Weekend Tap (and Festival!) Update

One beer festival and at least a couple new beers on draft around Roanoke should definitely be considered when making your plans for the weekend. At Local Roots Restaurant, a Scotch style ale from newcomer to the scene Chaos Mountain has just made its way onto the draft list. Featuring a slight bitterness and earthiness from a larger than you might expect hop presence in the beer, Squatch Scotch Ale is fast making it a favorite so far among the brewery’s beers. One of Flying Dog Brewing’s (MD) single hop Imperial IPAs is also new to Local Roots, and features the Amarillo hop variety. Amarillo is said to impart a very “orangey” or even tangerine like flavor, along with other possible citrusy tastes (and aromas), and even a possible spice like (think muted heat) like aspect. Also, let’s not forget that next week is American Craft Beer week, and Local Roots is celebrating with three nights of tap takeovers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, featuring Apocalypse Ale Works, Chaos Mountain Brewing Company, and Parkway Brewing respectively.

The Virginia Beer & Wine Festival is tomorrow, May 10, and the event website is currently listing 19 breweries which will be in attendance. All are, as you might expect, Virginia breweries, so make it out to the festival to celebrate what has lined up as a display of all in state beer. Among those listed are several Roanoke area breweries, such as Chaos Mountain, Flying Mouse, Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers, Sunken City, Parkway, and Roanoke Railhouse. Advance tickets have sold out but of course will be available at the gate, and seem comparable to other festivals held in the area.

Don’t forget that both Chaos Mountain and Soaring Ridge Breweries have just recently opened their doors, so a brewery visit might seem like a good way to enjoy the warmer weather as well.

Cheers to the weekend, and to whichever beers you happen to find along the way!