One Step Closer

The Virginia legislature has approved the small-scale existence of farm-breweries in the state. Senate Bill 430 amends the Code of Virginia (15.2-2288.3:1) to create a new Farm Brewery license for breweries that

• manufacture no more than 15,000 barrels of beer per calendar year
• are located on a farm in Virginia
• use agricultural products that are grown on the farm in the manufacture of their beer.

The bill was passed by the Virginia Senate, 35-3, on 30 January, and on February 24th, by the House, 97-0. The bill goes now to Governor McAuliffe for his signature to become law.

Thank  you to everyone who has supported us throughout this process.  All of your signatures, letters and testimonies put this bill over the top and now Virginia is poised for a Farm Brewery Renaissance.

We’re using VolunteerSpot (the leading online signup and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming activity.

Please sign up for DESPOT DAY at Dover Hall – here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/VYngUf
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots – VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Thanks!

STP

Bottles for Sale at the Brewery.  Party at the Castle.

We have been extremely flattered by the response we have received about The Enlightened Despot release on Saturday March 1st.  For those of you who are interested in purchasing a bottle of The Enlightened Despot, you will need to come to the brewery to get your bottle.  Virginia ABC will not allow us to sell beer for off-premise consumption at Dover Hall.

Here’s the rundown:

Bottle Sales will take place at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, 4100 Knolls Point Drive (804) 314-4380 on Saturday March 1st from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.  There isn’t a bottle limit, but please be courteous to your other craft beer lovers.

The party for the release will be held at Dover Hall, 1500 Manakin Road Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 Phone: (804) 784-605, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. also on Saturday March 1st.  The Enlightened Despot will be available on draft throughout Dover Hall as well as some special casked variants and our traditional lineup of beers. Live music from Barrelhouse should come on around 2:00 and the Big Payback will be coming on between 5 and 6. There will also be fantastic BBQ provided by the Halligan.

I’m looking forward to seeing everybody on Despot Day.

Cheers!

STP

Due to the overwhelming response we’ve gotten from people from around the country for our Bourbon Barrel Stout release on Saturday March 1st, we had to find a larger space to accommodate everyone.  Since we wanted to keep Despot Day in Goochland we reached out to the only place as extravagant as the Enlightened Despot…Dover Hall.  They graciously accepted our request and we are very proud to parter with Jennifer McBride and her awesome team to bring Virginia a one of a kind beer release event.

It’s a beautiful day on the farm and we’ve decided to open the Tasting Room today (Monday Feb. 17th) from 12-6.

We’ve got a special treat on tap for those who venture out.

Cheers!

STP

The sun is shining and the tasting room is open today (Sunday, February 16th) from 12-6.  There may be a special treat for those who venture out.

Cheers!

STP

The Tasting Room is closed Saturday Feb. 15th.

Due to the Snowpocalypse we have to reschedule the Virginia Black Bear Release. But don’t despair, now you get TWO releases at one time and a presentation for our 2014 Farm Expansion Plan.

Come meet Farmer Russel (Twiiter @FarmerRussel) and the Gentleman Farmers of Lickinghole Creek as they present their 2014 Farm Plan.

To celebrate our farm expansion, we are doing a very limited release of our Russian Imperial Stout that has not been bourbon barrel aged. We call the non-barrel aged stout the Virginia Black Bear.

In addition to the VA Black Bear we also will be releasing our Belgian Quad.

The Virginia Black Bear comes in at 9.3% ABV, uses 10 specialty grains and has 78 IBU.

The Belgian Quad comes in at 11% ABV, uses Belgian Pilsner Malt, Belgian Candy Syrup, Trappist Belgian Yeast and like all of our beers, unfiltered well water.

VA Black Bear Technical Description: Roasty chocolate goodness in a glass, or the perfect Valentine’s Day- Recovery Beer.

Belgian Quad Technical Description: “The best thing that’s ever been in your mouth”

There will be special one offs too:
Raspberry Black Bear
Chocolate Vanilla Black Bear
Peppermint Black Bear (Holden’s Favorite)

The VA Black Bear and all of its variants will only be available at the brewery.

Belgian Quad One Offs made with locally sourced ingredients to be announced later.

Here’s a clue for a Quad Variant: We are putting in a fig grove on the farm.

