50% and the team hopes to be serving beers made in the new tanks by early November.

“We are grateful for these strong opening months and are ready for an exciting, but careful step towards growth,” said Tom Sullivan, Operations Director at Ardent Craft Ales. “The new tanks will not only allow us to add more variety to our line-up, but help us keep up with demand and the needs of the businesses in Richmond who support us.”