Beer
Run was recently placed on Draft magazine’s top 100 list, a predominately
breakfast spot with a fantastic draft and bottle selection. Jacob got a biscuit, while I went for the
Campbell’s Scramble; two local eggs, scrambled with Pepper Jack cheese, Yukon
Gold potatoes, all-natural bacon & topped with house Pico de Gallo (and Sriracha
sauce for me). I went with a Starr Hill
/ Terrapin GAVA Joe Belgian-style Espresso stout (great for breakfast), followed
by a Blue Mountain Big Blue Barrel Aged Double IPA on draft. I got a few bottles to go; Epic’s Smoked and
Oaked, DC Brau’s The Citizen (cans are cool), and Three Brothers Resolute
(going to cellar this one). 
It
was raining, and we tried to do something educational. Monticello is Thomas Jefferson’s home, a
wonderful architectural masterpiece that our President spent years modifying
and updating to try out his ideas and theories.
We didn’t get tickets in advance (big mistake), and couldn’t get on the
tour of the house for 3 hours. So we
watched the instructional movie, and went through the walk-thru museum. What struck me the most was the consistent
apology that despite his enlightened viewpoints, he still owned (and fathered
children with) slaves, only freeing 6 in his will. Oh well, we’ll definitely come back some day
with advanced purchased tickets.
We
fought the rain and headed west to the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Blue
Mountain Brewery. Blue Mountain is located in a beautiful
setting, features many barrel aged beers, and has tasty food. I went with Spicy Thai wings (tasty, but not
spicy) to go with their sampler. My
favorite was the Maggie Maibock, although the others were tasty too. They offered a Buy 2 get 1 free special for their
big bottles, so I picked up their Uber Pils and 2 Mandolin Tripels.
Our
next stop was Devil’s Backbone, the 2013 Small Brewing Company of the Year. While the folks at Blue Mountain were really
nice, the manager at Devil’s Backbone was a bit of a butthead. Oh well, the German pretzels and beer sampler
were both good. I loved their Schwartzbier
and their Azrael, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale that was awesome. I thought we could cut across the state to
get home, but Garmin assured me that the best way to go back I-64. But we had one more stop to make, Rate Beers
top restaurant in VA for 2013, Mekong (http://mekongisforbeerlovers.com/).
Mekong
is a Vietnamese restaurant, which is one of my new favorite styles of food, and
they had a great beer selection. I got a
bowl of Pho tai; rare slice beef, flat rice noodles, onion, scallion, cilantro,
and bean sprouts with Sriracha sauce.
Mekong will be opening their own brewery this summer called The Answer
(any Allen Iverson fans out there?), and they already did a collaboration with
Cigar City called Good Morning Mekong, an Imperial Porter brewed with Kopi Luwak
(Beer Geek Weasel anyone?) and rated a 95 on Beer Advocate. It was delicious. The bartender loved my beer book, and
proceeded to provide different samples to go along with my two free
glasses. I tried the 3 Brothers Rum Barrel
Belgian Dubbel on draft from Harrisonburg, as well as Richmond’s Hardywood Park
Bourbon Barrel Aged Sidamo Coffee Stout on nitro. If you like Vietnamese cuisine (or are
willing to try) and you are passing through Richmond, this place is a must stop.
I
finished my bowl (quite filling) and made it back to the time share. I figured out it was a 310 mile round trip
beer run. It was a little far, even for
me, to go for several beers. But I got
to spend a day with Jacob, see some beautiful scenery (amongst the torrential
downpours), discover some new brews and make some new friends. – 15598
“Filled with mingled cream and amber, such hilarious visions clamber, through the chambers of my brain, quaintest thoughts, queerest fancies come to life and fade away; What care I how time advances; I’m drinking ale today.” – Edgar Allen Poe
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