Live music and gourmet food to be announced later

VIRGINIA SENATE PASSES NEW LICENSE FOR BREWERIES ON FARMS

-SB430 Amended for Local Government – Industry Supports Change-

RICHMOND, VA – Last week the Virginia Senate passed SB430 by a vote of 35-3.  Senator John Watkins’ bill defines a brewery located on a farm and requires the brewery to grow and use its agricultural products in its beer.  The bill also applies the existing farm winery state laws to the operations of these types of breweries.  Finally, the bill states that local ordinances “should” not impose minimum parking, road access or road upgrade requirements if these breweries are located on land zoned agricultural unless the operations create a “substantial impact on the health, safety, or welfare of the public.”  Lickinghole Creek Brewery, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and a coalition of six other business organizations supported the bill.

The bill will allow the Virginia ABC to proceed with developing standard guidelines for tasting rooms for all breweries, including those located on farms.  In a discussion with ABC officials recently, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild reported that the ABC believes that it has the authority it needs to protect the public and enforce ABC regulations with this new definition.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of Goochland County by changing its agricultural zoning last year to include breweries and approve our Plan of Development,” stated Sean Pumphrey, Chief Beer Officer.  “In less than a year we have created nine jobs (two are farm related), have started an agricultural partnership with J. Sargent Reynolds Community College and we will be protecting the agricultural history of our farm while building the first ‘Farm Brewery’ in the Commonwealth.”  “Because of SB430, we hope to create even more farm brewery jobs around the Commonwealth and opportunities for people to experience Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery.”

SB430 now heads to the House of Delegates for approval.  In just the last 24 hours, the business coalition involved in this bill has agreed to another amendment to help ease concerns by some in local government.  Specifically, the amendment will change the minimum parking, road access and road upgrade exemption language to a local option entirely.  Lickinghole Creek Brewery supports this change and will work with local government and the legislature to make this final amendment to SB430.

We encourage our customers, suppliers, friends and neighbors in joining Virginia’s business community in making history – creating the first Virginia “Farm Brewery” statute charted after the great success of Virginia’s farm wineries.  Protecting agricultural land, creating rural jobs and brewing the best beer in Virginia is our goal.  If you share our vision, please contact Senator John Watkins and Delegates Peter Farrell and Lee Ware to show your support.  You can find their contact information at http://capwiz.com/vmaonline/state/main/?state=VA&view=myofficials#0.

We’ve got several events coming up very soon.  Here’s the rundown:

Meet the Brewer and Beer tasting with Pickled Silly at Little House Green Grocery.  Head Brewer David Achkio and Co-Founder Sean-Thomas Pumphrey will be matching LCCB Belgian-Style Beer and locally pickled ocra, carrots and beans with the lovely ladies from Pickled Silly on Friday, February 7th from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Little House Green Gorcery, 1227 Bellevue Ave, Richmond, VA 23227. (804) 262-7474.

Tap Takeover and Steal the Tulip Night at The Halligan Bar and Grill Short Pump.  Help LCCB takeover Short Pump.  Join us and enjoy Magic Beaver Belgian Style Ale, Short Pump Saison, Three Chopt Tripel and a very special pin of our Russian Imperial Stout – Virginia Black Bear (9.3% ABV, 10 Specialty Grains, 78 IBU).  There will be very few Virginia Black Bear sightings outside of our brewery, you won’t want to miss this one.  And if all that wasn’t enough, you get to keep an awesome LCCB Glass.  Wednesday, February 12th from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at The Halligan Bar and Grill Short Pump, West Broad Village, 2451 Old Brick Rd.  Glen Allen, (804) 364-2707

FU Valentines Day Weekend and Virginia Black Bear Release!   Venture out to the Farm when we release the Virginia Black Bear.  Other than one or two places, the Virginia Black Bear will only be available during this release.  Get here early for this one.  This is a very limited release and is the preview for the Enlightened Despot release on Saturday, March 1st.  The Virginia Black Bear is the Russian Imperial Stout that did not make it into the Pappy Van Winkle Barrels. There will be several variants pouring exclusively at the farm (Raspberry VA Black Bear, Chocolate Peppermint VA Black Bear and one more). Richmond Rock Legends Freds Unplugged (FU) will be rocking the farm and Haywood Grill will provide the food that made Goochland famous.  Saturday, February 15th from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery 4100 Knolls Point Dr.  Goochland, VA 23063 (804) 314-4380.  Make sure to drive safely and slowly when visiting the farm.

The party continues Sunday, February 16th from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. when Heavy Duty Bluegrass and Piedmont Smokehouse come to the farm to help finish off the Virginia Black Bear.

Stay tuned for more event information and updates on Despot Day.

Cheers!

STP