Guess who Thrillist called “America’s Beer City” in January.

No, it wasn’t Denver or anywhere in the beer-saturated Pacific Northwest. It was Richmond, Virginia!

The city’s craft scene has exploded since local brewing laws were relaxed in 2012, and its number of breweries per capita ranks among the highest in the U.S.! Everyone from Men’s Journal to Forbes declares Richmond a top beer destination.

And the brewery at the very pinnacle of this brew-topia is Hardywood Park. 

Calling out their “blockbuster beers” Thrillist named Hardywood THE Best Brewery in Richmond! 

And with today's Bourbon Barrel Aged Cru, you have the chance to taste their mastery. 

The Hardywood Park team aged this Abbey-style Quad in five-year-old Virginia bourbon barrels for rich notes of oaky vanilla and toffee swirled in caramel. Whispers of almond, dark cherries, and raisin deepen the complexity of each sip, while subtle ripe plum comes through on the finish. 

Let each mahogany mouthful linger, and it’ll warm you in woody, brown sugar goodness right down to your toes. Of course, that’s also the 12% ABV doing its part. 

Untappd’s @Jeff T. perhaps says it best: “Dayem! I have died and gone to heaven! Home sweet home!”

Rated 4.16 on Untappd; 91/100 on BeerAdvocate