Redskins Craft Beer Guide

Your go-to guide for craft beer during Redskins Training Camp

As the defending NFC East Champion Washington Redskins come to town for training camp, so do thirsty fans with discriminating taste buds! That’s where Trinkin.com comes in. With 65 restaurant partners and nearly 800 beer taps tracked in real-time...yes 800 taps in the Richmond Metro Area, Trinkin.com is the “Ministry of Beer.” Whether you’re a Richmonder or a fan from the mothership taking in a practice session over the next few weeks, let Trinkin.com’s web-app help you find “Old Faithful” or a new favorite beer!

With so many places to choose from, here are a few imbibing picks in familiar terms for you lovers of the pigskin.

The Quarterback Sneak

Beer bars that are within walking distance or a very short drive of the practice facility

Fat Dragon

1200 N Boulevard (23 Taps) - For D.C. folks that want to mix contemporary flavors of Chinatown with a selection of craft beers both local and worldly, Fat Dragon will be one you come back to year after year. They are also open for lunch Tuesday through Friday.

The Savory Grain

2034 W Broad St (24 Taps) - One of Richmond’s newest beer-focused establishments is also a “farm to table” restaurant that pairs fresh local flavors with a taplist equally committed to providing quality Virginia beers. The Savory Grain has one of the largest patios in downtown Richmond as well as a separate dining room that can be reserved for private parties.

The Camel

1621 W Broad St (28 Taps) - If you stay for the afternoon practice session and want to catch happy hour and some live music nearby, there is no better option than The Camel. With 28 taps, live music nightly, and one of the best chicken nachos apps known to man, you will end up there until last call and be happy about it!

The Zone Read Option

Park the car in the historic Fan District and work your way down Cary and Main St. for a mix of unique retail shops and quality beer bars.

821 Café

825 Cary St (10 Taps) - 821 Cafe happens to share their number of beer taps with Robert Griffin III’s jersey number, but the similarities don’t end there. Like RGIII, 821 Cafe’s beers shift with lightning speed and do nothing but put up W’s. Serving up vegan-friendly dishes, they’re also open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Commercial Taphouse

111 N Robinson St (15 Taps) - As the “Grandaddy” of Fan beer bars, Commercial Taphouse is the place to go for the purist. You won’t find a more complete beer program or authentic environment in Richmond to enjoy a pint. Commercial Taphouse is open 7 days a week and serves lunch Tuesday through Friday.

Ipanema Cafe

917 W Grace St (6 Taps) - This little vegan-friendly cafe on W. Grace St. is a true champ. Always highlighted as one of Richmond's best food destinations, their beer program is not far behind.

Sidewalk Café

2101 W Main St (9 Taps) - A popular hangout for former Redskins coming to RVA, grab a cold pitcher and the best wings in the Fan.

Heritage

1627 N Main St (6 Taps) - I know what you’re thinking, a beer bar with only six taps? Well, this one is all about culinary excellence married with a “touchdown” of beer taps, a winning combination. Rumor has it, Heritage can slow cook a football and make it taste like a well-executed pork belly. This option is sure to please the “foodie” in your camp.

Buddy’s

325 N Robinson St (8 Taps) - Looking for a friendly neighborhood bar which will welcome any Redskins fan? Buddy’s is the spot.

Touch-down-town

Downtown Richmond is making a name for itself as a beer destination, with breweries popping up, and multiple restaurants getting a lot of attention for what comes out of their beer taps.

Saison

23 W Marshall St (12 Taps) - Like the 2012 Redskins Offense, Saison’s beer and food offerings are not something you can prepare yourself for. With a tap list curated by one of only a few certified Cicerone’s in Richmond, a Latin inspired menu that makes you question whether you are on the wrong continent, and a classy, yet cozy environment that you can’t help but love. Make sure to ask for the Virginia peanuts...you’ve never had them like this.

