Tailgating Tech – Roanoke New Brewery Edition

Ah, it's Spring and the smell of new malt is in the air. there is a lot happening all over the place this weekend, Kentucky Derby, Beer fests, Strawberry Festival in Roanoke. I hear the Chili cookoff has been postponed though. Check before you go, please.

2 new breweries in the Roanoke area will have their grand opening this weekend.
Since there was a change in the law that took effect 1 July 2012, there has been an explosion of new breweries in Virginia. This law allowed for breweries to have tastings and to sell consumer packages of beer at the brewery. Previously, beer could only be sold with a tiered licensing of sales of food. The less food sold, as compared to alcohol, the more expensive the license.
With the new law, a brewery could sell glasses of beer, take out containers growlers, or normal packages of beer as might be found in a grocery such as 12- 22 oz bottles or cans. Kegs require a separate license. The importance of this is that it opens a new revenue stream for breweries, allowing a new business model. This revenue stream is immediate and allows the brewery to collect the fee, or discount the beverage, that the distributor would collect, which is normally around 25-30% of the cost to the retailer. It also allows the brewery to act as the retailer. This is a boon to the brewery, some are opening that only rely on beer sales at the brewery with no thought to distribution outside the brewery. This type of establishment is called a tasting room. It distinguishes from a pub or bar, which would be expected to provide food.

Theres a good story as to how this change came about but, Ill save it for a later day.

The lack of a kitchen means much less cost and a change in the risk level as well as a significant decrease in regulatory pressure and costs. A boon for food truck people. Food trucks are now a staple at breweries with the food truck people doing what they do best and the brewers focusing on the beer.

A feature of this type of outlet is that outside food is generally welcomed and encouraged. Some of the tasting rooms will have delivery menus. If you are not sure, call them or check their facebook page but, all the breweries in the Roanoke area encourage outside food. Please note that The River Co. and Bull and Bones are BrewPubs and DO NOT allow outside food.

Enough of the housekeeping, now onto the fun.

Chaos Mountain Brewing 3135 Dillons Mill Road, Callaway, Virginia 24067 (Special note here- be careful using your GPS, one of the routes the GPS will select is essentially a cowpath going over the mountain. Make sure you select real roads, from 220 make sure you use Bethlehem, from 221 or the BRP use Callaway, Gap Gate, Bethany and Dugspur ). The Brewery is out in the country.

Head Brewer: Will Landry Will is a long time homebrewer with a family history of publicans in the U.K. thats United Kingdom, not U. of Kentucky. Hes a graduate of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. He teamed up with Joe Hallock who owned a manufacturing building in Callaway but dreamed of a brewery.
Chaos Mountain has 2 brewing systems, a 30 bbl that will be their production system and produce for distribution and a 7 bbl system that is used as a recipe pilot and brews for the tasting room only or very limited distribution.
The had a very limited opening last week and hours this week but, their Grand Opening is this Saturday starting at noon, open to the public. Starts at noon. I will be there about when they open. Say hello if you come out.
https://www.facebook.com/events/438443682957188/
BBQ, and beer, good combination.
https://www.facebook.com/ChaosMountainBrewing

Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers 523 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24016
In downtown Roanoke, theyve moved into the old Flowers Bakery Building. Its a nice spot, lots of garage doors type setup and lots of space for bands and tailgate games, they already have cornhole setup and encourage you to bring toys and food.

Head Brewer- Sean Osborne. Sean has an interesting history. He was an avid homebrewer. A few years ago, the owner of a local restaurant got tired of hearing Sean pester him about adding a brewery to his bar. One day, the owner told Sean to Put up or Shut up. So, Sean quit his job and became a commercial brewer. The restaurant no longer exists but they got all the brewing gear and did a soft opening for the brewery last weekend.

The beer is quite good and there is a range of styles available so no one is left out. Sean has a 5 bbl brewing system and has been using it for years so, he can very easily swap in seasonals. Bring your growler, their glass guy goofed and didnt order theirs, they will fill from other places, like most in VA will do.
Stop by for a pint or 2, the weather is really nice and this place is setup to take advantage of it.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soaring-Ridge-Craft-Brewers/1400415976896769