Alewerks Brewing Company

Another item checked off the life list!

BT and I headed up to Alewerks Brewing Company in Williamsburg on Saturday afternoon for a tour of the brewery.  According to their website, the tours fill up very quickly on the weekends and reservations are strongly recommended.  We were able to reserve a spot for their 3:30 tour and it was a beautiful day for a bike ride, so off we went!  

The brewery is a little hidden gem in an industrial area off of Richmond Rd.  It was hoppin' (<-- haha, get it?) when we arrived!  Upon checking in for the tour, we were told that they recommend grabbing a beer to take on the tour...you don't have to twist our arms!  

BT went with the Pumpkin Ale, their fall seasonal, and I chose the White Ale, their spring seasonal. Both were equally delicious.  

From their website:

Pumpkin Ale - Fall Ale Details

Category: Seasonals

Style: Spiced Ale

Description: This amber colored ale is loaded with Pumpkin pie aroma and flavor. It actually does taste like Pumpkin pie! At 7.3% ABV, it will keep you warm on a cool Autumn eve. 

Composition: Pale, Crystal, Munich and Biscuit malts. American Fuggle hops. Pumpkin, spice, brown sugar.

White Ale - Spring Ale Details

Category: Seasonals

Style: Witbier

Description: Our light, hazy take on a Belgian White ale. This beer has an aroma of corriander and orange peel with a flavor of wheat, orange, coriander, and fruit. Very refreshing on a warm, sunny day! ABV: 4.5%  

Composition: Wheat, Pilsner and Munich malts. Orange Peel, Coriander, and Styrian Goldings.

After sipping on those for a few minutes and checking out some of the merchandise in their tasting room, we were corralled into the back room to begin the "tour".  I emphasize "tour" because the entire beer making process goes down in one room!  

Our knowledgeable tour guide began by giving us a history in beer, beer making, ingredients, etc.  He then filled us in on the history of Alewerks and the different beers they offered along with some info on the brewing and bottling process.  I was blown away by the fact that their bottling process consists of three guys doing it all by hand!  

After that, it was time to head back to the tasting room for everyone's favorite part of the tour!  

We got to sample and score 6 different varieties.    

No, they don't fill the glasses.  We'd be sloshed if they did!

We started with the White Ale, the lowest ABV of them all and what I had previously drank.  We then moved on to the Redmarker Ale.  

Red Marker Ale Details

Category: Year-Round

Style: American Red Ale

Description: Ruby red in color with aromas of dark fruit, honey and and crystal malt. Hints of caramel, fruit, plums, and a touch of roast come through in the flavor ending with a semi-sweet, lightly hopped finish. ABV: 5% 

Composition: 2-row, Crystal, Chocolate, and Honey malts. Northern Brewer, Columbus, Willamette, and Cascade hops.

Next up was the Wheat Ale... 

Wheat Ale Details

Category: Year-Round

Style: American style Wheat Ale

Description: Unfiltered, hazy, and medium yellow in color. We dry hop this beer to give it a pleasant citrusy aroma that blends nicely with the heartiness of the wheat malt. Our year round thirst quencher. ABV: 5.6% 

Composition: 2-row, Wheat malt, Caramel malt, Amarillo hops.

Followed by the Chesapeake Pale Ale...

Chesapeake Pale Ale Details

Category: Year-Round

Style: American Pale Ale

Description: Our dry-hopped Pale ale is golden in color with a pleasant citrus hop aroma followed by flavors of light malt and American hops. Finishes smooth with a light hop finish. ABV: 5.7% 

Composition: 2-row, Crystal, Munich, and Wheat malts. Amarillo, Chinook & Columbus hops.

Then onto the Drake Tail IPA (we're both big fans of India Pale Ales)...

Drake Tail Ale IPA Details

Category: Year-Round

Style: American IPA

Description: Golden in color with an intense citrusy, floral aroma due to a lengthy dry hop process. Expect flavors of citrus, fruit, light malt, hints of powdered sugar, and American hops. Finishes clean & dry with a smack of hoppy goodness. ABV: 7.3% 

Composition: 2-row and Crystal malts. Columbus, Cascade, Amarillo, Simcoe, & Chinook hops.

And lastly, the Pumpkin Ale (which BT had drank already).

Once the tasting was complete, we moved to the other side of the bar to try a couple of the beers that weren't included in the tasting.  A Shorty Time for me and a Fresh Hop for him.  (By the way, these were SMALL glasses, not full pints, so no judging!)

Shorty Time IPA Details
Category: Brewers Choice/Brewmaster Reserve
Style: Session IPA
Description: Shorty Time is our "Social IPA". What this means to us is that you get all the flavor of an IPA, but in a beer at only 4.8% ABV. At AleWerks, when the work is done and the day is over we proclaim "Shorty Time!!!" and everyone grabs a beer. Expect aromas of tropical fruit and grapefruit, followed by a light malt body and big citrus character. 
Composition: ???

Fresh Hop Details
Category: Small Batch
Style: IPA
Description: Using fresh locally grown whole hops from Huguenot Hops Farm, this IPA has a refreshing bitter quality.  
Composition: 6.8% ABV

After those, there was one last beer to try, their Cafe Royale, a strong, bourbon barrel stout.  We split a small glass.

Ours was about half this size.  This stuff is powerful.  

Cafe' Royale Details
Category: Brewers Choice/Brewmaster Reserve
Style: Barrel-aged Imperial Coffee Milk Stout
Description: We age a stronger version of our CoffeeHouse Stout in Virginia Gentlemen Bourbon Barrels for 3 months. This aging adds layers of complexity including notes of vanilla and Bourbon to this big coffee beer. 8% ABV 

Composition: One kitchen sink.

After analyzing our scores, we decided on a growler of Pumpkin Ale to bring home with us.

My tasting scores.  

BT's tasting scores.  

If you're a drinker of craft beer and like to support local businesses, this place is a must see!  The tour was $8/person and included the tasting and a glass.  Well worth it!