Brews and Booze News
TWISTED ALES: NEW BREWERY WITH A TASTE FOR HISTORY
The 1904 Aragon Coffee Building in Manchester has experienced its share of beverage businesses. Besides coffee, Blue Bee Cider operated there. This June, Jason and Debbi Price opened Twisted Ales Craft Brewing, thrilled by the building’s history.
The spacious tasting room maintains the building’s industrial feel – also appropriate for the brewery’s steam-punk branding: sturdy wooden beams and columns, exposed brick, an old medal sliding door and freight elevator (coincidentally sporting graffiti from a ’70s and ’80s Richmond new age band, Single Bullet Theory).
The beer lineup focuses on hop-forward styles, like Devil Wagon red IPA and Bang Up the Elephant DIPA, with other approachable ales, including Aragonia brown, Batty-Fang apricot pale ale and Two Rapscallions pale ale.
Jason and Debbi Price, their sons Ryan and Kyle, and Debbi’s brother, Larry Sherman, have created a friendly, inclusive atmosphere in which to relax and enjoy the beer, food truck cuisine and games.
212 W. Sixth St., Manchester
FINE CREEK BREWING: SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR POWHATAN
Powhatan County has its first craft brewery. The rural setting is peaceful and bucolic. The newly constructed buildings re-create a tidy farmhouse feel, surrounded by a lush green lawn and strategic landscaping and bordered by tall trees. A covered patio and picnic tables enable relaxing al fresco.
The space includes a kitchen, which serves upscale, small-plate pub food using fresh ingredients and local vendors – think flatbread pizza with local chorizo, roasted red peppers, manchego and mozzarella; a Cubano sandwich; and cheese and charcuterie.
The Fine Creek property also includes a rustic but elegant wedding venue and guest cottages.
And, of course, the beer – the lineup provides styles to appeal to a variety of palates, clean and well-executed, with a splash of creativity when appropriate: a malty helles lager; a German pilsner with American hops; a saison with German hops; pale ale, American IPA and Belgian IPA with uncommon hops; and Thai Tea Milk Stout.
2425 Robert E. Lee Road, Powhatan