Popkin Tavern

123 W Broad St. (24 Taps) - Once part of “Furniture Row”, Popkin Tavern is now part of “Beer Street.” Broad St. from Church Hill to parts west into Henrico County, is home to some of the best beer programs in Richmond, but none (on Broad St. in the city limits) can match up with Popkin Tavern. With tons of tvs, pool tables, and multiple areas to enjoy a pint, Popkin Tavern is a sports fan’s playground.

Tarrant’s Café

1 W Broad St (16 Taps) - Not only does Tarrant’s Cafe have great beers on tap and quality food with classic “Old Richmond” charm, they have free parking during restaurant hours and free valet from 5 to close. While Tarrant’s Cafe used to be a neighborhood drug store, the only prescriptions filled here are in pint glasses, tulips, and snifters. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and brunch on Sundays.

The Audible

Be cool under pressure. Here are some local restaurants where food and beer go together like pimento and cheese, oysters and pearls, pork over broken rice, and pretzels and whole grain mustard.

Pasture

416 E Grace St (16 Taps) - One word comes to mind when I think about Pasture, complete. Not only does Pasture make high quality food, have a patio, they also get visits from folks like Andrew Zimmern w/ Bizarre Foods! In addition to food recognized by top chefs in the nation, Pasture has made a commitment to keeping 50% of their beers on tap from Virginia, with an overall focus on East Coast beers.

Rappahannock

320 E Grace St (11 Taps) - I imagine most people from Richmond and Northern Virginia are already familiar with Rappahannock’s world class oysters, but Tyler, the “Oyster Ambassador” has done a fantastic job of developing a beer program that, pound for pound, is one of the best in town. You can also find their oysters used in beers from Virginia’s Champion Brewery and Maryland’s Flying Dog Brewery.

Mekong

6004 W Broad St (50 Taps) - If you’re from Richmond, you’ve been to Mekong at least 100 times, or it appears that all of Richmond goes here...frequently. For those from outside of the capital city, Mekong was named by Craftbeer.com as the #1 Beer Bar in the U.S - 2012. To say it’s rare to find a Vietnamese restaurant that doubles as one of the most respected beer bars in the U.S. is an understatement. Tell An we said hi! Make sure to tell him that you know “Beer is the Answer!”

The Mill

4023 MacArthur Ave (5 taps) - Colorful Northside spot with a crowd pleasing taplist and menu. Known to blast the Hail to the Redskins anthem on the restaurant speakers after a Touchdown, this place is fan and family friendly.

Can Can Brasserie

3120 W Cary St (8 Taps) - Do you know what goes great with French food? Can Can's beer program. With a location in the heart of Carytown, Can Can is craft craft for sure sure.

Capital Ale House

3 RVA Locations (156 Taps) - Arguably, nobody sells more craft beer in Richmond than Capital Ale House. They have a recipe for success, with locations in Chesterfield County, the City of Richmond, and Henrico County. All three locations have unique personalities, but each provides the same knowledgeable staff that can talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to craft beer. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

The Fridge

Unless you can eat like Richard Dent, his nickname will come in handy for your leftover pizza at these great purveyors of the pie.

Sergio’s Pizza Pub

4824 Market Square Ln (17 Taps) - Sergio’s has been slingin’ pies in suburban Richmond for the better part of 20 years. Now they match 20 years with 17 beers on tap. It’s a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of room for big groups. Great food and beer at even better prices.

Bellytimber

1501 W Main St (8 Taps) - Basically on VCU’s main campus, Bellytimber mixes a great atmosphere with great pizzas and beer. Their taps are always changing and they have a nice bottle selection too. Oh, and free wifi doesn’t hurt either if you’re “working from home.”

The Continental

5704 Grove Ave (12 Taps) - Libbie & Grove has some great restaurants that take their beer seriously. The Continental makes an offer you can’t refuse, from 3-6pm Monday thru Friday with a $5 pizza deal.

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For more things to do during Training Camp, head over to Richmond.com.

We’re always adding new restaurant partners, so keep an eye out for new spots popping up around town. You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @TrinkinRVA