1. ​“California Common” Steam Beer

Rockfish Brewing Company

Often referred to as “Steam Beer,” this beer right here is an underappreciated classic. Originally made famous by America’s oldest craft brewery, Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, Rockfish’s take is brewed with lager yeast but fermented at ale temperatures…

The result is a nice malt character giving you tastes of caramel and toasted bread without being overly bitter. With the recent news of the closing of Anchor Brewing Company, the fact that we can get this hard-to-find style right here in Charlottesville on a regular basis becomes even more important! Head to Rockfish Brewing and try it yourself -- they've got two locations: one on the Downtown Mall and one on Preston Ave! Both have delicious food options to accompany your brew.

2. ​“Snowball’s Chance” Helles Lager

Decipher Brewing

I’ll be honest, picking one beer from my good friends at Decipher was almost impossible. I’ll advocate for this one: the Helles Lager. This is yellow beer done right.

It’s got a subtle sweetness that is balanced by the German hop flavor. This is the perfect beer for the hot and humid summers we have here in Charlottesville. Go ahead and quench your thirst as Decipher offers it in 20oz pours!

3. ​“Ramble On” New England Style IPA (NEIPA or Hazy IPA)

Starr Hill Brewery

Starr Hill is a bit of an OG in the Charlottesville beer scene but that doesn’t mean they’re not innovating new ways to wow beer drinkers.

Ramble On is their answer to the “Haze Craze” that’s taken the IPA world by storm over the last few years. This beer explodes forward with tropical fruit flavors and juicy citrus aromas. With low bitterness and full flavor, this is the pour for those that aren’t sold on the more bitter taste of West Coast IPAs. Head over to Starr Hill, located at the Dairy Market on Preston Ave, to try it yourself!

4. ​“Minute Man” IPA

Three Notch’d Brewing Company

It’s hard to believe, Three Notch’d has been around since 2013. They’ve sure come a long way from humble beginnings on Grady Avenue to now owning 6 locations across the state. In that time, they’ve brewed a lot of beer..…

Credit: Sabrina Combs

However, there is one that always remains a constant, Minute Man IPA. Three Notch’d was brewing this juicy IPA before the Haze Craze swept the craft beer world. This beer is loaded with so much orange, you’d swear there’s fruit in it. However, it’s all coming from the hops! Strata, Mosaic, and Idaho 7 hops pack this IPA full of orange flavor goodness. Stop into their brewpub at Ix Art Park next time you're in town -- they've got a full-service craft kitchen and $3 draft pours and $25 cases of Minute Man IPA every Monday!

5. ​“POG” Wheat Beer

Random Row Brewing Co.

Got friends that aren’t quite into craft beer? Do they like tropical fruit? Bring them over to Random Row and have them try this beer ASAP. In my mind, this beer is a great “gateway” to craft beer.

Made with Passionfruit, Orange, and Guava, this wheat beer explodes with tropical flavors. However, the fruit never overpowers -- another sign that this is a fruit beer made the right way. Now go convert your holdout friends into craft beer drinkers. Bonus: If sour beers are your thing, Random Row’s Sour WAP (White Apricot and Peach) sour is another solid option!

6. ​“Ode to a Nightingale” Black Lager

Högwaller Brewing

Högwaller Brewing releases this beer as a tribute to their late owner, Charlottesville restaurateur, and icon, Will Richey.

Credit: Elora Overby

Clocking in at a reasonable 5% ABV, this is a complex Black lager with the malts delivering notes of baker’s chocolate, caramel and plum. Named for the John Keats poem, Will adored, this beer is a worthy tribute to a man who did so much for the food and beverage scene in C'ville. Stop by Högwaller Brewing to try it yourself and make sure you grab one of their delicious grass-fed smashburgers.

7. ​“Satan’s Pony” Amber Ale

South Street Brewery

“I’ve been coming to South Street since before Blue Mountain Brewery bought it!” -Your Friend from Cville, probably. South Street has been serving craft beer in Charlottesville since ’98.

Since then, their Amber Ale, Satan’s Pony has become just as important to the Charlottesville and Albemarle County craft beer scene. This a true Amber Ale, meaning it’s got a balanced malt profile, a bit of sweetness, and is cold and refreshing. Not to mention – it has one of the baddest beer names in town.

So, go grab your C'ville native friend and head to South Street Brewery to reminisce on the good ol’ days. While you're there, try their award-winning Barrel-Aged Imperial Satan's Pony -- it won silver in the 'Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer' category at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival! Kudos to Blue Mountain Brewery for keeping this Charlottesville staple alive and well and also for winning their own medal at the Great American Beer Festival! Their 'Raspberries on Acid' won gold in the Fruit Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer Category!

8. ​“Midnight Train” London Porter

Superfly Brewing

This Midnight Train may not go to Georgia but London is quite alright with me!

Superfly Brewing Co. is the newest addition to the robust Charlottesville brewing scene. Owner and Brewer, Ed Liversidge, a UK native, carves his niche by brewing great English inspired beers along with classic styles. One of these beers, Midnight Train, a London Porter is not to be missed. Porters like stouts are dark beers. The differences between a stout and a porter are debatable. What is not debatable is that this porter is one of, if not the best in VA. This is evidenced by the Gold Medal it won at the VA Craft Beer Cup. So come on, what are you waiting for? Go grab a pint!

9. ​“Mountains of” Imperial Stout

Neon Culture Brewing

While I’ve still got your attention, I think it's time for a shameless plug! "Mountains Of" is an Imperial Stout I brewed with Högwaller Brewing that just hit taps this November!

This one means a lot to me, as proceeds will benefit hurricane relief for my favorite city, Asheville, and the WNC region. This beer is next level, with THREE variants available: one with house-toasted almonds, coconut and vanilla beans, one with cinnamon, vanilla beans, and local coffee from Mudhouse Coffee, and one aged on even more vanilla beans. Pairs perfectly with a flight of ice cream from Högwaller's neighbor, SugarBear Ice Cream.

Neon Culture Brewing is opening our own taproom in the future! So, stay tuned for more information on our new space, as well pop-ups hosted at local breweries around town.

Author

Corey Hoffman

Founder of Neon Culture Brewing

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